You should only need to enter the Passcode when you first put the Watch on. If the Watch keeps locking - therefore requiring you to keep using the passcode - then (1) it is probably being worn too loosely or (2) there is something wrong with the wrist detection sensor. (Generally the too loose issue.)But yes - to use Passbook cards - you need to have a Passcode. All other functions of the Watch will work without having a Passcode. Answer from swandy on discussions.apple.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › apple pay with no passcode
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: Apple Pay with no passcode
January 13, 2020 -
Hi I’m really concerned about safety with Apple Pay on Apple Watch. Specifically the lack of it. I think it’s BS to pull out my phone to unlock it to pay with watch and typing the code is unsafe imho. But I’m wondering - is there some way to enable paying to some amount ( like 4$) without these? Being that my city accepts cards as form of paying for transport it would be handy. Thanks in advance
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Once your watch has been unlocked you shouldn’t have to type your password in for Apple Pay unless it’s removed from your wrist anytime in between. Just a double tap of the side button brings it up. It’s possible if you’re having to enter your password in again that the wrist contact isn’t perfect. As for the phone it’s quite intuitive to double tap the appropriate button and either scan you face or if an older model your finger is already on the button to scan. Much quicker than pulling a card out of a wallet in any instance.
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There is a bit to unpack here, but it sounds like you would like to use your watch as a transit pass (e.g. a Visa card as a form of public transport ticket). It does exist in the form of Express Transit . If your current transport system does not support it, I am sure an email to them would go a bit of the ways of changing that. As for safety, it is a bit strange that you talk about having to type a code in for Apple Pay. Pay with Apple Watch To use your default card, double-click the side button and hold the display of your Apple Watch within a few centimetres of the contactless reader. Wait until you feel a gentle tap.
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You should only need to enter the Passcode when you first put the Watch on. If the Watch keeps locking - therefore requiring you to keep using the passcode - then (1) it is probably being worn too loosely or (2) there is something wrong with the wrist detection sensor. (Generally the too loose issue.)But yes - to use Passbook cards - you need to have a Passcode. All other functions of the Watch will work without having a Passcode.
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The real problem is that when the watch is off your wrist, you cannot check any other function; such as messages, or use any of the apps, unless you type the password. In essence, you cannot use the watch for anything other than to tell time, when it is off your wrist, unless you key in the password.It would be better if the password was required only for occasions when you are trying to use apple pay, not for any function that depends on an app.
Videos
02:55
How to use Apple Pay on your Apple Watch | Apple Support - YouTube
01:17
How To Use Apple Pay On Apple Watch - Full Guide - YouTube
04:35
How to Set Up Apple Pay on Apple Watch 11 - YouTube
02:42
How to Use Apple Pay on Apple Watch Series 9: A Step-by-Step Guide ...
01:44
Apple Watch 10: How to Use Apple Pay - YouTube
01:55
How To Use Apple Pay On Apple Watch - YouTube
MacRumors
forums.macrumors.com › apple services › apple music, apple pay/card, icloud, fitness+
Does Apple Pay on Apple Watch work without iPhone passcode? | MacRumors Forums
June 26, 2019 - Thank you. ... There have to be cards in the iPhone's Wallet for it to work on the Watch. And I don't believe you will be able to use Wallet without using a passcode on the iPhone.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › apple pay without passcode
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: Apple Pay without passcode
March 21, 2024 -
I have the new Apple Watch 10. My roommate has an Apple Watch maybe 7 and he can double tap the long button on the side and his Apple Pay or credit card comes right up. No passcode needed. It does not prompt him, I watched it. But with mine it says I need to have a passcode set up. I would like to use Apple Pay on my watch but there’s no way I’m using a password to open my watch every single time. I tried to match his settings but it did nothing. Why can his do it and mine can’t?
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Your friend has a passcode set up on his watch. It’s impossible to use Apple Pay without it. It knows when you take it off so you can unlock your watch once in the morning when you put it on and it’ll stay unlocked all day until you take it off. Also, you can set it to unlock when you unlock your phone.
