How to Pay for Music With a Credit Card on iTunes

Gift certificates and iTunes cards linked to your account are used before your credit card for iTunes purchases.
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To pay for and download music on iTunes, you must have an Apple ID. If you previously set up your Apple ID but didn't add a credit card payment method, you can add it now. Adding a credit card number to your account makes paying for iTunes purchases quick and easy. The steps you take to accomplish this task depend on whether you use an iOS device -- iPhone, iPad or iPod -- or a computer.

1 From an iOS Device

2 Tap Settings

Tap "Settings" on the home screen of your device. Scroll down the Settings menu and tap "iTunes and App Store" to access your Apple ID.

3 Tap your Apple ID

Tap your Apple ID and wait for the pop-up menu to appear. Tap "View Apple ID" on the pop-up menu.

4 Sign

Sign in to the iTunes Store by entering the password that matches your Apple ID and tap "OK."

5 Tap Payment Information

Tap "Payment Information" in the Account Settings page. Tap the type of credit card you wish to use for payment. For example, you may choose Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover.

6 Enter the credit card number

Enter the credit card number, security code, expiration date, billing address and your phone number. Tap "Done" when you are finished entering the information and the "Home" button to return to the home screen.

7 Tap the iTunes Store icon

Tap the "iTunes Store" icon and find a song you want to purchase. Tap the album art once to play a clip of the song. Tap the button with the price to activate the "Buy Song" button.

8 Tap the Buy Song button

Tap the "Buy Song" button. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted to authorize the purchase of the song.

9 From a Computer

10 Open iTunes

Open iTunes on your computer and click "Store." Click "Sign In" if you aren't already signed in to iTunes. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.

11 Click Store

Click "Store" followed by "View Account" to access your payment information. Enter your account password and click "View Account."

12 Wait for the Account Information page

Wait for the Account Information page to appear. Locate and click "Edit" next to "Payment Type." Choose the name of the credit card you wish to use for payment. Enter the rest of the information requested such as credit card number, security code, expiration date, billing address and your phone number.

13 Click Continue to save the information

Click "Continue" to save the information you entered and return to the iTunes Store. You are now ready to purchase songs with your credit card.

  • Information in this article applies to Apple mobile devices with iOS 7 and computers running iTunes 11. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.
  • If you've ever purchased anything from the Apple Store online or used iCloud or the Mac App Store, you can sign in to iTunes with the same Apple ID you used to access those services.
  • All iTunes purchases are final. When you choose to buy a song or an album, your credit card is charged for payment.

Based in Texas, Cynthia Measom has been writing various parenting, business and finance and education articles since 2011. Her articles have appeared on websites such as The Bump and Motley Fool. Measom received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin.

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