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McDonald’s Takes Apple Pay and Here’s How to Use It

Apple Pay provides a faster and safer way to pay for your favorite meals, and more restaurants started adding Apple Pay to their accepted payment methods.

McDonald’s takes Apple Pay in restaurants, drive-thru, and on the McDonald’s app. Bring your iPhone or Apple Watch next to the NFC card reader to use Apple Pay at McDonald’s restaurants or drive-thru. To use Apple Pay on the McDonald’s app, choose the Apple Pay option on the checkout screen before placing your order.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using Apple Pay to pay for your next McDonald’s order at a restaurant, drive-thru, or online.

How to Use Apple Pay at McDonald’s

To use Apple Pay at McDonald’s, tell the cashier that you will use Apple Pay once you are at checkout, and bring your phone next to the NFC card reader to complete the payment process. If the payment goes successfully, you will hear a confirmation message displayed on the screen.

If the McDonald’s restaurant you’re ordering from accepts Apple Pay (most of them do), you’ll see the Apple Pay symbol displayed on the NFC card reader or in the restaurant window.

Apple Pay is a contactless payment method, and it only takes a few seconds to complete the payment process.

You can use Apple Pay when dining in at a McDonald’s restaurant, ordering through a drive-thru, or picking up takeout.

In addition to your iPhone, you can also use Apple Pay with your Apple Watch at McDonald’s.

When you’re ready to pay for your order, you’ll need to access Apple Pay through Apple Wallet and follow the steps below, depending on your Apple device.

If you’re wondering what other restaurants accept Apple Pay in addition to McDonald’s, check out our article to see the list of favorite restaurants that take Apple Pay.

Using Apple Pay at McDonald’s With iPhone Face ID

If your iPhone has a FaceID, follow the steps below to verify your identity and use Apple Pay at McDonald’s:

  1. Double-click the side button of your phone to pay for the meal with your selected card.
  2. Confirm your identity using Face ID or by entering your passcode
  3. Place your phone close to the NFC card reader until a checkmark appears on the screen, and you will see “Done” confirmation on display.

Using Apple Pay at McDonald’s With iPhone Touch ID

Follow the steps below to use Apple Pay at McDonald’s with your iPhone and the Touch ID:

  1. Place your finger on your phone’s Touch ID to pay with your selected card.
  2. Then, hold your phone close to the NFC reader until you see “Done” on the screen, and a checkmark will appear on display.  

Using Apple Pay at McDonald’s With Your Apple Watch

To use Apple Pay with your Apple Watch at McDonald’s, follow the steps below:

  1. First, double-click the side button of your watch to pay with your selected card.
  2. Bring your Apple Watch near the NFC reader facing down.
  3. Your watch will create a buzz to let you know your payment was successful.

How to Use Apple Pay at McDonald’s Drive-Thru

Using Apple Pay at McDonald’s drive-thru is similar to using it at a restaurant. First, place your order at the drive-thru using the speaker. Then, when you drive up to the payment window, tell the cashier that you will use Apple Pay and bring your Apple device next to the NFC card reader.

All McDonald’s drive-thru windows are equipped with NFC card readers to process credit cards, debit cards, or mobile payments like Apple Pay.

Depending on what type of Apple device you have, follow the instructions above to complete your payment.

In addition, you do not need to hand over your iPhone or Apple Watch to the cashier when using Apple Pay at the McDonald’s drive-thru. You can easily access the NFC card reader through your car’s window.

How to Use Apple Pay on the McDonald’s App

You can use Apple Pay when ordering for pickup through the McDonald’s app. Apple Pay option is available on the checkout screen of the McDonald’s app before placing your order. At checkout, click the Apple Pay button and complete your payment with the selected card in your Apple Wallet.

Keep in mind that McDelivery uses Uber Eats for delivery orders. Therefore, if you’re placing an order for delivery on the Mcdonald’s app, you’ll be redirected to the Uber Eats app to complete your order.

Depending on where you live, you may also have DoorDash, GrubHub, or Postmates available in your area to deliver your McDonald’s order.

Same as Uber Eats, you will be redirected to these third-party delivery apps to complete your order and leave the McDonald’s app.

McDonald’s app makes it easy to use Apple Pay with the click of a button at checkout for pickup orders.

How to Set up Apple Pay to Use at McDonald’s

To set up Apple Pay to use at McDonald’s with your iPhone, go to your iOS “Settings” and open the “Wallet” app. Then, add your credit or debit card number manually or use your iPhone’s camera. If you have a paired Apple Watch, you can also add the card to your watch.   

Setting up Apple Pay on your iPhone is an easy process. You can follow the step-by-step instructions below:

  1. Open the Wallet app and click the “Add” button.
  2. Next, click Debit or Credit Card.
  3. Click “Continue.”
  4. Choose your bank from the list or find it using the search function. Then, follow the steps on the screen to add a new card. 
  5. Verify your information with your bank. You may be asked to provide additional information before your card is approved to use with Apple Pay.
  6. If you have a paired Apple Watch, you have the option to add the card to your watch in the last step.

Is It Safe to Use Apple Pay at McDonald’s?

One of the main benefits of using Apple Pay is the enhanced security and privacy it provides to customers without sharing personal information. It is safer to use Apple Pay at McDonald’s than physical credit or debit cards.

Apple Pay has built-in security features to protect your transactions. In addition, a verification through Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode is required to use Apple Pay.

Apple Pay does not store credit or debit cards linked to your account on any local device. Instead, the information is encrypted and sent to Apple servers.

While it’s safe to use Apple Pay at McDonald’s, make sure to have your iPhone or Apple watch with you all the time and do not hand them over to anyone while making payments.  

Does McDonald’s Take Google Pay?

In addition to Apple Pay, McDonald’s accepts Google Pay in restaurants and for drive-thru orders. However, McDonald’s does not take Google Pay for online orders placed through the McDonald’s app.

If you’re dining in at a McDonald’s restaurant or ordering takeout at the drive-thru, then Google Pay is another mobile payment option you can use.

However, McDonald’s app does not support Google Pay or Samsung Pay, so Apple Pay is the only mobile payment you can use for orders placed through the McDonald’s app.

Conclusion

Apple Pay is becoming the most preferred payment method due to the safety, identity protection, and convenience it offers to customers.

It’s sometimes hard to imagine that you can eat your favorite food at McDonald’s without even needing your wallet. So whether it’s a cup of McCafe coffee in the morning, a McChicken sandwich, or a Big Mac meal for lunch, Apple Pay has you covered at McDonald’s!

If you’re interested in finding out more tips about McDonald’s, check out the related articles below.

Related Articles:

A Complete Guide to McDonald’s Breakfast Hours and the Breakfast Menu

McDonald’s Delivery: How to Order McDonald’s Online Using McDelivery

Exploring the McDonald’s $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu (Calories and Prices)

All You Need to Know About McDonald’s Big Mac and the Big Mac Sauce

Deconstructing McDonald’s Happy Meal and the Happy Meal Toys

About the Author

Eril Eti is the founder of Shopfood.com. He has over a decade of experience in consumer goods and launched many products sold at retailers like Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Target, Kroger, Publix, and more.

Eril loves food, traveling, and trying out new restaurants. Outside of work, you can find him on a hiking trail in New England or playing soccer with his kids.

November 11, 2022