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Once you set up a passcode on your watch, the default is that your watch unlocks with the passcode or the next time you unlock your phone with Face ID or passcode. As long as you keep the watch on it’ll stay unlocked and Apple Pay works. When you take your watch off it’ll lock and disable Apple Pay until you put it on and enter the passcode or unlock your phone with Face ID or passcode again. It does not need to be unlocked every time you use it, just once each time you put it on. The settings involved are in the Watch app under Passcode: -Unlock with iPhone (on) -Wrist detection (on)
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255605062
Does Apple Pay/always need a passcode 6-2… - Apple Community
Tap "My Watch". Select "General". Toggle "Wrist Detection" on or off depending on your preference. (Turning it off might require a passcode more often for security). That's not where the Wrist detection setting is to be found. ... This thread has been closed by the system or the community team.
Wareable
wareable.com › home › complete guide: how to use apple pay and wallet on the apple watch
Complete guide: How to use Apple Pay and Wallet on the Apple Watch - Wareable
April 24, 2025 - No. You have to have a passcode enabled on your Apple Watch to enable Apple Pay.
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254542639
Use wallet without having passcode on pho… - Apple Community
No provider connected to the watch The option to set an access code (turn on/off) is greyed out Option of wear detection is only option which can be turned on/off in the security setting screen of the access code Please help I wish to use card payments with this watch. That was no problem with my Apple Watch Ultra (1) and now it is with my Apple Watch Ultra 2. 539 1 ... Thanks for the idea. Unfortunately that will not work for him. He just has use of one hand so he usually sets his phone down somewhere to type into it - his face isn’t in view and he has enough trouble using the phone without trying to touch a certain area or hold it.
Apple
support.apple.com › en-ca › guide › watch › apd76424826d › watchos
Use Apple Pay on Apple Watch - Apple Support (CA)
Note: You can’t use Apple Pay, and any cards you added to Wallet are removed, if you unpair your Apple Watch or turn off your passcode.
Quora
quora.com › If-Apple-Watch-can-be-used-for-Apple-Pay-without-any-authentication-isnt-it-insecure-if-stolen
If Apple Watch can be used for Apple Pay without any authentication, isn't it insecure if stolen? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): Apple Watch is first paired with a compatiable iPhone. This is protected by either password, TouchID or both. When Apple Pay is active on Apple Watch sensors pair it with your body. This means that if for any reason the watch is removed, it will break the link and Apple Pay would...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › how to use apple pay without iphone? can't even turn it on on watch
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: How to use Apple pay without iPhone? Can't even turn it ON on Watch
May 14, 2025 -
WatchOS 11.5; added Apple pay same card through IPhone - 14 Pro max iOS 18.5... Side button double click is not working - it leads me into home screen of watch (Wi-Fi etc); all videos showing how to aren't working for me... If anyone can assist how to, what to do - if appreciate it... Tia
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Configure from watch application on your iPhone (same app u use to configure Apple Watch with your iPhone )
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The wallet and apple pay app should be present on your watch, as mentioned above, check the watch app from your phone, you should see that in the app list, if it isn’t there, try updating, pr reseting your watch, after backing it up first, if it’s present, set up apple pay from the watch app on your phone, even though if you have apple pay set up on your phone, it will simply mirror that, also check if your watch is linked to your phone when setting it up, I can’t think of anything else, I’m not on an apple pay supported country, and I still have it by simply changing my device region, so maybe have a look at your region setting, on your phone and watch if they are set correctly and also set the watch to mirror phones region settings.
The Mac Observer
macobserver.com › home › how to set up and use apple pay on apple watch: full guide
How to Set Up and Use Apple Pay on Apple Watch: Full Guide
September 3, 2025 - Add a supported transit card or choose a payment card as your Express Transit Card. Set this in the iPhone Watch app or directly on Apple Watch in Wallet settings. At gates, hold the watch near the reader.
