What is Google Pay
Google Pay is a payment system that allows you to make purchases of goods and services using your device, such as the smartphone or the SmartWatch. It can be used to pay on the sites of e-shopping or in the Whatsapp and, if you have a compatible device, it allows you to make payments even in physical stores, through sistema contactless of the POS.
In other words, using Google Pay you can pay with your card without the need to physically use the latter, as you just need to use your smartphone or smartwatch to complete the payment. Not all devices, however, are supported yet (I'll talk about it in detail in the next chapter).
Previously, this service was launched in 2015 under the name of Android Pay. In 2017 it was merged with Google Wallet to give life to Google Pay, which arrived in the city starting from 19 September 2018. In terms of security, the payment card details are saved in the Google account through a encryption system state-of-the-art that is also based on systems HTTPS e TLS. Furthermore, when paying via POS in physical stores, the card data is not transmitted in clear text, but is encrypted, without the card number or other sensitive data being shown to the merchant.
And if you lose your smartphone, no problem: just use the service Find my device of Android to delete any data remotely, limiting any risk of unauthorized use of your cards. To learn more, consult this previous guide of mine.
Banks and partners allowed
You can register any payment card in your possession on Google Pay, but only some are enabled for payment via POS. For example, financial group cards are supported nexi, such as credit cards Classic, Gold, Platinum e Black or the prepaid for private customers, credit cards next: Professional, Visa e MasterCard. Nexi partner bank cards, such as BMP Bank, Valtellinese credit and many others. You can consult the complete list by visiting this link.
If you don't have an officially supported Google Pay card yet, I recommend you take a look at HYPE. If you have never heard of it, it is an e-money account with a circuit card associated with it MasterCard (both physical and virtual) fully manageable from smartphone app and PC. In its basic version, it has no fixed monthly costs and can be opened in a few minutes, staying comfortably at home: you just need to have a valid identity document at hand and be at least 12 years old. It is compatible not only with Google Pay, but also with Samsung Pay (only on Samsung devices) and Apple Pay (only on Apple devices).
But with HYPE it is not only possible to make purchases both in physical stores and on the Internet (with cashback on over 500 online stores): it is also possible to send and receive money, send and receive free wire transfers, pay bills / bills, withdraw anything from ATMs. the world, set savings goals, make phone top-ups, buy and sell Bitcoins (for users over XNUMX only) and much more.
If you want to open a HYPE account, connect to the official website and choose the plan that best suits you among those available: HYPE Start without fixed monthly costs; HYPE Next (€ 2,90 / month with € 20 bonus on Amazon using the code AMAZON20 during registration) which removes the spending, top-up and withdrawal limits of HYPE Start and allows both to house the utilities and to credit the salary; or HYPE Premium (€ 9,90 / month with € 25 bonus on the first top-up using the code PREMIUM25 during registration) which combines the benefits of HYPE Start and HYPE Next with comprehensive travel insurance (medical and flight delay and cancellation), free payments and withdrawals worldwide, the World Elite credit card Mastercard and a priority assistance service (also via WhatsApp).
More information about HYPE More information about HYPE Next More information about HYPE Premium
For more information, I invite you to consult my article on how HYPE works. By connecting to this Google page you can find all the payment methods supported by Google Pay.
Please note: if your card is not among those I indicated in the previous lines for payments via POS, you can register it on Google Pay without any restrictions for online purchases, as long as it is part of the Visa, Mastercard or American Express circuits.
Requirements
To use Google Pay services, you need a payment card (credit, debit or prepaid) belonging to the accepted circuits, a Google account it's a device compatible with the service app. Currently, the app is compatible with devices equipped with Android 5.0 or successivi and with those equipped with iOS 9.0 or later, even if in the city for the moment compatibility is only guaranteed with Android. It can also be used via the Web, from a PC, to make online payments.
In case you want to make payments in physical stores via POS, you need to own one smartphone or one SmartWatch with technology NFC. Don't know what NFC is? I'll explain it to you in short: it is a system that allows the communication of two devices for the wireless exchange of data over a short distance.
To make payments, the user must bring the mobile device close to the POS, so that the NFC technology can transmit the payment data in an encrypted way, so that the system can authorize the transaction. If you want to know more about this technology, I recommend that you read my guide on how NFC works.
Having said that, you will need to download the appropriate app for managing payments via NFC, which I will tell you about in the next chapter.
Download the app and configure it on smartphones and smartwatches
To manage your registered cards and make payments via POS, you need to download the app Google Pay from the Android Play Store. Unfortunately, as mentioned, Google Pay is not available on iOS in the city, but only in the United States. To download it, go to the link I gave you and click on the button Install. Wait for the download and installation to finish and tap the button apri.
When you start the application, you are asked to select the Google account among those configured on the smartphone. In case you have not yet associated one, I suggest you read my guide dedicated to this topic.
