You can “Apple Pay someone” by using Apple Cash—Apple’s built‑in person‑to‑person payment feature—either through the Messages app or the Wallet app on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.

Quick scoop: the two main ways to send money

Method| Best for| How it works (short version)
---|---|---
Messages (iMessage)| Paying someone you’re already chatting with| Open the conversation → tap the + (Apps) button → choose Apple Cash → enter amount → tap Send → authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID/passcode. 1356
Wallet app| Sending/requesting money without opening a chat| Open Wallet → tap your Apple Cash card → tap Send or Request → pick a contact → enter amount → tap Send → authenticate. 13810

Note: Apple Cash person‑to‑person payments are only available in the United States , and both you and the recipient need Apple Cash set up.

Step‑by‑step: sending money via Messages (most common)

  1. Make sure Apple Cash is set up
    • Go to Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay → Apple Cash and turn it on if needed.
    • Add a debit card or bank account so funds can be pulled in if your Apple Cash balance is low.
  1. Open the conversation with the person you want to pay in the Messages app.
  1. Tap the + (or Apps) button to the left of the text field.
  1. Select Apple Cash from the app drawer.
  1. Enter the amount you want to send, then tap Send.
  1. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode (or double‑click the side button on newer iPhones).

The money is transferred instantly to the recipient’s Apple Cash balance, which they can spend with Apple Pay or transfer to their bank.

Step‑by‑step: sending money via the Wallet app

  1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad.
  1. Tap your Apple Cash card.
  1. Tap Send or Request (wording may vary slightly).
  1. Choose a contact (or add a new one) and enter the amount.
  1. Tap Send , then authenticate with Face ID/Touch ID/passcode.

This is handy when you’re not in an active chat or want to request money back later.

Other useful options

  • Tap to Cash (iOS 18+) : If both devices support it, you can hold the top of your iPhone near the other person’s iPhone to send money quickly.
  • Siri : Say something like “Send $20 to Alex using Apple Cash” after setting up Apple Cash; Siri will route it through Messages.
  • Pending payments : If the recipient hasn’t set up Apple Cash, they typically have about 7 days to accept; otherwise the funds return to you.

Requirements and limits to know

  • Country : Apple Cash person‑to‑person is U.S.‑only.
  • Device/OS : Needs an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch with Apple Pay/Apple Cash enabled and a supported iOS/watchOS version.
  • Funding : You can pay from your Apple Cash balance or a linked debit card; credit cards generally can’t be used for sending cash this way.
  • Security : Every send requires biometric or passcode authentication; transactions appear in your Wallet activity.

TL;DR

  • Open Messages → tap + → choose Apple Cash → enter amount → Send → authenticate.
  • Or open Wallet → tap Apple Cash → Send or Request → pick contact → enter amount → Send → authenticate.
  • Both people need Apple Cash and must be in the U.S.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.