● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact1 negative1 neutral
Google Pixel devices reportedly experiencing NFC bug affecting contactless payments
Key points
- NFC tap-to-pay is not working on various Pixel models.
- The bug affects Google Wallet and transit payments.
- NFC still functions for non-payment uses.
- Google has not yet responded to the issue.
- The issue started in mid-May.
- The bug affects Pixel 9 series onward, including Pixel 10 Pro.
- Restarting the phone usually fixes the problem.
Widespread NFC Payment Issue Reported
Users of Google Pixel devices have reported a new bug affecting NFC tap-to-pay functionality. Reports on Reddit indicate that contactless payments are failing, whether initiated directly through the Google Wallet app or at automatic transit terminals that do not require the app to be open.
Affected Models and Scope
The issue is not limited to a single Pixel model. Reports span from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 11 Pro XL, suggesting the bug is agnostic to specific hardware models, provided the device is still supported. This indicates a broader problem than device-specific issues previously noted for the Pixel 11.
Software-Related Problem
While some initial suggestions pointed to incorrect phone positioning due to the Pixel 11's NFC antenna placement, the widespread nature of the bug across multiple models suggests a software update is the cause. Users have noted that NFC still functions for other purposes, but specifically fails for payment transactions.
Lack of Official Response
Google has not yet issued an official response regarding the NFC payment bug. The absence of tap-to-pay functionality is a significant problem for modern smartphones, and users are awaiting a resolution.
Updates
- The issue started in mid-May.
- The bug affects Pixel 9 series onward, including Pixel 10 Pro.
- Restarting the phone usually fixes the problem.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Some Google Pixel users have experienced intermittent or complete failure of tap-to-pay functionality with Google Wallet since mid-May. The problem appears to stem from Pixel phones not recognizing nearby NFC terminals, affecting devices from the Pixel 9 series onward, including the Pixel 10 Pro.
Multiple Google Pixel models, from Pixel 8 to Pixel 11 Pro XL, are reportedly experiencing an NFC bug that prevents contactless payments through Google Wallet and transit terminals. This issue appears to be software-related, as NFC functionality works for other purposes, and Google has not yet provided a fix.