Send Apple Pay in a Group Chat: iPhone & iPad

This guide shows you how to send money to multiple people at once using Apple Pay right inside a group conversation on your iPhone or iPad. You’ll be able to split a bill, collect payment for an event, or just send cash to a few friends without opening a separate app. Before you start, make sure you have Apple Pay set up with a debit or credit card in the Wallet app, and that you and your recipients are using iMessage (blue bubbles) with Apple Pay enabled.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone or iPad with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode enabled.
Apple Pay set up in the Wallet app with at least one supported card.
iMessage turned on (Settings > Messages > iMessage) and signed in with your Apple ID.
All participants in the group chat must also have iMessage enabled and Apple Pay set up on their devices.
You must be in a group iMessage conversation (not SMS/MMS, which shows green bubbles).

Step-by-Step

Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
Select the group conversation where you want to send the payment. If you haven’t created the group yet, tap the compose button (square with a pencil) in the top right, add the contacts, and type a message to start the group.
Make sure you’re in the message input area (the text field at the bottom). If the keyboard isn’t visible, tap the text field.
Tap the Apps button (the blue App Store icon with an “A” on it) to the left of the text field. If you don’t see it, swipe left on the row of app icons above the keyboard to find it.
In the app drawer that appears, tap the Apple Pay icon (it looks like a dollar sign or a payment card). If you don’t see it, swipe left or tap “More” to find it.
Use the + and − buttons or the keypad to enter the amount you want to send to each person. This is the amount per person, not the total. For example, if you’re splitting a $60 dinner among 3 people, enter 20.
If you want to add a note (like “Dinner split”), tap the text field that says “Add a note” and type a short message. This note will be visible to everyone in the chat.
Tap the Pay button in the top right corner of the Apple Pay window.
Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. You’ll see a confirmation on the screen.
Tap the Send button (the blue up-arrow) to send the payment request to the group. Each person in the group will receive a separate Apple Pay request for the amount you entered.

Common Mistakes

Entering the total instead of the per-person amount. The amount you enter is what each person gets charged. If you enter the total, everyone gets charged the full amount, which is likely not what you want.
Using a group chat that’s not iMessage. If the group has green bubbles, it’s SMS/MMS and Apple Pay won’t work. You need an iMessage group (blue bubbles) with everyone using Apple devices.
Forgetting to authenticate. You must confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode before you can send. If you skip this, the payment won’t go through.
Sending to a group where someone hasn’t set up Apple Pay. The payment will fail for that person, and you’ll get an error. Make sure everyone has Apple Pay enabled.
Not having a card in Wallet. If you have no cards added, Apple Pay won’t work. Add a card in Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay.

Tips

You can also request money (rather than send) by tapping the “Request” button in the Apple Pay window. This sends a request for each person to pay you.
If you want to split a bill unevenly, you can send separate Apple Pay payments to individual people in the group, or use a third-party app that supports split payments.
Check the payment status in the conversation: a “Sent” or “Pending” label appears under the payment bubble. Tap it to see details like whether it was accepted or declined.
You can cancel a payment if it hasn’t been accepted yet. Tap the payment bubble and select “Cancel Payment.”
Make sure your device is updated to the latest iOS or iPadOS version to avoid compatibility issues.

Troubleshooting

Apple Pay icon isn’t showing in the app drawer. Tap the Apps button, then tap “More” (the three dots) and make sure Apple Pay is enabled. If it’s not listed, restart the Messages app or your device.
The Pay button is grayed out. This usually means you haven’t entered an amount, or you haven’t authenticated. Enter an amount greater than zero, and make sure you have a card set up.
You get an error saying “Apple Pay is not available.” Check that you’re in an iMessage conversation (blue bubbles), that your device supports Apple Pay, and that you have a card in Wallet. Also, make sure you’re in a supported region.
Someone in the group can’t receive the payment. They may not have Apple Pay set up, or their device may be incompatible. Ask them to check their Wallet app and iMessage settings.
The payment says “Pending” for a long time. This can happen if the recipient hasn’t accepted it yet, or if there’s a network issue. Wait a bit, or ask them to check their Messages app.
You accidentally sent the wrong amount. If the payment hasn’t been accepted, you can cancel it. If it’s been accepted, you’ll need to ask the recipient to send the difference back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send Apple Pay to a group chat with Android users?

No. Apple Pay in Messages only works with iMessage, which is exclusive to Apple devices. Android users won’t be able to receive the payment through the group chat.

Does each person get charged the same amount?

Yes, the amount you enter is the amount each person is requested to pay. There’s no built-in way to set different amounts for different people in a single Apple Pay group send.

Can I use a credit card with Apple Pay for group payments?

Yes, you can use any card that’s added to your Wallet, including credit cards. However, some cards may charge cash advance fees for person-to-person payments, so check with your bank.

Is there a limit on how much I can send?

Apple doesn’t publicly state a specific limit for Apple Pay in Messages, but your bank or card issuer may have its own limits. If you hit a limit, you’ll see an error message.

Can I request money from the group instead of sending?

Yes. In the Apple Pay window, tap “Request” instead of “Pay.” Each person will get a request to send you the specified amount.

What happens if someone doesn’t accept the payment?

The payment will remain in a “Pending” state until they accept or decline it. You can cancel it if they haven’t accepted it yet, and they’ll be notified of the cancellation.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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