Summary
- Google Wallet is preparing to add a new NFC-based method allowing users to add credit and debit cards by simply tapping them on their phone.
- Discovered in a recent beta update, this feature will complement existing camera scanning and manual entry options, reading key card details from contactless cards.
- While requiring an NFC-enabled phone and potentially having limitations, the upcoming tap-to-add functionality is expected to streamline the process of setting up cards in Wallet.
Consolidating your digital belongings like payment cards, loyalty and gift cards, transit passes, and more is a seamless process on applications like Google Wallet, though it looks like Google wants to make the process even easier.
Earlier this year, in January, Google made it easy for users to be able to transfer Google Wallet transit passes from one device to another. Now, the tech giant seems to be streamlining the way users add new payments cards to the digital wallet app.
Related
Google Wallet now lets you transfer transit passes between devices: Here’s how
Managing passes just got easier
Findings within the latest Google Play Services beta (version 25.16.33) indicate that Google is working on enabling NFC-based card enrollment for the Google Wallet app, which could allow you to add new credit and debit payment methods simply by tapping your card against your NFC-enabled phone.
The new feature, as highlighted by the folks over at Android Authority, will likely appear on the “Add to Wallet” or “Add a payment card” screens.
Tap-to-add, then tap-to-pay
Related
What is NFC and how is it used?
NFC (near-field communication) enables many of your phone’s best features
<string name="bc25_nfc_add_a_card">Tap to add a card</string>
<string name="bc25_nfc_tap_card_details">Hold your card close to the back of your device until it vibrates </string>
<string name="bc25_nfc_use_this_screen_text">Tap card to phone</string>
The addition of NFC-based card enrollment will complement the current camera scan and manual addition methods, albeit only on devices that actually have NFC tech (found in nearly all modern smartphones). Code strings suggest that users will have to hold their card close to the back of their device and wait for the phone to vibrate. The version would signal that the NFC reader has registered the card.
Card details like its number and expiry information will be read by tapping, but users might still be asked to manually feed in the card’s CVV code.
For reference, the functionality is already live on Apple Wallet with iOS 18. Similar to Apple’s support for the feature, it is likely that Google Wallet’s tap-to-add functionality would not be available globally. It is currently unclear when support for the feature might go live. Regardless, this is a welcome addition that will streamline the payment card addition process.
