Google Wallet not working on your Pixel? 4 ways to fix tap-to-pay

Pixel users have been reporting problems with tap-to-pay in Google Wallet since the middle of last month, according to posts on Reddit and other support forums. In some cases the feature fails intermittently; in others it is entirely non-functional, meaning users may not know it is broken until they need it at a terminal.

The apparent issue is that some Pixel phones do not acknowledge a nearby NFC terminal when Google Wallet is opened, so the device does not transmit the information needed to complete a transaction. The bug affects a range of devices, including most phones from the Pixel 9 series onward, according to the report. The Pixel 11 has a repositioned NFC antenna toward the top of the phone rather than the middle used in prior generations, but the problem is not limited to that model.

It is not clear whether the issue lies with Google Wallet or the device. Google has not acknowledged the bug, and there is no official fix yet.

Based on user reports, several workarounds have helped. Restarting the phone is described as the most reliable fix so far, though it is inconvenient in a checkout line. Some users say closing the Wallet app, returning to the home screen, and reopening it resolves the problem. Others report that clearing the Wallet app's cache permanently fixed it, done through device settings, the app list, Google Wallet, then Storage & cache and Clear cache. Users with a smartwatch running Google Wallet report no problems using the watch instead.

Google Wallet has expanded in recent years to hold items including driver's licenses, transit passes, and insurance cards.