Can You Use Apple Pay at an ATM? Yes, Here Is How
Yes, you can use Apple Pay at an ATM, as long as the machine shows the contactless symbol, the little set of four curved lines.
Hold your iPhone to that symbol, then type your debit card PIN on the keypad. You get cash the same way you always did.
Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all support this. The PIN step catches people off guard, so read on.
What you need before you walk up to the machine
Three things, and no more.
- Your debit card added to the Wallet app on your iPhone or Apple Watch.
- An ATM from a bank that supports cardless withdrawals.
- The PIN for that debit card. Face ID does not replace it.
A credit card in Wallet will not withdraw cash from your checking account. It has to be the debit card tied to the account.
How to add your debit card to Wallet
There is no app called Apple Pay. The app is called Wallet, and it is the black icon with colored cards fanned out.
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the plus sign in the top right corner.
- Tap Debit or Credit Card.
- Hold your card inside the camera frame, or tap Enter Card Details Manually.
- Follow the prompts. Your bank may text you a code to confirm.
The card appears in Wallet within a minute. Your real card number is never shared with the ATM, because Wallet sends a device specific number instead.
How to withdraw cash with Apple Pay, step by step
These steps follow Chase’s published instructions, and other banks work the same way.
- Walk up to the ATM and look for the contactless symbol. It is four curved lines, like a sideways WiFi icon.
- Double click the side button on your iPhone. That is the long button on the right edge.
- Glance at the screen so Face ID recognizes you. On older iPhones, rest your finger on the Home button for Touch ID.
- Swipe through your cards and tap the debit card you want to use.
- Hold the top of your iPhone within an inch of the contactless symbol.
- Wait for the ATM screen to change. Your phone buzzes and shows a checkmark.
- Type your debit card PIN on the ATM keypad.
- Choose Withdrawal and pick your amount.
- Take your cash. There is no card to leave behind.
Using an Apple Watch instead? Double click the side button on the watch, turn your wrist toward the symbol, and hold it there.
The PIN is still required
This is the single most common misunderstanding, so it deserves its own heading.
Face ID proves the phone belongs to you. It does not prove the account belongs to you.
Wells Fargo states plainly that cardless ATM transactions need a digital wallet and an ATM PIN. Chase lists the PIN as its own step.
If you have never set a PIN on your debit card, call your bank before you drive to the machine.
Which ATMs work
| Bank | Cardless ATM | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Chase | Yes, at eligible ATMs | Contactless symbol on the machine |
| Wells Fargo | Yes, at any Wells Fargo ATM | Contactless symbol on the machine |
| Bank of America | Yes, at cardless ATMs | Contactless symbol on the machine |
| Credit unions and small banks | Sometimes | Call first, or check the app |
The rule is simple. No contactless symbol on the machine means no tap, no matter which bank you use.
Why tapping is safer than inserting
Card skimmers are thin readers that criminals stick over the card slot. They copy the stripe or the chip data as your card slides past.
A tap never enters the slot, so there is nothing for a skimmer to read.
Wallet also hands the ATM a substitute card number. Even a machine that has been tampered with does not learn your real one.
Shield the keypad with your other hand anyway. The PIN is still typed the old fashioned way, and cameras still exist.
If the tap does not work
- Move the phone closer. An inch is the sweet spot, and further away often fails.
- Hold it steady for two full seconds instead of tapping and pulling away.
- Make sure the ATM screen is asking for a card, not sitting on an advertisement.
- Take the phone out of a thick case or a wallet case with metal in it.
- Check that the card in Wallet is a debit card, not a credit card.
A thick case is the usual culprit. Our guide on whether Apple Pay works through a case covers which materials block the signal, and whether Apple Pay has buyer protection covers what happens when a payment goes wrong.
If the machine rejects the card entirely, our guide on a payment method declined on Apple covers the account side.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Apple Pay at any ATM?
No. The ATM must show the contactless symbol and your bank must support cardless withdrawals. Most large national bank ATMs qualify, and many older machines do not.
Do I still need my PIN?
Yes. Every major bank requires your debit card PIN at the keypad after you tap, even though you already unlocked the phone with Face ID.
Can I use a credit card in Wallet to get cash?
That would be a cash advance, which usually carries a fee and immediate interest. For a normal withdrawal, use the debit card tied to your checking account.
Does Apple Pay work at an ATM without internet?
The tap itself does not need your phone to be online, because the card data is stored on the device. The ATM does its own network check. We go deeper in our guide on whether Apple Pay works without internet.
What if I lose my phone?
Nobody can withdraw cash without both your face or passcode and your debit card PIN. You can also remove the card remotely by signing in to your Apple Account and turning off Apple Pay for that device.