The Mac Observer
macobserver.com › home › how to remove passcode on apple watch [without data loss]
How to Remove Passcode on Apple Watch [Without Data Loss]
September 3, 2025 - This guide explains how to turn off and remove the passcode on your Apple Watch, what to do if the option is greyed out, and what happens after you remove it! ... Press the Digital Crown to go to the apps screen. Tap Settings, then choose Passcode.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › remove passcode requirement on apple watch
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: Remove passcode requirement on Apple Watch
February 17, 2025 -
My apple watch keep asking me to create a passcode because my iphone requires it.
I am guessing this is due to having added some credit cards in the Wallet app on my iphone?
However,
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I do NOT want to setup a passcode for my apple watch. Its very annoying.
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I am OKAY with not being able to pay for anything on my apple watch
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I want to keep the credit cards and the ability to pay with them on my iPhone.
So, with those conditions being set, how do i bypass this stupid passcode requirement?
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My watch only asks for my passcode when I have taken it off. If it’s asking you more frequently there is something else going on. You can also just unlock your phone and that logs you back into your watch.
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Watch app > wallet and make sure there’s no cards there. Deleting them from watch will not delete from phone.
Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 108398
Set up Apple Pay - Apple Support
On Mac models without built-in Touch ID, you can complete your purchase using Apple Pay on your compatible iPhone or Apple Watch: On your iPhone, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and turn on Allow Payments on Mac.
MacRumors
forums.macrumors.com › iphone, ipad, and ipod touch › ios and ipados › older ios versions › ios 12
Apple Pay without lockscreen asking for passcode | MacRumors Forums
April 5, 2019 - You can go into settings on the iPhone's Apple Watch app and under 'passcode' enable 'unlock with iPhone'. When you unlocked your phone with Face ID your watch gets unlocked. I almost never type my passcode into my watch and I use Apple Pay ...
Apple Support
support.apple.com › guide › watch › use-apple-pay-for-contactless-payments-apdbe9c11bba › watchos
Use Apple Pay for contactless payments on Apple Watch - Apple Support
With your payment cards stored in the Wallet app on Apple Watch, you can use Apple Pay for secure, contactless payments in stores, restaurants, and more.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applewatch › primarily use apple pay on my watch
r/AppleWatch on Reddit: Primarily use Apple Pay on my Watch
March 7, 2025 -
When I am shopping in stores, I almost always use my Watch to pay at checkout. It’s become a natural reflex for me for payments now. Anyone else do this too? I thought I’d bring up the discussion because I feel like I rarely see others using their Watches to pay. I’ll even get comments occasionally from cashiers that will say something like - “I didn’t know you could use the Watch!”
If you primarily use your iPhone to pay in stores, let me know why. I’m genuinely curious to hear the benefits over the Watch!
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99% of the time use my phone rather than watch. Primarily because it’s it my hand already - I use my local grocery store’s app for a shopping list. Now if Apple notes came to the watch I wouldn’t need my phone in my hand for my shopping list at some stores like Costco. I thought I would use my watch more to scan into the gym, but the app I use to track my workouts is phone only so I can’t leave my phone at home or in the car.
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i love paying with my watch, feels futuristic as hell
Apple
support.apple.com › en-ca › 109015
Set up your Apple Watch - Apple Support (CA)
You need to enter the email address and password for that Apple Account to continue set up. If your Apple Watch was previously owned, you might need to contact the previous owner to remove Activation Lock. You can skip creating a passcode, but you need one for features like Apple Pay.
NordPass
nordpass.com › blog › forgot apple watch passcode
Tips in case you forgot the Apple Watch passcode | NordPass
Open the Settings app on your smartwatch. Scroll down to Passcode and then tap it. Choose Turn Passcode Off. At this point, you’ll see the message that cards used for Apple Pay will be removed from your Apple Watch if you turn off passcodes.
Quora
quora.com › If-you-try-to-pay-using-Apple-Pay-in-an-Apple-Watch-do-you-still-have-to-use-Face-ID-to-complete-the-transaction
If you try to pay using Apple Pay in an Apple Watch, do you still have to use Face ID to complete the transaction? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Nope. You just double-press the side button and hold your wrist near the terminal. You don’t have to look at your watch at all during the transaction. Just listen for the terminal beep and you know the payment was accepted.