You might have noticed that a new app has been pushed to your device. That app, which takes the place of Google Wallet, is the long-anticipated Android Pay. If you don’t happen to find it on your device (you may not if you never installed Google Wallet), you can easily get it from the Google Play Store.
This new payment app requires Android 4.4 or higher, works with NFC (so you’ll need an NFC-equipped device), and makes it very easy to use your credit or debit card.
Here are the steps to install Android Pay:
- Open the Google Play Store on your device
- Search for Android Pay
- Locate and tap the entry by Google
- Tap Install
- Read the permissions listing
- If the permissions listing is acceptable, tap Accept
- Allow the installation to complete
If the app is already on your device, you simply need to locate and tap the launcher in the app drawer. When it runs for the first time, it will immediately prompt you to enter a card (Figure A).
Figure A
Setting up Android Pay on a Verizon-branded Nexus 6.
If you’ve already entered a card in Google Wallet, Android Pay will automatically have access to that information. When you tap the plus sign [+] to add a card, the card from Google Wallet will appear (Figure B). If that’s the card you want to associate with Android Pay, just tap it, and you’re ready to go.
Figure B
Migrating a card from Google Wallet to Android Pay.
Tap that entry, confirm the details of the card (you must have the security code from the back of the card), and then tap continue. Depending on your card, you may have to accept an EULA before the setup is complete. Android Pay will also require you to have a lock screen setup, otherwise you won’t be able to finalize the addition of the card.
To pay with Android Pay, just unlock your device and hold your phone up to the POS terminal. That’s it!
If you didn’t have a card set up in Google Wallet, you’ll have to tap the plus sign [+] from the main screen and then either scan the card with the device camera or enter the details manually.
One of the cool features of Android Pay is the auto redemption of loyalty cards, which works when you use Android Pay in a location that also has an associated loyalty card. This means you won’t have to also scan your loyalty card… Android Pay will automatically apply that to the purchase.
Tell us about your experience using Android Pay. If you haven’t or don’t plan to, what’s keeping you from using it? Leave your comments in the discussion thread below.
