Do you have an iPhone and want to use Apple Pay in India? There’s one important thing you need to know.

Apple Pay is now live in India, but that doesn’t mean you can use it at every store.

So, where exactly will Apple Pay work? How do you make a payment? Will your actual card number be shared with the merchant? What happens if you lose your iPhone? And is there any transaction limit?

In this post, we’ll answer all of these questions in simple terms. So, make sure you read the complete post.

Where Can You Use Apple Pay at Physical Stores?

Let’s start with physical stores. The most important thing you need to use Apple Pay at a store is a card machine or POS terminal that supports contactless or NFC payments. According to Apple, users can make purchases with Apple Pay anywhere contactless payments are accepted.This means a store does not necessarily have to be on a specific Apple Pay merchant list.

However, simply having a POS machine is not enough. If the terminal does not support tap-and-pay or contactless payments, you won’t be able to use Apple Pay there.

How Can You Check Whether a Store Supports Apple Pay?

Before trying to pay with Apple Pay at a physical store, look for the contactless payment symbol on the card machine or near the checkout counter. If the terminal supports contactless or NFC payments, an eligible Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card added to Apple Wallet can be used there.

So, the key thing to check is not simply whether the store has a card machine, but whether that machine supports contactless payments.

Which Merchants Accept Apple Pay in India?

Apple has named several merchants accepting Apple Pay at launch in India.

These include:

  • Apple Store
  • Blinkit
  • Croma
  • Reliance brands
  • Tata 1mg
  • Zomato

Apple has also worked with several payment service providers to bring Apple Pay to their merchant networks.

These include:

  • BillDesk
  • Cashfree
  • Juspay
  • Mswipe
  • Paytm
  • PayU
  • Pine Labs
  • Razorpay

So, the merchant network supporting Apple Pay could expand further over time.

How Do You Pay Using Apple Pay at a Store?

Now, how do you actually make a payment?

Once you’ve added an eligible credit card to your Apple Wallet, the payment process is similar to tapping a physical credit card. If you’re using an iPhone, simply double-click the Side Button or Home Button.

Then, if required, authenticate yourself using:

  • Face ID
  • Touch ID
  • Your device passcode

After authentication, hold your iPhone near the store’s contactless payment terminal.

That’s it. Your payment can then be processed.

Can You Use Apple Watch for Apple Pay?

Yes. If you use an Apple Watch, you can also make payments by holding your watch near the payment terminal. According to Apple, you do not need to enter a PIN or use an OTP at checkout when making an Apple Pay transaction. This makes the payment process similar to a simple tap-and-pay transaction.

How Does Apple Pay Work for Online and In-App Payments?

Now let’s talk about online and in-app payments. The process is slightly different here. The merchant’s website or app must offer Apple Pay as a payment option. If a merchant supports Apple Pay, you can simply select Apple Pay during checkout.

This means you don’t have to repeatedly enter your:

  • Card number
  • Contact details
  • Shipping address
  • Billing information

Instead, you can use Apple Pay at checkout.

Can Apple Pay Work on Third-Party Browsers?

Apple also says Apple Pay can work with participating merchants in third-party browsers. In such cases, users may be able to scan a QR code with their iPhone, review the payment details and approve the purchase directly on the device.

So, remember this simple rule:

At a physical store: Look for the contactless payment symbol.

Online: Look for the Apple Pay option at checkout.

Is Your Actual Card Number Shared With the Merchant?

Now here’s an important question.When you pay using Apple Pay, does the merchant get your actual credit card number?

No. According to Apple, your actual card number is not stored on your device or on Apple’s servers. It is also not shared with the merchant. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is created. This number is securely stored on your device and is used for transactions.

So, when you make a payment, the merchant does not receive your actual card number.

Will You Still Get Your Credit Card Rewards?

Yes. The underlying Axis Bank credit card remains the same. This means you can continue to receive the rewards and other benefits associated with that card.

So, adding your eligible card to Apple Wallet does not mean you lose the benefits associated with your credit card.

What Happens If You Lose Your iPhone?

Now, what happens if you lose your iPhone? Could someone else use the cards stored in your Apple Pay?

According to Apple, you can use the Find My app to locate or lock your device. You can also suspend Apple Pay payments. And if necessary, your payment cards can be removed remotely.

So, if your iPhone is lost, you have options to remotely secure your Apple Pay cards and payments.

 Is There a Transaction Limit on Apple Pay?

Now let’s talk about transaction limits. Apple says it does not impose a limit on the number of transactions a user can make through Apple Pay. However, there is an important point to keep in mind. Apple’s India launch material does not specify a separate rupee limit for each transaction.

Therefore, any applicable limits set by your card, payment network or merchant may still apply.

In other words, Apple Pay itself does not specify a limit on the number of transactions, but that does not necessarily mean you can make a payment of any amount. Card, payment network or merchant-level restrictions may still apply.

So, Will Apple Pay Work at Every Store?

Let’s quickly sum everything up.

Apple Pay is now available in India. But whether it works at a particular physical store mainly depends on the store’s card payment terminal. If the POS terminal supports contactless or NFC payments, an eligible Axis Bank Visa or Mastercard credit card added to Apple Wallet can be used there.

If the POS machine does not support contactless payments, simply having a POS machine is not enough for Apple Pay to work. For online and in-app payments, the merchant’s website or app must offer Apple Pay as a payment option. Your actual card number is not shared with the merchant. And if you lose your iPhone, you can use Find My to locate or lock the device, suspend Apple Pay payments and remotely remove payment cards.

As for transaction limits, Apple does not specify a limit on the number of transactions, but applicable limits from the card issuer, payment network or merchant may still apply.

Conclusion: What Should You Remember?

So, if you’re planning to use Apple Pay in India, remember one simple thing:

Apple Pay being available in India and Apple Pay working at a particular store are two different things. At a physical store, first check whether the card machine supports contactless payments. And when shopping online, look for the Apple Pay option at checkout.

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Source & Disclaimer: This video is based on publicly available information, with reference to a Moneycontrol article on Apple Pay in India. The information is provided for general informational purposes only and may change. Please verify the latest details with Apple, your bank or the relevant merchant before making any transaction.