What is real-time account updater? 

Real-time account updater is a feature that enables transactions to automatically update lost, stolen, or expired cards-on-file in the context of a transaction. For more information, see the RTAU developer documentation.

What are the benefits of real-time account updater?

Real-time account updater helps to prevent declines and increase conversions. It reduces the need to depend on your customers to update their own card-on-file details; for example, when:

• Accepting recurring payments on a subscription for a product or service
• Completing an online/mobile transaction using a previously saved credit/debit card

How do I know if my solution is eligible for real-time account updater? 

An account is eligible for real-time account updater when:

• It is set up using a third-party platform provider that has real-time account updater enabled, or 
• The account is directly integrated to accept debit and credit payments with vaulting (saved cards for future payments).

What does my developer need to do to prepare my solution? 

Your developer will need to assess your existing integration, as this feature introduces new behaviors to the Orders v2 API that shows when there is a difference between the card submitted for payment and the card used for that payment.

A new Expiry Response field has been added to the card object. A description of this field along with additional error responses are documented in the RTAU developer documentation.

How do I enable real-time account updater from my merchant account?

1. Log in to your PayPal merchant account.
2. Under the profile icon, select Account Settings.
3. Under Account & Security, select Payment Preferences.
4. Next to Account Updater, select Turn On.
5. On the pop-up, select Turn On.
6. On the confirmation screen, select Got It.
7. Real-time account updater is enabled.

How do I disable real-time account updater from my merchant account?

1. Log in to your PayPal merchant account.
2. Under the profile icon, select Account Settings.
3. Under Account & Security, select Payment Preferences.
4. Next to Account Updater, select Turn Off.
5. On the pop-up, select Turn Off.
6. On the confirmation screen, select Got It.
7. Real-time account updater is disabled.