PayPal to Apple Pay: Easy Tricks to Access Your PayPal Balance

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Shop with Apple Pay using money from your PayPal account

Co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: November 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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Can I send money from PayPal to Apple Pay?

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Adding a PayPal Debit Card to Apple Pay

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Transferring Through Your Bank

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Adding PayPal to Your Apple Account

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FAQ & Troubleshooting

Is there money in your PayPal account that you need access to in Apple Pay? While there's no way to send money directly from PayPal to Apple Pay, there are workarounds that make it easy to spend your PayPal balance with Apple Pay—even in stores! Read on to learn all the ways you can use PayPal with Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, and what to do if you run into problems.

Quick Steps

Open the PayPal app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Accounts.
Select your PayPal Debit Card.
Tap Manage.
Tap Add to Apple Wallet.
Follow the on-screen instructions.

Section 1 of 5:

Can I send money from my PayPal account to my Apple Pay?

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You can't transfer money between PayPal and Apple Pay accounts. It's just not possible to do send money between two different wallet services. But don't worry—if there's money in your PayPal account you need access to in Apple Pay, you do have options:
- Adding a PayPal Debit Card to Apple Pay: Adding your PayPal Debit Card to your Apple Wallet makes it possible to spend your PayPal balance with Apple Pay.
- Transferring Through Your Bank: You can withdraw the money from your PayPal account to your bank account, add your debit card to Apple Wallet, and then add that money to your Apple Cash balance.
- Adding PayPal to Your Apple Account: If you want to make PayPal your payment method for purchases in the App Store, subscriptions, and other Apple media purchases, you can link your PayPal account to your Apple account.

Section 2 of 5:

Adding a PayPal Debit Card to Apple Pay

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1
Open the PayPal app on your iPhone or iPad. Adding your PayPal Debit Card to your Apple Wallet makes it super easy to spend your PayPal balance with Apple Pay.^{[1]
X
Research source} Start by opening PayPal's mobile app.
- This will only work if you have a PayPal Debit Card. If you don't have one, you can order yours from PayPal.
- You can also use the same steps to link your PayPal Cashback Mastercard or a PayPal Business Debit Card to Apple Pay.
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Tap Acounts. It's at the bottom of the screen.
- If you have a PayPal Business account, tap Money instead.
You may have to scroll down to find it.
A list of options will appear.
This opens Apple Wallet and prompts you to finish adding your card.
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Follow the on-screen instructions to add your PayPal card to Apple Wallet. Once your PayPal Debit Card is linked, you can select it as a payment method in Apple Pay—this means you'll be paying with your PayPal balance rather than any other cards in your Apple Wallet.
- To make PayPal your default payment method for Apple Pay on your iPhone or iPad, open the Wallet app, tap and hold the PayPal Debit Card, then drag it in front of all other cards.^{[2]
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- If you send money to someone with Apple Pay, that money will now come from your PayPal balance unless you change the default payment method.

Section 3 of 5:

Transferring Through Your Bank

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1
Link your bank account to PayPal. If your goal is to move money from PayPal to Apple Cash (the "Cash" card in your Apple Wallet) so you can spend it with Apple Pay, you'll need to use your bank account as an intermediary. To do this, you must link your bank account to PayPal and the same bank account's debit card to your Apple Wallet. Your bank must support Apple Pay for this to work. To add your bank account to PayPal:
- In the PayPal app, tap Accounts, then tap Link a card or bank.
- Select Link a bank account.
- Select your bank. If you don't see it, search for it.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to add your bank account.^{[3]
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Withdraw money from PayPal to your bank account. If you do an Instant Transfer, it should only take a few minutes to transfer the funds to your bank account. However, a fee will apply. To withdraw the money for free, choose a Standard transfer.^{[4]
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- In the PayPal app, tap your balance.
- Tap Transfer.
- Select Transfer to bank.
- Tap Instant Transfer or Standard Transfer.
- Tap Transfer Now.
3
Add your bank debit card to Apple Wallet. If you have already done this, great! If not, here's how to add a debit card now:
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap +.
- Select Debit or Credit Card.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to scan your card and confirm.
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Add money from your bank to Apple Cash. Now, you can finally add the money that was in your PayPal account to Apple Pay:
- Make your debit card your primary payment method. In the Wallet app, tap and hold your debit card, then drag it to the front to do so.^{[5]
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- Tap your Apple Cash card in your wallet.
- Tap ••• at the top-right.
- Tap Add Money.
- Enter the amount you want to transfer.
- Tap Add.
- Once you verify your identity, the money will be available to spend in Apple Pay.
- To make your Apple Cash balance your primary payment method, return to Wallet, and drag it in front of your debit card.

Section 4 of 5:

Adding PayPal to Your Apple Account

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If you want to use PayPal as your payment method for the App Store, for in-app purchases, and to shop in the iTunes Store, you can link your PayPal account to your Apple account.
This opens your iCloud info.
It's near the top of the menu.^{[6]
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A list of accepted payment methods will appear.
Once you select PayPal, the Log In to PayPal option will expand. Tap it and log in to PayPal when prompted.
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Follow the on-screen instructions to link your PayPal account to your Apple account.
- If you want to make PayPal your default payment method for your Apple purchase, return to Payment & Shipping, tap Edit, and drag your PayPal account to the top.

Section 5 of 5:

FAQ & Troubleshooting

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If you tried adding it through the PayPal app, try adding it manually through Apple Wallet instead. Open Wallet, tap +, select Debit or Credit Card, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Yes, but you can only do so by adding your PayPal Debit Card, which is linked to your PayPal balance.
Yes, if you add your PayPal debit card to your Apple Wallet and make it your default payment method.
Beginning sometime in 2025, you'll be able to see your PayPal balance in Apple Wallet if you've linked your PayPal Debit Card.^{[7]
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If your bank doesn't support Apple Pay, you won't be able to add your debit card to your wallet. Contact your bank to see if they have plans to support Apple Pay.