Fix problems with tap to pay transactions

Important: If you can’t tap and pay, check if you’ve completed the following steps:

  1. Check if your device supports NFC.
  2. Set Google Pay as your default payment app.
  3. Add a card.
  4. Set a screen lock.
  5. Check if your phone is certified and meets security requirements.
  6. Check if your device is unlocked before the payment.

Step 1: Check if your device supports NFC

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Connected devices and then Connection preferences and then NFC.
  3. Tap On.
    Turn on your phone's NFC.

Step 2: Set Google as your default payment app

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Connected devices and then Connection preferences and then NFC.
  3. Tap Contactless payments.
  4. Select Google Wallet.

Tip: Make sure your Google Wallet app is up to date.

Set Google Pay as your default payment.

Step 3: Add a card

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. At the bottom, tap Add to Wallet .
  3. Tap Payment card.
    • Any cards you saved to your Google Account are shown.
  4. Tap New credit or debit card.
    • To add a card, use your camera or tap Enter details manually.
  5. At the bottom, tap Save and continue.
  6. Read the issuer terms.
  7. Tap Accept.
  8. If you’re asked to verify your payment method, select an option from the list. Learn how to verify your payment method.

Step 4: Set a screen lock

  1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
  2. Tap Security & privacy.
  3. Tap Device unlock and then Screen lock.
    • If you already set a lock, you need to enter your PIN, pattern, or password before you can select a different one.
  4. Select the screen lock method you want to use.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Set or change a screen lock.

Step 5: Check if phone is certified & meets security requirements

  1. Open the Google Play Store app Google Play.
  2. At the top right, tap the profile icon.
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. To check if your device is Play Protect certified, tap About.

Step 6: Unlock your device before the payment

Before you can pay, you'll need to confirm it's you using your Android screen lock. You can verify it’s you in Google Wallet with a:

  • PIN
  • Pattern
  • Password
  • Fingerprint or class 3 biometrics face unlock (if your device supports it)

Try to tap & pay again with tips

  • Hold your phone closer to the payment reader for a few more seconds, then try it in a different way.
  • If the payment doesn’t go through, find the NFC sign on the terminal or ask a cashier for help. Your NFC antenna could be near the top or middle of your device.

Fix other issues

The cashier says the payment didn’t work

If a check mark appears on your phone when you hold it up to the payment reader but the cashier says the payment didn’t work:

  • Try a different payment reader.
  • Confirm that the store accepts mobile payments.
  • Contact your bank to find out if there’s an issue with your card.
  • Try a different payment method. Some terminals might not accept certain cards.
I attempted to make a payment but was prompted to enter my PIN

If you’re prompted to enter your PIN, it means that you tried to verify the purchase with a method that's not supported. To solve the issue, enter your Android screen lock PIN.

To avoid this issue, use a supported Android screen lock method. You can also open the Google Wallet app before a purchase. If needed, you'll find a prompt in the app to verify the purchase.

The terminal requested that I swipe or insert my card after I attempted to pay using contactless
To reset the transaction if you use a self-service terminal, try pressing "X." Otherwise, ask the cashier for assistance. Ensure your phone is unlocked and then try to pay again. Alternatively, you can open the Google Wallet app before you make the purchase. If necessary, you'll be prompted to verify the purchase within the app.
Can’t add a card to Google Wallet

If you can’t add a debit or credit card:

  • Make sure that the info on file with your bank or card issuer matches the name and address in your Payment Profile settings.
  • Try a different payment method.
  • Contact your bank or card issuer if you still have issues.

Learn how to fix problems when adding debit or credit cards to the Google Wallet app.

Can’t set up contactless payments

To set up contactless payments, your device must:

  • Have NFC activated
  • Run Android version 9.0 and up on phones and Wear 2.x and up on watches
  • Have Host Card Emulation (HCE)
  • Be set up with a card supported for contactless payments

If your device allows NFC payments and your card supports but you can’t set up contactless payments, contact your bank.

Home screen isn’t available in the Google Wallet

If Wallet app gives an error that says you can’t access the app, you might be able to open Google Wallet from your phone Settings menu:

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Google and then All Services and then Settings for Google apps.
  3. Tap Google Wallet.
Tip: If you can’t open the app’s home screen, you might be able to tap and pay with your default card. If you continue to have this issue, report a problem or send feedback about the app.
Couldn’t finish set up of tap to pay
Your card might have been saved to your Google Account but not to the Google Wallet app. Try to add a different payment method and finish the setup.
Your cards disappeared in the Google Pay app, or you got notified that your cards were deleted

Your cards might be removed from Google Wallet as a security precaution. Re-add any removed cards to Google Wallet.

Need more help

If you still have issues or any questions, you can ask the community. You can also contact us.

