Cannot add cards to Apple Wallet on iPhone; Apple ID issue?

Vickyz9 wrote:

As a final update, I eventually decided to replace the phone entirely, since I thought the issue might be related to the fact that it was a used device. I bought a brand new iPhone 17.

I transferred my data to the new phone, and when I tried to add my cards to Apple Wallet, I got the exact same result: “Card Not Added. Contact your card issuer.”

At this point, I honestly cannot deal with the frustration anymore. As I mentioned before, the cards work perfectly on other iPhones.

Hi, as I stated previously, adding cards to other devices and devices associated with other Apple Accounts (Apple ID) is an indication of potential fraud to most banks and Payment Network Operators. They red flag those accounts. Banks share information through payment network operators and credit reporting agencies.

A brand new device and brand new Apple Account is usually red flagged as well for potential fraud risk.

I would wait 30 to 45 days. Use the device as usual, send texts and make phone calls. Add several payment methods to your Apple Account. Buy a few things on your Apple Account, apps, iTunes etc. After 30 plus days try adding a card, but limit your attempts to 2 per 24 hour period.

Banks have various avenues to block cards and how long they are blocked for. For example, 5 declined attempts in 24 hours is an automatic lock for a day or two. Some blocks are for longer periods. Banks do not share the block information or status with Apple.

Did you read the thread I linked to? I told the person how to resolve the issue, he did what I said and after several days the bank unblocked his account and added the cards to his Wallet. The post also explains the data flow from your iPhone through the PNO to the bank and then the bank sending the payment token to Apple to send to your Wallet app.

So, it’s a used iPhone. Thank you for the new additional information.

When card details are added to Apple Wallet, your iPhone sends additional information about usage of the device to the PNO and bank. Here’s what Apple’s support article says about the information sent.

“Information that you provide about your card, whether certain device settings are enabled, and device use patterns — such as the percent of time the device is in motion and the approximate number of calls you make per week — may be sent to Apple to determine your eligibility to enable Apple Pay. Information may also be provided by Apple to your card issuer, payment network, or any providers authorized by your card issuer to enable Apple Pay, to determine the eligibility of your card, to set up your card with Apple Pay, and to prevent fraud.”

Apple Pay security and privacy overview - Apple Support

The information sent by your iPhone is typically sent to PNO and bank and they use a rating system to evaluate the fraud risk. Banks and PNO’s rate your risk Green, Yellow, Orange or Red. Banks are using the information to possibly rate your card(s) Red risk and are being rejected for adding to your device.

This is a strong possibility. I’ve seen this before on used iPhones. You’ll need to ask your bank’s support team if your card is being assigned a Red path for approval.

Questions?

Just so we’re clear, in my opinion, it’s the PNO blocking your cards, not the issuing banks.

Why adding cards to multiple devices and multiple different Apple Accounts (Apple ID’s) is a suspicion of fraud? The behavior pattern follows closely what fraudsters do when they obtain compromised card details. Card details are sold on the Dark Web in bundles. Multiple buyers purchase the bundles and some make counterfeit cards. Others add them to electronic wallets on mobile phones. Each mobile phone has an account associated with it. The associated account is different from the actual card owners account and device. The pattern of you adding card details to multiple devices with different Apple Accounts fits the pattern of fraudsters.

When you attempt to add a card to the device, your iPhone sends information on your iPhone to the Payment Network Operator (PNO) Visa/Mastercard and if they approve then information is forwarded to your bank.

Both the PNO and your bank employ algorithms to evaluate the risk potential. Adding the card, is not something Apple participates in beyond the pure mechanics of once the bank approves, Apple adds the encrypted token representing your card, to your device. The encrypted token is created by the bank or Token Service Provider and sent to Apple servers and then added to your iPhone.

The bank, at a higher support level and their IT department will know if the PNO is approving the account and if the information is being received at the bank.

