How Google Pay helps keep your data private

When you use Google Pay, the app saves items and activity in your Google Account like:

• Transactions
• Payment methods, such as debit or credit cards.

You control how this data is used. At any time, you can change what is kept and manage privacy and personalisation within Google Pay.

How does Google Pay keep my information secure?

How Google Pay privacy settings work

Personalisation within Google Pay

Important: This setting doesn't change how your purchases are saved and used in other Google services, like apps that you buy in Play or movies that you rent in YouTube. Your Wallet passes, including tickets and loyalty cards, are stored and managed separately under the Wallet settings for passes.

If you turn on the 'Personalisation within Google Pay' setting, you can use Google Pay to get offers and similar promotions from shops you visit and recommendations on ways to save.

This setting is off by default. When you turn on this setting, the app personalises your Google Pay experience based on:

• Your activity and certain items, like transactions and payment methods
• Other info, like the places where you made a purchase

When this setting is off:

• Google Pay still works. For example, you can still make contactless payments, but the offers that you find might be less relevant.
• Some items and activity are still saved to provide the service, but they aren't used for personalisation within Google Pay.

Share that you have Google Pay with companies outside of Google

Important: If this setting is off, you might still find Google Pay as an option at online checkout because some companies show this option to everyone.

This setting can help you use Google Pay to check out quickly and more securely when you shop with other companies. By default, this setting is on to let Google tell other companies that you can use Google Pay to check out.

Share info Google Payment Corp. (GPC) holds about your creditworthiness with other Google companies

If this setting is on, data such as your stored value activity can be used to help determine your eligibility for additional services and products by Google. For example, if you decide to buy a new device from the Google Store, you might qualify for the option to pay for it over time.

Why we're required to provide this setting

This setting is required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(d)(2)(A)(iii).

Share your personal information held with Google Payment Corp. (GPC) with other Google companies for marketing purposes

If this setting is on, data such as your stored value activity can help Google recommend products and features that might be relevant to you. Google Pay will never sell your transaction history to third parties or share it with the rest of Google for targeting ads.

Important: If you've signed up for another programme, such as Google Pay rewards, GPC might share your information even if you've opted out here.

Why we're required to provide this setting

This setting is required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(d)(2)(A)(iii).

How we protect your data

• We do not sell your information to anyone: Google Pay will never sell your transaction history to third parties or share it with the rest of Google for targeting ads. 
• We require you to unlock the app for each use: For your security, you need to set up a screen lock on your phone to use the Google Pay app. Whenever the Google Pay app is opened, you'll need to unlock your screen before it can be used.
• We secure your Google Account to help block unauthorised access to your data: Your Google Account comes with built-in security designed to detect and block threats like spam, malware and viruses. With this built-in security, the Google Pay data that's stored in your Google Account is better protected from unauthorised access.

How we handle your data

Google Pay and Google Wallet collect certain info to perform services on your device. Some of this functionality uses Google Play services.

Info that Google Pay may collect

Google Pay may collect any of the following depending on the services that you use:

• Personal info, such as your name, address(es), phone number, email address and device ID or other identifiers: May be collected and used for app functionality purposes, such as setting up and using a card in Google Pay, and for other fraud prevention, security and compliance, and account management purposes.
• Financial info, such as your credit card, debit card or bank account number, purchase history, credit info or other financial info: May be collected and used for app functionality purposes, such as helping you to complete purchases safely with Google Pay.
• Location info: May be used for fraud prevention, security and compliance purposes when you add a new payment card or travel card to Google Pay. In addition, based on your Google Account preferences, location info may also be used for app functionality such as providing location details in your receipts.
• Usage info, in-app search history, crash logs, diagnostics and other app performance data: May be collected for purposes such as app functionality and analytics to monitor the health and usage of the app.
• Installed apps: May be collected for app functionality purposes, such as when you choose to link your bank app to Google Pay.
• SMS messages: May be used for app functionality, fraud prevention, security and compliance, such as for auto-filling one-time passwords.
• Photos, addresses and contacts: Are collected for app functionality to manage your Google Account. 

Info that Google Wallet may collect

Google Wallet may collect any of the following depending on the services that you use:

• Personal info, such as your name, address(es), phone number, email address and device ID or other identifiers: May be collected and used for app functionality purposes, such as setting up and using a card in Google Wallet, and for other fraud prevention, security and compliance, and account management purposes.
• Financial info, such as your credit card, debit card or bank account number, purchase history, credit info or other financial info: May be collected and used for app functionality purposes, such as helping you to complete purchases safely with Google Wallet.
• Location info: May be used for fraud prevention, security and compliance purposes when you add a new payment card or travel card to Google Wallet. In addition, based on your Google Account preferences, location info may also be used for app functionality such as providing location details in your receipts.
• Usage info, in-app search history, crash logs, diagnostics and other app performance data: May be collected for purposes such as app functionality and analytics to monitor the health and usage of the app.
• Installed apps: May be collected for app functionality purposes, such as when you choose to link your bank app to Google Wallet.
• SMS messages: May be used for app functionality, fraud prevention, security and compliance, such as for auto-filling one-time passwords.
• Photos, addresses and contacts: Are collected for app functionality to manage your Google Account.

How Google Play services for payments handles data in Japan

Google Play services for payments collects and uses certain information to set up and offer payment-related services to users.

Info that Google Play services for payments may collect

• Personal info, like your name, addresses, phone number, email address and device ID or other identifiers: Used for app functionality purposes, like setting up and using a card in Google Pay, and for other fraud prevention, security and compliance, and account management purposes.
• Financial info, like your credit card, debit card or bank account number, purchase history or other financial info: Used for app functionality purposes, like helping you to complete purchases safely with Google Pay.
• Usage info, like crash logs, diagnostics and other app performance data: Used for app functionality and analytics to monitor the health and use of the app.
• Installed apps: Used for app functionality purposes, like interacting with partner system apps required by regional payment networks.

Security and control

• For safety purposes, data is encrypted in transit.
• Payment data at rest used by Google Play services for payments is always stored safely within the local Secure Element (SE) chip of your device.
• Currently, Google Play services for payments is available on devices that have an on-board SE chip.
• Google Play services for payments comes pre-installed on eligible Android devices. You can choose to uninstall the app manually, which removes the app from your device. If you choose to uninstall the app, certain payment-related features on Google apps might have low or no functionality. If you need to use those features in the future, you may be prompted to reinstall the app. For example, Google Pay might no longer display the current balance for your eMoney cards.

Manage and delete your Google Pay data

How do I manage privacy controls in Google Pay?

Manage your data and personalisation settings

1. On your phone, open the Google Pay app.
2. In the top right, tap the Account circle  Settings.
3. Tap Privacy and security  Data and personalisation.

You can also access these settings from your Google Account on the Manage your Google Pay experience page.

Tip: Your Wallet passes, including tickets and loyalty cards, are stored and managed separately under the Wallet settings for passes.

Delete payment transactions and other activity

Your payments transactions and activity can be deleted from your Google Account and will no longer show in Google Pay. Google may need to retain certain information about transactions to ensure that our services continue to work or to meet business and legal requirements.

1. On your computer, go to account.google.com.
2. On the left, select Payments & subscriptions. If you can't find this option, expand your browser window.
3. Select Manage your Google Pay experience.
4. On this page, you can delete the activity that you no longer want.
   1. To delete certain items: Next to the item, select More  Delete.
   2. To delete all items on a certain date: Next to the date, select Delete .
   3. To delete all items: Select Delete All time.

Download Google Pay data from your Google Account

Learn more about how to download your Google Pay data.