One of the most unpleasant changes in recent days has been the suspension of Visa and Mastercard in the country. For regular users, this has become a problem when paying for their favorite subscriptions and applications through Google Play and the App Store. In this guide, we describe the alternative payment methods currently available.
What does the Visa and Mastercard suspension mean?
Visa and Mastercard are the two main payment systems used by the vast majority of Russians. Such bank cards were accepted in online stores and allowed to subscribe to streaming cinemas, buy games without discs and perform many other actions that the modern user is accustomed to.
At the same time, the domestic payment system MIR can’t boast of such a thing these days, so you won’t be able to buy games from the PlayStation Store with it, even if the store is available again. How to buy games on the PS Store, Steam and eShop, we have told in this material.
In any case, when using iPhone or Android devices, you have registered in the respective stores – App Store or Google Play. Of course, not all users make purchases there (many are limited only to free applications), but paid transactions require you to link a bank card. In this case, the money for subscriptions was also automatically debited on time.
Now the linked cards are not read, so you will have to look for other ways.
Deposit money directly to your App Store account
This is one of the easiest ways. Log in to your App Store account and then click the “Upgrade Apple ID” button. Unfortunately, this method is directly related to Apple Pay, so it only works if you’re using a valid payment method.
Link a new card and turn it into a payment method?
Apple recently confirmed that it banned Russians from even paying in-store with a MIR card. However, this does not mean that it is forbidden to add foreign bank cards.
Open Settings and select your profile (the first in the list). Then click on “Payment and Shipping” and add a payment method. Here, by the way, you can apply another method – through a mobile phone. If you’re lucky enough to own a card with a foreign bank, there’s no problem.
How To Deposit Money To Your App Store Account Using Your Mobile Phone
By opening “Add payment methods” from the previous section, you can add a new card, as well as a mobile phone. Please note that now only Beeline, Megafon, MTS and YOTA support this feature. Thanks to this method, money is directly debited from the balance.
How To Deposit Money To Your App Store Account With Gift Cards
Gift cards can be purchased in the YuMoney or Qiwi applications. Some operators themselves propose to use this particular method, for example Tele2. After purchasing the card you will receive a code that must be activated in the App Store menu. Open your profile, there will be a button “Redeem Gift Card”.
The methods of replenishing an account on Google Play are almost the same, but there are differences. In addition, the store did not open at all on March 24, 2022. We hope that fixes the problem, otherwise all the methods below will be useless.
How to deposit money into your Google Play account using a different card or mobile phone
On Android phones, you can also pay from a mobile account. Go to your account settings, open “Payments and subscriptions”, then “Payment methods” and “Add carrier”. Enter your phone number and add a new payment method through a mobile operator when purchasing. This option is only suitable for users of Beeline, Megafon and MTS (presumably also YOTA).
In the same menu you can add a new card. We also recommend trying to bind “MIR”.
How To Deposit Money To Your Google Play Account With Qiwi Wallet
The Qiwi payment system looks like one of the most reliable for Russian users today. In addition, the wallet can be replenished in various ways, even via vending machines in stores. Once you have created a wallet in the app, you can use it as a payment method.
How to top up your Google Play account with a card with two payment systems
Such cards are already issued by many banks, combining “MIR” and UnionPay. The latter works in most countries, so it is suitable for anyone looking to minimize Visa and Mastercard losses. By the way, you can try the same method with the App Store.
How To Deposit Money To Your Google Play Account With Gift Cards
Unexpectedly, this method doesn’t work as well as it does in the App Store. It is extremely difficult to buy gift cards for Google Play in Russia, although they should become more accessible every day. You can find maps on various third-party sites, which you should use at your own risk and risk.
Source: VG Times
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.