We’ve all been there: you’re shopping on a site that doesn’t accept Apple Pay, forcing you to dig through your wallet for your physical card to type in sixteen digits, an expiry date, and a CVV.
It’s a friction point that usually ends in a closed tab.
With iOS 26, Apple has finally bridged the gap. Your iPhone can now securely store and AutoFill full credit card details system-wide—even for cards that aren’t enabled for Apple Pay.
This feature effectively turns your Apple Wallet into a secure, encrypted vault for all your payment methods.
How to Set Up Your AutoFill Vault
Setting this up takes less than a minute. Follow these steps:
- Launch Wallet: Open the Apple Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Access Settings: Tap the More (…) icon in the top-right corner.
- Find AutoFill: Tap the new Credit Card AutoFill menu option.
- Add Your Cards: Use the camera to quickly scan your physical card or enter the details manually.
- Secure with FaceID: Ensure “Require FaceID” is toggled on to keep your data protected.
Pro Tip: Once saved, these cards will now appear in your QuickType bar at the top of the keyboard whenever a “Card Number” field is detected in Safari or third-party apps.
Why This is a Game Changer
While Apple Pay is great, it’s not universal. This update brings the convenience of Apple Pay to the “old school” parts of the web.
- Security: Your full card number is never stored in plain text.
- Speed: Go from checkout to “Order Confirmed” in three taps.
- Universal: Works in Safari, Chrome, and native shopping apps.
This is one of the most practical “quality of life” updates in iOS 26. By centralizing your payment data in the encrypted enclave of your iPhone, you’re gaining speed without sacrificing the security Apple is known for.
