Confused about Wallet & Apple Pay

[dcs.79c]

I have some Apple gift cards that I got for Christmas.

Why does Apple forbid one from using Apple gift cards at Apple retailers like Best Buy?

I tried to add an Apple gift card & this came up:

Apple Pay cannot be used when automatic login is enabled.
Open Users & Groups settings to disable automatic login.

Does that mean that I have to turn off automatic login every time that I want to use Apple Wallet or Apple Pay & then turn it back on?

I'm confused about Apple Wallet vs Apple Pay. Based on what I've read online, Apple Wallet only works on iPhone. I don't have an iPhone; I have an Android phone. I do have a 2023 mini & a 2022 MacBook Air. Both have the M2 chip.

I just bought a wireless Apple keyboard. I read online that one needs to touch ID on the keyboard to make a payment. My keyboard doesn't have touch ID.

So, how do I set up Apple Wallet or is it Apple Pay on my Macs?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Automatic login means that you don't have Touch ID/Face ID or Passcode set on your phone and anyone can open it and use it. This is inherently VERY insecure.

Apple Wallet is a digital wallet on your phone. You can use it to store credit cards, debit cards, boarding passes, drivers license (in supported states), store cards (Panera, *****, etc.). Apple Wallet is also the way you can apply for Apple Card (a credit card) as well.

Apple Pay is the mechanism of using your iPhone with supported terminals to do touch less/contact less payments through any of the cards you've saved in the wallet.

Now that we've gotten the basics out of the way. Can you now see why automatic login would be a bad thing with Wallet use? This means that anyone can just grab your phone and buy whatever they wanted without any protection.

With touch ID/face ID or passcode set, every time you wish to use Apple Pay to pay for something with something from your wallet, you have to "login" or authenticate the purchase.

Now all of this is mute since the Apple Wallet is only available on iPhones as you've read.

With Android you'll need to use Google Pay which works similarly as a contact less/touch less payment mechanism. And like Apple Wallet/Pay, you will not be able to use Google Play unless you've put in the run security measures. Read more about Google Wallet.

 

[ferrarr]

I don't believe you can use Apple Gift Cards anywhere you want?

Apple Gift Card

The Apple Gift Card for everything Apple: products, accessories, services and more. Corporate gift cards and electronic gift cards are also available.

www.apple.com

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Oh yes, forgot to address the Apple Gift Card, which can only be used to purchase items from Apple itself (either online or in store). It cannot be used anywhere else.

 

[dcs.79c]

Oh yes, forgot to address the Apple Gift Card, which can only be used to purchase items from Apple itself (either online or in store). It cannot be used anywhere else.

OK, thank you for explaining why login is required. That makes sense.

Hmm, Apple Wallet is used on iPhones & Google Pay is used on Android phones.

I just checked the Google Play store. There's no app for Apple Pay. Maybe someday. Interesting! The Google Play Store has no Apple Pay app & the Apple App Store doesn't have a Google Pay app!

As you stated, I'd have to use Google Pay. A digital wallet is a neat idea. Based on what I've read online, a digital wallet is more secure than a physical credit card. Still, the thought of someone stealing my Android phone & wiping out my Apple gift cards makes me very nervous! I just got a Pixel 9. I can set the phone to lock if the phone detects that it has been stolen. Even if the phone is not stolen, the nefarious person would need to know the username & password to access Google Pay.

 

[MacInWin]

I have some Apple gift cards that I got for Christmas.

Why does Apple forbid one from using Apple gift cards at Apple retailers like Best Buy?

I tried to add an Apple gift card & this came up:

Apple Pay cannot be used when automatic login is enabled.
Open Users & Groups settings to disable automatic login.

Does that mean that I have to turn off automatic login every time that I want to use Apple Wallet or Apple Pay & then turn it back on?

I'm confused about Apple Wallet vs Apple Pay. Based on what I've read online, Apple Wallet only works on iPhone. I don't have an iPhone; I have an Android phone. I do have a 2023 mini & a 2022 MacBook Air. Both have the M2 chip.

I just bought a wireless Apple keyboard. I read online that one needs to touch ID on the keyboard to make a payment. My keyboard doesn't have touch ID.

So, how do I set up Apple Wallet or is it Apple Pay on my Macs?

