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iPhone Activating physical Apple Card in iOS 13 beta?

Cogsworth

Cogsworth

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 7, 2015
380
271
I was approved for the Apple Card last Monday and was able to add it to my wallet and have been using it with Apple Pay all week no problem. Then today my physical card arrived via UPS even though the AC app still says it has been “ordered” and they will notify me when it ships. The card packaging says to activate they card, just open the wallet app and follow the instructions. Great except, no instructions. Cause the app thinks my card hasn’t even shipped yet.

So I get on chat, and the first person can’t help and passes me to someone else who checks my serial number, sees I am on the beta and claims that the Apple Card is not compatible with iOS 13. Then starts asking me if I have a backup and starts sending me instructions to remove the beta.

I dunno but this doesn’t sound right to me. I just said okay I’ll wait for the public release to use my card.

Has anyone else activated the card on iOS13, or run into this issue?
 
Yes, you can activate the card on iOS 13. When you get it, wake device and hold it on top of the card like how you would use Apple Pay. There’s a chip embedded inside below the card.
 
mariusignorello said:
It’s common for AppleCare to tell you to not use beta software.

From what I understand, activating Apple Card is like paring AirPods—open the cover and it’s automatic.
Click to expand...

Sadly, the package mine came in does not have the NFC chip. It just says open the wallet app and follow the instructions. It does not have the chip logo like I’ve seen online. Also, I tried anyway and it didn’t work LOL.
 
Cogsworth said:
Sadly, the package mine came in does not have the NFC chip. It just says open the wallet app and follow the instructions. It does not have the chip logo like I’ve seen online. Also, I tried anyway and it didn’t work LOL.
Click to expand...
In the support article look for the section where it advises what to do if you don’t have the packaging. That may help.
 
mariusignorello said:
In the support article look for the section where it advises what to do if you don’t have the packaging. That may help.
Click to expand...
I read the article. Problem is I don’t have an “Activate Card” button or “Physical Card” section. I think it’s because my card was shipped but never flagged as shipped on Apple’s end. So the app thinks my card was never shipped. But I am just annoyed that support won’t do anything about it until I uninstall the beta, which is kind of silly I think.
 
Cogsworth said:
I read the article. Problem is I don’t have an “Activate Card” button or “Physical Card” section. I think it’s because my card was shipped but never flagged as shipped on Apple’s end. So the app thinks my card was never shipped. But I am just annoyed that support won’t do anything about it until I uninstall the beta, which is kind of silly I think.
Click to expand...
Ok. Just curious, do you have an iPad with Apple Pay support? If so, try activating it on that device.
 
Cogsworth said:
Sadly, the package mine came in does not have the NFC chip. It just says open the wallet app and follow the instructions. It does not have the chip logo like I’ve seen online. Also, I tried anyway and it didn’t work LOL.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand the part where you say "Sadly, the package mine came in does not have the NFC chip.", every Apple Card is manufactured exactly the same and should activate via NFC.

What happens when you put the card next to your phone?

Here is a video:


Now, if you don't have an 'activate' button like in the video, that should be something Apple can resolve. It's not related to iOS 13 beta and sounds exactly what you mentioned that it was not correctly marked as shipped.
 
Ron21 said:
I'm not sure I understand the part where you say "Sadly, the package mine came in does not have the NFC chip.", every Apple Card is manufactured exactly the same and should activate via NFC.

What happens when you put the card next to your phone?

Here is a video:


Now, if you don't have an 'activate' button like in the video, that should be something Apple can resolve. It's not related to iOS 13 beta and sounds exactly what you mentioned that it was not correctly marked as shipped.
Click to expand...
It might have a chip, I saw another video online with different printing inside the package and the NFC logo. I assumed because mine had no logo, and it does nothing when I put it near my phone, that it doesn’t have a chip. If it does, it’s not doing anything. I think I need the Activate button to show up in the app before the chip will work.
 
I received my card today. The card did nothing touching it to the phone, touching the phone to the multi-colored package the card came in is what activated the "activation" screen on the phone.

I had removed the physical card from the package, checked it out, touched it to my phone and nothing.
Laid the card down on my desk then grabbed the package and as soon as the phone came within an inch or two of the package, the activation screen came up automatically.
 
mmomega said:
I received my card today. The card did nothing touching it to the phone, touching the phone to the multi-colored package the card came in is what activated the "activation" screen on the phone.

I had removed the physical card from the package, checked it out, touched it to my phone and nothing.
Laid the card down on my desk then grabbed the package and as soon as the phone came within an inch or two of the package, the activation screen came up automatically.
Click to expand...

The chip is actually in the packaging...
 
