Tap to pay for kids

Important: Google Wallet for kids is available in these countries:

Countries that support Google Wallet for kids

Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Columbia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
Georgia
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Lebanon
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Spain
Sri Lanka
Trinidad and Tobago
UK
Ukraine
US
US Virgin Islands

Where your child can use tap to pay

When you help your kids add payment cards to Google Wallet, they can tap to pay in stores with their phone or smartwatch.

Your child can tap to pay in stores wherever you find the contactless or Google Pay symbols. They’re located on the payment terminal screen or cash register at checkout.


Google Pay symbol	Contactless symbol

Tip: Your child won't be able to check out online or in-app with Google Pay or across Google until they manage their Google Account on their own. Learn more about what happens when your child turns age of consent.

Set up tap to pay

For your child to use tap to pay, they must have:

A supervised Google Account. Learn more about supervised accounts.
An NFC-enabled Android device or tethered Wear OS watch.
- Fitbit devices aren't supported.
A payment method added to their Google Wallet. Learn how to add a payment card to your child’s Google Wallet.
Google Wallet set as their default payment app.
Screen lock set up on their phone.

Tips:

For an easier setup, it's recommended to have the Google Wallet app installed on your child’s phone first before you add a payment method.
(US Only) A family manager can now set up a child’s balance and add money to it for tap to pay transactions. Learn more how to set up a balance in Google Wallet for kids.

Screen lock on Wallet for kids

Important: If your child removes screen lock on their device, their payment cards are automatically removed from their Google Wallet on that device and need to be added again.

For your child to use their phone or smartwatch to make payments, screen lock is required.

Your child will be asked to use their screen lock authentication method to verify each transaction when they use tap to pay in physical stores.

Your child can verify that it's them in Google Wallet with different ways, such as:

Device PIN
Pattern
Password
Class 3 biometric unlock

Tip: Google Wallet doesn't work with Class 1 or Class 2 biometric unlocks or screen locks like Smart Unlock or Knock to Unlock.

How your child can tap to pay

Important: You can receive an email notification if your child’s payment is successful but you won't receive an email if the transaction fails. Learn more about how to check your child’s transactions.

Pay with phone

Wake up and unlock the phone. It’s not required to open the Google Wallet app.
- Tips:
  - For users with a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, Face Unlock is currently not supported for tap to pay transactions.
  - To use tap to pay on Pixel Fold or another foldable device, fold the device.
Hold the back of the phone to the payment reader.
- Tip: Your child may be asked to verify their payment with the phone's screenlock. This could be a PIN, pattern, password, or fingerprint biometrics.
If the payment is successful, a blue check mark appears on the screen.

Tips:

If there are any issues, learn how to fix problems with tap to pay for kids.
If the card continues to not work, try to pay with a different card and change the default payment method.

Pay with smartwatch

On their smartwatch, open the Google Wallet app.
Hold the watch over the contactless payment reader.
Wait until you hear a sound or feel vibration from the smartwatch.

Fix common issues

The blue checkmark didn't appear on the phone screen

Try to hold the phone in a different way. The NFC antenna could be near the top or bottom of your device.
Hold the phone closer to the payment reader.
Hold the phone to the payment reader for a few extra seconds.

The cashier says that the payment is declined

Double check if the store accepts mobile payments.
Contact the bank. There may be an issue with the card and the bank may have declined the transaction. If the transaction is declined, the charge will not go through.

Common issues with balance in Google Wallet for kids

Child reaches daily spending limit

A child can’t make purchases when their limit is reached. To allow them to continue to spend, a parent can remove or change their daily spending limit.

Through Google Family Link:

On a parent's device, go to Google Family Link.
- If you don't have the Google Family Link app, refer to the Family Link setup page to get started.
Select the child.
Tap Google Wallet.
Select the child's balance.
Beside "Daily spending limit," tap Edit.
Enter the amount.
Tap Next Set limit.

Through the Google Wallet website:

On a parent's device, go to the Google Wallet website.
In the "Family" section, select the child the balance.
Beside "Daily spending limit," tap Edit.
Enter the amount limit.
Tap Next Set limit.
- Parents will receive an email to inform them of the limit change.
- The child will receive a notification that a daily spending limit is set on their balance.
- If the child reaches the daily spending limit, tap to pay transactions will be disabled and will reset the next day.

Lock or unlock a child's balance

When a parent locks the child's balance, they'll get a notification from the Google Wallet app. The balance will be greyed out in their app and they won't be able to tap to pay. Learn how to lock or unlock your child's balance in Wallet.

Related resources

^{Disclaimer: The Google Pay Balance Prepaid Visa® Card is issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Card valid only in the U.S. No ATM or Cash Access. Card can be used in stores everywhere contactless Visa debit cards are accepted.}