If you’ve ever tried to buy Monochromes in Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) and been hit with a “purchase failed” message, you’re not alone — and you’re definitely not doing anything wrong.
The good news? This issue is very common, very fixable, and usually has nothing to do with your account being broken.
In this guide, I’ll break down the real reasons you can’t buy ZZZ Monochromes, based on actual player reports and support cases, then show you the safest ways to fix it — including an easier alternative most players don’t realize exists.
▍What Are Monochromes in ZZZ?
ZZZ Monochrome is Zenless Zone Zero’s premium currency, purchased with real money. You mainly use them to:
- Convert into Polychromes for Signal Searches (gacha pulls)
- Buy limited-time bundles
- Refresh stamina
- Grab event packs and resources
While you can farm some ZZZ Polychromes for free through dailies and events, Monochromes are the only reliable way to reach pity on banners — especially if you’re chasing agents like Zhu Yuan, Ellen Joe, or future limited S-ranks.
Free pulls are scarcer, banners rotate faster, and missing a purchase window can mean waiting months.
Official prices currently range from:
- $0.99 → 60 Monochromes
- $99.99 → 6,480 Monochromes (+ bonus)
So when buying fails, it’s not just annoying — it can cost you a banner.
▍Why You Can’t Buy Monochromes in ZZZ
Based on player feedback, Reddit threads, HoYoLAB posts, and our own support data at TOPUPlive, these are the real reasons purchases fail.
1. Payment Method Declined (Most Common Issue)
Banks and payment processors often flag in-game purchases as suspicious, especially if:
- You buy frequently
- You’re on a new device
- You’re using a prepaid or gift card
- The amount is large
- It’s an international transaction
Visa gift cards are especially unreliable. PayPal can also fail on mobile, and smaller banks tend to block game payments more aggressively.
Even with enough balance, the transaction can be auto-declined.
2. Regional Restrictions & Pricing Conflicts
HoYoverse uses region-based pricing, which is cheaper in places like Japan or Southeast Asia. Some players try to use VPNs to access lower prices — and that’s where problems start.
If your:
- Account region
- App store region
- Payment country
- don’t match, purchases often fail.
In worse cases, VPN use can trigger account flags or temporary restrictions.
3. iOS vs Android Store Problems
Apple Pay and Google Pay are convenient, but fragile.
Common issues:
- Apple ID region doesn’t match server
- Google Play requires a matching bank country
- Payment goes through but Monochromes aren’t delivered
- Store outages during updates
ZZZ had several payment outages in late 2025 that caused “paid but not received” issues.
4. Account or Server Glitches
If your HoYoverse account isn’t fully verified (no email/phone linked), purchases can be restricted.
Server overloads during major updates can also cause temporary errors — especially right after banner resets.
5. Bank Security Blocks
Banks often block international digital purchases automatically, especially during peak times like banner launches. This happens a lot to first-time buyers.
▍How to Fix ZZZ Monochrome Purchase Issues?
Here are the solutions that work in practice, not just in theory.
1. Switch or Verify Payment Methods
- Call your bank to whitelist HoYoverse / app store payments
- Use a major credit card instead of gift cards
- Make sure your store region matches your game server
- Test with a small pack first
2. Fix Account & Technical Issues
- Log out and back in
- Clear cache or reinstall the game
- Verify your HoYoverse account on HoYoLAB
- Wait a few hours if it’s a server issue
- Contact HoYoverse support with screenshots
3. Avoid VPN Purchases (Unless You Know What You’re Doing)
VPNs can work — but only if your account was created in that region originally.
For most players, it’s risky and causes more problems than it solves.
4. Use a Trusted Third-Party Top-Up (Safest Shortcut)
This is honestly the easiest fix for most players.
Third-party top-up platforms buy Monochromes through official regional channels and deliver them directly to your account — without VPNs or store issues.
At TOPUPlive, we:
- Support 100+ payment methods
- Deliver directly via UID (no login needed)
- Are up to 30% cheaper than the official store
- Have 24/7 support + refund protection
- Use encrypted official top-up methods
Example:
- Official: 6,480 Monochromes → $99.99
- TOPUPlive: Same pack → ~$76.49 (varies by region & promo)
New users get 12% off, and you can use code topupliveblog for 10% discount on your second purchase.
Compared to platforms like Codashop or LDShop, TOPUPlive is faster, cheaper, and more flexible with payments.
👉 No VPN, no store errors, no stress
5. Farm Free Polychromes (Temporary Backup)
While fixing payment issues, you can still:
- Do daily commissions
- Clear events
- Complete achievements
- Push story progress
But realistically, free Polychromes won’t get you to pity — they’re just a stopgap.
▍Conclusion
Not being able to buy Monochromes in ZZZ is frustrating, especially when a banner is ending and you’re one pull away from pity. But in most cases, it’s not your fault — it’s payment systems, regions, or store restrictions.
If you’re tired of fighting with app stores, TOPUPlive is the easiest workaround I can honestly recommend, and it’s what thousands of ZZZ players use daily.
If you still have questions, drop them in the comments or contact support. Now get back to New Eridu — and good luck on your pulls, Proxy.