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Same thing is happening with mine as well - I have been trying to go through support - both Apple and Goldman Sachs - been bounced between the two a couple times now - More to come
 
UPDATE well this is annoying. Just got off the phone with AC Support, the only thing they could do was cancel the brand new card I received and have me order another one. The rep did say that he "expedited" the order so hopefully it will arrive sooner. I know it's a new roll-out and there will be glitches but this is frustrating.
 
UPDATE: This is what chat was telling me:
"Thank you for your patience. At this time on my side I see that your card has been ordered, you will need to wait until the shipping vendors update their information. Until they update that for you, you will be able to activate your physical card. Does this make sense?"

BUT, I have the card/packaging (packaging without the NFC chip) AND UPS shows that it was delivered.... told them that and then:

"I appreciate you bringing this to our attention, so that we may deal with this immediately. I understand how this may be confusing. However on your end it may show that it was delivered, but the shipping vendors haven't updated their information to us so we cant see that it was delivered. Does this help clarify?"

THEN, this is their solution:

"I understand how this may be frustrating. You may call UPS to update their system however we are currently waiting for them to update their information and send it to us. At this time I can submit some feedback so your voice can be heard, but for the activation of your physical card you can check back every couple of hours to see if your card will activate. Does this help answer your question?"

ummmm, no?!?! - So they have to wait until the shipper (UPS in this case) updates their system, then I will be able to have the "Physical Card" tab to activate the card

Crazy......
 
Thomas1023 said:
UPDATE: This is what chat was telling me:
"Thank you for your patience. At this time on my side I see that your card has been ordered, you will need to wait until the shipping vendors update their information. Until they update that for you, you will be able to activate your physical card. Does this make sense?"

BUT, I have the card/packaging (packaging without the NFC chip) AND UPS shows that it was delivered.... told them that and then:

"I appreciate you bringing this to our attention, so that we may deal with this immediately. I understand how this may be confusing. However on your end it may show that it was delivered, but the shipping vendors haven't updated their information to us so we cant see that it was delivered. Does this help clarify?"

THEN, this is their solution:

"I understand how this may be frustrating. You may call UPS to update their system however we are currently waiting for them to update their information and send it to us. At this time I can submit some feedback so your voice can be heard, but for the activation of your physical card you can check back every couple of hours to see if your card will activate. Does this help answer your question?"

ummmm, no?!?! - So they have to wait until the shipper (UPS in this case) updates their system, then I will be able to have the "Physical Card" tab to activate the card

Crazy......
Click to expand...
Damn chat just told me to uninstall iOS 13 beta. See my reply above, maybe I should have just waited on mine and the info would have been updated. This is ridiculous.

And yes it is SUPER confusing to have the card IN HAND for 24 hours and not be able to activate it.
 
Cogsworth said:
Damn chat just told me to uninstall iOS 13 beta. See my reply above, maybe I should have just waited on mine and the info would have been updated. This is ridiculous.

And yes it is SUPER confusing to have the card IN HAND for 24 hours and not be able to activate it.
Click to expand...
Got mine yesterday. I knew was coming as I checked over the weekend and it was scheduled to be delivered August 20.
Tried to track the card Monday night. Opened wallet and clicked on Apple Card the screen went straight the activation screen, tracking was not an option. Card was delivered around 12:30pm Tuesday, Aug 20th as promised. Opened the packaging, held the phone up to the card box and got the activation box. It was quicker than activating my AirPods.
 
digitalexplr said:
Got mine yesterday. I knew was coming as I checked over the weekend and it was scheduled to be delivered August 20.
Tried to track the card Monday night. Opened wallet and clicked on Apple Card the screen went straight the activation screen, tracking was not an option. Card was delivered around 12:30pm Tuesday, Aug 20th as promised. Opened the packaging, held the phone up to the card box and got the activation box. It was quicker than activating my AirPods.
Click to expand...

Same. Mine came yesterday as well. Activated within seconds.
 
Cogsworth said:
Damn chat just told me to uninstall iOS 13 beta. See my reply above, maybe I should have just waited on mine and the info would have been updated. This is ridiculous.

And yes it is SUPER confusing to have the card IN HAND for 24 hours and not be able to activate it.
Click to expand...

Yeah Apple Care won’t help if you’re on a beta profile. I have the exact same issue where I was stuck on the “you will be notified when your card ships” alert, but it never updated after I received the card. This was with iOS 13 Public Beta 6, even though everything has been saying the Card would work on 13.

By any chance, did the recent iOS 13 Public Beta 7 release solve our problem for you? I haven’t updated yet, because I deleted the beta profile in anticipation of 12.4.1, which I’m hoping will solve my card activation issue and another issue with the card not appearing on my watch. If 12.4.1 works for that, then I’ll return to Public Beta 7, hopefully with a working wallet.
 
