The Android Pay details Google didn't tell you (2024)

Ready to pay by phone? Here's what you need to know.

3 min read

Google's had a bumpy ride in the mobile payments world, but now it's looking at a second chance. Android Pay is the new Google Wallet, and it'll more convenient, secure and ubiquitous than ever. Here's what you need to know.

A fingerprint scan isn't required.

Fingerprint scanning is the most secure smartphone authentication method right now, but you won't need it to use Android Pay -- it'll be at least a year until most Android phone makers integrate fingerprint scanners into their devices.

Until then, Android Pay accepts a PIN code, password, or pattern to authenticate a transaction. To make a purchase, you tap your phone on the payment terminal, enter your passcode, and the transaction is complete.

Tokenization keeps your money secure.

Anyone going into the payment space right now is expected to use something called tokenization. Tokenization makes it so that when you pay for something, the retailer receives a devalued, one-time-use credit card number instead of your real account number. This way, if there was a credit card data breach, your real card information remains secure.

Like Apple Pay, Google Wallet and chip-and-PIN cards, Android Pay uses tokenization. It's not a surprise, but it is worth mentioning, especially since the competing smart credit cards coming to market don't yet utilize this technology.

You can use it in dead zones.

Android Pay can only perform a limited number of transactions in dead zones.

To understand why, let's back up and talk about Host Card Emulation, or "HCE." Whenever you make a purchase, a "token" is created, which replaces your real credit card number with a 16-digit dummy number. That way, if there was ever a credit card data breach and your transaction information was exposed, your real account number would be protected.

With Apple Pay, tokens are generated in a chip called the Secure Element. With Android Pay, they're generated in the cloud, which is what Host Card Emulation is. If you're without Internet and need to use Android Pay, the app will tap into a limited number of stored tokens on the device. (Where and how those tokens are stored isn't clear.)

Editors' note: This story was updated to correct a previous statement that an Internet connection was required for payments. Android Pay can handle a few transactions when you're caught in a dead zone.

It'll work in a lot more stores by next year.

First things first: Wherever Apple Pay works, Android Pay will likely work, too. That's important to know because it may be some time before you see official branding on credit card terminals. Speaking of credit card terminals...

You're going to see a significant jump in the number of credit card terminals that support Android Pay (and any contactless mobile payments) by the end of this year.

On October 1, 2015, merchants who don't support chip-and-PIN cards will be held liable for fraudulent transactions. To avoid this, merchants will have to update their credit card terminals to support the new cards, and it just so happens that they'll likely also support mobile payments.

The killer feature? Rewards.

More than just a Google Wallet re-brand, Android Pay lets you collect rewards for purchases. According to Google, some retailers will support loyalty rewards tracking within Android Pay so that paying for something and receiving (or redeeming) rewards for it happen at the same time.

We asked Google if transaction histories are shared with retailers participating in Android Pay rewards programs, but haven't yet received a response.

You can use it to pay for things in apps, too.

Android Pay isn't just for buying things at brick-and-mortar stores. At launch, you'll be able to use it to purchase goods within apps with an "Android Pay" button.

For people who don't like entering 16 digits, an expiration date, and CVV each time they want to buy something, the feature will be a relief.

If an app doesn't support Android Pay right now, it'll likely show up soon. Google is working with payment processors so that it's easy to plug in the Android Pay option.

Google Wallet isn't going away.

According to the New York Times, Google Wallet might be reintroduced as a peer-to-peer payment app, much like Venmo and Square. We'll know more when Google officially announces the changes. If you're currently on Google Wallet, your current payment methods will likely be transitioned into Android Pay.

The Android Pay details Google didn't tell you (4)

Watch this: Google jumps into mobile pay battle with Android Pay

The Android Pay details Google didn't tell you (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Google Pay on Android? ›

The Google Pay app is now the Google Wallet app. This change is simplifies how you store and use cards and passes. Google Wallet is a secure and private digital wallet that gives you quick access to forms of payment, passes, tickets, keys, or IDs that you choose to store on it.

Can card details be stolen from Google Pay? ›

If you find your device, unlock it and add your payment info again to use Google Pay. Since Google Pay doesn't store your card details on your phone, anyone who finds or steals your phone can't access that info, even if it's unlocked.

