Apple pay not working on watch 9

I was excited to start using my watch for apple pay, but each time I've tried it since getting a watch last month, it's failed. I think the message was "not authorized".


I double-click the side button, select my card, get the "Hold near reader" message, I put the watch face near the reader, then I get the message on the card reader telling me it's not authorized.


My card is fine, and it works when I use my iPhone to pay immediately afterwards, so it's just the watch that's getting the error. And it's happened at multiple stores.


Has anyone else experienced this?

Apple Watch Series 9

Posted on Jan 1, 2024 12:56 PM

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Posted on Jan 6, 2024 7:27 AM

A friend suggested I wipe it and set it up from a backup, so I did that, and yesterday it finally worked!


I followed the instructions here Unpair and erase Apple Watch - Apple Support


3 replies

Jan 6, 2024 3:48 AM in response to unami128

Yep. This is my experience as well. My Series 9 is up to date with the latest WatchOS (so it has been restarted several times since I acquired it), yet this problem persists. My Series 5 and iPhones work perfectly with the same credit cards.


I am a longtime and HUGE proponent of Apple’s products and technologies, but must admit to the rising number of quality issues in software as of late.

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Apple pay not working on watch 9

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