Apple Pay has officially launched in India, bringing its secure and private contactless payment service to iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users. This expansion allows customers to make seamless payments in stores, within apps, and on the web without the need for traditional PINs or one-time passwords (OTPs) at checkout. Support for Mac devices is anticipated to follow soon.
Initially, Apple Pay in India is available to customers holding Visa and Mastercard credit cards issued by Axis Bank. These cards can be easily added to Apple Wallet and utilized at thousands of online and in-store merchants across the country, as well as any location that supports Near Field Communication (NFC) transactions.
How to Set Up and Use Apple Pay in India
Getting started with Apple Pay is straightforward. Users can add their eligible Axis Bank card directly through the latest version of the Axis Bank app. Alternatively, they can open the Wallet app on their iPhone, tap the plus sign, and follow the on-screen instructions to add their card details.
Making Payments In-Store
For in-store purchases, the process is quick and secure:
- Double-click the side button (or Home button on older models) of your iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Authenticate the transaction using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode if prompted.
- Hold the top of your iPhone or the display of your Apple Watch near a contactless reader until the transaction is complete.
Paying in Apps and Online
Apple Pay also simplifies online and in-app purchases. Users can select Apple Pay at checkout to complete transactions without repeatedly entering payment, contact, or shipping information. Customers will continue to receive all rewards and benefits associated with their linked credit cards.
Device Compatibility and Merchant Acceptance
To use Apple Pay, an iPhone XR or later running iOS 18 or later is required. For Apple Watch users, the service is compatible with Series 6 or later models running watchOS 11 or later, provided the watch is paired with a compatible iPhone XR or newer.
At launch, Apple Pay is accepted at numerous popular merchants, including Apple Store locations, Blinkit, Chaayos, Croma, Ixigo, Reliance brands, Tata 1mg, and Zomato. Apple has also collaborated with leading payment service providers in India, such as Cashfree, JusPay, Mswipe, Paytm, PayU, Pine Labs, Razorpay, and Worldline, to ensure broad accessibility.
Security and Privacy at the Core
"Apple Pay makes everyday payments with a card easy, secure, and private," stated Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Apple emphasizes that actual card numbers are never stored on the device, Apple's servers, or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is encrypted and securely stored in the device’s Secure Element.
Amitabh Chaudhry, MD and CEO of Axis Bank, highlighted that the introduction of Apple Pay offers greater choice and flexibility to their credit card customers. Mastercard and Visa both affirmed that their respective tokenization technologies further enhance the security of Apple Pay transactions.
In the event of a lost or stolen iPhone, users can utilize the Find My feature to locate, remotely lock, or suspend payments from their device, adding another layer of security. Globally, Apple Pay is available in over 90 countries and regions, partnering with more than 11,000 banks and network partners.