Important: If you can’t tap and pay, check if you’ve completed the following steps:

  1. Check if your device supports NFC.
  2. Set Google Pay as your default payment app.
  3. Add a card.
  4. Set a screen lock.
  5. Check if your phone is certified and meets security requirements.
  6. Check if your device is unlocked before the payment.

Step 1: Check if your device supports NFC

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Connected devices and then Connection preferences and then NFC.
  3. Tap On.
    Turn on your phone's NFC.

Step 2: Set Google as your default payment app

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Connected devices and then Connection preferences and then NFC.
  3. Tap Contactless payments.
  4. Select Google Wallet.

Tip: Make sure your Google Wallet app is up to date.

Set Google Pay as your default payment.

Step 3: Add a card

  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. At the bottom, tap Add to Wallet .
  3. Tap Payment card.
    • Any cards you saved to your Google Account are shown.
  4. Tap New credit or debit card.
    • To add a card, use your camera or tap Enter details manually.
  5. At the bottom, tap Save and continue.
  6. Read the issuer terms.
  7. Tap Accept.
  8. If you’re asked to verify your payment method, select an option from the list. Learn how to verify your payment method.

Step 4: Set a screen lock

  1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
  2. Tap Security & privacy.
  3. Tap Device unlock and then Screen lock.
    • If you already set a lock, you need to enter your PIN, pattern, or password before you can select a different one.
  4. Select the screen lock method you want to use.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Set or change a screen lock.

Step 5: Check if phone is certified & meets security requirements

  1. Open the Google Play Store app Google Play.
  2. At the top right, tap the profile icon.
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. To check if your device is Play Protect certified, tap About.

Step 6: Unlock your device before the payment

Before you can pay, you'll need to confirm it's you using your Android screen lock. You can verify it’s you in Google Wallet with a:

  • PIN
  • Pattern
  • Password
  • Fingerprint or class 3 biometrics face unlock (if your device supports it)

Try to tap & pay again with tips

  • Hold your phone closer to the payment reader for a few more seconds, then try it in a different way.
  • If the payment doesn’t go through, find the NFC sign on the terminal or ask a cashier for help. Your NFC antenna could be near the top or middle of your device.

Fix other issues

The cashier says the payment didn’t work

If a check mark appears on your phone when you hold it up to the payment reader but the cashier says the payment didn’t work:

  • Try a different payment reader.
  • Confirm that the store accepts mobile payments.
  • Contact your bank to find out if there’s an issue with your card.
  • Try a different payment method. Some terminals might not accept certain cards.
I attempted to make a payment but was prompted to enter my PIN

If you’re prompted to enter your PIN, it means that you tried to verify the purchase with a method that's not supported. To solve the issue, enter your Android screen lock PIN.

To avoid this issue, use a supported Android screen lock method. You can also open the Google Wallet app before a purchase. If needed, you'll find a prompt in the app to verify the purchase.

The terminal requested that I swipe or insert my card after I attempted to pay using contactless
To reset the transaction if you use a self-service terminal, try pressing "X." Otherwise, ask the cashier for assistance. Ensure your phone is unlocked and then try to pay again. Alternatively, you can open the Google Wallet app before you make the purchase. If necessary, you'll be prompted to verify the purchase within the app.
Can’t add a card to Google Wallet

If you can’t add a debit or credit card:

  • Make sure that the info on file with your bank or card issuer matches the name and address in your Payment Profile settings.
  • Try a different payment method.
  • Contact your bank or card issuer if you still have issues.

Learn how to fix problems when adding debit or credit cards to the Google Wallet app.

Can’t set up contactless payments

To set up contactless payments, your device must:

  • Have NFC activated
  • Run Android version 9.0 and up on phones and Wear 2.x and up on watches
  • Have Host Card Emulation (HCE)
  • Be set up with a card supported for contactless payments

If your device allows NFC payments and your card supports but you can’t set up contactless payments, contact your bank.

Home screen isn’t available in the Google Wallet

If Wallet app gives an error that says you can’t access the app, you might be able to open Google Wallet from your phone Settings menu:

  1. On your Android device, open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Google and then All Services and then Settings for Google apps.
  3. Tap Google Wallet.
Tip: If you can’t open the app’s home screen, you might be able to tap and pay with your default card. If you continue to have this issue, report a problem or send feedback about the app.
Couldn’t finish set up of tap to pay
Your card might have been saved to your Google Account but not to the Google Wallet app. Try to add a different payment method and finish the setup.
Your cards disappeared in the Google Pay app, or you got notified that your cards were deleted

Your cards might be removed from Google Wallet as a security precaution. Re-add any removed cards to Google Wallet.

Need more help

If you still have issues or any questions, you can ask the community. You can also contact us.

Need more help?

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