Based on the line about Users & Groups, I presume this is on a Mac, not an iPhone. You can use Apple Pay on a Mac without an iPhone. There is a Wallet & Apple Pay area in Settings on the Mac into which you can add cards directly. You may even be able to add the Apple Gift cards there as well, but I think they do have to be used at Apple.

You didn't say what keyboard you got, but if it does not have the touch pad, I don't think it will authorize Apple Pay in any case. But you can try it to see what it does.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

OK, thank you for explaining why login is required. That makes sense.

Hmm, Apple Wallet is used on iPhones & Google Pay is used on Android phones.

I just checked the Google Play store. There's no app for Apple Pay. Maybe someday. Interesting! The Google Play Store has no Apple Pay app & the Apple App Store doesn't have a Google Pay app!

As you stated, I'd have to use Google Pay. A digital wallet is a neat idea. Based on what I've read online, a digital wallet is more secure than a physical credit card. Still, the thought of someone stealing my Android phone & wiping out my Apple gift cards makes me very nervous! I just got a Pixel 9. I can set the phone to lock if the phone detects that it has been stolen. Even if the phone is not stolen, the nefarious person would need to know the username & password to access Google Pay.

Android devices and iDevices (iPhone, iPad, Watch, TV, etc.) run different operating systems and the apps aren't interchangeable.

So no, Apple Pay will never be supported on non-iPhone devices, just as Google Pay will only work on Android devices. Samsung has created their own Samsung Pay for Android devices. While all of these systems are based on the same technology (NFC), they are device-specific.

Yes, the wallet is convenient since you don't have to pull out the physical card to pay. However, you have to take the appropriate steps to secure the device. And that doesn't mean token protection like using 1234 as your passcode or the line drawing that Android uses by just swiping right or down or something simple.

Taking security seriously is very important to protect yourself and your data.

 

[dcs.79c]

Can I use the physical Apple gift cards on the Apple website without storing them in Google Pay?

Let's say that I want to buy the AirPods Max headphones. When I go to checkout, can I just enter the 16-digit code on the Apple gift cards to pay for the headphones & use my credit card to pay the balance?

 

[Rod]

Not sure about the above question, I think you could scan the cards on an iPhone but as you don't have one by far the easiest way would be at a physical Apple Store or licenced reseller. Is that not an option for you?

 

[MacInWin]

Can I use the physical Apple gift cards on the Apple website without storing them in Google Pay?

Let's say that I want to buy the AirPods Max headphones. When I go to checkout, can I just enter the 16-digit code on the Apple gift cards to pay for the headphones & use my credit card to pay the balance?

Try it to see if it has an option to use gift cards at checkout. If not, you can just cancel the purchase and leave the store.

 

[Rod]

Yep, give it a try, I'd be interested to know the result myself.

 

[dcs.79c]

Not sure about the above question, I think you could scan the cards on an iPhone but as you don't have one by far the easiest way would be at a physical Apple Store or licenced reseller. Is that not an option for you?

Licensed reseller?
I thought that Apple forbid one buying Apple products from other than an Apple store or the Apple website. Please give an example of a licensed reseller.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Can I use the physical Apple gift cards on the Apple website without storing them in Google Pay?

Let's say that I want to buy the AirPods Max headphones. When I go to checkout, can I just enter the 16-digit code on the Apple gift cards to pay for the headphones & use my credit card to pay the balance?

First read this article about adding money to your Apple Account Balance

Add money to your Apple Account balance - Apple Support

Use a payment method, such as a credit or debit card, to add funds to your Apple Account balance. Then use your Apple Account balance to buy apps, games, music, iCloud+, and more.

support.apple.com

Next, read this article about what you can and can't purchase with an Apple Gift Card

What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance - Apple Support

Find out what you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance.

support.apple.com

If you can't figure out how to use the Apple Gift Card online, then just visit your local Apple Store and they'll help you with using the gift card for a portion of your purchase and the remaining on your credit card.

Licensed reseller?
I thought that Apple forbid one buying Apple products from other than an Apple store or the Apple website. Please give an example of a licensed reseller.

Correct, ignore the licensed reseller part. You can only use the Apple Gift Card at an Apple store on online at Apple