Use your Google Pay balance to pay businesses (US only)

If you’ve verified your identity, you can set up your Google Pay balance to make contactless, in-app, or online payments where Google Pay is accepted.

How do I set up and use my Google Pay balance card?

Set up your Google Pay balance for contactless, in-app & online payments

Important: To have a Google Pay balance, you must verify your identity.

If you haven’t verified your identity

Step 1: Verify your identity

1. Open the Google Pay app .
   • If you're not already signed in to your account, sign in.
2. At the bottom, tap Insights .
3. Tap Money in Google Pay .
4. Tap Complete Verification.
5. Confirm your personal information:
   • Name
   • Address
   • Date of birth
   • Social Security number
6. At the bottom, tap Confirm.

Tip: We may ask for other documents, like a selfie.

Verify identity

Step 2: Set up your Google Pay balance for payments

1. After you complete your verification, on the next screen is an option to set your Google Pay balance for contactless, in-app, and online payments.
2. Read the terms and privacy notices on the screen and tap Continue.
3. Read the Google Pay balance card terms of service and tap Accept & continue.
4. If you want to set a PIN, tap Set PIN. To confirm it, enter your 4-digit PIN twice.
5. Tap Next .

Tip: We recommend that you set up a PIN since some payment terminals require it when you make a contactless payment.

Your setup should be complete. To find your Google Pay balance card:

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. On the home screen, select Tap to pay .
3. Swipe right or left until you find the card labeled "GPay debit." Learn how to set this card as default for contactless payments.

If you’ve verified your identity

1. Open the Google Pay app .
   • If you're not already signed in to your account, sign in.
2. At the bottom, tap Insights .
3. Tap Google Pay balance .
4. Under your balance is an option to set up your balance to make contactless, in-app, and online payments. Tap Set it up.
5. Read the terms and privacy notices on the screen and tap Continue.
6. Read the Google Pay balance card terms of service and tap Accept & continue.
7. If you want to set a PIN, tap Set PIN. To confirm it, enter your 4-digit PIN twice.
8. Tap Next .

Tip: We recommend that you set up a PIN since some payment terminals require it when you make a contactless payment.

Your setup should be complete. To find your Google Pay balance card:

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. On the home screen, select Tap to pay .
3. Swipe right or left until you find the card labeled "GPay debit." Learn how to set this card as default for contactless payments.

Make purchases with your Google Pay balance

Important: You can't use your Google Pay balance to make contactless payments with a smartwatch. 

You can use your Google Pay balance for contactless, in-app, or online payments anywhere Google Pay is accepted. Learn more about how to make contactless payments.

Tip: When you use your Google Pay balance card, if you’re asked whether your card is a debit or credit card, select debit card.

Common questions about using Google Pay balance for purchases

What if I didn't set up a PIN?

If you chose not to set a PIN when you set up your Google Pay balance for contactless payments, you can set one later. We recommend that you set up a PIN since some terminals require it when you make a contactless payment.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. At the bottom, tap Insights .
3. Tap Google Pay balance .
4. Tap More  Set PIN.
5. Enter a 4-digit PIN. To confirm your PIN, enter it again.
6. Tap Next .

Are there transaction limits on payments made with Google Pay balance?

The transaction limits on payments made with your Google Pay balance are:

• Maximum amount in a single transaction: $2,000.
• Daily maximum total transaction amount: $2,500.
• Up to 15 transactions per day.
• Additional limits on the dollar amount or frequency of transactions may be imposed in accordance with the Google Pay Terms of Service.

Why was my transaction unsuccessful?

Common reasons for an unsuccessful payment made with your Google Pay balance are:

• You may have reached the transaction limits.
• You may have insufficient funds in your Google Pay balance. If the amount in your Google Pay balance is smaller than the transaction amount, the transaction will be unsuccessful.
• General problems with contactless payments. Learn how to fix these problems.
• If you didn’t set up a PIN, some terminals may not let you complete your transaction. Learn how to set up a PIN.
• If your transaction was unsuccessful for a reason other than these, contact us for help.

Why is my Google Pay balance less than expected after my recent purchase?

When you make a purchase with your Google Pay balance, two key steps occur:

1. Authorizing the purchase: This is an initial hold on your transaction amount to ensure that there are sufficient funds in your balance to cover the transaction and any incidentals or tips.
2. Capture: This is the final charge posted by the merchant, which is the final amount deducted from your balance.

