Use Your Android As a Credit Card: Step-by-Step Guide

PDF download Download Article
Turn your phone into a digital credit card with Google Pay
PDF download Download Article

Did you know that you can use your phone as your credit card? As long as your Android phone has NFC capability and you're shopping at a place that accepts Google Pay (also known as Google Wallet or GPay), you can tap your phone on the card reader to make purchases with your credit or debit card. This wikiHow guide will teach you how to set up your Google Pay on your Android, including how to add cards and use your phone to make purchases in stores.

Quick Steps

  1. Open the Google Wallet app and tap Add payment card .
  2. Scan or enter your card number.
  3. Enter the CVV or security code and expiration date.
  4. Accept the terms and go to Payment setup .
  5. Turn on NFC.
  6. Hold your Android up to a contactless payment icon.
  7. Wait for a blue checkmark to appear on your screen.
Section 1 of 3:

Setting Up Google Wallet

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Open the Google Wallet app. To use your Android phone as a credit card, you'll need to add your real credit or debit card to Google Wallet. You can find this app in your app drawer or on your home screen. It looks like a blue, green, yellow, and red wallet.
    • Google Wallet comes pre-installed on most Androids, but if you don't have the free app, you can get it from the Google Play Store .
  2. 2
    Tap Add payment card . If you've never opened this app before, you'll see this option as the first tile.
    • Alternatively, if you've already opened the app and have items added, you can add a new payment card by tapping Add to Wallet > Payment card .
    • If your Google account also has GPay as well as payment methods entered that way, you can add them to Wallet to pay from your phone. You'll just need to re-enter some details, like the CVC or security code.
    Advertisement
  3. Your camera will load so it can scan the numbers on your card, so you don't have to enter it all manually. Place your card so your card number is facing up (some newer credit cards have the numbers on the back, so you might place your card face-down)
    • Alternatively, tap Enter details manually if you want to enter the numbers instead of using your phone's camera.
    • Make sure your card is in the frame so it can accurately read your card number.
    • After a few seconds, you'll see the camera disappear and more entry fields appear so you can complete the process of adding a new card.
  4. 4
    Review the scanned data and enter any additional information. Make sure the card number, as well as any additional scanned information, is correct, including the expiration date and your name.
    • You'll most likely need to enter the security code or CVV manually, even if you scanned the card.
    • Tap Save and continue when you're done.
  5. 5
    Read and accept any issuer terms. You need to read the agreement on the screen before continuing.
    • Tap More to scroll down.
    • Tap Accept when you're done reading to accept the agreement.
  6. 6
    Tap your profile picture and select Payment setup . You may have a payment method added, but you might not be ready to use Google Wallet yet. This page lets you see what you have to do before you can use your phone like a credit card.
  7. 7
    Tap each button under "Tap to pay setup" to make sure your phone is ready. Now that you've added a card, go through the options to make sure you can use your Android as a credit card when you need it:
    • Turn on NFC. Most modern phones come with NFC compatibility . You can turn it on in the Quick panel, which you can access by swiping down from the top of your screen twice.
    • Add a payment method (which you've already done).
    • Set Google Pay as the default payment app.
    • Set a screen lock (you can't use your phone as a credit card without a screen lock).
    • Make sure your phone meets security requirements . Tapping the buttons will walk you through the process.
      • For example, if you don't have Google Pay as the default payment app, pressing the button will take you to the section in your Android where you can designate default apps for NFC transactions.
      • If everything is under "Finished," then you have nothing to do, and you are ready to use your Android like a credit card!
    8. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Paying with Your Phone

