Why is my 'Add Payment Method' grayed out and unable to update payments?

Try to verify your payment information, you need to Sign in to your Apple ID account page and edit / update your Apple ID details -> https://appleid.apple.com                                                     

• On the Sidebar click Payment methods -> then tap Payments Methods and tap Manage payment method.

or

If you need to change or update your Apple ID payment method

If you need to change or update your Apple ID payment method - Apple Support

• If you want to change your card, you need to add first the new card, then remove the old card.
• or if you want to use your Apple ID balance, you need to set your Apple ID balance as your default payment.

or

Add a payment method to your Apple ID

Add a payment method to your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

• If you want to change your card, you need to add first the new card, then remove the old card.
• or if you want to use your Apple ID balance, you need to set your Apple ID balance as your default payment.

See also the following Apple articles:

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID

Payment methods you can use with your Apple ID – Apple Support (UK)

fyi: Not all credit & debit cards seem to work with App Store / iTunes Store, try a different one, or preferably a credit card.

If your card is not accepted as a paymenf method, you need to contact your bank.

Remove a payment method from your Apple ID -> Remove a payment method from your Apple ID - Apple Support

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If you can't remove a payment method

If you have subscriptions like iCloud+, have an unpaid balance, or you use purchase sharing, you must keep at least one payment method on file.

• Do you have a subscription? You can cancel iCloud+ and cancel other subscriptions from Apple. When your subscription period is over, remove your payment method.
• If you're in a Family Sharing group and you use purchase sharing, the family organizer must have a payment method on file. If you're the family organizer, turn off purchase sharing, then remove the payment method.
• If you have an unpaid balance, you might not be able to remove a payment method. Instead, change your payment method.
• If you still can't remove a payment method, contact Apple Support.

If you have followed all the steps and instructions and if you still need help, get support from Apple directly -> Get Support or call Apple in your region see -> Contact Apple for support and service or check -> here for more support and assistance.

You say it is grayed out which makes me think this is what you need:

If an app or feature on your device is not working, not appearing, or is restricted (grayed out), it may have been disabled using Screen Time, or by an IT administrator if you are using a device owned by an employer or educational institution.

- Read this support article If your Apple ID or other options are greyed out in Settings —> If your Apple ID is greyed out in Settings - Apple Support

Tap Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > scroll to Allow Changes.

- If the device is managed (Settings > General > VPN & Device Management), contact the IT department that is doing the managing.

This is an old thread but I had the same issue, I realized it was because I was on a family sharing account and wasn’t the organizer. I stopped family sharing to change the info then shared again, which is a little annoying but worked.

coy__fish wrote:

I stopped family sharing to change the info then shared again, which is a little annoying but worked.

Yes, you can do that, but once you start sharing again your payment method will not be used. Maybe you see it, but it won't be used. If anybody is a Family Sharing member and has purchase sharing turned on then their personal account balance will be used. If it is something for which personal balance is not allowed, or a person does not have sufficient personal balance, the remainder will be charged to the Organizer's payment method. Only the Organizer can have an active payment method such as a card.

Based on: How to share apps and purchases with your family - Apple Support and How apps, content, and subscriptions from Apple are billed - Apple Support

1. If anybody in the family buys or subscribes to something, Apple first attempts to charge the item to that individual's Apple Account (Apple ID) balance, if any.

2. If a family member does not have enough personal Apple Account balance, any excess will be charged to the Family Organizer's primary payment method (usually a card of some kind). The Organizer's personal balance will not be used for purchases made by other family members. If Apple cannot bill the primary payment method, the Organizer will need to make another payment method the primary method. With Family Sharing the Organizer always has to have at least one functioning payment method.

I think you’ve missed the long - we can’t press the ‘add a payment method’ because it’s greyed out - that’s what the original question was asking, why is this not available as an option and how to add a payment method when this option is not available?