The steps to delete a card from Amazon
Log into your Amazon account and go to Account & Lists in the top right corner. Select Your Account, then find Login & security in the left menu. Scroll down to the section labeled Devices and permissions — but that is not where payment methods live. Instead, go back and select Your Payments from the Account menu. This takes you to Manage Your Payments.
Under Manage Your Payments, you will see a section called Credit/Debit Cards. Each card you have saved shows the last four digits and the expiration date. Find the card you want to remove and click the three dots (menu icon) next to it. Select Delete from the dropdown. Amazon will ask you to confirm — click Delete again. The card is now removed from your account.
The whole process takes less than a minute. You do not need to contact Amazon support unless the delete button does not appear or you run into an error message.
Key Takeaways
- The payment method section is under Your Account > Your Payments > Manage Your Payments, not under Login & security.
- Click the three-dot menu next to the card you want to remove and select Delete, then confirm.
- You can delete a card even if it is set as your default payment method — Amazon will prompt you to choose a new default before the deletion completes.
- Deleting a card from Amazon does not close the card itself or affect your credit — it only removes it from your Amazon account.
What happens if a card is your default payment method
If the card you are trying to delete is currently set as your default, Amazon will not let you remove it without choosing a replacement first. When you click Delete, a message will appear asking you to select a different card to use for future purchases. Pick another card from your saved list and confirm. Only then will Amazon delete the original card.
If you have no other cards saved, you will need to add a new one before you can delete the old one. Amazon requires at least one payment method on file for your account to remain active.
Removing a card that is linked to an active subscription
If the card you want to delete is being used to pay for an active Amazon subscription — such as Prime, Kindle Unlimited, or a Subscribe & Save order — you must update the payment method for that subscription first. Deleting the card without doing this will cause the subscription to fail on the next billing date.
To change the payment method for a subscription, go to Your Account > Memberships and Subscriptions (or Manage Your Subscribe & Save for recurring orders). Select the subscription, then choose Update Payment Method. Pick a different card or add a new one. Once that is done, you can safely delete the old card from Your Payments.
Deleting a card that failed or is expired
Amazon sometimes keeps expired or declined cards in your account so you can see your payment history. You can delete these cards the same way you delete any other — through Your Payments > Manage Your Payments, then the three-dot menu next to the card. There is no waiting period or special process.
If a card was declined during a purchase attempt, deleting it will not affect that order. Amazon will have already tried to charge it and either succeeded or failed. Removing the card from your account is separate from what happened with that specific transaction.
Adding a new card if you delete your only one by mistake
If you delete your only saved card and then try to make a purchase, Amazon will prompt you to add a payment method before checkout can complete. Click Add a credit or debit card, enter the card details, and finish the purchase. The card will then be saved to your account for future use.
You can also add a card anytime by going to Your Account > Your Payments > Manage Your Payments and clicking Add a credit or debit card at the top of the list. This is useful if you want to have multiple cards on file before you delete an old one.
Why Amazon might not let you delete a card
The delete button may be missing or greyed out for a few reasons. The most common is that the card is set as your default and you have no other payment method saved. Add a new card first, set it as default, and then try deleting the old one again.
Another reason is that the card is tied to an unpaid order or a failed subscription charge. Check Your Orders and Memberships and Subscriptions to see if anything is pending. Once those are resolved, the delete option should become available. If you still cannot delete the card after checking these, contact Amazon Customer Service — there may be a technical issue on their end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a card from Amazon affect my credit score?
No. Removing a card from your Amazon account is purely an account management action. It does not close the card, report anything to credit bureaus, or change your credit in any way. Your credit score is based on your actual credit accounts and payment history, not on which websites have your card saved.
Can I delete a card if I have a pending refund on it?
Yes, but Amazon may not be able to process the refund if the card no longer exists. If you are expecting a refund, wait until it posts before deleting the card. If you delete it first, contact Amazon support with your order number — they can refund to a different card or issue an Amazon account credit instead.
What if I want to delete a card but keep my Amazon account active?
You must have at least one payment method on file. You cannot delete your last card. If you want to remove all your old cards, add a new one first, then delete the old ones one at a time. Your account will stay active as long as at least one card remains saved.
Does Amazon save my card information after I delete it?
No. Once you delete a card, Amazon removes it from your account. Your card details are not stored anywhere on Amazon after deletion. If you want to use that card again in the future, you will need to enter the full card number and details again.
Can I delete a card on the Amazon mobile app?
Yes. Open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Your Account, then Your Payments. Find the card and tap the three dots next to it, then select Delete. The process is the same as on the website.