Google Wallet adds ‘Verification settings’ on Android

New “Verification settings” in Google Wallet for Android let you “choose if you’ll need to verify it’s you when using your payment methods and passes in Wallet.”

Choose if you’ll need to verify it’s you when using your items stored in Wallet. You’ll verify using your device lock setting, like fingerprint or PIN.

Open Google Wallet, tap your profile image, and select Wallet settings to find the new “Security” heading. The Verification settings page is just home to “Transit payments” today: “Verification before paying for the bus, metro, and more with a credit or debit card.”

Google explains how the “reader will look for transit cards first,” which “never require verification.” If there are none, a “credit or debit card may be charged.”

You have the option to disable the “Verification required” toggle that’s on by default: “If verification required is off, you won’t need to verify it’s you before paying for transit with your default credit or debit card, even when your phone is locked. You’ll still verify for all other payments with this card.” This has the potential of greatly speeding up public transit transactions.

We’re seeing Verification settings with version 24.08.12 of Google Play services, though Google Wallet 24.10.x also widely rolled out today.

This addition follows reports that Google Wallet in some countries is now requiring device unlocks for tap to pay (store) transactions regardless of the amount.