If at any point you asked yourself, “Why is my Google Pay not working?” you’re in the right place. We’ve all been there, about to buy something in a dairy and suddenly, Google Pay decides to kick the bucket. It is a frustrating experience, especially when you’re counting on the ease and speed of mobile payments.
Since it is a widely spread payment system especially favoured among Kiwi users, we thought of preparing this comprehensive Gamblorium article-guide. Here we will cover the most common reasons behind Google Pay malfunctions and guide you through all troubleshooting methods.
Common Reasons Why Google Pay Might Not Work
First things first, there are plenty of reasons why Google Pay is not working and might be acting up and causing you inconveniences, like dodgy internet connection or account verification issues. So, before you throw your phone out the window in a fit of rage, or go to check out more complex solutions, try these few simple checks with us.
Internet Connection Issues
Sometimes, the issue of Google Pay not working is as simple as bad internet connection, it may be absent or unstable. “Why did the router go to therapy? His WiFi was cheating!” Bad jokes aside, without a stable connection, transactions may fail, for example if you’re trying to pay online, maybe in one of our recommended online casinos that accept Google Pay.
Tips to improve:
- Step 1: Test Your Connection
- Check your signal to see if the connection is reliable, whether it is a Wi-Fi network or mobile data. Test your connection by checking the internet speed online, loading a website or an app. If that’s slow too, you have found your issue.
- Step 2: Reset the Connection
- Try to reset the connection. Restart your router or toggle your device’s Airplane Mode.
The culprit could be your Wi-Fi or mobile data, since without a stable connection, Google Pay is as useful for online payments as a bicycle in a pool.
Security Settings
Google Pay may also not work due to issues with your device’s security settings. This could include problems with NFC settings or a lack of necessary app permissions.
Check:
- Step 1: Enable NFC
- Check if NFC is enabled on your phone by going to Settings > Connected Devices.
- Step 2: Verify Google Pay Permissions
- Confirm Google Pay has the necessary permissions. Go to Settings > Apps > Google Pay > Permissions and check that it can access your location, contacts, and payment details.
Outdated Software
Another reason Google Pay might be giving you grief is outdated software, where it is related to your app or your operating system. Payment apps love updates, and running old versions can sometimes block payments.
Try:
- Step 1: Update Google Pay
- Open the Google Play Store and see if there’s an update for Google Pay. If there is an update you’ll be able to do it there, and download it.
- Step 2: Update Phone’s Operating System
- While you’re at it, make sure your phone’s operating system is up to date. Go to Settings > System > Software Update.
Keeping your phone and apps fresh helps to avoid future dramas and uncomfortable situations with payments, keeping you efficient and secure.
Google Account Issues
Another reason might be your Google Account, because snags with it can prevent Google Pay from functioning properly. For example, if you’re signed out of your account or there will be syncing issues, and transactions may fail.
Solutions:
- Inspect if you’re signed into the correct Google account on your phone.
- Try removing and adding your Google account again under Settings > Accounts > Google.
Issues with Google Pay on Specific Devices
Some device-specific issues can also occur and interfere with Google Pay. Different brands and especially older models may have unique settings or bugs that affect how Google Pay works.
Samsung Devices
“Google Pay not working – Samsung” is one of the most popular queries online. So it’s not you, it’s your phone and possibly commercial competition. If the app is not working on Samsung, there might be a clash of Google Pay vs Samsung Pay, your phone’s proprietary payment system. Sometimes, having both apps active can cause bad blood between them.
Test:
- Disable (temporarily or not) Samsung Pay and set Google Pay as your default payment option by going to Settings > Connections > NFC and Payment.
Another issue may be that older Samsung models may not fully support Google Pay functionalities. It can be caused by outdated operating systems or hardware limitations, unfortunately.
You can:
- Step 1: Check for System Updates
- Check for system updates in Settings > Software update and install any available updates.
- Step 2: Consider Device Upgrade
- Consider upgrading to a newer device if persistent issues occur.
Other Devices
For non-Samsung devices, check your device’s support page to see if there are any manufacturer-specific issues known to be with Google Pay. Good chance you will find your answer there.
Plus, devices with custom ROMs or rooted phones may also cause problems with Google Pay app.
