PayPal is one of the most popular and trusted intermediaries for sending and receiving money online. After creating an account, you can use PayPal to make payments, shop online, and even receive money from friends or work.
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Method 1 of 4: Creating a PayPal Account
Step 1. Click the “Sign Up” link on the PayPal website
To create an account, visit the PayPal main page. Click the "Sign Up" button in the upper right corner of the screen.
You can access PayPal's main page via this link:
Step 2. Decide whether you want to create a personal or business account
PayPal will ask you to choose between a personal account and a business account. Personal accounts are better suited for online shopping and sending money with friends and family members. Meanwhile, a business account can be a good choice if you use PayPal for sending money or for business purposes, especially if you create accounts for several people from the same company.
Step 3. Register an email address and create an account password
PayPal doesn't require you to create a username, but you do need to link an email address to your PayPal account. You also need to choose a strong password.
- You can use any email address. However, make sure that the address you use is frequent (and easily accessible) so that you can get notifications about funds going in and out.
- You will need to submit a lot of sensitive information so make sure the password you set is strong enough. Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, as well as numbers and special characters (eg #, !, @, etc.). Randomly placed strings of numbers, letters and special characters (e.g. “13b%E56s$T89!”) can be a better choice than easily recognizable words (e.g. “HaPPy123!”).
Step 4. Enter the basic information
After setting a password, you will be directed to a page that asks you to enter basic information. Add information such as name, date of birth, address, and phone number.
Step 5. Connect PayPal account with bank account or card
Click the “Wallet” link at the top of the page, then click “Link a card or bank”. After that, you can link your credit or debit card, or bank account directly to your account. You will need to enter a card number, account number, or routing number (or bank code) on the account.
Step 6. Confirm card or bank account if prompted
For security reasons, PayPal sometimes requires you to confirm ownership of the linked card or account. Visit the “PayPal Wallet” page and click the “Confirm Credit Card” link if available. PayPal will confirm the associated payment method by assigning a fee (a small amount) to the card. Once your account or card is confirmed, you can get a refund immediately. Now, your account is ready to use!
- If you're asked to enter a 4-digit code, look for the fee code PayPal charges on your debit or credit card statement or account. The code is displayed as PayPal*1234 CODE or PP*1234 CODE.
- In your PayPal account, click “Wallet”, and click the card you want to confirm. Enter the 4-digit code (in this case, 1234) and click “Submit”.
Method 2 of 4: Using Money Through PayPal
Step 1. Save money to PayPal account
Even if your account is empty, PayPal can withdraw money from your bank account to make payments. However, some users prefer to deposit money in a PayPal account. To send and deposit money to your PayPal account, first log in to your account and click "Money Transfer". You can send money from a bank account that is linked to a PayPal account.
Step 2. Send money to other users via PayPal
If you borrow money from someone, you can easily return it via PayPal. Just click the "Money Transfer" option. Enter the desired amount and enter the recipient's email address. After that, press the "Send" button.
Make sure you enter the correct email address. The email address that must be entered is the email address that the recipient uses or associates with their PayPal account
Step 3. Make an online purchase using PayPal
Many sites provide payment options via PayPal (marked with a "Pay with PayPal" button on the payment page). If you use this button, you will usually need to enter the email address associated with your PayPal account. This method is much faster than when you have to enter credit card information.
Step 4. Send money to your bank account
Once you have money in your PayPal account, you can make withdrawals to your bank account whenever you want. Press the " Transfer " button and withdraw the money directly to the bank account linked to the PayPal account. The withdrawal process usually takes about one business day.
You can also send money using a connected debit card for around 0.25 dollars (about two thousand five hundred rupiah). This transfer method can usually be completed within 30 minutes
Step 5. If you use PayPal often, get a PayPal debit card
A PayPal debit card works like a regular debit card, but the funds are directly drawn from the money stored in your PayPal account. This card can be a great choice if you need to quickly access the money stored in your PayPal account. This card is accepted in many places that accept card payments, as well as ATMs, you can withdraw up to 400 dollars (approximately 4.4 million rupiah) in one day if you use a PayPal debit card.
Step 6. Cancel the payment on PayPal if it is still pending
If you made a mistake on a payment for another user, log in to your PayPal account and click on the “Summary” page. Look for payments that are still pending (usually marked as “Unclaimed”). Under the payment segment, click “Cancel” and select “Cancel Payment.”
If the payment has already been received, contact the recipient to request a refund
Method 3 of 4: Receiving Money Via PayPal
Step 1. Provide the email address associated with your PayPal account
If someone else wants to send you money via PayPal, they need your email address. When requesting money via PayPal, make sure you provide an email address that is already linked to your PayPal account, and not a different email address.
Step 2. Request funds via PayPal
You can submit a request for funds via PayPal by logging into your account first. Click "Tools" and select "Request Money". Enter the amount you want to receive and the email address or phone number of the user to whom you are applying. After that, click "Request Money".
