Quick answer
Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > NFC and turn off the Use NFC switch; this disables tap to pay instantly while leaving every card in Google Wallet untouched.
A stray tap against a card reader or a crowded train turnstile can trigger a charge you never meant to make. NFC also keeps working in your pocket even when the screen is off, which can shave a bit off your battery during a long day away from a charger.
You do not need to delete any cards from Google Wallet to stop this. Switching off NFC in Settings pauses every contactless payment instantly, and your cards are still there the moment you turn it back on.
Before you start
- Difficulty Easy
- Time needed 2 minutes
- Works on Pixel phones running current Android (Pixel 6 through Pixel 9 series)
What you'll need
- A Pixel phone with NFC hardware
- A few seconds to open Settings
Important
- Switching off NFC disables every NFC feature on the phone, not just payments, so anything relying on NFC pairing or transit cards will stop working until you turn it back on.
Turn off NFC in Settings
This is the fastest, most reliable way to stop tap to pay on a Pixel, and it is the method Google’s own support pages describe.
Step 1: Open the Settings app
Find the gear-shaped Settings icon on your home screen or in the app drawer and tap it.
Step 2: Tap Connected devices
Scroll down the Settings list and tap Connected devices.
Step 3: Tap Connection preferences
On the Connected devices screen, tap Connection preferences.
Step 4: Tap NFC
Choose NFC from the list of connection options.
Step 5: Turn off Use NFC
Tap the Use NFC switch so it turns gray. Tap and pay is now disabled, but your cards remain saved in Google Wallet.
To turn tap to pay back on later, come back to this same screen and flip the switch again.
Tip: Flip the same switch back on the moment you want to use tap to pay again; nothing else needs setting up.
Toggle NFC From Quick Settings
Some Pixel software builds let you flip NFC off without opening the Settings app at all, which is handy if you need to do this quickly before boarding a train or handing your phone to someone else.
Step 1: Open Quick Settings
Swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers, or swipe down twice with one finger, to open the full Quick Settings panel.
Step 2: Find the NFC tile
Look for an NFC tile among the quick toggles. If you do not see it, tap the pencil or edit icon to add it, or swipe sideways to reveal more tiles.
Not every Pixel software version ships this tile by default, so if it is missing, use the Settings method instead.
Step 3: Tap the NFC tile to turn it off
Tapping the tile toggles NFC the same way the Use NFC switch in Settings does. Tap it again whenever you want tap to pay back.
Pro tips
- Turning off NFC also disables other NFC features like file sharing and some transit or ID cards, so expect those to pause too.
- If you only want to change which app handles taps rather than switch NFC off completely, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > NFC > Contactless payments and pick a different default service.
- Keep NFC off whenever the phone sits in a pocket or bag in a crowded space, then turn it back on right before you pay.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| NFC turns itself back on after you open Google Wallet. | Google Wallet can have permission to enable NFC automatically. Go to Settings > Apps > Google Wallet and review its permissions, then turn off NFC again and check whether opening the app re-enables it. |
| Tap to pay stops working entirely after a Google Wallet update. | This has happened on Pixel phones before and usually resolves within a week or two once Google pushes a server-side fix. In the meantime, clear the Google Wallet app cache and restart the phone. |
| Battery still drains fast even with NFC off. | Check whether a payment card or other item with an embedded NFC chip is sitting close to the phone, since nearby chips can still cause radio activity. |
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off NFC delete my cards from Google Wallet?
No. NFC is just a radio feature; your cards stay saved in Google Wallet whether NFC is on or off.
Does disabling NFC also turn off Google Pay online or in apps?
No. NFC only controls contactless, in-person tap payments. Online and in-app purchases through Google Pay keep working normally.
Why don't I see an NFC setting on my Pixel?
If the NFC option is missing from Connected devices > Connection preferences, your phone model does not have NFC hardware, so tap to pay isn’t available on that device.
Can I turn off tap to pay for just one card instead of all of them?
Turning off NFC pauses contactless payments for every card at once. To change which card is used by default instead, open Google Wallet and set a different default payment card.
With NFC switched off, your Pixel is safe from accidental taps until you flip it back on in Settings, and if you want to manage which card gets charged once tap to pay is back on, check the companion guide on changing your default payment card in Google Wallet.
Sources and further reading
- Verizon
- Support Google
- Asurion — How to turn off NFC mobile payments on Android and iPhone | Asurion
- Spot — How do I deactivate tap to pay on my Android device?