How do I find my Google Pay information? ›

Find charges, receipts & other past payment info
  1. For most purchases, go to Activity.
  2. For some purchases you made through Google products, go to Subscriptions.
  3. If you can't find your purchase, sign in to the Google product where you made it and find it there.

Why is my Google Pay history not showing? ›

If you used only one email address to register a Google Pay account, wait for three to four hours then try to check your transaction history again. If you can't check it, it can be due to poor mobile reception or network coverage.

Does Android Pay still exist? ›

What happened to Google Pay/Android Pay? Google Wallet is a mobile payments app that can store your credit cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, etc. In essence, replacing the old Android Pay and Google Pay apps and services. Google Pay's peer-to-peer app continues to exist alongside Google Wallet, in supported regions.

Is Google Pay and Android Pay the same? ›

Google Pay, formerly Android Pay, is an app by Google designed specifically for mobile payment services as part of Google Wallet.

Can someone hack my Google Pay account? ›

Google Pay protects your information using Google Pay's collection of top security features that help detect fraud, prevent hacking and protect your identity. Your Google Pay information is stored on secure servers in a safe location, and our team monitors it at all times.

How did someone get my debit card info? ›

When you bank or shop on public Wi-Fi networks, hackers can use keylogging software to capture everything you type, including your name, debit card account number and PIN. Phishing. Be wary of messages soliciting your account information.

How did someone use my credit card without having it? ›

Card-not-present theft: This is the fraudulent use of a credit card account without possession of a physical card. Fraudsters might obtain your information through phishing or hacking, and some criminals sell card data online on the dark web.

Can we see account details in Google Pay? ›

Open Google Pay . Bank account. Tap on the account whose balance you want to check. Tap View Balance.

How do I contact Google Pay customer care? ›

The Sender may request cancellation of the P2P Payment by contacting GPC via our Contact Us page, or by calling 1-888-986-7944.

How safe is Google Pay? ›

How safe is Google Pay? Google Pay protects your payment info with multiple layers of security, using one of the world's most advanced security infrastructures to help keep your account safe. When you pay in stores, Google Pay doesn't share your actual card number, so your information stays secure.

How do I find out where a transaction came from? ›

Every ACH transaction has two Trace IDs, including one for the source and one for the destination. You should be able to find these ACH transaction trace numbers listed in your online banking or payment account, listed under a heading such as 'transaction details'. Contact the bank.

How to find transaction details by transaction ID in Google Pay? ›

Debit or reversal validation
  1. Open Google Pay .
  2. Scroll down the screen and Tap See all payment activity. All transactions.
  3. Tap a transaction to see the UPI transaction ID.

Can transaction history be deleted from Google Pay? ›

Google Pay saves the information about every transaction made through this application. There is also no option available for deleting transaction history of Google Pay.

How do I access Android Pay? ›

Check your tap to pay set up
  1. Open the Google Wallet app .
  2. At the top right, tap your profile picture or Account. Tap to pay setup.
  3. Check if you're ready to make contactless payments. To tap to pay with Google Wallet: Near field communication (NFC) must be turned on.

What is the Android version of Google Pay? ›

Get the Google Pay app

Download Google Pay on phones running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher. Enter your phone number. Sign in with your Google Account. Follow the instructions to secure your Google Pay app and add a bank account.

How safe is Android Pay? ›

How safe is Google Pay? Google Pay protects your payment info with multiple layers of security, using one of the world's most advanced security infrastructures to help keep your account safe. When you pay in stores, Google Pay doesn't share your actual card number, so your information stays secure.

Are there two versions of Google Pay? ›

One prime example is Google Pay – er – GPay. This guide will explain the difference between the two and which one you should start using.

When did Android Pay become Google Pay? ›

History. The "Google Wallet" brand name was first used for the company's mobile payment system of the same name, which was introduced in 2011 before being merged with Android Pay into a new app called Google Pay in 2018.

Do I need both GPay and Google Pay? ›

For those who want their payments to be simple, Google Pay is the way to go, while GPay is the best option for those who want a more feature-rich payment app. GPay is essentially Google Pay's upgrade, even though both apps are still available and usable at any time.

What are the signs of hacked Google account? ›

Gmail activity
  • You no longer receive emails.
  • Your friends say they got spam or unusual emails from you.
  • Your username has been changed.
  • Your emails were deleted from your inbox and aren't found in "Trash". You can report missing emails and possibly recover them.
  • You find "Sent Emails" that you didn't write.

