Apple Pay probably sounds like a natural extension when purchasing stuff, whether online or offline. It makes mobile transactions easy and secure with near-field communication (NFC), just by holding your phone over the reader when paying. Apple Pay Services is a third-party payment solution developed by Apple Inc. for iOS devices. The service competes directly with Google Wallet and other digital wallet services for mobile payments on smartphones or tablets. Despite being such a great service, some users are wondering Why Apple Pay services are currently unavailable. Let’s find out what is causing this issue and what are a few different ways to fix the problem.
A number of users have been reporting the inability to use Apple Pay services on their iPhone. Whenever they try to use their card, they get an error message: “Apple Pay Services are Currently Unavailable” and no payment will go through.
Why Apple Pay Services Are Currently Unavailable | Causes & Solution
Apple Pay was launched in 2016, so understandably, there are some kinks to work out. It’s not available in every country or region, but we have seen mixed reactions where it is available. There is no set timeline for when they will become available in a particular area or country. Apple Pay services are currently unavailable.
Users in many areas reported error messages when trying to use Apple Pay through their banks or stores. The official Apple Pay Twitter page has tweeted that they are aware of the error and working on a fix.
Why Apple Pay Services are Currently Unavailable
- Restricted access to Apple Pay Services
- You have disabled Apple Pay Services on your device
- Your card has been deactivated or canceled because of fraud or unauthorized transactions
- The device you’re using cannot accept the type of payment needed for an experience you want to purchase
- There’s an error with your transaction authorization or item availability in the near future
- Your device has been identified as having a problem that prevents Apple Pay from working correctly
A few of the causes are due to the iPhones and iPads. There are slight differences in processors, screen sizes, and other features that determine if an Apple Pay feature works correctly on a device. Some smaller devices have a different way of storing information about different cards that use the Apple Pay feature.
How to Fix Apple Pay Services are Currently Unavailable
It may seem like a minor inconvenience, but Apple Pay is one of the easiest ways to pay with your smartphone. Now that it’s broken, many retailers cannot accept Apple Pay payments, making everyday life more difficult for those who usually use it.
Many Apple users have been experiencing difficulties in using their Apple Pay Services. If you are one of them, here are the steps to fix this issue:
Restart your phone: Restart your iPhone/iPad and try using Apple Pay again. This should hopefully resolve the issue for you. Restarting the device can help fix bugs and issues with some apps. If this is not a recurring problem, you may consider not worrying about it.
Turn off VPN: Make sure your VPN is disabled/ turned off. If your iPhone is connected to a VPN, there is a high possibility that your apple pay service may not work perfectly.
Try changing Region: Log out of your current region and log into another region. Try to re-enable Apple Pay again in your new region because apple pay service is available in limited areas.
Enable Phone Data: Make sure you keep your phone data on. This will help ensure you can keep using Apple Pay. If you are using a Wi-Fi network and cannot connect, you can try turning on cellular data.
Log out and Log in back: Try logging out and logging in again to your apple account. This may resolve some issues. If you have more than one payment method, try resetting all cards.
Try re-adding your card: If your apple pay service is not working, this may concern your card. Remove your card and then re-add it to the app. Your service will come back on.
Reset Network Settings: Before resetting your network settings, ensure you back up your data on your iOS device and take a little precaution.
Update to the latest iOS version: If you haven’t updated to the latest iOS version (4.3 or later), please do so; you need these to support the new payments feature of iOS 8. It’s recommended to update your Apple device to its latest version.
If you’re using an iPhone 6 or beyond, the problem is likely because of iOS 11.2 encryption issues with some bank cards, which leads to a “Services are Currently Unavailable” message when users try to use their cards in apps that support Apple Pay and make a purchase.
FAQ
What is Apple Pay Service?
Apple Pay Services are based on the idea that people can pay for purchases using their iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. The technology works by using a special secure chip in the device and an app to complete the transaction. This makes it easy to buy things without carrying cash or queue up at an ATM when you’re out and about.
Is Apple Pay secure?
Apple Pay is one of the most secure forms of payment available. The service is secured by tokenization; when a customer uses Apple Pay to make a purchase, only a “token” generated by the service is transmitted to the merchant’s point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Furthermore, to ensure cardholders’ privacy, it’s important to note that merchants cannot retain any information about a purchase made with Apple Pay.
What are the benefits of using Apple Pay?
Apple Pay offers benefits for the user and merchant. For the end user, Apple Pay makes it easy to pay at a physical point of sale and also allows users to add their payment method to their Wallet. For the merchant, Apple Pay provides customers with an efficient alternative payment experience while at the point of sale.
What services are currently unavailable?
Apple Pay Services are currently unavailable on the App Store, iTunes Store, iBooks Store, and Mac App Store. However, some services, such as iCloud Keychain (Find My iPhone) and Find My Friends continue to work. Additionally, Apple Pay works with eligible card networks until service is restored.
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Conclusion | Apple Pay Services Are Currently Unavailable
Users must have a compatible device and a credit or debit card issued by a supported bank to use Apple Pay. Apple Pay only supports credit or debit cards from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
One of the most important features of Apple Pay is its security. Customers are notified if their card has been compromised and are prevented from using Apple Pay for fraudulent spending. You can still use Apple Pay Services with a credit or debit card. All of your existing transactions will be sent to your credit card or debit card, and all future transactions will be conducted with the same card. The company said on their fixing note that “the issue had nothing to do with recent or upcoming changes to Apple Pay.”