Make contactless payments or scan NFC tags

Only some versions of this phone, sold in certain countries, support this feature. To check if your phone supports NFC, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > NFC. If absent, your phone lacks NFC.

NFC (near-field communication) makes it easy to securely share with sources you trust, without having to type a lot of information or struggle with pairing.

Turn NFC on/off

Most users keep NFC on for easy payments. It uses little battery. Turn it off when not needed to avoid unwanted connections and reduce security risks.

Turn NFC on

  1. Open quick settings and tap .

    Or, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences.

  2. Tap NFC and turn it on .

    If you don't see this option, then your phone doesn't support NFC.

Show NFC icon in status bar

To know whether NFC is on by glancing at your status bar:

  1. Go to Settings > Connected devices.
  2. Turn NFC icon on .

When NFC is on, you'll see in your status bar.

Turn NFC off

Open quick settings and tap .

Make contactless payments

Use NFC to pay quickly and securely at payment terminals by touching your phone to an electronic reader.

Set up contactless payment

  1. Make sure you have set up a payment app, like Wallet , on your phone. Install one from Play Store if needed.
  2. Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences.
  3. Tap NFC and make sure it's on.

  4. Tap Contactless payments and adjust settings:

    • To change payment apps, tap Default payment app and select the app.
    • If you have multiple payment apps, tap Use default payment app, then chose when to use your default app (always or except when another payment app is open).
NoteThis feature manages payment apps. It doesn't include money transfer apps.

Make a payment

  1. Make sure NFC is on and that the terminal has this symbol:

  2. Unlock your phone and tap its back to the terminal.

    Your payment app might require you to open the app and enter a PIN before touching your phone to the terminal.

TipIn your payment app, such as Wallet, you can set a default card.

Turn off contactless payment

Open quick settings and tap to turn NFC off.

TipYou can also open your payment app and turn off contactless payments. Not all payment apps support this option.

Scan NFC tags

Some businesses include NFC tags on terminals or displays, so you can tap your phone as proof of entry - to get into events or onto public transportation. Organizations also use NFC tags to provide information, such as maps, product info and more.

  1. Look for the NFC logo on displays, signs, or terminals.

    This is different than the logo for contactless payments.

  2. Hold the back of your phone within 2 cm of the logo until it scans the tag.

    If nothing happens, slide your phone slightly up, down, or sideways on the tag and try again.

Fix an issue

After each troubleshooting step, check to see if the issue is fixed.

  1. Toggle NFC off/on in Settings > Connected devices.
  2. Check that you're tapping your phone at its NFC sensor area.
  3. Check if a software update is available for your phone.
  4. Turn your phone off and then on again.
  5. Clear the NFC cache: Settings > Apps > See all # apps > NFC Service (or Google Play Services) > Storage & cache > Clear cache.
  6. If you are using a case, remove it and see if it was causing the issue.
  7. Use safe mode to see if apps you installed are causing the issue.
  8. Reset the phone’s network connections.