Does McDonalds Take Apple Pay? Yes, McDonald’s takes Apple Pay as a mobile payment method in the restaurant, drive-thru, and mobile app! McDonald’s was a very early adopter of Apple Pay – as in years ahead of their competition. In 2020, McDonald’s had more than 30,000 locations worldwide (1). With over 1 billion iPhone users (2), it’s no surprise that many want to use Apple Pay to buy their meals.
But is it possible to use Apple Pay at McDonald’s?
Does McDonalds Take Apple Pay?
Yes, McDonald’s uses Apple Pay as a mobile payment method in the restaurant, drive-thru, and mobile app! McDonald’s was an early adopter of Apple Pay – years before the competition.
McDonald’s will accept Apple Pay as a payment method in all locations in the United States starting in 2021 and many others around the world. It was one of the first to adopt the Apple Pay platform. If you pay using Apple Pay in the United States, McDonald’s only accepts Visa debit or Visa credit cards associated with your Apple Pay wallet.
Does McDonalds Take Apple Pay – How to Use Apple Pay at McDonald’s (Step by Step)
To use Apple Pay at McDonald’s, you must first verify that Apple Pay is set up correctly on your iOS device. It is usually an iPhone or Apple Watch.
To do this, you must first add a debit or credit card to your Apple Pay Wallet app.
To add a debit or credit card to your Apple Pay Wallet, open the “Wallet” app and click the “+” symbol in the top right corner of the app. Next, you’ll need to take a photo of the card you want to use with Apple Pay, or manually enter your card details.
Once you’ve linked a debit or credit card to your Apple Pay Wallet, you can use it at McDonald’s just like you would any other purchase with Apple Pay.
Let’s walk through this process for anyone new to Apple Pay (don’t worry, it’s pretty easy!).
1) Double click the button on your iPhone
Quickly double-click or “double-click” the button on the outer right edge of the iPhone (the same button normally used to turn the phone’s screen on and off).
If done correctly, your Apple Wallet will automatically open with an image of your debit or credit card that you’ve added to your Wallet.
2) Use the Payment Terminal
Then you need to use the payment terminal (also called card reader) to pay for your items with Apple Pay.
To do this, you must hold your iPhone over the payment terminal with your Apple Wallet open on the iPhone (a few centimeters from the payment terminal). If done correctly, your payment will be automatically processed and your debit or credit card associated with your Apple Wallet will be charged.
That is it! Very easy, huh?
Using Apple Pay Inside McDonald’s with your Apple Watch
- First, double-tap the side button to the right of the screen.
- Then enter your password if prompted.
- Finally, hold the Apple Watch over the contactless payment reader until the payment is completed. That is it!
Using Apple Pay in the McDonald’s Drive-Thru window with your Apple Watch
First, tell the cashier that you are going to pay with Apple Pay and ask her to hand you the card reader. Why? Your Apple Watch must be in close contact with the payment terminal that is located in a drive-thru. Don’t worry, card readers have a long cord making this easy.
- Now double-tap the side button to the right of the screen.
- Then enter your password if prompted.
- Finally, hold the Apple Watch over the contactless payment reader until the payment is completed. That is it!
How to use Apple Pay at a McDonald’s kiosk with an iPhone.
If your McDonald’s has a self-service order kiosk, you’ll want to know how to use your iPhone to pay with Apple Pay.
- First, double-click the button on the right side of your iPhone.
- Then look at your iPhone screen if you’re using Face ID, place your finger on the home sensor if you’re using Touch ID, or enter your passcode.
- Finally, hold your iPhone over the kiosk’s contactless checkout reader, the machine where you would normally place your credit card. Keep holding until you hear a ping, see a green checkmark in the payment reader, or see a checkmark plus the word “Done” on your iPhone screen. That is it!
How To Use Apple Pay At McDonalds Drive-Thru?
Using Apple Pay at a McDonald’s drive-in is very similar to using Apple Pay in the store.
The only real difference is whether the McDonald’s drive-thru employee keeps the payment terminal out of the window so you can hold your phone over it or whether you have to hand your phone over to the drive-thru employee to make the payment.
Other than that, the process should be the same.
Using Apple Pay at a McDonald’s self-service kiosk with your Apple Watch
If your McDonald’s has a self-service order kiosk, you’ll want to learn how to use your iWatch to pay with Apple Pay.
- First, double-tap the side button to the right of the screen.
- Then enter your password if prompted.
- Finally, hold your Apple Watch over the kiosk’s contactless payment reader, the machine where you would normally place your credit card until payment is completed. That is it!
Using Apple Pay with McDonald’s mobile app
- Open the McDonald’s mobile app, log in and choose the location of your local restaurant.
- Choose your food and add it to your cart
- Go to your shopping cart, view your items and proceed with payment.
- Choose a pick-up or delivery time, fill in your details and choose ‘Apple Pay’ as the payment method.
Enjoy your food!
Does McDonalds Take Apple Pay – FAQ?
Is Apple Pay safe to use at McDonald’s?
Apple Pay is safe to use everywhere, including McDonald’s. Sure, you’ll want to be smart about it, but as long as you take the same precautions you would when using a credit or debit card, it should be perfectly safe.
Is there a fee to use Apple Pay at McDonald’s?
In general, there is no charge for using Apple Pay at McDonald’s or any other store or restaurant. The only time you will be charged is from your bank when you withdraw your overdraft. Otherwise, using Apple Pay is completely free.
Is there a limit to using Apple Pay at McDonald’s?
The only limit when using Apple Pay at McDonald’s is based on the amount you have available in the bank account linked to your Apple Wallet or within the bank’s limits.
What if you have trouble using Apple Pay at McDonald’s?
If you’re having trouble using Apple Pay at McDonald’s, the first thing to check is that you’ve correctly linked a debit card to your Apple Pay through the Wallet app on your iPhone.
If you do this and you know you have enough money available, you can always ask a McDonald’s employee if they can help you.
If you’re still not able to get things working properly, I suggest you visit Apple’s support page for more help.
Conclusion – Does McDonalds Take Apple Pay
In general, you should be able to use Apple Pay at just about any McDonald’s in the United States, including drive-thru. Using Apple Pay is free and easy to set up and use.
There are no limits on using Apple Pay beyond the limits you may have with the bank account associated with your Wallet app, and it’s completely safe to use at McDonald’s.
