Remove a card in three steps from Account Settings

Go to Your Account in the top right corner of Amazon.com, then select Login & security. Scroll down to the section labeled Login, security and personal information and find Manage payment methods. Click on it, locate the card you want to remove, and select Delete next to that card's details. Amazon will ask you to confirm — click Delete again, and the card is removed when ready.

The card disappears from your account right away. If you had that card set as your default payment method, Amazon will automatically assign another card as your default if you have one on file. If it was your only card, you will need to add a new payment method before you can place another order.

You can remove a card whether or not you have active orders using it. Past orders already charged to that card remain in your order history and are not affected by removing the card from your account.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest route is Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods, then Delete next to the card you want to remove.
  • Removing a card takes effect when ready and does not change any orders already placed or charged.
  • If the card you remove was your default payment method, Amazon automatically switches to another card on file if one exists.
  • You must have at least one payment method on your account to place new orders after removing a card.

What happens to orders already charged to that card

Removing a card does not reverse or cancel charges that were already processed. If you placed an order and Amazon charged the card before you removed it, that charge stays on your card statement and the order continues normally. The card removal only affects future purchases.

If you need to dispute a charge or request a refund, contact Amazon customer service through Your Account > Contact Us rather than trying to manage it through the payment method settings. Amazon handles refunds through your original payment method whenever possible, even if you have since removed that card from your account.

If you want to replace a card instead of just removing it

You do not have to remove a card before adding a new one. Go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods and select Add a payment method at the top of the list. Enter the new card details, and Amazon will verify it with a small temporary charge (usually under $1) that appears on your statement within a few days.

Once the new card is verified and on file, you can then remove the old card using the Delete option described above. This order — add first, then remove — prevents you from accidentally leaving your account without any payment method.

Removing a card linked to Amazon Prime or Subscribe & Save

If the card you are removing is the one linked to your Amazon Prime membership or any Subscribe & Save orders, you need to update those services first. Go to Your Account > Memberships and subscriptions to check which card is assigned to Prime, and Your Account > Manage subscriptions to check Subscribe & Save orders.

Update each subscription to use a different card on file before you remove the old card. If you remove a card that is actively linked to a subscription, Amazon will attempt to charge your default payment method instead. If no other card is available, the subscription may pause until you add a new payment method.

Removing a card from a joint or family account

On a household account or Amazon Family account, any adult on the account can remove a payment method. The card is removed for all members of that account, not just for one person. If you share an account with someone else, let them know before you remove a card, especially if it is the default payment method for shared orders.

If you want to keep a card on the account but prevent one family member from using it, you cannot do that through payment method settings. Instead, you would need to remove the person from the household account or set up separate accounts with separate payment methods.

Why Amazon might not let you remove a card

Amazon will not let you delete a card if it is the only payment method on your account. You must add a new card first, then remove the old one. This prevents your account from being left without any way to pay for orders.

If you see an error message when trying to delete a card, try refreshing the page or logging out and back in. If the problem continues, the card may be linked to an active subscription or pending order that needs to be updated first. Check Your Account > Manage subscriptions and Your Orders to see if the card is in use elsewhere on your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing a card cancel my Amazon Prime membership?

No. Removing a card does not cancel Prime. However, if that card was the one linked to your Prime membership and you have no other payment method on file, Amazon may pause your membership until you add a new card. Update your Prime payment method before removing the card to avoid any interruption.

Can I remove a card if I have a pending refund?

Yes, you can remove the card. Refunds process to the original payment method even after you remove it from your account. Amazon keeps a record of the card details long enough to complete the refund, so removing the card from your account does not stop the refund from going through.

What if I remove a card by mistake?

You cannot undo a card removal directly, but you can add the same card back to your account at any time. Go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods > Add a payment method and enter the card details again. Amazon will verify it with a small temporary charge as if it were a new card.

Does Amazon keep my card information after I remove it?

Amazon stores limited card information for past transactions and refunds, but removes the full card details from your active account when you delete it. You can no longer use that card to place new orders on that account. If you want to use the card again, you must re-enter it.

Can I remove a card from the Amazon app instead of the website?

Yes. Open the Amazon app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Your Account > Login & security > Manage payment methods, and tap Delete next to the card you want to remove. The process is the same as on the website.