Google’s digital wallet, called Google Wallet, can store transit passes, loyalty cards, and gift cards, just like its competitor Samsung Pay. It can be an adequate replacement for your physical cards, but you’ll need to know how to add and remove them to use the app effectively.
We’ll show you exactly how to add or remove a credit card from Google Wallet from the Android app. While you can’t add cards from the Wear OS Google Wallet app, after you sync your smartwatch with your phone, the cards transfer across. Not all smartwatches offer the app, but we have a list of the top Android smartwatches that support Google Wallet to help everyone out.
Google Wallet replaced Google Pay in 2022, which is still available as a standalone app. This guide doesn’t work for the Google Pay app.
How to set up Google Wallet
Before you can add a card to Google Wallet, you first have to set up your account. This process only takes a few seconds.
- Open the Google Wallet app.
- Tap the Add to Wallet button in the lower-right corner.
- Click the Explore Wallet button in the lower-left corner to learn more about Google Wallet and its features.
Your Google Pay account is now set up, and you can add your cards.
How to add a card to Google Wallet
You can add a card now that you’ve set up the Google Wallet app. Before you start, grab the physical card, which you’ll need when adding to Google Wallet.
While our guide instructs you on how to add a payment card, you can add a transit pass, loyalty card, or gift card instead.
- Open Google Wallet.
- Tap the + Add to Wallet button in the lower-right corner.
- Select Payment card from the list of options.
- Line up your card in the highlighted area on the screen to scan your card details. Or, tap the Enter details manually button at the bottom of the screen to enter the details yourself.
- Press the Save button at the bottom of the screen.
- Review the terms and conditions of adding your card and tap Accept.
Depending on your card, you may be asked to verify your payment method. This is usually done through your banking app, but Google Wallet instructs you on what to do.
Your card is now added and ready to be used to pay.
How to remove a card from Google Wallet
The process is simple if you received a new version of your card or decide to take a card off of Google Wallet.
- Open the Google Wallet app.
- Navigate to the card you’d like to remove and tap it.
- Tap the three-dot button in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Remove payment method from the drop-down menu.
- Tap the Remove button from the Remove payment method window.
Your card has been removed and can no longer be used for mobile payments.
Tap to pay made easy
Google Wallet is a streamlined way of managing tickets, credit cards, and more. Note that not all cards support Google Wallet, although more are adding functionality every day. If you have a Samsung phone and want to give Google Wallet a try, it’ll be helpful to disable Samsung Wallet or Samsung Pay.
