To receive money with Apple Pay, you need to turn on Apple Cash in Wallet, finish its setup, then use Messages or Wallet to request and accept payments on a compatible Apple device.

What Apple Pay vs Apple Cash Mean

  • Apple Pay is the system on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac that lets you pay in stores, apps, and on the web using cards stored in Wallet.
  • Apple Cash is a virtual prepaid card inside Wallet that holds the money you send or receive and that you can spend via Apple Pay or transfer to your bank.

Requirements before you start

  • A compatible Apple device (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac) signed in with your Apple ID and using a supported region for Apple Cash (such as the U.S.).
  • Latest iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS updates, plus two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID for security.
  • You must be old enough in your region (typically 18+) and may be asked to verify your identity when setting up Apple Cash.

Step 1 – Set up Apple Pay in Wallet

  1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the + button to add a card.
  1. Add a debit, credit, or prepaid card by scanning it with the camera or entering details manually, then follow your bank’s verification steps.
  1. Choose a default card if asked; you can still receive Apple Cash even if your default is a normal bank card.

Step 2 – Turn on and set up Apple Cash

  1. Open Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay on your iPhone.
  1. Make sure Apple Cash is toggled on at the top.
  1. Tap Apple Cash and follow the prompts: agree to terms, confirm your name and address, and complete any requested identity verification.
  1. Once set up, an Apple Cash card appears in Wallet; this is where received money will land.

Step 3 – Choose auto‑accept or manual accept

  • By default, money you receive is auto‑accepted and goes straight to your Apple Cash balance.
  • To switch to manual: go to Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay → Apple Cash and choose Manually Accept Payments , which makes you tap Accept each time in Messages.

Step 4 – How to receive money (the actual flow)

When someone sends you money

  • The sender uses Apple Pay/Apple Cash from Messages or Wallet to send you a payment tied to your Apple ID phone number or email.
  • You see a payment bubble in your Messages conversation; if auto‑accept is on, it goes right into your Apple Cash card, otherwise you tap the bubble and then Accept.

How you request money

  1. Open Messages and start a conversation with the person who should pay you.
  1. Tap the + (or app drawer icon), then choose Apple Cash or the Apple Pay icon.
  1. Enter the amount and tap Request , then send the message; the other person can fulfill it directly via Apple Pay.
  1. In some iOS versions, if you type “Can you send me 10?” the amount becomes tappable so they can pay with Apple Cash in one step.

Using the Wallet app to send or request

  • Open Wallet , tap your Apple Cash card, then tap Send or Request to choose a contact, enter an amount, and complete the action with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.
  • This is handy if you prefer not to go through Messages but still want peer‑to‑peer payments over Apple Cash.

Step 5 – Move money from Apple Cash to your bank

  1. Open Wallet and tap your Apple Cash card.
  1. Tap Transfer to Bank (or Transfer to Bank Account), enter the amount, and tap Next.
  1. Choose Instant Transfer (usually with a small fee) or 1–3 Business Days (typically free), then confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.
  1. You may need to add and verify a bank account or eligible debit card the first time you transfer.

Quick FAQ and gotchas

  • If you do not see Apple Cash: it may not be available in your country or on your current Apple ID region settings.
  • If payments keep pending: check you finished Apple Cash setup and identity verification, and ensure the sender is also in a supported region using a compatible device.
  • For business use: Apple Pay for accepting customer payments generally goes through a payment processor or gateway rather than personal Apple Cash, and setup steps differ from person‑to‑person transfers.

TL;DR: Turn on Apple Cash in Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay, complete setup so your Apple Cash card appears in Wallet, then use Messages or Wallet’s Send or Request to receive money and optionally transfer it to your bank.

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