Problems with Payment Verification
Verification issues are another common reason why Google Pay may not work. Payment verification could fail due to card errors, incorrectly entered data, or even declined transactions.
One of the biggest inconveniences is when Google Pay verification not working properly. This could be due to card issues or transaction gets declined, which are very easily fixable.
Card Verification Issues
If Google Pay can’t verify your card, it could be that your bank isn’t playing ball.
Fix it:
- Step 1: Verify Card Details
- Double-check your card details and confirm that your bank supports Google Pay.
- Step 2: Re-add Card
- Try removing and re-adding your card in Google Pay > Payment methods > Add payment method.
Transaction Declines
If a transaction is declined, there could be issues with your card or Google Pay settings.
Solve:
- Check with your bank if there’s an issue with your account or if there are security flags.
- Ensure that your payment method is correctly set up in Google Pay.
Incorrect Data
If you’re still wondering, “Why isn’t my Google Pay working?”, it could be as simple as having incorrect data entered for your card.
Check:
- See that all payment details are correct, including the CVV and expiration date.
- Re-enter the data if necessary and try again.
Google Pay Not Working for Online Purchases
Sometimes, Google Pay does not work online, especially if the app or site doesn’t support it. This is common with some retailers and online casinos. You need to inspect what exactly is causing the trouble. You can look through our list of New Zealand casinos.
Retailer Restrictions
Not all retailers accept Google Pay. Suss out whether the site supports this payment method before proceeding. Usually websites and apps thave a dedicated payment option page with FAQ.
Browser Issues
Your browser settings might also block Google Pay from working correctly, particularly if the correct permissions are not set up properly.
See:
- Step 1: Check Browser Compatibility
- Ensure your browser supports Google Pay and that you have enabled the necessary permissions in Settings.
- Step 2: Clear Cache and Cookies
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies. They can cause functionality issues. Clear them and try to refresh settings again.
- Step 3: Update or Switch Browser
- Update your browser or try a different one. Check if you’re using the latest update of your browser. Updates often include bug fixes. Another solution, if possible, will be to switch to another browser to see if the issue persists.
- Step 4: Disable Extensions or VPN/Proxy
- Disable Extensions or VPN/Proxy. Some of them can interfere with Google Pay or causing connectivity issues. Try disabling them temporarily to see if that resolves the problem.
Fixing Google Pay Autofill Issues
If Google Pay autofill is not working, there may be problems with incorrectly saved data or autofill functionality.
Incorrectly Saved Data
If incorrect data has been saved in your autofill settings, it may prevent Google Pay from completing transactions. Also, check if there are no doubles saved, because one intro may be correct and another not.
Fix:
- Go to Settings > Autofill and Payments and update your saved payment details and delete repeats if they are present.
Autofill Functionality
If autofill isn’t working in browsers or apps, make sure that the browser or app has permission to access Google Pay data. Usually this can be accessed in the Settings of your device.
Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques
If all else fails, it may be time for big guns, it is what we call advanced troubleshooting. Here are a few methods for you to give a try.
Resetting App Settings
You can reset Google Pay app settings by going to Settings > Apps > Google Pay > Reset Defaults.
Clearing Cache
Clear the app cache by going to Settings > Apps > Google Pay > Storage > Clear Cache. This can help resolve technical glitches.
Reinstalling the App
If resetting the settings doesn’t work, ang you have tried everything you could think of. The penultimate option will be to reinstall Google Pay app from the Google Play Store.
Contacting Google Support
If none of the above have worked, it’s time to reach out to Google Support. Be prepared and get ready all details about your device, screenshots of the issue, and any error codes you’ve received.
To Sum Up
When Google Pay is not working, it can be rubbish, but most issues are pretty easy to fix. This is not some shonky product but a well-made, secure and highly-trusted payment system with over 150 million users worldwide as of 2024. For more tips on payment methods, check out Gamblorium’s payment guide.
To avoid glitches, and for the app to run without a hitch, we recommend that you keep your software updated, regularly check up your settings. If any error has occurred follow our troubleshooting steps and Google Pay will be back up and running in no time. If you encounter more complex problems, don’t hesitate to contact Support.
