When and why you need to revise a payment method
Amazon asks you to update a payment method when the card on file has expired, been reported lost or stolen, or when your bank has flagged the transaction as suspicious. You might also see a revision request if your billing address no longer matches what your card issuer has on record, or if Amazon's system detects a mismatch between the name on your account and the name on your card.
The most common trigger is a card expiration. When your credit or debit card reaches its end date, Amazon's payment processor rejects it automatically during checkout or when a subscription renews. You will see a message asking you to update your payment information before your order can go through.
A revision is not the same as a declined payment. A revision request means Amazon is asking you to provide new information before attempting the charge again. A declined payment means the charge was already attempted and failed — you will see that message in your order history or in an email from Amazon Pay.
Key Takeaways
- You can update your payment method in Account Settings under "Your Account" > "Login & security" > "Payments and currencies" > "Manage payment methods."
- Amazon stores multiple payment methods, so you can add a new card without removing the old one, then set the new card as your default.
- If a payment method is flagged as needing revision, you must update it before placing a new order or renewing a subscription.
- Updating a payment method does not automatically retry a failed charge — you will need to place the order again or contact Amazon if a previous order was declined.
Steps to update your payment method in Account Settings
Log into your Amazon account and go to Account in the top right corner. From the dropdown menu, select Your Account. On the left side of the page, you will see a menu with several options — look for Login & security.
Under Login & security, scroll down until you see Payments and currencies. Click on Manage payment methods. This page shows every card or payment account you have saved to your Amazon account. Next to each one, you will see options to edit, set as default, or remove it.
To add a new card, click the button that says Add a payment method (the exact wording may vary slightly). Enter your card number, expiration date, CVV (the three-digit security code on the back), and billing zip code. Amazon will verify the card with a small test charge to your bank, usually within one to two business days.
Once the new card is verified, you can set it as your default payment method by clicking the radio button or toggle next to it. Any future orders will use this card unless you choose a different one at checkout.
What to do if Amazon says your payment method needs revision at checkout
If you see a message during checkout saying your payment method needs to be updated, click the link or button that says Update payment method or Manage payment methods. This will take you directly to your payment settings without losing your cart.
You have two options: update the card that is flagged (by clicking Edit next to it and entering new information), or add a different card and set it as your default. Updating the flagged card is faster if you know what changed — for example, if your card was reissued with a new expiration date, you can straightforward enter the new date.
After you have made your change, return to your cart and proceed to checkout. Amazon will attempt the charge again using your updated or newly selected payment method. If the charge goes through, you will see an order confirmation.
Fixing a payment method that was declined
A declined payment is different from a revision request. If your order was declined, you will see a message in your Orders page or receive an email from Amazon Pay explaining why. Common reasons include insufficient funds, a card that has expired, or a mismatch between your billing address and the address on file with your bank.
Go to your payment methods and update the card that was declined, or add a new one. Then go to your Orders page and find the order that failed. You should see an option to Retry payment or Place order again. Click that option and select your updated payment method.
If you do not see a retry option, the order may have been cancelled automatically. In that case, add the items back to your cart and check out with your updated payment method. Contact Amazon Customer Service if you are unsure whether the order is still active.
Removing an old or unused payment method
If you have multiple cards saved and want to remove one you no longer use, go to Manage payment methods and click Delete or Remove next to the card you want to delete. Amazon will ask you to confirm.
You cannot delete a payment method if it is currently set as your default. If you want to remove your default card, first set a different card as the default, then delete the old one.
Removing a card from your account does not affect past orders or refunds. It only prevents Amazon from using that card for future purchases.
Why your bank might reject an update even after you have entered new information
Sometimes you will enter a new card or updated information, but your bank will still reject it. This usually happens because the billing address you entered does not match what your bank has on record, or because your bank's fraud detection system flagged the transaction as unusual.
If this happens, contact your bank directly and confirm that your billing address is correct in their system. Ask them to whitelist Amazon or Amazon Pay so future charges go through. Then try adding the card to Amazon again.
If your bank continues to reject the card, try a different payment method — a different credit card, a debit card, or Amazon Pay (if you have a bank account linked to it). Some banks are more cautious with online retailers than others, and switching payment methods is often faster than troubleshooting with your bank.
Using Amazon Pay as an alternative payment method
If you have trouble keeping a card on file, Amazon Pay is an alternative. Amazon Pay lets you link a bank account directly to your Amazon account instead of using a card. When you check out, Amazon pulls the payment from your bank account rather than charging a card.
To set up Amazon Pay, go to Manage payment methods and look for an option to add a bank account or Amazon Pay. You will need your bank's routing number and your account number. The setup process is similar to adding a card — Amazon will verify your account with a small deposit.
Bank account payments sometimes have longer processing times than cards (up to five business days), but they are less likely to be declined by fraud detection systems. If your cards keep getting rejected, a bank account may be a more reliable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will updating my payment method charge my old card again?
No. Updating your payment method does not automatically retry a failed charge. You must manually retry the payment or place the order again. If you are worried about a duplicate charge, check your order history and your bank statement — if the order was declined, no charge went through.
Can I update my payment method on the Amazon app instead of the website?
Yes. Open the Amazon app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, go to Account, then Login & security, then Manage payment methods. The process is the same as on the website.
What if I do not see my card listed after I added it?
New cards sometimes take a few minutes to appear in your payment methods list. Refresh the page or log out and back in. If it still does not appear after 15 minutes, the card may not have been saved — try adding it again. If you see an error message, contact your bank to confirm they did not block the verification charge.
Do I need to update my payment method if I am not using it right now?
Only if Amazon is asking you to. If a card is expired but you have another card set as your default, you can leave the expired one on file without updating it. However, if you want to use that card in the future, you will need to update it first.
What happens to my old payment method after I set a new one as default?
Your old payment method stays saved in your account. You can still use it at checkout by selecting it manually, or you can delete it if you no longer need it. Setting a new card as default only changes which card Amazon uses automatically — it does not remove the old one.