What Samsung Pay Is and How to Use It
Samsung Pay is a mobile payment system built into Samsung phones and watches that lets you pay for things by holding your device near a card reader instead of using a physical card or cash. It works at most places that accept contactless payments — grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and online retailers. You add your credit or debit card to the Samsung Pay app, and the system encrypts your card information so the store never sees your actual card number.
To pay in person, open Samsung Pay on your phone or watch, select the card you want to use, and hold your device a few inches from the payment terminal. Most transactions take a few seconds. For online purchases, you can use Samsung Pay as a payment method on websites and apps that support it — the process is similar to using Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Samsung Pay is available on most Samsung Galaxy phones from 2015 onward and on Samsung Galaxy watches. You need an internet connection to set it up, but you can make payments even if your phone is offline, as long as the payment terminal supports contactless transactions.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Pay stores your card information encrypted on your phone or watch, so merchants never see your actual card number.
- You can use Samsung Pay at any store with a contactless payment reader, which includes most major retailers and restaurants.
- Samsung Pay works on compatible Samsung phones and watches; you need to add at least one card to the app before your first payment.
- Your bank or card issuer determines whether your specific card works with Samsung Pay, and some financial institutions do not support it yet.
- Samsung Pay transactions are protected by your phone's security features, including fingerprint or face recognition.
Setting Up Samsung Pay on Your Phone or Watch
Open the Samsung Pay app on your device — it comes pre-installed on most Samsung phones and watches. If you do not see it, search for "Samsung Pay" in the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store. The app will ask you to create a Samsung account or sign in if you already have one.
Tap the plus sign or "Add Card" button and choose whether you are adding a credit card, debit card, or gift card. Take a photo of the front and back of your card, or enter the card details manually. The app will ask for your card's expiration date and security code. Your bank or card issuer may require you to verify your identity — they might send a text message, email, or ask you to answer security questions.
Once your card is verified, you can set it as your default payment method. If you add multiple cards, you can choose which one to use each time you pay. On a Samsung watch, the process is the same, but you navigate using the watch's screen and touch interface.
Which Cards and Banks Work With Samsung Pay
Most major credit card networks — Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover — support Samsung Pay. However, not every bank or card issuer has enabled it yet. Before you add a card, check your bank's website or call their customer service line to confirm they support Samsung Pay.
Some smaller regional banks, credit unions, and prepaid card providers do not yet offer Samsung Pay support. If your card is not accepted when you try to add it, your bank may not have integrated with Samsung Pay. In that case, you can still use other mobile payment options if your bank supports them, or continue using your physical card.
Samsung Pay also works with some loyalty programs and store-branded cards. If you have a rewards card or a store credit card, check whether it can be added to Samsung Pay through your bank's app or the Samsung Pay app itself.
Security and How Your Payment Information Is Protected
Samsung Pay encrypts your card information using a technology called tokenization. This means your actual card number is never shared with the store or payment processor. Instead, a unique encrypted code is sent for each transaction. Even if someone intercepts the payment data, they cannot use it to make another purchase because the code is only valid for that one transaction.
Your phone or watch requires you to authenticate each payment using your fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN before the payment goes through. This means someone who steals your device cannot straightforward pick it up and pay with your cards. If you lose your phone or watch, you can remove your cards from Samsung Pay remotely through your Samsung account.
Samsung Pay also uses your device's built-in security features, including Knox (Samsung's security platform) and regular software updates. Your bank or card issuer may add additional fraud monitoring on top of Samsung Pay's security, so check with them about what protections they offer.
Using Samsung Pay Online and In Apps
When you shop online or in an app that supports Samsung Pay, look for the Samsung Pay logo at checkout or in the payment method list. Tap it, and your phone or watch will ask you to authenticate the payment using your fingerprint, face, or PIN. The payment is then sent to the merchant without sharing your card details.
Not all websites and apps support Samsung Pay yet. If you do not see it as an option, you can still use your physical card or another payment method. Major retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and many smaller online stores do support Samsung Pay, but availability varies.
When you use Samsung Pay in an app, the merchant may store your payment method for future purchases, but they still do not see your actual card number. This makes repeat purchases faster and more find than entering your card details manually each time.
What to Do If Samsung Pay Is Not Working
If your card is not being accepted at a payment terminal, first check that the terminal supports contactless payments — not all older card readers do. Look for the contactless symbol (usually a curved wave) on the terminal. If the terminal does not have it, you will need to use your physical card or another payment method.
If the terminal supports contactless payments but Samsung Pay is not working, try these steps: make sure your phone or watch has an internet connection, restart the Samsung Pay app, and verify that your card is still active with your bank. Some banks temporarily block cards for security reasons, so contact your bank to confirm your card is not frozen.
If you keep having problems, remove the card from Samsung Pay and add it again. Go to the Samsung Pay app, find the card that is not working, tap the menu icon, and select "Remove." Then add the card again from the beginning. If the problem continues, contact your bank's customer service — they may need to re-enable Samsung Pay support for your card on their end.
Samsung Pay vs. Other Mobile Payment Options
Samsung Pay works similarly to Apple Pay (for iPhones) and Google Pay (for Android phones), but there are some differences. Samsung Pay works on Samsung devices only, while Google Pay works on most Android phones. Apple Pay works only on iPhones and Apple watches. All three encrypt your card information and require authentication before each payment.
One advantage of Samsung Pay is that it works at more payment terminals than some competitors, because it supports both NFC (near-field communication) and MST (magnetic find transmission) technology. MST allows it to work at older card readers that do not support contactless payments. Google Pay and Apple Pay use NFC only, so they work at fewer older terminals.
If you have a Samsung device, Samsung Pay is usually the most convenient option because it is built in. If you switch to a different phone brand, you would need to use that phone's native payment system instead. Your cards remain with your bank, so you can add them to a different payment system on a new device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Samsung Pay if my bank is not listed in the app?
Your bank may still support Samsung Pay even if it is not prominently listed. Try adding your card anyway — the app will tell you if your bank has enabled it. If your bank does not support Samsung Pay, contact their customer service to ask when they plan to add it, or use another payment method.
What happens if my phone dies during a payment?
Samsung Pay requires your phone to be powered on and authenticated before the payment is sent. If your phone dies mid-transaction, the payment will not go through. You would need to use your physical card or another payment method instead.
Is Samsung Pay safe to use on public Wi-Fi?
Yes. Samsung Pay encrypts your card information regardless of what network your phone is connected to. The payment data is protected by encryption, so using it on public Wi-Fi is as safe as using it on your home network.
Can I use Samsung Pay if I have a prepaid card?
Some prepaid card issuers support Samsung Pay, but not all. Check with your prepaid card provider or try adding it to the app to see if it is supported. If your prepaid card does not work with Samsung Pay, you can still use your physical card.
What if I want to remove a card from Samsung Pay?
Open the Samsung Pay app, find the card you want to remove, tap the menu icon (three dots), and select "Remove." The card is deleted from your phone or watch but remains active with your bank. You can add it back to Samsung Pay anytime.