When you make purchases for contactless, in-app, or online transactions using your Google Pay balance, in some cases, you may initially observe a difference in the amount held from your available balance versus the amount you made a purchase for. This is due to merchant authorization, where an additional amount from your Google Pay balance may be held, to ensure your account has sufficient funds.

Example: You have a balance of $200 and you make a purchase at a restaurant for $50. Your available balance might be deducted for $60, while your transaction shows as "processing" for $50. Based on the final amount charged by the merchant, this authorization amount will be adjusted. In this case, if you didn't incur any additional expenses, such as tips, $10 is credited back to your available balance.

Transaction status: It's important to note that transactions that show in the "processing" state may not reflect the final amount. On your Insights screen, authorizations appear as a "processing" transaction until the merchant completes the transaction and charges the final amount. The authorization process doesn’t transfer funds to the merchant. It’s our way of telling the merchant that the funds for a purchase exist. The final amount reflects only when the merchant charges the final amount, during which you should no longer see the transaction as processing.

Processing times: A transaction remains in the "processing" state until the merchant finalizes the transaction, which usually happens within 7 days, but in some cases may take up to 30 days.

Can I disable my Google Pay balance for contactless, in-app, and online payments?

Yes, you can disable your Google Pay balance for contactless, in-app, or online payments.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
   • If you're not already signed in to your account, sign in.
2. At the top, tap the card icon .
3. To find your Google Pay debit card, swipe left or right and tap it.
4. Tap More Disable contactless.

Tip: If you want to use your Google Pay balance for contactless payments again, you can't turn it back on. You'll have to set it up again.

Can I use my Google Pay balance everywhere I can use a debit card?

Your Google Pay balance is a virtual form of payment and not a physical card. It doesn’t have a full 16-digit card number and can only be used for specific purchases.

You can use your Google Pay balance for:

• Contactless payments wherever Google Pay and VISA® are accepted
• Purchases within apps or online with businesses where you can “Buy with Google Pay”

You can’t use your Google Pay balance for:

• Businesses that don't accept Google Pay and VISA®
• Online or over the phone purchases when you’re required to enter a full card number
• Subscription or other automatic recurring payments
• For international purchases

How can I tell if a transaction was made with my Google Pay balance?

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. Under "Activity," you can find your recent completed transactions.
3. To find all your transactions, tap Show all.

Tap on the transaction you're interested in. If the transaction was made with your Google Pay balance, below the amount of the transaction it will show that the form of payment was your Google Pay balance along with the last four digits of your virtual card.

What if I’m asked for my card number?

Your Google Pay balance card doesn’t have a full 16-digit card number. If you’re asked for the card number for the transaction you make with your Google Pay balance, you can find the last 4 digits in the Google Pay app.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
   • If you're not already signed in to your account, sign in.
2. At the top, tap the card icon .
3. To find your Google Pay balance card, swipe left or right and tap it.
4. At the bottom, you’ll find your virtual card number. For example, Visa…..XXXX.

How do I dispute a payment?

If you think there's an error in your Google Pay balance transaction, including fraud, you can dispute the transaction. Learn more about our Customer Service and Error Resolution Policy.

What if I change phones?

You may want to disable contactless, in-app, and online payments with your Google Pay balance from your old phone so that it can’t be used for purchases. You're responsible for all transactions in initiated with your Google Pay balance card, unless otherwise provided in the Google Pay Terms of Service.

When you move to a new phone, you need to set up your Google Pay balance again.

1. On your new phone, download the Google Pay app .
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Go through the steps to set up your Google Pay balance for payments.

Tip: The transaction history of purchases made with your Google Pay balance on your old phone should carry over to your new phone.

Is there a fee to use my Google Pay balance to pay businesses?

There’s no fee to make contactless, in-app, or online purchases with your Google Pay balance. However, sometimes you may find that your available balance doesn’t match the transaction amounts while the transaction is in the "processing" state. Learn more about your balance after a purchase.

Can I use my Google Pay balance outside of the US?

You can only use your Google Pay balance for purchases in the US and US territories, at US merchants for transactions in USD. You can’t use it for international purchases.

Do I need to set up my Google Pay balance for payments to send or receive money?

No. To send or receive money, you don’t need to set up your Google Pay balance for contactless, in-app, and online payments. Learn how to send money to friends and family. Once you've verified your identity, you can skip the step to set up your Google Pay balance for payments to businesses. 

If you set up your Google Pay balance for contactless payments, you can use money in your balance to make contactless payments with your phone.