How to Fix iPhone 17 Apple Pay Not Working After iOS 26.3 Update

If Apple Pay stopped working after the iOS 26.3 update on your iPhone 17, the cause is often a Wallet verification problem, broken Face ID authentication, or an expired payment token that needs to be refreshed.

Use these steps to fix iPhone 17 Apple Pay not working after iOS 26.3 update.

Fix #1: Open Wallet and check for verification alerts

Open Wallet and look for any card that says verification needed. Complete the bank verification first, because Apple Pay will not work until the card is approved again.

Fix #2: Make sure Face ID is working normally

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and test Face ID. If it fails, set it up again. Apple Pay can also fall back to passcode, so make sure your passcode is active and accepted.

Fix #3: Restart the iPhone and test with another terminal

Restart the device, then test Apple Pay at another supported payment terminal. Sometimes the phone is working correctly but one reader is not syncing properly.

Fix #4: Remove and re-add the failing card

If only one card is affected, remove it from Wallet, reboot the phone, and add it back. This refreshes the encrypted token tied to Apple Pay transactions.

Fix #5: Update banking apps and install any new iOS patch

Open the App Store and update all financial apps. Then check for a newer iOS build under Settings > General > Software Update in case Apple has already pushed a payment-related fix.

Fix #6: Reset network settings if card activation keeps failing

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This can resolve activation failures caused by unstable data, VPNs, or Wi-Fi issues.

Related iPhone 17 fixes

If Apple Pay still does not work, contact your bank to confirm the card token is active and ask Apple Support to check Wallet diagnostics.