This can be a great way to go if you want to send “mild” alerts to people who borrow money from you. For example, if a friend borrows money from you to buy something, you can send them a reminder of the amount they have to pay via PayPal
Step 3. Submit a bill or invoice via PayPal
If you have a part-time job, you can make a payroll bill via PayPal. After pressing the " Request Money " tab, select " Invoice " from the menu at the top of the page. After that, enter service details, hours worked, cost/salary per hour/month, and total salary to be paid in the column provided.
Step 4. Link PayPal accounts with sites like eBay
If you sell items on an internet site (eg eBay), most buying and selling sites will allow you to link your website account to a PayPal account. This way, when a customer makes a purchase, the money will automatically be sent to your PayPal account. Each site has a different process for linking an account, but usually you just need to enter an email address that's already linked to your PayPal account and, possibly, some personal information.
Step 5. Calculate the costs to be deducted from invoices and sales
If you receive a payment via PayPal or use it as a payroll tool, a fee of 2.9% + 30 cents (approximately 3 thousand rupiah) will be charged to the total payment. To work around this costing, factor the cost into your price or bill. Multiply the price you set by 0.0029, then add $0.30 to the product.
- If you want to exchange money with friends and family using a credit card, you will also be charged the same fee. Meanwhile, if you use a bank account, you will not be charged anything.
- For a complete and detailed price list across all countries and different types of companies, visit the PayPal fees page at
Method 4 of 4: Troubleshooting PayPal Account
Step 1. Contact PayPal if your account is locked
If you get a message saying your account is locked, call or message PayPal customer service. Try logging into your account before contacting customer service to speed up the reporting process. You'll need to provide your phone number, email address, and a linked billing or card statement or bank account so that PayPal employees can confirm ownership of your account.
- If you live in the United States, you can call PayPal at 1-888-221-1161. If you live outside the United States, you can dial +1-402-935-2050 (+1 indicates international code). Reporting by phone can be the recommended way if you want to re-open a locked account.
- To email PayPal, visit this link and log in using your account:
Step 2. Check the card again if your payment was declined
Make sure the card has not expired and that you include the appropriate billing address. Update the information as necessary through the account. If the problem is not caused by either of these, check the “Wallet” page of your PayPal account. If you see a “Confirm Credit Card” link, click the link and confirm the card you registered.
- If the information on the card is correct and the card has been confirmed, make sure the recipient has confirmed his/her PayPal account information and meets the completeness of the account. You can also change or add a new payment method to your account and use that method.
- If the problem has not been resolved, contact the card company or bank. Explain that a payment you made via PayPal has been declined and ask what you can do to resolve the payment issue.
Step 3. Click the “Having trouble logging in” link if you forgot your account password
You will be asked to enter the email address associated with your PayPal account. Click “Next”, then select a password recovery method. You can receive phone calls, text messages, or emails. You can also answer security questions or confirm your account via Facebook Messenger.
- PayPal will provide a password recovery guide based on the option you select. Follow the next steps carefully to access your account.
- If you're still having trouble, call PayPal customer service at 1-888-221-1161 (if you live in the United States) or +1 402-935-2050 if you live outside the United States.
Step 4. Change the password by accessing the “Security” tab and clicking on “Edit”
You can see the tab under the name on the profile page. After that, you will see an “Edit” link next to the “Password” option. You will be asked to confirm the current password and enter the new password twice. Click the “Change Password” button when finished.
You can also change the security question via the “Security” tab. Click "Edit" next to the "Security questions" option
Step 5. Be careful with scammers on the internet
If you sell products on sites like Craigslist or Tokopedia, be wary of people who promise to pay for your products via PayPal but don't pay at all. If you can see any warning signs, don't communicate with the buyer. Some of the warning signs you need to watch out for include:
- The buyer says he can't meet you in person or talk on the phone.
- The buyer offers more money than you ask for.
- The buyer asks you to send the goods or money through a shipping agent, Western Union, or MoneyGram.
Step 6. Identify and report fake PayPal email addresses
If you receive an email that “looks like” sent by PayPal, check the email carefully before you click on any links. If the email includes information that you've received a payment, check your PayPal account to see if any payments have been received. If any payment is displayed, the authenticity of the payment and the email is guaranteed. Otherwise, forward the message to [email protected]. Other warning signs you should watch out for include:
- Emails from PayPal do not include your first and last name.
- An email saying that your payment is on hold until you complete the requested action or step.
Step 7. Visit the Help Center or the user help community for more troubleshooting solutions
If you have more questions, visit the PayPal help center for a list of frequently asked questions. To submit a specific question or see more diverse solutions, first log into your account and visit the “Community” page. You can also contact customer service directly by phone or email.
- You can access the help center at
- If you want to ask for help from the user community, visit
- If you live in the United States, you can contact PayPal customer/support services at 1-888-221-1161. For those of you who live outside the United States, you can call +1-402-935-2050 (+1 refers to the country code). PayPal customer service is open Monday to Friday, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends (pacific standard time, fifteen hours within Indonesia time zone).
- To send an email to PayPal, log into your account via the following link:
