iPhone and Apple Watch users who prefer to pay with Apple Cash instead of other apps like Venmo can now send or receive money in person using Tap to Cash. All transactions using this method are private, meaning your phone number and email are not shared with the other party. Let’s take a look at how you can use Tap to Cash.
Requirements
To use Tap to Cash, you and the other person must have an iPhone updated to iOS 18 or an Apple Watch running watchOS 11. Naturally, you must already have a verified Apple Cash account. If you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, it’s fine to use cellular data.
It’s important to remember that you can only send or receive a maximum of $2,000 per seven-day period. The minimum amount you can send is $1, and the maximum amount is $2,000. These limits are unique to Tap to Cash, and if you need to pay more, you’ll need to switch to Messages.
Apple Cash is currently only available in the US. For those outside the US, you’ll have to rely on other payment methods. Venmo is also only available in the US.
Tap to Cash on iPhone
On your iPhone, open the Wallet app and look for your Apple Cash card. Note that you won’t be able to do this by double-clicking your iPhone’s side button to go into Apple Pay – you’ll need to unlock your phone and open the Wallet app directly. Select “Send or Request” and then tap “Tap to Cash”. You can then enter the amount you want to pay the recipient, and there’s an option to add a note specifying the reason or context for the payment. Tap “Next” to proceed.
You’ll now need to double-click the side button to confirm your payment, ensuring you’re paying the recipient. After doing so, hold your iPhone in a way that its top is close to the recipient’s iPhone or Apple Watch. Confirm that the transaction has gone through, and you’re free to make another transaction.
To check the transaction, open the Wallet app and tap on your Apple Cash card. The transaction should be under “Latest Transactions” and have a Tap to Cash icon next to it.
Tap to Cash on Apple Watch
The process is similar to using Tap to Cash on iPhone. You need to first open your Wallet, tap on your Apple Cash card and then choose “Tap to Cash”. Enter how much you want to send and proceed by tapping “Next”.
Double-click the side button to initiate the transaction. Hold your Apple Watch next to the recipient’s Apple Watch or iPhone before making sure the money has been sent. You can also view the latest transactions by opening Wallet, tapping your card, and tapping a transaction to see if the information says “via Tap to Cash.”