Can’t Double Click To Pay On iPhone? Here’s Why & The Fix!

You can’t “double click to pay” on your iPhone and you’re not sure why. All you want to do is purchase something using Apple Pay! In this article, I’ll explain why it says “double-click to pay” on your iPhone and show you how to use the side button to activate Apple Pay.

What To Do When Your iPhone X Says “Double Click To Pay”

When your iPhone says “Double Click to Pay”, double-press the side button to confirm your Apple Pay purchase.

double click to pay iPhone x

Apple introduced this dialogue when they released iOS 11.1.1. Unfortunately, it has created a lot of confusion because it doesn’t tell you where to actually double-click.

My iPhone X Doesn’t Say “Double Click to Pay”

If you’re trying to make a purchase using Apple Pay on your iPhone X, but it doesn’t say “Double Click to Pay”, you may have accidentally turned off this feature.

Go to Settings -> Apple Pay & Wallet and make sure the switch next to Double-Click Side Button is turned on. If the switch is white and positioned to the left, tap it to turn it on. You’ll know the double-click feature is on when the switch is green.

turn off double click side button

Double Click To Pay Still Not Working?

If you still can’t double-click to pay after turning it on in the Settings app, there are a couple things you can do to try and fix the problem. First, try closing out of the App Store, just in case it crashed.

To close out of the App Store, open the app switcher by swiping up from the very bottom to the center of the display. Hold your finger in the center of the screen until all of your apps appear.

Then, press and hold on the App Store window until a small, red minus button appears in the upper left-hand corner of the app window. Finally, tap that red minus button to close out of the App Store.

iphone x app switcher

Restart Your iPhone X

If closing and reopening the app didn’t work, try restarting your iPhone X. It’s possible a different program or app crashed your iPhone’s software. Restarting your iPhone will give it a fresh start and usually fix minor software problems.

Simultaneously press and hold either volume button and the side button until “slide to power off” appears on the screen. Then, swipe the red and white power icon from left to right to turn off your iPhone X. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button to turn your iPhone back on!

turn off iPhone swipe red power icon

It’s Payday!

Apple Pay is working on your iPhone again! Next time you can’t double click to pay on your iPhone, you’ll know what it means and what to do. If you have any other questions about your iPhone X, leave us a comment down below.

All the best,
David L.

About Author

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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Nicola
1 year ago

Thank you to the poster, Like many others I was clicking the glass screen never occurred to me it was the home button.

Thalia
1 year ago

thanks tried all this and nothing has worked. i got a petrol station with no way to pay. not happy Apple

Brian
2 years ago

Hi there xsmax iPhone can’t get my double click to work I want in to settings and my double click button is on is there anything else I can thank you

JJgirl
2 years ago

Thank you! I was tapping the glass too! Thanks for those who replied saying to click the side button!!

Bec
2 years ago

Thankful for this post! I had no idea it was double click the actual side button!

Simnom
1 year ago
Reply to  Bec

I totally had no idea until I read your post.
Thank you.

Oscar
2 years ago

OMG!! iPhone 11: i could not fix it until I realized I was doing the doble click on the glass! I bet others are doing the same. The double click needs to be done on the side button and not in the phone glass. Oops. LOL.

Dennis Holowaychuk
2 years ago
Reply to  Oscar

I had the same problem on my iphone XR

Donna
2 years ago
Reply to  Oscar

Me tooo! LOL Thanks for posting this!!

devans00
2 years ago

So thankful for this post. I haven’t figured this out in months of trying to use wallet at my bank. Why does Apple need to be so mysterious? Why not just add the word “button” especially since Apple Pay used to work 100% on screen only? Bleh!

Courtney
3 years ago

Hi, so this is what I think is the issue! I want to use it for my student ID and my gym pass! I did not have my debit card on there so I put my debit card on there and it worked right away!!! I have an iphone 11

Sam
3 years ago

On my phone the screen had to be locked in order for the double click of the home button to open apple pay. If the screen is active (showing the apps) then double clicking the home button doesn’t work. So what I do is double click the RHS button to lock the phone (if it’s not already locked) then double click the home button, and it works.

kepler23
3 years ago

I removed the card and put it back again in ,and the problem was solved

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  kepler23

Awesome! It always makes me happy when there are simple solutions to problems ?

rapidas santores
3 years ago

Apple Wallet Issue, Use Passcode for Payments don’t work ios 14
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252009882

Diana Chapman
3 years ago

I still can’t get the Apple Pay to work with the Double Click to Pay and have turned it on Settings and restarted iPhone and still doesn’t work.

Siavosh Sadeghi
3 years ago

I do not have the double click button on my iPhone rx to turn it on

DRobertson
3 years ago

I re added my debit card and that seemed to work!

Faith
3 years ago

I tried everything above and it still won’t work. I can use my Apple Pay. I used to be able to pay with passcode. Then all of a sudden it’s a “double click to pay” and I can’t get it to work

Tina
3 years ago

The double click isn’t working after trying these suggestions.

Ruth Mouchka
3 years ago

The double click button is not working- tried everything but still not working HELP ME

Arleen
4 years ago

My iPhone 11 will not allow me to double click to pay for music

Barbara Burgos
5 years ago

I found how to fix my IphoneX: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Side Button > Use Passcode for payments then turn it on. I guess during the last update it was turned off.

Barbara Burgos
5 years ago

None of those worked for me either. The double click side button was set to on and had worked before. I powered phone off and on and that did not help either

Ben
4 years ago
Reply to  Barbara Burgos

Me either on my iPhone 11. Just refuses to work no matter what.

Robert McQuade
5 years ago

The double-click side button in settings is greyed out on my phone and won’t allow me to switch it to green. Any ideas why this is? I’ve tried all the steps you suggested but none of them have worked.

Mustafa Naematullah
5 years ago

Did all of this and it’s still not working