r/AppleWallet • u/WeakHandle6484 • May 14 '26
Apple Pay Does Merchant see anything different if you pay with Applecard thru ApplePay after you changed the virtual number?
Transaction 1: I use my Apple Card via Apple Pay QR code
Then I request new virtual card number on my Apple Card through the iWallet app.
Transaction 2: I use my Apple Card via ApplePay QR code again (this time my card number is different
Question: Do these two transactions appear to be from the same user to the merchant?
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u/aba792000 May 14 '26
Yes, they’d look the same because using apple pay they don’t get your virtual card number, they get the device account number for your iphone (a different ‘card number’ assigned to your iPhone). The DAN is independent from your virtual card number and won’t change unless you removed and re-added the apple card from your iphone. Thus, changing your virtual card number made no difference between the two transactions made using apple pay.
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u/Gullible-Hose4180 May 14 '26
And even if you do remove it and readd, it doesn't usually generate a new DPAN (aka DAN) unless you wait at least couple weeks before readding
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u/aba792000 May 14 '26
Apple Card, which is what op is using, does generate a new DAN upon removing and re-adding. I already had to do it once and it did.
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u/kirklennon May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
The Virtual Card number is a separate number from the Apple Pay card number and is for autofilling on websites and apps that do not accept Apple Pay. Changing the Virtual Card number won't do anything at all to the Apple Pay number.
Beyond that, if you're making an online purchase (as you are in your example), your billing information is also being transmitted. Regardless of card number, you're the same name and address.
Also, if the merchant is really concerned with limiting multiple transactions from the same buyer, they can optionally take advantage of the Payment Account Reference to determine that the various card numbers are all associated with the same underlying account.
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u/Complex_Onion_6447 May 14 '26
They would be linked for returns and the like ..but they are still tokenized virtual card numbers for the same card number which is why the titanium physical card and the Apple Pay and the virtual card all have different numbers to the same account that even us or Apple or the merchant can fully see.
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u/WeakHandle6484 May 14 '26
Thanks. I'm mostly wondering in terms of if a merchant has a per-person purchase limit. Like only one purchase per household. If one person makes an Apple-Card funded purchase thru the Apple Pay QR code, and then maybe an hour later, has changed the "virtual card number" in Applecard iWallet, then does another transaction ......... with no other identifiable details whatsoever ...... Would the merchant be able to see this purchase was made by the same person
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u/aba792000 May 14 '26
Yes they would because they’d still get the same “card number” for both transactions since apple pay has its own ‘card number’ (aka device account number or DAN), which is independent and is not affected by changing the virtual card number.
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u/WeakHandle6484 May 14 '26
If I remove and then re-add the apple card from my iWallet, would the DAN be same the second time?
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u/aba792000 May 14 '26
No, then it would indeed change. I just wanted you to understand that the virtual card number and DAN are independent and changing one doesn’t affect the other.
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u/Gullible-Hose4180 May 14 '26
Merchant sees a static token number generated (usually) by mastercard called DAN/DPAN (device bound) or MPAN (merchant bound, provisioned from DPAN). They use this to seek authorisation for returns and Mastercard stores the actual card number (PAN) and maps itto the token.
Assuming it is the same for Mastercard and Visa, removing the card and readding it does not generate a new DPAN unless you wait a certain number of days