Apple Support and engineering truly can resolve this. Everything in the process is encrypted data and Apple has no way to tie the information to you, your Apple Account or the device. Only once they receive the token do they have the necessary data to add the token to your Wallet app.

Hello yes I am not alone same problem here.

Message from Wirex support : According to the received information, this is a technical issue on the side of Apple Pay. I am sincerely sorry, but we don't have information on when it will be resolved. Some of our users who faced a similar problem were able to link their card to Apple Pay on their Apple Watch instead of their iPhone.

I hope for your understanding in this regard.

So this is Apple bug 100% and I am from Ukraine and its seams be worldwide bug

See if there’s any technical requirement listed here which might have been overlooked on the problematic device:

If you can't add a card to Apple Wallet to use with Apple Pay - Apple Support

Apple does not approve or deny cards added to your Wallet. The only thing that Apple does is provide the banking institution details about your account and device. The bank uses a combination of those 2 things to determine if they are going to approve the card added and will then send a unique Token to that device in order to use it for Apple Pay purchases.

Adding your cards to other devices and attempting to add other people's cards to your device is a big red flag used by banks in making the determination if they want to approve any card to be added to the device.

In any case, Apple cannot force a banking institution to approve a card added and require them to send their Unique Token for use with Apple Pay. The bank is the only one that would know why they are not approving your card and they don't share the reason for disapproval with Apple.

Jeff Donald wrote:

Hi, you may also want to read this short thread about from someone experiencing the same issue and how they were able to resolve the issue and add their cards to Apple Wallet app.

Apple Wallet Disabled - how to resolve ? - Apple Community

And ironically, the initial post of the link you referred to is very similar to here and others where the bank says it is not their problem leaving the users thinking it is Apple that is preventing them from adding their card. In that post the OP was able to escalate the matter with the Bank/PNO where they did finally resolve the issue and realized at that point, it had nothing to do with Apple.

And there certainly are other cases where a Bank/PNO simply has no intention of approving a card for Mobile use based on previous patterns or algorithms used and they don't want to take the blame themselves, risking that their customer would be mad at them.

In any case, the information provided here and at your link explaining Apple's role and the information they provide to the Bank/PNO should be helpful to all. I don't expect this to be the last of any such post as they have gone on for years and there will be more in the future.

Again, Apple is not a bank and does not actively participate in the authentication and verification process. The final step would be your bank sending an encrypted dynamic payment token to Apple servers and once received, the token is installed on your device by Apple. Ask your bank if they are sending the token.

And I’m a former Apple Store manager and was a store manager when the first iPhone launched in June 2007 and I’m also an Apple developer.

You still haven’t answered my question. What bank issued the card you’re trying to add? Are you using a Ukrainian address or an EU address? It’s widely reported that Wirex won’t work with Apple Pay if a Ukraine address is used.

It’s no sense to make new Apple ID because I have Ipad same ID and on the ipad my cards add to Apple Pay and works fine.

Friend of mine trying add Ukrainian banking card to the Apple Pay to absolutely new Iphone same error as yours.

Hi, the bank controls the process. Apple only participates at the end, when the bank generates an encrypted token and sends it to Apple servers. When the token is not received from the bank in the allotted time, the system generates the error message you’re seeing.

Banks do not share your personal or financial information with Apple. You’re welcome to contact Apple Support, but they will only have generic troubleshooting steps to walk through.

Here are some basics steps. Do you use a VPN? Have you traveled with your iPhone recently? Is your iPhone updated to the latest iOS version, 26.4.2? Did you purchase the iPhone new or was it used? Have you tried adding the card 5 or more times in last 24 hours?

imaster-ua wrote:

Hello yes I am not alone same problem here.

Message from Wirex support

• Did you use the Wirex app to add the card like they recommend on their website?
• Did you receive the OTP that they say they will send to you before a card can be added?
• Did you check if you are using a VPN, and if so did you uninstall it?