You’re not limited to using Samsung Pay just because it’s a Galaxy Watch
Yes, you can use your Samsung Galaxy Watch to pay for purchases and transportation with cards saved in your Google Wallet. You just need to set it up and make sure you meet a few criteria. First, Google Wallet and its Tap-to-Pay feature must be available in your region. They’re already supported in the US, and you can check Wallet’s help page to see if they’ve already rolled out to your region.
Second, your Galaxy Watch must be running Wear OS version 2.0 or later, which disables Samsung’s Tizen-powered Galaxy Watch 1, 2, and 3 models. If you have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or later, follow our instructions below. To check if you have a supported device, swipe down on your smartwatch, go to Settings, then tap “About Watch.” From there, you can find its Wear OS version under “Software Information”.
How to install Google Wallet on your devices
- On your Galaxy Watch, swipe up to access your app drawer and launch the Play Store. Search for Google Wallet and install it on your phone.
-If you don’t have a lock screen yet, you will be prompted to set it up. You can choose between Pattern and PIN. A screen prompting you to check your phone will appear on your watch when Wallet apps sync between devices. If you choose PIN, check “Unlock without pressing after entering PIN” so you don’t have to press an OK button or check mark every time you enter your PIN. - Do the same thing on the Android phone linked to your watch. Simply download and install Google Wallet from the Play Store.
Screenshots of Mariella Moon (Samsung)
How to add a payment method to your Samsung Galaxy Watch
- Tap the “+” tile on your Galaxy Watch and visit the Wallet app on your phone to add a payment card.
- In your phone’s “Add to Watch” screen, you can see the option to add a card.
- Here you can choose one of the cards you previously registered on Google Play for subscriptions or in-app purchases. The Wallet app will ask for certain card details for confirmation, such as its CVV, expiration date, or cardholder name.
- You can also add a new credit or debit card. If you choose this option, you can either scan the card to automatically extract its information or enter its details manually.
- After choosing or adding a card, the Wallet app will confirm with your bank if you can use that particular card for Tap to Pay. Not all cards and banks support this feature. You can check the Google website for all the supported cards and banks in the United States. If you’re not in the United States, simply choose your region from the drop-down menu.
- Once you’ve linked a supported card, you’ll see a screen on your phone’s Wallet app telling you that your card is ready. It also links to instructions on how to use the Tap-to-Pay feature.
- On your Galaxy Watch, you will now see the card you added in the Wallet app. The first card you add will be your default card for contactless purchases, but you can change this by tapping your preferred card and choosing ‘Default’.
How to use Tap to Pay for purchases
- You can only pay without having to unlock your smartwatch if you have a Pixel Watch 2 or newer Pixel device.
- On a Galaxy Watch, you’ll need to unlock your device, open the Google Wallet app, turn your wrist and then hold the smartwatch face near the card reader. You need to do the same for public transport, but the reader at the door or entrance must of course support Tap to Pay.
- You’ll know if the payment was successful if your smartwatch vibrates, makes a sound, and displays a blue check mark on its screen.
- Note that you can pay with a card other than the default one: simply swipe to the card you want to use on the Wallet app on your watch and wait for “Keep on reader” to appear.
If you are in Japan…
- In Japan, Google Wallet also supports Suica and PASMO prepaid IC cards. However, you can only use them with smartwatches purchased in Japan, as these devices support Sony’s FeliCa contactless technology.
- For Samsung, the models supporting FeliCa are Galaxy Watch 6, Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and Galaxy Watch Ultra.
- To add a Suica or PASMO card, tap “Add” in the Wallet app on your watch and select one. You can also add money to prepaid cards from the app.
