How to Remove a Payment Method From Your Amazon Account
You can delete a payment method from Amazon in two minutes through your account settings
Go to your Amazon account, select Login & security, then scroll to Payment options. Click the payment method you want to remove and select Delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, that card or bank account is no longer stored on your account and cannot be used for future purchases.
The process works the same whether you're removing a credit card, debit card, or bank account linked through ACH. Amazon keeps the payment method on file for 90 days in case a transaction is still pending, but it won't appear as an option when you shop.
If you're the account holder but someone else has added payment methods to your account, you can remove those too from the same screen. If you share an account with a household member and want to prevent them from using a specific card, deletion is the only built-in option—Amazon doesn't have a way to hide a payment method from other account users.
Key Takeaways
- Payment methods are deleted from Login & security > Payment options, not from the checkout screen.
- Amazon keeps deleted payment methods on file for 90 days to process any pending charges, but they won't show up when you shop.
- If you delete a payment method and a charge later appears from an old subscription or order, contact Amazon to dispute it rather than re-adding the card.
- Deleting a payment method does not cancel subscriptions or recurring charges—you must cancel those separately in your Memberships and subscriptions section.
Why you might want to delete a payment method
The most common reason is security: if a card is lost, stolen, or compromised, removing it from Amazon stops anyone with access to your account from using it. Even if your password is strong, a household member or someone who borrows your device can still see saved payment methods at checkout.
Another reason is cleanup. If you've upgraded to a new card or switched banks, old payment methods pile up in your account. Deleting them reduces clutter and lowers the risk that you'll accidentally use an expired card during checkout.
Some people delete payment methods to enforce a spending boundary—for example, removing a credit card and keeping only a debit card linked so they can't overspend. This works as a friction point, though it's not a lock or parental control.
What happens to subscriptions and recurring charges when you delete a payment method
Deleting a payment method does not cancel any subscriptions or recurring charges. If you have an active Amazon Prime membership, a magazine subscription, or a Subscribe & Save order set to that card, they will continue. When the next charge is due, Amazon will try to process it using a different payment method on file.
If no other payment method is available, the charge will fail and Amazon will send you an email asking you to update your payment information. Your subscription will not automatically cancel—you have to do that manually. If you don't update the payment method and don't cancel the subscription, Amazon may eventually suspend the service, but the subscription itself remains active.
To avoid this situation, cancel any subscriptions or recurring orders before you delete the payment method they use. Go to Memberships and subscriptions in your account and review what's active. If you're unsure which card a subscription is tied to, cancel it first, then delete the card.
Deleting a payment method you added by mistake
If you added a payment method and immediately realized it was wrong—a typo in the card number, the wrong account, or a card you didn't mean to save—delete it right away. The deletion is instant and there's no waiting period.
If you deleted a payment method and then a charge appears from an old order or subscription, don't re-add the card. Instead, contact Amazon customer service and explain that the charge should not have gone through because you deleted that payment method. Amazon can reverse the charge or issue a refund. This is especially important if the card was compromised or if you deleted it specifically to stop charges.
How to delete a payment method on the Amazon app
The steps are slightly different on mobile. Open the Amazon app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right, then tap Your Account. Scroll down and select Login & security. Tap Payment options, then tap the payment method you want to remove. Select Delete and confirm.
On some older versions of the app, the menu structure may vary slightly, but the payment options section is always under account settings. If you can't find it, the web version (amazon.com on a browser) is more reliable and the steps are identical.
If you want to keep a payment method but prevent it from being used
Amazon doesn't have a feature to disable or hide a payment method without deleting it. If you want to keep a card on file for reference but prevent it from being charged, your only option is to delete it. You can always re-add it later if you need it.
If you share an account with a family member and want to control what they can spend, deletion is a workaround but not a real solution. A better approach is to set up a separate Amazon account for that person, or to use Amazon Household (which lets you link accounts and set spending controls on child accounts). Deletion just removes the card from the shared account entirely.
What to do if you can't find the payment method you want to delete
Payment methods sometimes don't appear in the list if they're expired, if Amazon flagged them as invalid, or if they're tied to a third-party service like Apple Pay or Google Pay. If you added a card through Apple Pay and want to remove it from Amazon, you actually need to remove it from Apple Pay itself—Amazon doesn't store it separately.
If a payment method is truly missing from your list but you remember adding it, contact Amazon customer service. They can see all payment methods on your account, including ones that may be hidden or inactive, and can delete them for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting a payment method cancel my Amazon Prime membership?
No. Deleting the card does not cancel Prime. Your membership will remain active, and Amazon will attempt to charge a different payment method on file when your renewal date arrives. If no other payment method is available, Prime will suspend until you add one. To actually cancel Prime, go to Memberships and subscriptions and select Cancel membership.
Can I delete a payment method if it's the only one on my account?
Yes, you can delete your only payment method. However, you won't be able to make purchases until you add a new one. Amazon will prompt you to add a payment method at checkout if none are available.
How long does it take for a deleted payment method to stop showing up?
It disappears from your account immediately after you confirm the deletion. However, Amazon keeps the information on file for 90 days to process any pending transactions from orders or subscriptions placed before you deleted it.
If I delete a card and then re-add it, will Amazon remember my saved address and other details?
Amazon will remember your address and other account details, but when you re-add the card, you may need to re-enter the card number and expiration date. The address and name associated with your account will auto-fill.
What if a charge appears after I deleted a payment method?
Contact Amazon customer service immediately. Explain that you deleted the payment method and ask them to investigate the charge. If it's from a subscription or order you didn't authorize, Amazon can reverse it. Keep the deletion confirmation email if you have it.