Google Wallet is finally here with some streamlined changes that felt a bit overdue. This guide will walk you through installing it from scratch or updating your existing Google Pay app to Google Wallet.
The payment apps made available by Google for Android users were more than confusing. Before Wallet, Google Pay and GPay were the two main apps used for contactless payments and storing financial information.
GPay was designed to handle peer-to-peer payments, financial health, and even bring you deals and promotions from select retailers. Google Pay, on the other hand, was only used to store bank cards, IDs, vaccination cards, etc. On top of that, you can use the app to enable tap-to-pay at POS.
Even for some of us who understood exactly what each app was for, it got confusing at times, given that the two apps had very similar names.
Now, Google Wallet has taken over and replaced Google Pay, using the same tools and features while presenting them in a more modern and cleaner way. While Google Pay looked clunky and basic, Google Wallet looks clean and functional.
To make things even more confusing, GPay was replaced by Google Pay after the release of Google Wallet, which replaced Google Pay. Do you have the basics? Good.
Installing Google Wallet
Installing Google Wallet is very easy to do. If you don’t have GPay installed on your device, Google Wallet will not be updated for you. This means that you will have to install it manually. Here’s how:
- On your Android device, go to the Google Play Store app.
- In the search bar, type google wallet and hit it search icon.
- Scroll until you see google wallet app and tap it.
- To note: Currently, the app list seems hidden under a few recommendations. You may have to scroll down the paths a bit to find it.
- Faucet Install.
- Point: You can tick your Wear OS watch to download it too.
Once you hit Install, Google Wallet will start downloading and will be available in about a minute. If your payment methods were already linked to your Android phone via Google Pay, Google Wallet will automatically extract them and make them ready to use.
You may also find that your other passes linked to your Google Account also appear in the Google Wallet app. You can add more by pressing the add icon in the lower right corner.
Update from GPay to Google Wallet
If you already have GPay installed, your course of action is to update the GPay app, converting it to Google Wallet. Here’s how to upgrade GPay to Google Wallet:
- On your Android device with the older version of Google Pay, go to Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Hit Manage apps and device.
- Faucet See the details below Updates available.
- you should see google wallet listing. If so, press Update next to that.
Once you click on the update, Google Pay will be converted to Google Wallet and you can start using the new app.
All in all, this is a welcome change and one that should definitely be initiated if an update is available. Google Wallet is currently widely available on the Google Play Store and an easy to use app right away.
Learn more about Google Wallet:
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