16 May 2025 – Apple Pay users experienced widespread disruptions on Friday morning, with reports of payment failures surging past 2,000 within half an hour of the first complaints.
Widespread Service Issues
According to outage tracker Downdetector, users began reporting issues with Apple Pay, Apple Card, Apple Cash, and Apple Wallet as early as 8 a.m. ET. The number of complaints peaked at over 2,800 around noon ET, highlighting the scale of the disruption.
Apple’s System Status page confirmed the outage, acknowledging that some users were experiencing difficulties completing transactions. However, the company has yet to provide an official explanation for the cause of the issue.
User Frustration and Social Media Reactions
Many affected users took to social media to express frustration, reporting failed transactions at retail stores, online checkouts, and ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Some users noted that they were unable to reload prepaid cards, further complicating their ability to make purchases.
Resolution and Apple’s Response
Apple reportedly resolved the outage by 1:01 p.m. ET, restoring functionality to its payment services. However, the company has not disclosed the specific cause of the disruption or how many users were ultimately affected.
This is not the first time Apple’s payment services have faced technical difficulties. Apple Wallet experienced a similar outage in December 2023, and Apple Cash users encountered service issues in January 2025.
Lessons for Digital Payment Users
The outage serves as a reminder for consumers to diversify payment options and keep alternative methods available for transactions. While digital wallets offer convenience, unexpected service failures can leave users stranded without access to funds.
Apple Pay Picture on Flickr by iphonedigital
