It was one of the most anticipated news since months ago Tim Cook announced that before the end of 2016 Apple Pay would be a reality in Spain, and finally it has been confirmed. From today December 1 Apple Pay is a possible payment method in our country, and although it is a payment system whose main virtue is simplicity, it is something completely new so it is important to know its details. We will explain everything about the operation of Apple Pay in Spain, from its configuration to how it is paid with your iPhone or Apple Watch in any establishment.
Requirements
The most important thing is to have an Apple device that is compatible. You can make payments with your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac, although not all devices are done in the same way. Apple Pay compatibility with each device is as follows:
- iPhone SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, 7 and 7 Plus
- iPad mini 3 and 4, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro 9.7 and 12.9 Inches
- Original Apple Watch, series 1 and 2
- Any Mac from 2012 with macOS Sierra, as long as you have a compatible iPhone and Apple Watch
- MacBook Pro 2016 with TouchID
In addition to having a compatible device it is necessary that you have the card of one of the entities currently compatible with the system, which are Santander, American Express, Carrefour (PASS Card) and Ticket Restaurant. It is expected that new entities will soon be added to Apple Pay in Spain, but for now none has confirmed its intention to be part of this payment system.
How to add a card to Apple Pay
The procedure is very simple, although it may vary depending on your bank. Open the Wallet application, click on “Add credit or debit card” and take a photo of the card. You can also enter the data manually. You also need to enter a code that will be sent to you by SMS, and in some cases you will even have to call the entity to activate the card in Apple Pay. In my case, none of this has been necessary, and just entering the SMS code has been enough.
If you have an Apple Watch, you will automatically be asked if you want to add the card to the Apple watch. You can also do it at any time from the Watch application, in the “Wallet and Apple Pay” menu. The procedure is the same as in the case of the iPhone, you must confirm the code sent to you by SMS, and after a few seconds you will have the card in your Apple Watch ready to work.
Where to pay with Apple Pay
You can pay at any store that has a “Contactless” card reader, which you can easily identify by the sticker they have with a WiFi-like symbol. Why do some establishments also indicate that they are compatible with Apple Pay? Because their terminals are 100% compatible, that is, you will not have to enter any type of code to identify yourself, just use the Touch ID. In those that are not fully compatible, you will have to enter your card PIN for purchases over € 20. As the payment terminals are updated, it is assumed that this "double authentication" will disappear.
The list is already large and stores as important as ZARA, Cortefiel, Carrefour or gas stations such as Cepsa are included. Still not complete, since The English Court and Mercadona have long been compatible with these payments and do not appear in the list, so surely there are many more establishments compatible with Apple Pay than those indicated in this image, and the list will grow rapidly, without any doubt.
How to pay with Apple Pay
It is very easy to pay using Apple Pay once everything is set up on your iPhone. When you have to pay, notify the merchant that you will do it with a card so that you can approach the end of payment with the corresponding charge. Take out your iPhone and bring it closer to the POS terminal, the iPhone will immediately detect that a payment is going to be made and even if it is locked, the card will appear on the screen to use Apple Pay. At that time you can choose which one to pay, if you have several additions, you just have to place your fingerprint on the Touch ID sensor of the iPhone and the payment will be made. As we said before, if the establishment is compatible with Apple Pay, this is it. If not, you will have to enter the PIN if the purchase exceeds € 20.
The payments with the Apple Watch are just as simple. Double click on the button below La Corona, choose the card (if you have several) and bring the watch to the payment terminal. The transaction will be carried out without the need for any other identification, since the watch does not need it by requiring an unlock code every time you put it on your wrist.
Other payment methods
Apple Pay can also be used to pay within applications with your iPhone or iPad, and to pay on web pages, from your Mac, iPhone and iPad. But we will tell you that procedure later.
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