How to Purchase Apps on iPhone and iPad

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Add a payment method to your account to buy premium apps

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 28, 2025 Tested

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• Setting Up a Payment Method
|
• Buying an App

|Show more |Show less

This wikiHow teaches you how to link a credit or debit card to your Apple ID as your default payment method, and purchase a paid app on the App Store, using an iPhone or iPad. Once you add a payment method to your Apple ID, you can use it to make purchases on all your connected platforms, including iTunes, Apple Music, and other Apple products on mobile or desktop. You can add a credit/debit card or a PayPal account as a payment method.

Buying Apps and Games on the App Store

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Tap your name.
3. Select iTunes & App Store.
4. Select your Apple ID.
5. Select Manage Payments.
6. Tap Add Payment Method.
7. Input your payment information, like a credit card number.
8. Open the App Store and select Purchase next to a paid app.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Setting Up a Payment Method

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1. 
   1
   Open the

   

   Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Find and tap the gray gear icon on your home screen or in an app folder to open the Settings menu.
2. 
   2
   Tap your name at the top. Your Apple ID name and picture are located at the top of the Settings menu. Tap on it to open the Apple ID menu.
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3. 
   3
   Tap

   

   iTunes & App Store on the "Apple ID" menu. This will open your App Store settings on a new page.
4. 
   4
   Tap your Apple ID at the top. Your Apple ID email is listed at the top in blue letters. It will open a pop-up menu.
5. 
   5
   Tap View Apple ID in the pop-up. This will open your Apple ID account settings on a new page.

   • If you're prompted, enter your Apple ID password, and tap Sign in here.
6. 
   6
   Tap Manage Payments. This will open a list of all your saved payment methods on a new page.
7. 
   7
   Tap Add Payment Method at the bottom. This will open the new payment method form on a new page.
8. 
   8
   Select the type of your new payment method. You can select Credit/Debit Card here to link a card, or PayPal to link your PayPal account.
9. 
   9
   Enter your payment information. You'll need to enter your card's number, expiration date, CVV security code, and billing address here.

   • If you're adding a PayPal account, tap Log In to PayPal, login to your PayPal account to link it, and enter your billing address.
10. 
    10
    Tap Done on the top-right. This is a blue button in the upper-right corner of your screen. It will add your new payment method to your Apple ID. You can now start making purchases on the App Store.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Buying an App

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1. 
   1
   Open the

   

   App Store on your iPhone or iPad. Find and tap the App Store icon on your home screen or in an app folder.
2. 
   2
   Find the app you want to buy. You can open any paid app from the Today page, from an app category, or from the search.
3. 
   3
   Tap the app's price tag button. You'll see a price tag next to every paid app. Tapping on the price will prompt you to confirm your purchase in a pop-up.

   • For free apps, you'll see a GET button instead of a price.
4. 
   4
   Tap Purchase in the confirmation pop-up. This is a blue button at the bottom. It will confirm your action, and charge your default payment method for the specified price.

   • The app will now download to your iPhone or iPad.
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