How to Add Money to PayPal

This wikiHow teaches you how to add funds to your PayPal account by transferring money from your bank account either online or through the PayPal mobile app, using cash at a retail location, or by depositing a check. As of March 2020, PayPal requires personal account holders to have a PayPal Cash account if they want to keep money on PayPal.[1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using PayPal Cash at a Store

  1. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 1
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    Sign up for a PayPal Cash card. A PayPal Cash card is a debit card that lets you use your PayPal balance to make debit/credit card purchases, as well as add money to your PayPal balance at participating retailers for a very small fee.[2] To get the card, visit https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/cash-card, click Get the Card, and follow the on-screen instructions. Once your request is processed, PayPal will mail you the card.
    • If your personal PayPal account was verified before March 29 2020, you already have a PayPal Cash account and don't have to sign up for the card if you don't want a card. Skip to Step 3 if this is the case for you.
    • If you have a newer account, signing up for a PayPal Cash Card automatically converts your PayPal account to PayPal Cash, which means you can add to/keep money in your PayPal account.
  2. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 2
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    Activate the PayPal Cash card when it arrives. When you receive the card in the mail, you'll need to activate it. Here's how:
    • If you're on a phone or tablet, open the PayPal app and tap the gear icon at the top-right. Tap PayPal Cash Card, enter the requested information, and tap Activate Card.[3]
    • If you're on a computer, go to https://paypal.com/activatecard, sign in, and click Activate Card. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete activation.
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  3. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 12
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    Open the PayPal app on your phone or tablet. It's a blue icon with a white "P." You'll usually find it on the home screen or in the app drawer.[4]
  4. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 13
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    Tap your balance. It's under "PayPal balance" near the center of the screen.
    • You'll only see this option if you have a PayPal Cash account.
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    Tap Add Money. It's the blue button at the bottom of the screen.
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    Tap Add cash.
  7. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 7
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    Upgrade to a Cash Plus account (if prompted). If it's your first time adding money to PayPal and you haven't already done so, you'll be prompted to upgrade to Cash Plus. Read through the terms and tap Agree & Continue to confirm.
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    Select a retail location near you. Select a store name from the list, or tap Map at the top-right corner to find the nearest location. You can then select the nearest location from the map and/or list. Each retailer's PayPal Cash fee appears next to its name.
    • It's best to wait until you're close to the location to complete the remaining steps. You'll be creating a barcode that will remain active for only 1 hour and bringing it to the location's cashier.
  9. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 18
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    Tap Generate Barcode. It's at the bottom of the screen. This displays a bar code specific to your PayPal account, which is good for one hour.
    • If you get to the location after an hour elapses, you'll have to generate a new barcode.
  10. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 19
    10
    Bring the barcode and your cash to the retail location. The cashier will scan the barcode, process your cash and fee payment, and provide you a receipt. If you have a PayPal Cash Card, the retailer will swipe it to add the funds. The money will be available in your PayPal account in about 15 minutes.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Your Bank Account on the Mobile App

  1. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 6
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    Open the PayPal app on your phone or tablet. It's a blue icon with a white "P." You'll usually find it on the home screen or in the app drawer.
    • Transferring money from your bank account is free.
  2. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 12
    2
    Make sure you have a PayPal Cash or Cash Plus account. Beginning in March of 2020, PayPal requires personal account holders to have a PayPal Cash account if they want to store money on PayPal.[5] Once you're signed in to PayPal, scroll down and look for a "PayPal Balance" section:
    • If your account was verified before March 29, 2020, and/or you have a PayPal Cash card, your account was automatically converted to PayPal Cash. You will see a balance and can add funds with your bank account or any other method.
    • If you created your personal account after that date and/or don't see a PayPal Balance section, you don't have PayPal Cash. You can still link a bank account, credit, or debit card and send/receive payments, but you can't add money to your PayPal account to store it there.
    • If you don't have PayPal Cash and want to be able to keep money in your PayPal account, you can get it in one of two ways:
      • Ask someone to send money to your PayPal account. Then, tap the transaction in PayPal and select Keep it in PayPal. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your personal information so you can add money.
      • Sign up for (and activate) a PayPal Cash Debit Card. Check out the Using PayPal Cash at a Store method to learn how to sign up, or visit https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/cash-card.
  3. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 13
    3
    Link a bank account if you haven't already done so. If you haven't yet linked your bank account to PayPal, here's how to do so now:
    • Tap the gear icon at the top-right corner.
    • Tap Banks and Cards.
    • If you already see your bank account, you can skip to step 3.
    • To add an account, tap Link a Card or Bank Account at the bottom, and then tap Bank account.
    • Tap your bank account on the list. If you don't see it, search for it by name in the search bar at the top.
    • Once you've selected your bank, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in and automatically verify your account.
    • If you don't see your bank when searching, tap Enter Your Bank Details and follow the on-screen instructions to submit your bank account info. In the next 3 business days, PayPal will make 2 small deposits into your bank account.
    • When you receive the deposits, return to the Banks and Cards section of the PayPal app, select your bank, and confirm the deposit amounts. Once confirmed, you can transfer money into PayPal from your bank account.
  4. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 7
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    Tap your PayPal balance. It's under "PayPal balance" near the center of the screen.
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    Tap Add Money. It's the blue button at the bottom of the screen.[6]
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    Tap Add from your bank. If prompted to do so, tap the name of the bank account you want to use to transfer money.
  7. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 17
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    Upgrade to a Cash Plus account (if prompted). If it's your first time adding money to PayPal and you haven't already done so, you'll be prompted to sign up for PayPal Cash Plus. Read through the terms and fees. When you get to the end, tap Agree & Continue to confirm.
  8. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 10
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    Enter the amount and tap Next. A confirmation screen will appear.
  9. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 11
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    Tap Add to Your Balance. Your transfer will appear in your PayPal account within 3-5 business.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Your Bank Account on a Computer

