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Why is the App Store requiring me to have a payment method on free apps?

Whenever I try to download a free app it takes me to adding a payment method and doesn’t allow me to download the app

iPhone XS, iOS 14

Posted on Sep 17, 2023 1:02 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 17, 2023 2:23 AM

You can download free apps, but you may need to have a valid payment method on file, even if the app you want to download is free. 

You can have a credit card / debit card on file and an Apple Account balance.

If you have set your Apple Account balance as your default payment method, your default payment method will be used first by Apple when you need to make a payment.

 

Free apps has also In-app pruchase.

See -> Buy additional app features with in-app purchases and subscriptions

Buy additional app features with in-app purchases and subscriptions

See also -> Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions

Legal - Apple Media Services - Apple

 -----


See -> Add a payment method to your Apple ID

Add a payment method to your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

  • If you want to change your card, you need to add first the new card, then remove the old card.
  • or if you want to use your Apple ID balance, you need to set your Apple ID balance as your default payment.


See also the following Apple articles:

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

 

fyi: Not all credit & debit cards seem to work with App Store / iTunes Store, try a different one, or preferably a credit card.

If your card is not accepted as a paymenf method, you need to contact your bank.



6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 17, 2023 2:23 AM in response to leen156

You can download free apps, but you may need to have a valid payment method on file, even if the app you want to download is free. 

You can have a credit card / debit card on file and an Apple Account balance.

If you have set your Apple Account balance as your default payment method, your default payment method will be used first by Apple when you need to make a payment.

 

Free apps has also In-app pruchase.

See -> Buy additional app features with in-app purchases and subscriptions

Buy additional app features with in-app purchases and subscriptions

See also -> Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions

Legal - Apple Media Services - Apple

 -----


See -> Add a payment method to your Apple ID

Add a payment method to your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

  • If you want to change your card, you need to add first the new card, then remove the old card.
  • or if you want to use your Apple ID balance, you need to set your Apple ID balance as your default payment.


See also the following Apple articles:

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

 

fyi: Not all credit & debit cards seem to work with App Store / iTunes Store, try a different one, or preferably a credit card.

If your card is not accepted as a paymenf method, you need to contact your bank.



Jul 14, 2024 2:42 PM in response to laureen275

laureen275 wrote:

I want to download apps but it wants me to pay what I want to download


If the apps are not free, you will have to pay for them.


If the apps are "free", you will not be charged for downloading them. However, many "free" apps have "in-app purchases" making them like vending machines or coin-operated arcade games. If you make "in-app purchases", those will cost real money and your payment method will be charged for them.

Why is the App Store requiring me to have a payment method on free apps?

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