Google Pay
Google Pay is exactly what it sounds like—a way to pay for things with your phone. Anytime you pay for a Google service like more storage space for Google Drive or a YouTube Premium membership, your payment type is added to Google Pay. You can also add your loyalty cards, event tickets, boarding passes, and coupons to use at your favorite stores. (Google Pay is available on Apple devices but only allows money transfers.)
An extra layer of security
When you use Google Pay, the merchant receives an encrypted number, not your card number. This makes you immune from the hacks of merchant pay systems that seem to happen so often now. Google Pay will only work on phones with a PIN, pattern, password, fingerprint, or retina scanning screen locks. Less secure methods of unlocking your phone won’t work.
Some extra convenience, as well
Information stored in Google Pay can be used to fill in forms within the Chrome web browser. Most apps will accept Google Pay which will save you from entering card details each time and will reduce the number of merchants with those card details.
Add a payment method within the Google Pay app:
- Tap the Set up contactless button at the top.
- Tap Add a card.
- Select Debit or credit card, Loyalty, Gift card, or Transit.
- Enter the details.
- For bank-issued cards, you will have to verify to your bank that you initiated linking the card or account. This verification comes from the bank and may come as an emailed or texted code.
Delete a payment method within the Google Pay app:
- Tap the Payment tab at the bottom.
- Tap a payment method from the list.
- Tap More
, then Remove payment method.