Can someone hack my bank account with my phone number? ›

Once hackers have your number, they can use it to gain access to your most sensitive and valuable data, such as your: Email accounts and contact lists. Financial assets and bank accounts. Current and previous home addresses.

What do hackers do with your Google account? ›

Here are some of the things hackers can do with your Gmail account: Send phishing or scam emails to your contacts. Request password resets to your other accounts. Attempt to break into your linked accounts.

How did someone get my debit card info if I never used it? ›

Save this answer. Show activity on this post. Thieves get card numbers and expiration dates from somewhere it is stored or processed. That could be a local with access to your home, access to the originating bank that issued the card, the post office, or any merchant processor along the line.

How do I know if someone has my card info? ›

Check credit reports at least once a year to confirm credit activity. All three major credit bureaus allow one free credit check a year. Only purchase items online from well-known and secure websites. Always look for the lock icon in your web browser's address bar before entering personal information into a website.

Can you find out who is using your card? ›

Can You Track Someone Who Used Your Credit Card Online? No. However, if you report the fraud in a timely manner, the bank or card issuer will open an investigation. Banks have a system for investigating credit card fraud, including some standard procedures.

How to know if your credit card is being used by someone else? ›

The best way to find out if someone has opened an account in your name is to pull your own credit reports to check. Note that you'll need to pull your credit reports from all three bureaus — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — to check for fraud since each report may have different information and reporting.

How do I find out who charged my credit card? ›

How to identify credit card transactions. The first thing you need to do is track down your statement. Find the latest copy that was mailed to you or sign in to your account online to see it there. As you read your credit card statement, you'll see a transactions section.

Can someone open a credit card in my name without my Social Security number? ›

An identity thief would have to obtain personal details such as your name, birthdate and Social Security number in order to open a credit card in your name. However, it is a federal crime to do this, and it can result in jail time when the thief is caught for their behavior.

Which account is linked to Google Pay? ›

On your phone, only one Google Account can be logged into the Google Pay app at a time. If you want to use a different Google Account, sign out of the app through the settings and sign in with your other personal Google Account.

Is Google Pay linked to your bank account? ›

To help send money to friends and family, you can link a bank account to Google Pay. In the US, you can also use a bank account to: Add money to your Google Pay balance.

How do I remove info from Google Pay? ›

To delete info from Google Pay:
  1. Go to myaccount.google.com. If you haven't already, you will need to sign in.
  2. Select Privacy & personalization.
  3. Scroll to “Download or delete your data.”
  4. Select Delete a service Delete a service. ...
  5. Find “Google Pay.”
  6. Select Delete .
  7. Follow the on-screen instructions.

How can I talk to a real person at Google support? ›

How to contact us
  1. Sign in to your Google Admin console. ...
  2. At the top right of the Admin console, click Get help .
  3. In the Help window, click Contact support.
  4. At the bottom of the Help window, describe your issue and click Send .
  5. If a Help article that relates to your issue is listed, click it to review.

Is there a phone number for Google customer service? ›

For assistance with other Google products, please call (650) 253-0000.

Do you need a phone number for Google Pay? ›

To use Google Pay, you must use a US phone number. Google Pay doesn't work with international phone numbers. Make sure your phone number is entered correctly and includes the US country code +1. Make sure your phone number is active.

What if I get scammed on Google Pay? ›

What to do if you are a victim of a fraud transaction? Instantly report any irregularities in your transactions to your bank and the government's Cyber Cell. We recommend you to do the following if you suspect fraud on your Google Pay transaction: Report transaction to your bank.

Who uses Google Pay? ›

It works in select supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, clothing stores, gas stations, beauty shops, and other retailers that accept mobile payments.

What if someone knows my debit card number and CVV number? ›

Each of these cards has a card verification value (CVV) printed at the back or front of the card and with access to the cards' CVV, full card number, customer name and expiry date, fraudsters can conveniently wipe out money from customers' bank accounts by using the details to engage in online transactions with other ...

How can I identify transactions I don't recognize? ›

  1. Check your transactions. Check your transactions. Check the date, time and location of the transaction to see if any of the details are familiar to you. ...
  2. Check with others. Check with others. Check no one else with access to your account has made the payment, e.g. ...
  3. Check for regular payments. Check for regular payments.

