Google Wallet

Google Wallet may let you add a card just by tapping it to your Android phone

Ben Schoon | Apr 28 2025 - 1:05 pm PT

Google appears to be working on a new feature that would allow users to add a credit card to Google Wallet simply by tapping the card to their phone.

The current process of adding a card to Google Wallet typically involves either scanning or manually entering card information, then going through some sort of verification with your bank. It’s not a difficult process, but it’s one that Google seemingly wants to simplify by letting you add a card by tapping it to your phone, should new findings by Android Authority pan out.

Code added to the latest Google Play Services update directly explains a process in which you “hold your card” to the back of your phone, using NFC to add it to Wallet.

<string name=”bc25_nfc_add_a_card”>Tap to add a card</string>

<string name=”bc25_nfc_tap_card_details”>Hold your card close to the back of your device
until it vibrates </string>

<string name=”bc25_nfc_use_this_screen_text”>Tap card to phone</string>

This new code was apparently found alongside the existing “Add payment method” screen, taking out any doubt that it’s for anything but adding a new payment card to the app. Presumably, users will still need to verify with their banking institution and complete other steps, but this would provide a quick and easy way to end the card information. It’s also a fairly familiar process as some banking apps, the Capital One app as one example, use NFC to interact with physical cards.

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As for when this might go live, there’s no indication on timing, and there’s really no guarantee it’ll ship at all.