Now tap on the icon with the down arrow symbol and, in the context menu, select theGoogle account on which you want to set up the payment method for Google Pay. By tapping on the wording Manage accounts, you will open the panel instead Settings of Android to add or remove an account.
After selecting the Google account to use, click on the button Start and, on the next screen, press the button Add a card. You will need to fill in the following fields with the information regarding the card to be added. Enter your card number in the field Card number and those concerning the Expiration date and CVC (found on the back of the card).
Alternatively, tap on the blue icon NFC that you find next to and hold the card close to your smartphone, so that it can automatically read the card number and expiry date. At this point, fill in the following fields relating to the billing address, indicating the name e last name, Country,residence address and telephone number. Finally, scroll through the usage agreement to the bottom and press on Save, to register your credit card.
At this stage, you will be shown a screen indicating where you can use your card. If you are told that you cannot use Google Pay in stores, it means that the card is not among those supported (I recommend that you read this chapter for more information) or that, for security reasons, your device cannot be enabled for payments. via NFC, maybe because you rooted it. Then press the button OK to start using the app. You will be prompted for access to some smartphone permissions, which you will need to consent to.
If you want to add more cards later, start the app Google Pay and, on the main screen, tap on the tab Payment, which you find below. By pressing the button Method of payment, you can add other cards, following the procedures I indicated in the previous lines.
I recommend that you enable NFC on your smartphone to use Google Pay for POS payments. Reach the Settings of Android, by tapping on the icon with the symbol of a gear that you find on the home screen. At this point, tap on the items Device connection > NFC and move the lever from OFF a ON near the wording NFC.
If you own one SmartWatch, you can download Google Pay from the Play Store dedicated to WearOS of Android. Then start the app Play Store on the smartwatch and press the icon Search that you find at the top. Then type in the term Google pay and tap on the corresponding search result. Finally, click on the button Install to begin downloading and installing the app.
After downloading it, launch the app and tap on Tax. In case you have not already done so, you will be prompted to enable theNFCpigging his Settings in the screen that is shown to you. You will see the NFC settings panel, in which you will have to move the lever from OFF a ON at the item NFC.
Now, go back to the app to continue its configuration. The Google Pay app, for security reasons, cannot work if a lock code has not been activated on the dial display, to prevent malicious people from using this service. Then tap on Continue and choose between Sequence, PIN o Password.
After configuring it, go back to the app and follow the instructions on the screen, which will ask you to agree to the requests that will be shown to you on the app Google Pay on your smartphone. Once the procedure is complete, the smartwatch will send you a message of correct configuration, ready to be used for NFC payments via POS.
Set up Google Pay on a computer
A payment method can also be added via a web browser from a computer. To do this, simply log into the Google Pay website and log in using the same account used on your smartphone.
At this point, fai tap sulla voce Payment methods, which you find in the left sidebar and press the button Add payment method. The procedure to follow is similar to the one I indicated for the Google Pay app on smartphones.
In short, enter your card details in the fields that are requested on the screen and provide a billing address. At this point, press the button Save to save the payment method.
Apps and websites that support payments with Google Pay
Google Pay can be used to enter your credit card information into the payment systems of supported apps and websites with a single tap.
For example, if you use the app Wish, when you have to pay for the products you want to buy, you will be asked to enter your credit card details. At the field Card number you will be shown a small Google Pay screen for quick card insertion. By tapping on this icon, the appropriate fields relating to your card will be automatically filled in to facilitate and speed up the purchase process.
For supported websites, browsing from the browser, you will find the button during the payment phase Pay with GPay which will allow you to select the credit card registered by you for immediate data entry.
If you are interested in finding out all supported websites and apps, such as Groupon e Deliveroo, I recommend that you view the list that you find directly within the Google Pay app. Launch the app and scroll down to the main screen. You will find a box indicating the wording Pay with Google in these apps: tap on the item Find out more to consult the list. Alternatively, you can consult the list published on the official website of this Google service.
Pay via NFC in stores with Google Pay
If you are interested in paying for goods and services via POS in stores, you need a smartphone that supports NFC and one of the previously mentioned payment methods.
Once this is done, at the time of payment at the cashier, simply bring your smartphone or smartwatch to the POS and wait a few seconds for the transaction to be confirmed. You don't need to open the app, because the payment is automatically done in the background.
Payments can be made to those merchants who have a POS with the system contactless. You recognize it by the icon with the wireless symbol or that of Google Pay on the POS or on the labels or signs displayed at the cash desk.
Some of the merchants where you can use Google Pay are Leroy Merlin, Rest, Esselunga, Lidl o McDonald's. You can read the list of other stores by consulting the list on the official Google Pay website.
Article created in collaboration with HYPE.
How Google Pay works