Can I trace a transaction ID? ›

Can Fraudsters Trace Transaction IDs? Short answer: no. It's true that transaction IDs can point you in the direction of sensitive, privileged information (customer names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit card numbers). However, the good news is that this information is heavily encrypted.

What is the transaction number in Google Pay? ›

The UPI transaction ID is the first 9 digits after the slash (/). You can even match the amount in the debit/credit section of your statement to the amount of the transaction in Google Pay.

What is the transaction details? ›

The Transaction Detail is the information about a transaction that is able to be reviewed from multiple reports like Transaction Summary or Reconciliation reports.

What is the history of GPAY? ›

History of Google Pay

Google Wallet was the company's first mobile payment system, developed for Android devices in 2011. In 2015, it was renamed Android Pay, with Google Wallet refocused to strictly peer-to-peer (P2P) payments.

Can a transaction history be deleted? ›

The short answer is no. For regulatory and compliance reasons, bank statements record all credit card transactions to protect you from fraud. For better or for worse, this means that it's impossible to hide or delete them from your history once they're processed.

How do I hide my number on Google Pay? ›

Choose what info to show
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open your Settings.
  2. Tap Google Manage your Google Account. Personal info.
  3. Under "Choose what others see," tap Go to About me.
  4. Below a type of info, you can choose who currently sees this info.
  5. Choose one of the following: To make the info private, tap Only you. .

Is Google Pay being discontinued? ›

Earlier this year, at its I/O developer conference, Google announced that Google Pay was being replaced by Google Wallet in most regions. Android users in over 40 countries can access Google Wallet, and for most, it has replaced the Google Pay app as the single unified payment app on Android devices.

Is Google Pay removed from Play Store? ›

Undoubtedly, Google Pay is one of the most popular apps for digital payment. While the app has been removed from Apple App Store, it is listed on the Google Play Store.

Why Google Pay is removed from Play Store? ›

The company has confirmed that Google Pay is unavailable for download as it is fixing an issue. Users who have already installed the app can continue using it. However, some existing iOS users may experience failure in transactions. Google Pay is available for download on the Google Play Store for Android devices.

Is Google Pay removed from App Store? ›

Google Pay has been removed from the App Store to fix an issue in the app. Google Pay iOS users may face payment failures in the meanwhile. Google Pay has been temporarily taken down from the Apple App Store. Google has taken down its payment app to fix an issue, and it will be back once the bug has been fixed.

Why not to use Google Pay? ›

Google Pay does not offer buyer protection. If you use Google Pay to buy something and you don't receive it, Google won't investigate or refund your money. Provided a Google Pay transaction involves a bank card, you may still be covered by your bank's fraud protection.

What has replaced Google Play Store? ›

Best Google Play Store alternatives for apps and games
  • 1 APKMirror. APKMirror is one of the most trusted sources to sideload apps onto your Android device. ...
  • 2 Samsung Galaxy Store. ...
  • 3 TapTap. ...
  • 4 Amazon App Store. ...
  • 5 F-Droid. ...
  • 6 SlideMe. ...
  • 7 AppBrain. ...
  • 8 Itch.io.
Mar 5, 2023

Is Google Pay and Google Play the same? ›

Google Play is an online store where you can purchase and download apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and books. Google Pay, on the other hand, is a payment system that allows you to securely pay for goods and services using your phone or other devices.

Is Google Pay linked to Google Play? ›

Google Pay allows customers to load credit or debit cards from participating banks and financial institutions onto their phone. They can then use these cards for Google Play store purchases.

What are the new rules for Google Pay in 2023? ›

UPI Transaction Charges from April 2023

The UPI inter charges will be increased when the amount of transaction above the 2000 rupees was deducted 1.1% charge by the merchant. For transactions up to Rs. 1,000, the UPI Transaction Charges are nil.

How do I change Google Play to Google Pay? ›

How to change your Google Play payment method
  1. Go to play.google.com.
  2. At the top right, click your profile icon.
  3. Select Payments & Subscriptions. Payment Methods.
  4. Select Edit Payment Method.
  5. Under the payment method you want to edit, click Edit.
  6. Make your updates and click Update.

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