Why do you have to add a payment method to download a free app?

If you are being asked to enter a payment method, you can try the things in this response Recommended by Apple I need to add credit to download a free a… - Apple Community which presents multiple methods supposedly letting you avoid this. In contrast, Apple's official Support Articles team presents multiple criteria* requiring the presence of a payment method, even for free items. Since you may be encountering one of those situations then based on the documents I suspect you have no option but to enter a valid payment method if you wish to continue downloading. Read the support article Add a payment method to your Apple ID - Apple Support about how to do that. The payment method may not be charged if you also have account balance or the item is free, but the payment method has to be present. This next article lists valid payment methods for different countries but note that in this situation Apple Account balance alone apparently may not meet the requirement and you need to use another payment method until you find one that satisfies Apple's requirement (often a credit or debit card): Payment methods that you can use with your Apple ID - Apple Support .

If you have already entered a payment method, use the first link above to check it. If a message appears in red there is a problem with it. If the information is still correct and current, contact your financial institution.

* Ref.:

Add a payment method to your Apple ID - Apple Support

"To make purchases from the App Store and use subscriptions like iCloud+ and Apple Music, you need at least one payment method on file."

If you can’t download or update apps on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

- "You might need to have a payment method on file, even if the app that you want to download is free."

Remove a payment method from your Apple ID - Apple Support

- If you have any active subscriptions, you must have at least one payment method on file other than Apple ID credit.

- You might not be able to remove a payment method if you have a balance due.

Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Support

- "When you sign in to the App Store and other media services for the first time, you might need to add a credit card or other payment information."

How apps, content, and subscriptions from Apple are billed - Apple Support

- You can’t charge gifts to your Apple ID balance. If you send a gift or gift card, your primary payment method is charged.

- Some subscriptions might not be charged to your Apple ID balance.

What you can buy with your Apple Gift Card or Apple Account balance - Apple Support

"Some purchases might require that you have a credit card on file, even if you use your Apple Account balance to make the purchase."

This isn’t right or fair. I don’t owe them any money and I can’t trust them with my card on file. I’ve been over charged for things several times so I decided I not to leave my info on my phone. The app I want is classified as free if they want my information for a free app then it’s not free it’s costing me something. This has to be illegal on some level. Every month stuff is going up. It’s not for nothing but profit. I’m sick of being taken advantage of by everyone. They charge us to spend our own money. I’ve had an iPhone for years but I’m about to buy a Samsung. iPhone has half of the smartphone users and still want to screw you every chance they get. I’m sorry for the rant. The iPhones cost 20$ to make and they charge us 2,000..

We can’t answer why …

… but we can confirm that it’s indeed the way it works.

Payment methods that you can use with your Apple ID - Apple Support

Never have I ever had this problem …until NOW

Maybe I am grandfathered in because I have an 18 year old account, but I all the free apps I have downloaded did not require a payment method be present. Maybe there's different kinds of "free"?