  1. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 20
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    Sign into your PayPal account at https://www.paypal.com. If you're not already signed in, click Log In at the top-right corner to do so now. Transferring money from your bank account is completely free.
  2. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 21
    2
    Make sure you have a PayPal Cash account. Beginning in March of 2020, PayPal now requires personal account holders to have a PayPal Cash account if they want to store money on PayPal. Once you're signed into PayPal, scroll down and look for a "PayPal Balance" section:
    • If your account was verified before March 29, 2020, and/or you have a PayPal Cash card, your account was automatically converted to PayPal Cash. You will see a balance and can add funds with your bank account or any other method.
    • If you created your personal account after that date and/or don't see a PayPal Balance section, you don't have PayPal Cash. You can still link a bank account, credit, or debit card and send/receive payments, but you can't add money to your PayPal account to store it there.
    • If you don't have PayPal Cash and want to be able to keep money in your PayPal account, you can get it in one of two ways:
      • Ask someone to send money to your PayPal account. Then, tap the transaction in PayPal and select Keep it in PayPal. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your personal information so you can add money.
      • Sign up for (and activate) a PayPal Cash Debit Card. Check out the Using PayPal Cash at a Store method to learn how to sign up, or visit https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/cash-card.
  3. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 22
    3
    Click the Wallet tab. It's at the top of the page.
  4. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 23
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    Link your bank account to PayPal if you haven't already. Do you already see your bank account on the Wallet page? If so, skip to the next step. If not, you will need to link and verify your account before you can transfer money. You can usually link and verify your bank account within minutes, but it can take up to 3 days for some banks.[7] Here's how:
    • Click Link a card or bank.
    • Click Link a bank account.
    • If you see your bank listed, click its name and follow the on-screen instructions to sign in. Once you're signed in, your account will be verified, and you can start transferring money.
    • If you don't see your bank, try searching for it in the search bar at the top. If it's not found, click the Enter your bank details and follow the on-screen instructions to submit your bank account info. In the next 3 business days, PayPal will make 2 small deposits into your bank account.
    • When you receive the deposits, log back into PayPal and click the Wallet tab.
    • Select your bank and confirm the deposit amounts. Once confirmed, you can transfer money into PayPal.
  5. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 24
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    Click Transfer Money or Add Money. Depending on your account type, you'll see one of these options below your current balance.
  6. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 25
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    Click Add money to your balance.
  7. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 4
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    Select your bank and enter the amount you want to transfer. Type the amount you want to transfer from your bank account into the "Amount" field.
  8. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 5
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    Click Add (Personal) or Transfer (Business). A confirmation screen will appear.
  9. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 28
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    Click Add (amount) to confirm. Your transfer will appear in your PayPal account within 3-5 business days.[8]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Cashing a Check