PDF download Download Article
  1. You can use your Android as a credit card at any location that accepts Google Pay. Not all stores do, so be sure to check before you head out without your actual credit card. If you're already in the store, look at the register for a GPay or Google Wallet icon.
    • Make sure to turn on NFC. NFC stands for "Near-Field Communication" and requires you to be very close to the reader for your payment to go through. This makes it a safer form of payment since you have to be close, or touching, to send the payment information.
  2. Some card readers need you to touch your Android to the reader itself, while others only need the Android to be within a few inches of the reader. However, you don't need to open Google Wallet to use it. You don't even need to unlock your phone to start!
    • Ask the clerk for help if you aren't sure how to use the card reader.
  3. After you tap your phone to the wireless card reader, you might be prompted to open your phone to verify who you are. However, this is not the case for everyone.
    • You can skip this step if you see a blue checkmark on the screen, which indicates the payment process is done.
  4. It confirms your payment. This should only take a few seconds. The default payment method is shown on screen, but you can swipe to change this to another card you have in your Wallet. Once the payment is complete, you will receive a record of the transaction in your Gmail inbox . [1]
    • If you want to change which card is your default payment card in Wallet, open Wallet and tap your profile picture. Select Payment methods and then tap the card you want to set as default. Then, tap â‹® > Make default for tap to pay .
    5. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Hold your phone a different way. The NFC antenna can be at the top or in the middle of your phone, so try holding it at a different angle.
  2. 2
    Also, keep your phone on the NFC tag for a few seconds. The NFC reader in your phone or tablet, or the payment tag, might require the two devices to be in contact to initiate the payment.
  3. 3
    Check that NFC is supported. The list of phones that don't support NFC is very short – Most older phones don't support the newer feature. Here's how to check:
    • Open Settings.
    • Tap Connected devices (This is Connections for Samsung phones and tablets)
    • Tap Connection preferences . (Skip this on Samsung devices)
    • Tap NFC . (This says NFC and contactless payments on Samsung devices)
    • Tap On . If you don't see these options, your phone does not support NFC payments.
  4. 4
    Set up Google as your default payment app. By tapping the option in Google Wallet, you will be taken to the Settings menu where you can change the default behavior. But, you can also do it this way:
    • Open Settings.
    • Tap Connected devices (This is Connections for Samsung devices)
    • Tap Connection preferences. (Skip this on Samsung devices)
    • Tap NFC . (This says NFC and contactless payments on Samsung devices)
    • Tap Contactless payments (This is Default wallet app on Samsung devices)
    • Tap Google Wallet .
  5. 5
    Make sure you've set up a screen lock. You won't be able to pay with your phone if you don't have a screen lock enabled. Here's what to do:
    • Open Settings.
    • Tap Security & privacy . (Following this will take you to the same page if you were to go to Lock screen & AOD > Screen lock and biometrics on Samsung)
    • Tap Device unlock > Screen lock . (Tap Lock Screen on Samsung)
    • If you have a screen lock set up, you'll need to enter it.
    • Tap the screen lock you want to use (PIN, Password, Pattern, Face ID, or Fingerprints) and follow the on-screen instructions to create a screen lock.
  6. 6
    Check if your phone is certified and meets security requirements. Modded phones most likely don't meet security requirements, but the majority of phones should. Here's how you can check: [2]
    • Open the Google Play Store app.
    • Tap your profile icon.
    • Tap Settings .
    • Tap About .
    • Look for the certification status. [3]
  7. 7
    Unlock the device before a payment. Although you can usually pay without unlocking your phone, this is a great troubleshooting step that verifies you are the phone's owner. You can easily verify who you are by unlocking the phone or tablet with a PIN, Pattern, Password, Face ID, or Fingerprint. [4]
    8. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      Download APKs from Google Play: A Step-by-Step Guide
      How to
      Download & Install an APK on Android: Full APK Guide
      How to
      Check What Apps You Have Installed on Android
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      How to
      Install Google Play on Android
      Downloading and Installing WhatsApp to Your Android Device
      The Complete Guide to Your Phone’s Settings App
      How to
      Know Chat ID on Telegram on Android
      How to
      Update WhatsApp on Android + Troubleshooting
      How to
      Open the Google Play Store on Android
      A Complete Guide to Lucky Patcher for Android
      How to
      Use the Google Play Store
      Saving Photos on Telegram on Android + Fixes
      How to
      Hack Your Favorite Android Games with Game Guardian
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/wallet/answer/12060043?hl=en
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/wallet/answer/12200245#check_software&zippy=,your-phone-isnt-certified-or-doesnt-meet-security-requirements
      3. ↑ https://support.google.com/android/answer/7165974?visit_id=638868265737852478-3689181256&p=pp_errors&rd=2#zippy=,device-is-certified
      4. ↑ https://support.google.com/wallet/answer/12200245?sjid=12072047243528409539-NC#zippy=

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 75,267 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement