Apple to Restore Card Payments for App Store and iCloud in India

By: Harsh Vardhan

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Updated on: 06-Jul-2026 09:00 PM

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​Apple is reinstating support for credit and debit card payments on the App Store and iCloud in India. This change comes five years after the company removed card payment options for Indian users. According to a report from Moneycontrol, Apple is currently testing the feature with a select group of users in the country.

Key Highlights

• Apple is testing credit and debit card payments for App Store and iCloud in India.
• Card payments were removed in 2021 after RBI’s tokenisation mandate took effect.
• Apple has complied with RBI rules, enabling the return of card payment options.

Background on Card Payment Removal

Apple discontinued card payments in India in 2021. This decision followed the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) mandate on card tokenisation. The mandate required only card networks to store tokenised card data, which must be stored locally within India. As a result, Indian customers could only use UPI, net banking, or prepaid Apple ID balances for purchases and subscriptions on Apple platforms.

Compliance with RBI Tokenisation Rules

Apple has now complied with the RBI’s tokenisation requirements. The company has adjusted its payment systems so that card networks handle tokenised data, and this data is stored locally in India. This compliance has enabled Apple to begin testing card payments again for App Store and iCloud purchases.

Currently, users can add their credit or debit card through the payment and shipping section in the settings on their iPhone or iPad. However, this feature remains in the testing phase and is available only to select users. Apple has not yet made a public announcement about the full rollout of card payment support in India.

Future Rollout and Apple Pay Efforts

It is expected that Apple will expand card payment support to all Indian users in the coming months. The company has also been working with banks and card networks to introduce Apple Pay in India. However, the launch of Apple Pay has faced delays due to the need to comply with RBI’s tokenisation and data localisation rules.

Globally, Apple stores tokenised payment data on local servers in countries such as the United States, Denmark (for the European Union), and China. In India, Apple reportedly does not plan to mirror tokenised data, as the company does not operate a data centre in the country and has no immediate plans to establish one.

Implications for Indian Users

Once fully implemented, Indian users will be able to use their credit or debit cards for App Store and iCloud purchases. This change will provide more flexibility and convenience for making payments on Apple platforms. The move is expected to benefit users who prefer card payments over UPI or net banking.