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Changing your Apple payment method is simple and straightforward on a Mac. If you use the Family Sharing feature, you might occasionally have to update the default payment option. Below, we'll walk through the steps to cover how to change the payment method on the App Store.
Related: How to Share Purchases but Not Payment Methods in Family Sharing
Why You’ll Love This Tip
- Easily update the default payment method on your Family Sharing account.
- Conveniently remove outdated payment methods so they are no longer listed.
How to Add a Different Payment Method on Family Sharing on Mac
Note: Since the family organizer’s payment method is used for the Family Sharing group, only the family organizer can change the payment method. If you're not the family organizer, you'll have to ask that person to help you out.
The following steps assume that you already have Family Sharing set up and just wish to change the credit card you’re using. For more tips on managing your Apple account and subscriptions, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter. Now, here's how to change the family payment method on a shared account:
- Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner.
![Click to open the Apple menu.]()
- Click System Preferences.
![Click on System Preferences…]()
- Click Family Sharing.
![Click Family Sharing to access your Apple ID payment settings.]()
- Click Purchase Sharing.
![Click Purchase Sharing to access your Apple Store payment methods.]()
- Click the Edit button next to Shared Payment Methods.
![Click the Edit button next to Shared Payment Methods. This is how to use a different payment method on Family Sharing.]()
- If prompted, enter your Apple ID and password and select Sign In.
![If prompted, enter your Apple ID and password to sign in.]()
- Click Add Payment.
![Click Add Payment to add a new App Store payment method.]()
- Enter your new credit card information and click Done.
![Enter the new credit card information, then click Done.]()
- In the Manage Payments screen, click the arrow keys to change which credit card is listed first. The card at the top of the list is the default payment method.
![In the Manage Payments screen, click the arrow keys to change which credit card is on top – this is the one that will be used by default.]()
- If you want to remove an outdated payment method, click Edit.
![]()
- Click Remove Payment Method to delete the old payment information.
![If you want to remove a credit card entirely, click Edit, then click Remove Payment Method.]()
Now you've successfully updated your Apple Family Sharing payment method! By default, your Family Sharing plan will charge the credit card at the top of the list. However, if that payment method is declined, Apple will try the next payment option on the list. So if you don’t want a credit card to be used at all, I recommend removing it from the list.
