Apple Restores Card Payments in India After Four-Year Gap

Apple has quietly reintroduced credit and debit card payments for Apple Account purchases in India, putting an end to a four-year freeze. This change allows millions of potential customers to buy apps, music, and subscriptions from Apple’s ecosystem without needing workarounds.

What Happened — And Why It Took So Long

In 2022, Apple halted card payment support for its Apple Account (previously called Apple ID) purchases in India. The issue stemmed from a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rule that required “additional factor authentication.” This meant users had to complete a second verification step, like entering a one-time password, for every recurring payment. Apple’s billing system couldn’t meet that requirement, so the company chose to disable card payments entirely rather than risk failed transactions.

Imagine a vending machine that only accepts exact change. Instead of modifying it, Apple simply unplugged it from the Indian market.

Now, four years later, Apple seems to have completed the necessary engineering work to comply. The company is rolling out the card payment option in phases. Not every user in India will see this option right away. Apple is gradually enabling card support in batches, a common strategy for testing payment systems at scale.

What You Can Now Buy With a Card

The restored card payment option covers purchases made through an Apple Account, which includes:

• Apps and in-app purchases from the App Store
• Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions
• iCloud storage plans
• Apple Arcade games

Before this change, Indian users had to rely on third-party payment methods, buy Apple gift cards at physical stores, or use UPI (Unified Payments Interface — India’s instant payment system). While UPI is still an option, card payments offer users more flexibility, especially for those who like to earn rewards points on credit card purchases.

Why India Matters So Much to Apple Right Now

India ranks as one of the fastest-growing smartphone markets globally. Apple has been making significant investments there, opening retail stores, shifting iPhone manufacturing, and courting younger, upwardly mobile consumers. By removing this payment barrier, even one that mainly affected premium users with credit cards, Apple takes a meaningful step toward capturing a larger share of consumer spending.

India’s middle class represents a huge opportunity for Apple’s services revenue. This revenue stream has become increasingly vital to Apple’s overall business. Services like subscriptions, App Store fees, and licensing now contribute significantly to Apple’s profits. By locking Indian users out of straightforward card payments, Apple was missing out on potential earnings.

What This Means for Everyday Users

If you’re an iPhone or iPad user in India, this change means you won’t have to search for a gift card or set up a separate UPI account just to pay for an app or renew your iCloud plan. You can now add a Visa, Mastercard, or similar card directly to your Apple Account and pay just like you would anywhere else in the world.

The rollout is gradual, so if you don’t see the card option yet, check back in the coming weeks. Apple usually wraps up these rollouts within one to two months.

For those who were already using UPI or gift cards, don’t worry. Those payment methods will still be available. Card support is an additional option, not a replacement.

Community Reaction

“Finally. I’ve been buying gift cards from grocery stores for three years just to pay for iCloud storage. This is embarrassingly overdue.”

“Good news but Apple took way too long on this. Google Pay and other services figured out RBI compliance ages ago.”

What To Watch

• Phased rollout completion: Apple hasn’t provided a specific date for full availability. Keep an eye out for the card option in Settings under your Apple Account payment methods — most users should see it within 4 to 8 weeks if the rollout goes as planned.
• RBI policy changes: India’s central bank continues to update its digital payments rules. Any new requirements for recurring billing could impact how Apple’s system operates moving forward.
• Apple’s India expansion: With manufacturing increasing and retail stores now open in Mumbai and Delhi, Apple is clearly committed to the market. Expect more India-specific announcements at or around the next major Apple event.

Sources: TechCrunch — Apple brings back card payments in India | 9to5Mac — Apple Account updates