Accept payments with Tap to Pay on Android

You can use Tap to Pay on Android to accept contactless credit cards or debit cards and all digital wallets without the need for payment hardware. To accept swipe or PIN payments, switch to another paired card reader. Tap to Pay on Android comes included with every Shopify plan and transactions are subject to your in-person credit card rates from Shopify Payments.

Requirements for using Tap to Pay on Android

To use Tap to Pay on Android, you need to meet the following requirements:

  • Your store needs to be based in the United States, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, or the United Kingdom.
  • You need to have Shopify Payments activated as your store's payment provider.
  • You need to have the Point of Sale sales channel installed in your Shopify admin.
  • You need to use the Shopify POS app installed on your Android device.
  • Your POS app needs to be on 9.19.0 or higher version.
  • You need to have an internet connection.
  • Your Android device needs to be on the Android 11 or higher version.
  • Your Android device needs to have the NFC (Near Field Communication) setting turned on.
  • You need to meet all of the Device requirements for Shopify POS hardware for Android.

Activate Tap to Pay on Android for Shopify POS

Steps:

  1. From the Shopify POS, tap > Settings > Set up hardware.
  2. Select Tap to Pay on Android, and then tap Next.
  3. Tap Done.

Tap to Pay on Android is activated for your store and your Android is ready to accept payments.

Pair Tap to Pay on Android on additional devices

You can activate Tap to Pay on Android on additional devices without needing to configure it on one device first.

Steps:

  1. From Shopify POS, tap > Settings > Set up hardware.
  2. Select Tap to Pay on Android, and then tap Next.
  3. Tap Done.

Accept payments with Tap to Pay on Android

You can accept many types of contactless payment methods with Tap to Pay on Android. For swipe or PIN payments, you need to have an additional card reader paired. Make sure you choose the correct card reader for your customer's payment method at checkout. Use Tap to Pay on Android for contactless payment and your card reader for payments that require contact.

Steps:

  1. From the Cart screen, tap Checkout.
  2. From the Select payment option screen, tap Tap to Pay on Android.
  3. The Tap to Pay on Android interface displays indicating where your customer should hold their tap-activated credit/debit card or their mobile wallet on their mobile device.
  4. Ask the customer to hold their contactless payment method behind the tap area until the animation indicates the payment has been completed and you hear the Tap to Pay on Android success sound.
  5. Select whether to provide the customer with a receipt, and then tap Done to return to the Shopify POS products screen.

Unpair Tap to Pay on Android from your POS devices

To remove Tap to Pay on Android as an available card reader at checkout, you can unpair it. Unpairing Tap to Pay on Android doesn't deactivate it for the store.

Steps:

  1. From Shopify POS, tap > Connectivity.
  2. Tap Tap to Pay on Android.
  3. Tap Forget device.

Troubleshoot Tap to Pay on Android

If Tap to Pay on Android isn't working, then try the following troubleshooting steps:

  • Verify that you meet the requirements to use Tap to Pay on Android.
  • Verify that you have an internet connection. Shopify POS needs to connect to the internet through Wi-Fi or your device's cellular data to process payments. If you can't connect to the internet, then you need to use a different payment type while you're offline.
  • Check your firewall settings.
  • Make sure that your device has Bluetooth activated and that Shopify POS has the necessary permissions to access the device's Bluetooth.
  • Make sure that your device has location services turned on and that the Shopify POS app has the necessary permissions to access your device's location.
  • To connect to Tap to Pay on Android, Shopify Payments test mode needs to be turned off.
  • In the Shopify POS hardware settings, make sure that Tap to Pay on Android is listed as a connected device. If it isn't connected, then pair Tap to Pay on Android to your device.

If an Android device has had unauthorized modifications, then you might not be able to use Tap to Pay on Android.

If your card reader's still not working, then from your Shopify POS app, send a report to Shopify Support by tapping ≡ > Support > Report a bug. Support will contact you after the report has been submitted.

Supported card brands

Tap to Pay on Android can only accept contactless payments from the following card brands:

  • VISA
  • MasterCard
  • Amex
Can’t find the answers you’re looking for? We’re here to help.