Apple pay for 13 year old with own bank account, no phone but has watch.

I want to set up Apple Pay on my 13 year old son's apple watch. He does not have a phone. I do not want him to have a phone. His watch is paired to my phone through our family plan. He does have his own teen bank account through Chase with his own bank card. I would like him to be able to use his bank card so he can start practicing his own banking/saving/spending/budgeting. Obviously it would be easiest to use apple pay so he doesn't have to carry a wallet around. It seems like this isn't possible, which is extremely frustrating. Please, does someone have a workaround?!

Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)

Posted on Nov 19, 2025 3:56 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 19, 2025 6:25 PM

Apple Pay won’t work that way. Pairing the Watch to your iPhone makes it that he’s you. The Wallet on each device are linked, in that the banks think the Watch is yours. Your cards are easily linked to the Wallet on the Watch.


Family Sharing accounts, which is what you want to setup, are intended for iPhones and/or iPads. There really is no work around with a Watch I’m afraid.


You could always buy an older iPhone and not give it to him. I understand the extra expense of not just the device but cellular service etc. But there’s really not another way. Sorry.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 19, 2025 6:25 PM in response to AppleQuestions2024

Apple Pay won’t work that way. Pairing the Watch to your iPhone makes it that he’s you. The Wallet on each device are linked, in that the banks think the Watch is yours. Your cards are easily linked to the Wallet on the Watch.


Family Sharing accounts, which is what you want to setup, are intended for iPhones and/or iPads. There really is no work around with a Watch I’m afraid.


You could always buy an older iPhone and not give it to him. I understand the extra expense of not just the device but cellular service etc. But there’s really not another way. Sorry.

Apple pay for 13 year old with own bank account, no phone but has watch.

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