Yusbk said:
Yeah Apple Care won’t help if you’re on a beta profile. I have the exact same issue where I was stuck on the “you will be notified when your card ships” alert, but it never updated after I received the card. This was with iOS 13 Public Beta 6, even though everything has been saying the Card would work on 13.

By any chance, did the recent iOS 13 Public Beta 7 release solve our problem for you? I haven’t updated yet, because I deleted the beta profile in anticipation of 12.4.1, which I’m hoping will solve my card activation issue and another issue with the card not appearing on my watch. If 12.4.1 works for that, then I’ll return to Public Beta 7, hopefully with a working wallet.
Click to expand...

I really don't think it has anything to do with the beta. Basically, when my card shipped it was never flagged as "shipped" in the system. The only solution was to have support cancel the first card so that I could order a second one. This time, I got the alert a couple days later that the card had shipped and there is a "Physical Card" section in the app with the activation and tracking buttons. So for me everything is working correctly with this second card which is scheduled to arrive on Monday.

Having said that, I did receive an email last night announcing that my Apple Card has been delivered, which I assume is a delayed response for the first card which arrived Monday. I am wondering if it took three days for the shipping and tracking status to get caught up on their end, and if I would have just waited I might have been able to activate the first card. If that's the case, support should have given me the option to either wait 3-5 days for the tracking info to catch up or order a new card but really they had no clue.

I am curious how did your card ship? My first one was UPS, the new one is FedEx. I wonder if they're having trouble with getting data from UPS?
 
UPDATE: My Apple Card issues had been solved. Funny, it was an email (5-days later) that said "Your titanium Apple Card has arrived." - I suppose that UPS (in my case) updated their delivery status back to Apple and the email then fired off. I then went into the Wallet and under the card I saw the "Physical Card" heading and was able to activate the card - I didn't have the NFC on my packaging, but was able to go through the steps to "manually" activate - I haven't tried it out yet to see if in fact it is activated, but I do think at this point it should be good. I also (before the email) updated to iOS 13 Dev Beta 8 - thinking I would have the option, but it wasn't until the email that it showed up in my Apple Card settings - I guess being patient is a good thing, but seems they could do a little better when things get out of sequence. I hope others' experience will be quick and pain free - Have a good weekend all!
 
Cogsworth said:
I really don't think it has anything to do with the beta. Basically, when my card shipped it was never flagged as "shipped" in the system. The only solution was to have support cancel the first card so that I could order a second one. This time, I got the alert a couple days later that the card had shipped and there is a "Physical Card" section in the app with the activation and tracking buttons. So for me everything is working correctly with this second card which is scheduled to arrive on Monday.

Having said that, I did receive an email last night announcing that my Apple Card has been delivered, which I assume is a delayed response for the first card which arrived Monday. I am wondering if it took three days for the shipping and tracking status to get caught up on their end, and if I would have just waited I might have been able to activate the first card. If that's the case, support should have given me the option to either wait 3-5 days for the tracking info to catch up or order a new card but really they had no clue.

I am curious how did your card ship? My first one was UPS, the new one is FedEx. I wonder if they're having trouble with getting data from UPS?
Click to expand...

You are correct about the beta. Right after I replied to you I got a new alert and the physical card section of more options appeared. Apple still thinks the card isn’t delivered, but I was able to activate it. Turns out it’s some snafu between Apple and UPS. Apple shipping your second card with FedEx supports that theory. They’ve only ever shipped products to me through UPS.
 
And it works! Just bought some chicken strips with my not-yet-stained card. Good luck, everyone else!
 
Same here nice card bit can't use it. I was told the same thing uninstall the Beta and go back to 12.4. Uh no! You would think that the Apple Engineers would want to know that the New Flagship car would work across all supported platforms. Wait that would be logical thinking. Waiting for 9/19 for the public release and hopefully that version of iOS 13 will accept my card activation. Until then I have a beautiful conversation piece that I am not spending any money with!!! My card shows up in the wallet and asks to activate, when i click activate i get a spinner onthe screen followed by unexpected error. Oh well

Cogsworth said:
I was approved for the Apple Card last Monday and was able to add it to my wallet and have been using it with Apple Pay all week no problem. Then today my physical card arrived via UPS even though the AC app still says it has been “ordered” and they will notify me when it ships. The card packaging says to activate they card, just open the wallet app and follow the instructions. Great except, no instructions. Cause the app thinks my card hasn’t even shipped yet.

So I get on chat, and the first person can’t help and passes me to someone else who checks my serial number, sees I am on the beta and claims that the Apple Card is not compatible with iOS 13. Then starts asking me if I have a backup and starts sending me instructions to remove the beta.

I dunno but this doesn’t sound right to me. I just said okay I’ll wait for the public release to use my card.

Has anyone else activated the card on iOS13, or run into this issue?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
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