It can be frustrating when a payment option you rely on disappears at checkout. PayPal Pay in 4 is an automated system, meaning if you don’t meet their specific criteria for a single transaction, the option is hidden instantly.
Here are the primary reasons why it might not be showing up for you:
1. Transaction Limits & Category Restrictions
Order Value
Typically, the purchase must be between $30 and $1,500 (though some regions allow up to $2,000). If your cart is too low or too high, the option won’t appear.
Restricted Goods
PayPal excludes certain categories from Pay in 4, including:
- Gambling or gaming.
- Digital gift cards or subscriptions.
- Cryptocurrency or financial services.
- Non-profit donations.
2. Account & Eligibility Issues
Account Standing
If you have any past-due payments on other PayPal services or a negative balance, the system will temporarily revoke “Pay Later” options.
Frequent Attempts
If you recently tried to use “Pay in 4” and the session timed out or was declined, PayPal may block the option for 24–72 hours to prevent “loan stacking” or suspicious activity.
Credit Freeze
If you have a freeze on your credit report with major bureaus, PayPal may be unable to perform the necessary soft credit check to approve the transaction.
3. Technical & Checkout Friction
The Default Payment Glitch
If your PayPal account is set to “Quick Checkout” or is linked to a site like eBay, it might skip the selection screen and go straight to your default card. Try unlinking PayPal from the merchant or choosing “Pay with a different method” to force the full PayPal login screen to appear.
Browser/App Issues
Sometimes the PayPal mobile app skips the “Pay Later” screen. Using a desktop browser or clearing your mobile browser cache can often resolve this.
4. Merchant-Specific Settings
Even if a store accepts PayPal, they may have opted out of “Pay in 4” or are using an older version of the PayPal checkout integration that doesn’t support Buy Now Pay Later features.