Tapping phone when it has a cover on it.

I suspect this depends upon the specific phone and the specific case, but I never had any problem with the NFC* working on my Samsung S22 Ultra inside its case.

New phone this year, Google Pixel 9 Pro, with of course also a new case. I guess I'll get to conduct another experiment this summer.

*NFC = near field communications, which is how tap-to-pay works.

That’s actually a good question. Tap to Pay works fine with my iPhone is a fairly thin case on a lanyard. Google “Does Tap to Pay work with a phone case?” and read the AI response. Gives some info about types of cases, etc.

SJ
I have a samsung 23 ultra w/ Android OS and have an "otter box" cover. Have no problems with tap and pay using either samsung or Google wallet. I've been using tap and pay for about 3 yrs now.

I have a Samsung 23 with an Otterbox case. My last three trips across the Atlantic I have used nothing but Google Wallet on my phone to pay. I never even took my credit card out of my wallet. Tap to pay worked perfectly every time. You won't have to take your phone out of your case.

Thankyou all!

Can you use face authentication?

And you should try Google Wallet in a few local stores before the trip to see how it works fo you.

As long as the lanyard allows you to place your phone directly upon the device, the cover should not be a problem. I have used covers on my phones for many years and never had any issues using "tap to pay".

All the lanyards I have seen attach at the bottom and the NFC chip is on the top of the phone so there is no interference. I use my Apple Watch for contactless payments so phone stays in pocket.

I agree with TravelerGuy that you should start using it at home before you travel. When I first started using mine at the grocery store I tried to pick a checker who was young and could help me if needed, lol.

Does your current phone not have Google/Apple Pay? I honestly would start using it today. No reason to wait until you get a new phone and you want your skill set up to date.

Might be silly suggestion, but just take your case covered phone and test it out at your local Starbucks before you go on your vacation. But seriously, I have never had an issue tapping with my phone in its thermoplastic case. I would also add that I have an RFID wallet and have been able to tap without taking the card outside the wallet. So much for RFID protection. I probably need to wrap my card and phone in a big wad of aluminum foil to prevent tapping.

Yes, of course I would practice before I left home.
My current phone is only about four years old, but the wallet app says it does not support “tap”!
Go figure…no wonder the landfills are full of electronic junk…..
That’s why I’ll need a new one before I set it up!

"Doesn't support Google Pay..." Dang, sorry about that. The technology that the phone needs is Near Field Communication (NFC). It's sort of like Bluetooth, but not. My 7 old Galaxy S9 has NFC. The other thing is that Google has to "certify" phone models to verify they are secure enough. I'm sure any mainstream phone brand from the last 3 or 4 years should have all that. When you shop for a phone, if it's an old or off-brand model, look for NFC in the specs. And you could check with Google to see if they "approve" that model. There are some Chinese made Samsung S24 imitations for sale cheap on Ebay, I would think Google would consider them a security risk.

What is the make and model of your phone?