Samsung Pay offers a convenient way to make purchases with your smartphone, streamlining your checkout process. However, for various reasons, you might find yourself wanting to disable this feature. Whether it’s to conserve battery life, address privacy concerns, or simply because you don’t use it, turning off Samsung Pay is a straightforward process.
This guide will walk you through several methods to disable Samsung Pay, from temporarily turning it off to completely removing it from your device.
Key Reasons to Consider Disabling Samsung Pay
While a useful tool for many, there are several valid reasons why you might choose to disable Samsung Pay:
- To Improve Battery Life: Like any active application, Samsung Pay can contribute to battery drain. If you’re looking to maximize your phone’s battery performance, disabling unused apps is a good practice.
- For Enhanced Privacy: Samsung Pay stores your sensitive payment information. For users who are particularly conscious of their digital privacy, disabling the service can provide peace of mind.
- If It’s an Unused Feature: If you have alternative payment methods you prefer, there’s little reason to keep Samsung Pay active. Disabling it can declutter your device and free up system resources.
- To Bolster Security: In the unfortunate event that your phone is lost or stolen, an active payment app can be a security risk. Disabling Samsung Pay adds an extra layer of protection for your financial information.
- To Resolve App Glitches: Occasionally, apps can experience glitches or conflicts with other software. If Samsung Pay is behaving erratically, a temporary disable can often resolve the issue.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Turning Off Samsung Pay
Here are the most effective methods to disable Samsung Pay on your Galaxy device:
Method 1: Disabling Through the App’s Settings
This is the most direct way to turn off the service.
- Open the Samsung Pay App: Locate and tap the Samsung Pay icon on your phone.
- Access the Menu: Tap on the three horizontal lines, typically located in the top-left corner of the app, to open the main menu.
- Navigate to Settings: From the menu, select “Settings.”
- Turn Off Quick Access: Look for an option labeled “Quick access” or “Favorite cards on screen” and toggle it off. This will prevent the Samsung Pay card from appearing on your home screen, lock screen, and when the screen is off.
Method 2: Removing the App from Your Home Screen
A simple way to reduce accidental triggers is to remove the quick-launch tab.
- For Newer Devices: Open the Samsung Pay app, go to Settings > Quick access, and toggle off the locations where you don’t want the tab to appear.
- For Older Devices: If you see a small tab at the bottom of your home screen, simply press and hold it, then drag it to the “Remove” icon that appears at the top of the screen.
Method 3: Disabling the App via Your Phone’s Settings
This method prevents the app from running in the background.
- Open Your Phone’s Settings: Access the main settings menu for your device.
- Go to ‘Apps’ or ‘Applications’: Scroll down and find the section that lists all your installed applications.
- Locate Samsung Pay: Find “Samsung Pay” in the list of apps and tap on it.
- Force Stop and Disable: First, tap “Force Stop” to halt any active processes. Then, tap the “Disable” button. This will prevent the app from starting up unless you manually re-enable it.
Method 4: Uninstalling the Application
If you are certain you will no longer use the service, you can uninstall it completely.
- Go to ‘Apps’ in Settings: Follow the steps above to navigate to the “Samsung Pay” app info screen in your phone’s settings.
- Uninstall: Tap the “Uninstall” button. If the “Uninstall” option is not available because it is a pre-installed system app, you will have the option to “Uninstall updates,” which will revert it to the factory version and then you can proceed to disable it.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Encountering problems while trying to disable Samsung Pay? Here are some solutions:
- Samsung Pay Keeps Reappearing: If the quick-access tab keeps returning, ensure you have disabled it within the Samsung Pay app’s settings as described in Method 1. A device restart after changing the setting can also help.
- Unable to Disable the App: If the “Disable” button is grayed out in your phone’s settings, it may be because Samsung Pay has been set as a device administrator. Go to Settings > Security and privacy > Other security settings > Device admin apps and ensure Samsung Pay is not enabled.
- Persistent Notifications: If you continue to receive notifications after disabling the app, you can turn them off at the system level. Go to Settings > Apps > Samsung Pay > Notifications and toggle them off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How do I completely disable Samsung Pay? The most thorough way is to first disable it through the app’s settings, then force stop and disable it in your phone’s main application settings. For a permanent solution, uninstall the app if your device allows.
- Will disabling Samsung Pay delete my payment history? No, your transaction history is tied to your Samsung account and will not be deleted when you disable the app.
- How can I re-enable Samsung Pay? To re-enable it, go to Settings > Apps, find Samsung Pay in the list, and tap “Enable.” You may need to sign back into your Samsung account and re-verify your payment cards.
- Can I disable Samsung Pay without uninstalling it? Yes, using the “Disable” option in your phone’s app settings will turn off the service without removing the application from your device.
