How Google Pay works

You recently heard about the arrival of Google Pay. From the information you have been able to find around the web, you understand that it is a payment system from Google. However, you would like to have more information and understand if you too can take advantage of this service. Well: then let me tell you that you’ve come to the right place at the right time!

In fact, in this guide of mine today, I will explain how Google Pay works, illustrating what this service is, the payment cards accepted and how to configure the compatible device for its use. I will also show you the procedure to follow both to make payments online and in the app or in physical stores.

I bet it was just what you were looking for, isn’t it? Perfect, then let’s not waste any more time chatting: sit down comfortably, take a few minutes of free time to read all the information I have prepared for you and try to put them into practice. I assure you that, after reading, Google Pay will have no secrets for you. At this point, I just have to wish you a good reading and, above all, good shopping!

Index

• What is Google Pay
• Banks and partners allowed
• Requirements
• Download the app and configure it on smartphones and smartwatches
• Set up Google Pay on a computer
• Apps and websites that support payments with Google Pay
• Pay via NFC in stores with Google Pay

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 a smartphone or smartwatch. It can be used to pay on e-shopping sites or in apps and, if you have a compatible device, it allows you to make payments even in physical stores, through the contactless system 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 tell you more about this 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 create Google Pay, who arrived in Italy as of September 19, 2018. In terms of security, the payment card in your Google data are saved through an encryption system to avant-garde which is also based on HTTPS and TLS systems. 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 Find my Android device service to remotely delete all data, 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, the cards of the Nexi financial group are supported, such as the Classic, Gold, Platinum and Black credit cards or the prepaid cards for private customers, Nexi Professional credit cards, Visa and Mastercard. The cards of Nexi partner banks are also supported, such as Banco BMP, Credito Valtellinese and many others. You can consult the complete list by visiting this link.

If you do not yet have a card officially supported by Google Pay, I recommend that you take a look at HYPE. If you have never heard of it, it is an electronic money account associated with a card of the Mastercard circuit (both physical and virtual) that can be managed completely from smartphone apps and PCs. 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 18 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 with no fixed monthly costs; HYPE Next (2.90 euro/month with 20 euro bonus on Amazon using the AMAZON20 code 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).

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.

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 the Google Pay services you need a payment card (credit, debit or prepaid) belonging to the accepted circuits, a Google account and a  device compatible with the service app. Currently, the app is compatible with devices equipped with Android 5.0 or later and with those equipped with iOS 9.0 or later, although in Italy 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 must have a smartphone or smartwatch with NFC technology. 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 Google Pay app from the Android Play Store. Unfortunately, as mentioned, Google Pay is not available on iOS in Italy, but only in the United States. To download it, go to the link I gave you and press the Install button. Wait for the download and installation to finish and tap the Open button.

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 the Google account on which you want to configure the payment method for Google Pay. By tapping on Manage account, you will instead open the Android Settings panel to add or remove an account.

After selecting the Google account to use, press the Get started button and, on the next screen, press the Add a card button. You will need to fill in the following fields with the information regarding the card to be added. Enter the card number in the Card number field and those relating to the expiration date and the CVC (found on the back of the card).

Alternatively, press the blue NFC icon next to it and bring the card close to your smartphone, so that it can automatically read the card number and expiration date. At this point, fill in the following fields relating to the billing address, indicating the name and surname, the country, the residential address and the telephone number. Finally, scroll through the usage agreement to the bottom and press Save, to register the 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 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 OK button 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 other cards later, start the Google Pay app and, on the main screen, tap on the Payment tab, which you find at the bottom. By clicking on the Payment method button, 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 Android Settings, by tapping the icon with the symbol of a gear that you find on the home screen. At this point, tap on the Device Connection > NFC items and move the lever from OFF to ON near the NFC wording.

If you own one smartwatch, you can download Google Pay the Play Store dedicated to WearOS Android. Then start the Play Store app on the smartwatch and press the Search icon at the top. Then type the term google pay and tap on the corresponding search result. Finally, hit the Install button to start downloading and installing the app.

After downloading it, start the app and tap Set . In case you have not already done so, you will be prompted to enable NFC, by pressing on 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 to ON corresponding to the NFC item .

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 Pattern, PIN or Password.

After configuring it, go back to the app and follow the on-screen instructions, which will ask you to agree to the requests that will be shown on the Google Pay app on your smartphone. Once the procedure is completed, 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, tap on the Payment Methods item, which you find in the left sidebar and press the Add payment method button. 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, click on the Save button 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 Wish app, when you need to pay for the products you want to buy, you will be prompted to enter your credit card information. In correspondence of the Card number field 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, during the payment phase you will find the Pay with GPay button that will allow you to select the credit card registered by you for immediate data entry.

If you are interested in discovering all the supported websites and apps, such as Groupon and 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 word 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 contactless system. You can recognize it from the icon with the wireless symbol or the Google Pay icon 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, Autogrill, Esselunga, Lidl or McDonald’s. You can read the list of other stores by consulting the list on the official Google Pay website.