Apple has started restoring card payments for Apple Account purchases in India, more than four years after removing the option. The phased rollout lets eligible users add Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards to pay for App Store purchases and subscriptions such as iCloud+ and Apple Music.
The change gives Indian users another payment option beyond UPI, net banking and Apple Account balance. Apple’s updated payment methods support page now lists Visa and Mastercard among the methods available for Apple Account purchases in India.
Apple suspended card payments in India in May 2022 after changes to the country’s recurring payments framework disrupted subscription billing for many companies. Since then, users have mainly relied on UPI, net banking and prepaid Apple Account balances for digital purchases.
Apple Adapts to India’s Payment Rules
The return of card payments shows how Apple is adjusting its services to local regulation in one of its most important growth markets. India’s payments rules required merchants and payment providers to adopt stronger authentication for recurring card payments and shift to tokenized card credentials.
The Reserve Bank of India says token requestors cannot store a customer’s primary card number or other card details. Actual card data and related information must be stored securely by approved token service providers, such as card networks or issuers.
Apple has made the back-end changes needed to support cards under India’s framework, according to a person familiar with the matter cited by TechCrunch. The rollout has begun for some users and is expected to expand to all eligible accounts over time.
The change removes a long-running friction point for subscriptions. Counterpoint Research director Tarun Pathak told TechCrunch that restoring cards should help subscription renewals, especially as Apple’s installed base in India continues to grow.
India Becomes More Important for Apple
Apple’s services business in India has continued to grow despite the absence of direct card payments. However, more payment choices are becoming important as more Indian users subscribe to services, buy apps and store payment details across devices.
The update also comes as Apple faces country-specific digital market rules in several regions. The company has had to revise parts of its App Store business in Europe, while regulatory changes in Japan and South Korea have also affected app distribution and payments.
The return of card payments is likely to renew speculation about Apple Pay in India. Apple has not announced any plan to launch the mobile payments service in the country.
For now, the change is limited to Apple Account purchases and subscriptions. It marks a practical step toward making Apple’s digital services easier to use in India after years of payment restrictions.
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