  1. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 20
    1
    Open the PayPal app on your phone or tablet. It's a blue icon with a white "P." You'll usually find it on the home screen or in the app drawer.
    • If you haven't yet endorsed the check you want to deposit, do so before you continue.
    • Depositing a check into your PayPal account is free, but can take up to 10 business days to process.[9] If you want to speed along the process, you can pay a small fee to receive your funds in minutes.
  2. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 30
    2
    Make sure you have a PayPal Cash account. Beginning in March of 2020, PayPal now requires personal account holders to have a PayPal Cash account if they want to store money on PayPal. Once you're signed into PayPal, scroll down and look for a "PayPal Balance" section:
    • If your account was verified before March 29, 2020, and/or you have a PayPal Cash card, your account was automatically converted to PayPal Cash. You will see a balance and can deposit checks to your PayPal account.
    • If you created your personal account after that date and/or don't see a PayPal Balance section, you don't have PayPal Cash. You can still link a bank account, credit, or debit card and send/receive payments, but you can't add money to your PayPal account to store it there.
    • If you don't have PayPal Cash and want to be able to keep money in your PayPal account, you can get it in one of two ways:
      • Ask someone to send money to your PayPal account. Then, tap the transaction in PayPal and select Keep it in PayPal. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your personal information so you can add money.
      • Sign up for (and activate) a PayPal Cash Debit Card. Check out the Using PayPal Cash at a Store method to learn how to sign up, or visit https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/cash-card.
  3. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 21
    3
    Tap your balance. It's near the top of the screen.
  4. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 22
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    Tap Add Money. It's at the bottom of the screen.
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    Tap Cash a Check on the menu.
  6. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 34
    6
    Upgrade to a Cash Plus account (if prompted). If it's your first time adding money to PayPal and you haven't already done so, you'll be prompted to sign up for PayPal Cash Plus. Read through the terms and fees. When you get to the end, tap Agree & Continue to confirm.
  7. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 24
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    Review the details and tap Get Started.
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    Give the app access to your location and camera. Follow the on-screen instructions to grant PayPal permission to access your location and camera. Once the proper permissions are granted, a privacy policy will appear.
  9. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 26
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    Review the privacy policy and tap Accept.
  10. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 27
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    Review the terms and conditions and tap Accept.
  11. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 28
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    Enter your personal details and tap Agree and Continue. You'll have to provide your birthdate, social security number, and phone number to continue.
  12. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 29
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    Tap Done on the confirmation screen. Now you'll enter some information about your check.
  13. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 30
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    Enter the check amount. Tap $0.00 at the top of the screen, then enter the check's total amount.
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    Tap Front of check. The camera screen will appear.
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    Align the front the check within the guides. The app will capture the check's image immediately.
  16. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 33
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    Tap Back of check. The camera screen will re-open.
  17. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 34
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    Flip the check over and align it within the guides. The app will capture the check's back side.
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    Tap Next. It's at the bottom of the screen.
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    Select how long you want to wait to access your money. If you want the money within a few minutes, select the $5.00 fee option. If you are okay waiting 10 days, tap No fee to cash the check for free.
  20. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 37
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    Tap Confirm. A confirmation message will appear, letting you know that if there are no problems with the check, the balance will be applied to your PayPal account in 10 days at no cost to you.[10]
  21. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 49
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    Tap I Accept to agree. PayPal's check service will now verify the check's validity. This process should only take a few seconds, but sometimes may require up to 5 minutes. Don't continue to the next step until you see a message that says that the check is approved.
  22. Image titled Add Money to PayPal Step 38
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    Void the check and provide proof. Don't void the check until the app prompts you to do so. When it does, use a thick marker to write "VOID" across the front of the check, and then follow the on-screen instructions to snap a new photo of the check. A confirmation will appear once this process is complete.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can you add funds to your PayPal account for free?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    There's no cost to add money to your PayPal account from a linked bank account using your computer or the PayPal app.
  • Question
    Can you deposit money to your PayPal account at Walmart?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, you can deposit or withdraw money to and from your PayPal account at a Walmart service desk, cash register, or ATM. However, there is a $3 charge for these services.
  • Question
    Can I add money to my PayPal account with a debit card?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    First, link your card with your PayPal account. You’ll then need to confirm the account, which usually involves PayPal depositing and deducting a small amount of money from your account. You'll need to report the amounts of those transactions to confirm your card. Next, go to the “Add Funds” link on the PayPal website or app and select your debit card under “Add Funds from a U.S. Bank Account.” Enter the amount of money you want to transfer and click “Submit.”
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/FAQ3996
  2. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-do-i-add-money-to-my-paypal-cash-card-faq3874
  3. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-do-i-activate-my-paypal-cash-card-faq3199
  4. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/ppcash
  5. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/FAQ3996
  6. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/FAQ1348
  7. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-do-i-link-a-bank-account-to-my-paypal-account-faq686
  8. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/FAQ1348
  9. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/what-is-the-cash-a-check-service-in-the-paypal-app-faq3725
  1. ↑ https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/faq3726

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA
Written by:
Nicole Levine, MFA
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 1,473,490 times.
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Co-authors: 40
Updated: January 26, 2023
Views: 1,473,490
Categories: PayPal
Article SummaryX

As of March 29, 2020, you will need a PayPal Cash account to add money to your PayPal balance. If your account was verified before that date (or you have a PayPal Cash Card), you can add funds to your balance by linking your bank account, depositing a check, or using cash at a participating location. To find out if you have a PayPal Cash account, log into PayPal and look for the "PayPal Balance" section. If you see it (even if the balance is $0), you can use the mobile app or PayPal.com to add funds. If not, you can either sign up for a PayPal Cash Card or request money from someone—when you accept money, you'll have the option to keep it in PayPal, which prompts you to create a PayPal Cash account.

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