What is Google Pay, and how do you use it?

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – In 2018, Google overhauled and rebranded its mobile and online payment services, bringing them all under the Google Pay or G Pay umbrella. It is, in essence, the company’s own alternative to Apple Pay. It is – in essence – a mobile wallet.

You can use it for online payments, in-app purchases, contactless payments in stores, and even peer-to-peer money sending. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of sneakers online or buying your morning coffee, G Pay can do all the work for you. But it’s not just about sending money or paying for things. Like Apple Pay, you can also load train tickets, passes, and reward cards here. Whether it’s a Covid subscription or something else entirely.

Here’s everything you need to know about Google Pay.

How to set up Google Pay?

To start using Google Pay, follow these steps:

1. Find the Google Pay app on your phone. It comes preloaded on most Android phones and Wear OS watches, but you can also simply download it from Google Play.
2. Open the Google Pay app and add a credit or debit card in the Cards tab.
3. If you’re new to the app, tap Get started, then select a payment method to add, and take a picture of your card or enter your information.
4. Google will then verify your identity via SMS or email.
5. Simply unlock your phone and tap to use Google Pay on any contactless payment terminal.

If you’re using it on a Wear OS smartwatch, the process is similar. Just open the Google Pay app on your smartwatch, which will then walk you through a setup process on the smartphone it’s connected to, verifying you in the same way via text, and asking you to set a PIN, pattern or PIN lock on your watch.

How does Google Pay work in stores?

To make in-store purchases with Google Pay, follow these steps:

1. Look for the Google Pay symbol or the contactless payment symbol on a contactless payment terminal near the checkout.
2. Unlock your phone or launch Google Pay on your Wear OS watch.
3. Hold your phone or watch over the terminal and wait to see a tick or hear the beep confirming the transaction.

To pay for your purchases, all you have to do is unlock your Android phone as you normally do (which also allows Google Pay to authenticate your transaction), then place it near a merchant’s contactless terminal, and the turn is done. You can also pay for purchases under £45 or £50 without unlocking your phone (just have the screen on), but you can only make a certain number of these transactions before your phone unlocks you. ask to unlock it.

For purchases above the £45/$50 limit, you will need to authenticate. You don’t even need to open an app to make a payment. You just need to press the button and then you receive the confirmation/transaction details on your phone.

How does Google Pay work in apps?

To make in-app purchases with Google Pay, follow these steps:

1. Open a supported app, like Uber or Airbnb.
2. At checkout or at checkout, look for the Buy with Google Pay button.
3. Tap the Google Pay button.
4. You will normally be asked to choose the card you want to use and confirm its 3-digit security number.
5. To learn more, click here.

Android offers a “Buy with Google Pay” button within the apps, which means you’ll be able to tap a button and quickly checkout, rather than having to enter your credit card and shipping address every time you make a purchase.

How does Google Pay work on websites?

To pay on supported websites with Google Pay, follow these steps:

1. You can use Google Pay in any browser.
2. When you checkout on a supported site, look for the Google Pay buy button.
3. You will normally be asked to choose the card you want to use and confirm its 3-digit security number.
4. To learn more, click here.

Now, if you see a box at checkout that says “Use selected information for future purchases on this site”, check it to use Google Pay and set it as your default payment method. The next time you plan to buy from this site, all you have to do is choose what you want to buy, checkout, and confirm that you want to use the payment information associated with Google Pay. All your information will then be automatically filled in.

What else can you do with Google Pay?

Account cards/train tickets/boarding passes

Just like Apple Pay/Wallet, Google Pay can also be used to store your passes, account cards and travel tickets in one place. Just open the Google Pay app and tap “Passes” on the bottom tab to access it.

Unfortunately, not all airlines or train companies support this feature, with many preferring to issue tickets in PDF format rather than G Pay-enabled travel passes.

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A smart feature is that Google Pay can automatically extract account details from relevant emails and load membership cards/virtual account cards in the Passes screen. So if you have a hotel account and signed up with your Google email account, this information should be included.

To add a pass (public transport, loyalty program or gift card), simply touch the “+ Pass” button and select the corresponding option.

Which devices are compatible with Google Pay?

Google Pay is available on all modern Android phones (KitKat 4.4+). However, to pay in stores using Google Pay, your phone must support NFC (near field communication) and HCE (host card emulation). When you hold your phone to a contactless payment terminal in a store, NFC and HCE technologies work together to send your payment information to the store so you can complete your purchase.

The situation is similar for Wear OS watches. Most modern Wear OS watches are compatible with Google Pay, provided they are equipped with NFC technology for contactless transactions.

To find out if your Android phone supports Google Pay in stores, open your device’s Settings app, then tap “More” under “Wireless & networks.” If you don’t see this option, look for a similar option like “Connections” or “NFC” for example. You may need to tap “More” to see other settings. If you see the NFC option or something similar, you can officially make payments in stores using Google Pay. Cheer !

Which banks are compatible with Google Pay?

US

Google Pay works with your credit and debit cards from the following US financial institutions: American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. These cards are issued by the following US banks and credit unions: Bank of America, Capitol One, Chase, Citi, Discover, PNC, US Bank, Wells Fargo, etc. You can find the full list of supported financial institutions here.

UK

Google Pay works with your credit and debit cards from the following UK financial institutions: Visa, MasterCard and AMEX cards are supported. The following financial institutions support Google Pay in the UK: Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA, Nationwide Building Society, Natwest, Revolut, Starling, etc. For a full list of supported financial institutions, click here.

Is Google Pay secure?

In theory, yes. When you pay in store, Google says Google Pay does not share your card details. Instead, the merchant receives a unique encrypted number. Google has worked with leading payment networks and financial institutions to implement an industry-standard token-based security system. Through tokenization, the retailer receives a 16-digit number instead of your account number.

Therefore, the tokenization of Google Pay is different from that of Apple Pay in that the tokens are not generated in a secure chip inside the phone but rather in the cloud. However, if you lose your phone, Google recommends using the “Find My Device” feature to find or erase it to protect your local data from prying eyes. However, Google Pay accepts a PIN, password, or pattern to authenticate transactions.

Want to know more about Google Pay?

For details, see Google’s dedicated Google Pay website. Google also offers a convenient Help Center for all your Google Pay questions.

Google

What happened to Google Wallet/Android Pay?

Google Pay is a mobile payment application that can store your credit cards, debit cards, loyalty cards, etc. It essentially replaces the older Android Pay and Google Wallet services and apps. Google Wallet’s peer-to-peer app no ​​longer exists and is replaced by Google Pay Send, keeping it in line with the Google Pay brand. Google Pay Send lets you send and request money from family and friends, but it’s currently only available in the US.

Confusing, we know. Either way, Google Pay is officially your one-stop-shop for purchases, passes, and payment methods. Google is currently working on integrating Google Pay with all Google products, so whether you’re shopping on Chrome or with Google Assistant, you’ll have a consistent payment experience, using cards saved to your Google Account, explains the company in a blog post.

She is also constantly working with partners online and in stores. So you’ll see Google Pay on sites, in apps, and in your stores around the world.

Written by Maggie Tillman and Elyse Betters. Edited by Britta O’Boyle.