Samsung Pay has become one of the leading mobile payment platforms, allowing users to make purchases using their compatible Samsung devices. With its intuitive interface, wide acceptance, and robust security, Samsung Pay aims to replace your physical wallet.
This 2500+ word guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start using Samsung Pay, from initial setup to making in-store, online or in-app purchases.
Brief History of Samsung Pay
Samsung Pay was launched in 2015 as Samsung‘s proprietary mobile payment service, initially available only on select Samsung Galaxy smartphones. It was designed to compete with other platforms like Apple Pay and Android Pay (now Google Pay).
What sets Samsung Pay apart is its use of both NFC and MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) technology. This allows it to work with nearly all existing payment terminals, not just those with NFC readers. As of 2022, Samsung Pay is accepted almost everywhere that accepts credit cards in many countries globally.
Over the years, Samsung has added features like loyalty card integration, transit passes, student IDs, digital keys and more into Samsung Pay. It was also renamed to Samsung Wallet in 2022, becoming a centralized hub for tickets, credentials and other digital items.
However, the core payment functionality still exists under the Samsung Pay branding. Samsung continues to pursue partnerships with banks, payment networks and merchants to expand capabilities and reach.
Key Benefits of Samsung Pay
Here are some of the main advantages Samsung Pay offers over traditional payment methods:
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Works Almost Everywhere: Unlike Apple Pay which relies solely on NFC, Samsung Pay works on both NFC and traditional magstripe card readers thanks to MST technology. This means it‘s accepted at an estimated 90% of existing payment terminals.
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Tokenized Transactions: Your actual payment card details are never shared with merchants. Instead, a digital token is used to represent your card which improves security.
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Supports Many Cards: Samsung Pay works with credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, loyalty cards and more from hundreds of issuing banks. Just save them to your Samsung Wallet.
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Biometric Authentication: Samsung Pay transactions can be authorized with fingerprint or facial recognition for faster checkout without typing passwords or PINs.
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Reward Points Integration: Some issuer banks provide bonus reward points when paying via Samsung Pay. You can also store and access loyalty/rewards program cards.
So in many ways, Samsung Pay provides the speed and convenience of mobile payments combined with wider acceptance than solutions like Apple Pay.
Step 1: Download the Samsung Wallet App
Samsung Pay is now integrated into the new Samsung Wallet app, combining capabilities beyond just mobile payments.
On your Samsung Galaxy device, open the Google Play Store. Search for "Samsung Wallet". Download and install the app.
Alternatively, you may find Samsung Wallet pre-installed on newer Samsung devices out of the box.
Step 2: Set Up Your Samsung Account
Open the Samsung Wallet app after install. On the welcome screen, tap Continue.
Next, you‘ll need to sign into your Samsung account if you already have one or follow the on-screen steps to create a new Samsung account.
Using your Samsung account allows features like syncing cards/passes across multiple devices securely using cloud saving.
Once logged in, review and agree to all the requested app permissions and terms of service. Granting permissions allows full app functionality.
Step 3: Set Preferred Verification Method
For security, Samsung Pay requires you to set up a verification method. This is used to confirm your identity whenever you attempt to access Samsung Wallet for payments.
You can choose fingerprint/biometrics if your device supports it. Alternatively, set up a 4-digit wallet PIN.
Samsung also recommends enabling the "Block Samsung Pay" option which adds additional security. If enabled, all wallet features get disabled when your phone restarts until the verification check passes.
Step 4: Add Samsung Pay to Quick Access
On Samsung Galaxy devices, using Quick Access menu to launch apps is very convenient.
When prompted, toggle on the switch to add Samsung Wallet to Quick Access. This makes it easy to pull up the Samsung Pay payment cards homescreen instantly.
An icon will also be added to bottom of your home screen for quick swipe-up access.
With those basics covered, your Samsung Pay setup is ready! Now it‘s time to add some cards and start using it.
Step 5: Add a Credit or Debit Card
To make mobile payments, you need to save your physical credit or debit payment cards to the Samsung Pay app.
Tap on Payment cards then select Add. You can now choose either of two options:
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Scan Card using Camera: Place card down and line up blue box for auto scan. Ensure name/numbers are clearly visible.
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Enter detail manually: Type in card number, expiration date, CVV code etc
Following best security practices, ensure you don‘t save an image of the card in any other apps after scanning.
I recommend adding your top 1 or 2 most frequently used cards first to Samsung Pay. You can always add more later on.
Step 6: Verify Your Card
After your card details are captured by scan or manual input, Samsung Pay will try to automatically verify the card with your issuing bank.
You will also be asked some security questions to confirm card ownership. Finally, accept terms and conditions if prompted.
Verification generally takes just seconds or you may receive a texted code to input for completing the linking process.
Once successfully verified by your bank, the card gets saved into your Samsung Wallet under Payment Cards. Repeat for any other cards if needed.
Step 7: Enable NFC Payments
While cards are saved in the Samsung Wallet app, you still need to have NFC wireless payments enabled on your device to access Samsung Pay functionality.
On Galaxy devices, toggle NFC on by swiping the quick settings menu down on the home screen. Tap the NFC icon to activate and enable contactless payments. The icon will turn blue when activated.
For added security with Samsung Pay, make sure to disable NFC transfers when you aren‘t actively using contactless payments.
Now comes my favorite part – actually using Samsung Pay! The next sections explain how to use it in stores, online and in-apps.
Step 8: Launch Samsung Pay
When at checkout at a store, first ensure NFC is enabled on your Galaxy device as shown in previous step.
Launch Samsung Pay app by swiping up from the bottom icon or by tapping into the app.
Use your preferred verification method – fingerprint, iris, facial recognition or wallet PIN to get past the lock screen. This unlocks the payment capability.
Now all your stored cards are visible. Swipe left/right to choose the specific card you want to pay with.
Step 9: Tap to Pay!
With your preferred payment card selected and identity authorized via biometrics or PIN, you are now ready to tap and pay!
Simply hold the BACK of your Samsung device over the store‘s contactless payment terminal with the NFC antenna. An audible tone confirms it is actively scanning for payment.
Once Samsung Pay is recognized, your payment gets processed instantly without having to insert or swipe your physical card. It‘s that quick and easy!
Thanks to Samsung‘s Magnetic Secure Transmission technology combined with NFC, you can pay using Samsung Pay at nearly any store terminal globally.
It works very reliably unlike some other mobile wallets that still face intermittent compatibility issues. No more fumbling for your wallet when a phone tap does it all!
Using Samsung Pay Online
Beyond in-store NFC payments, Samsung Pay also works for paying on supported eCommerce sites and apps.
It‘s quite simple – when checking out online look for the Samsung Pay logo as a payment option during checkout on the merchant website. Select it to invoke the authentication prompt on your phone which you‘ll approve with a fingerprint or PIN.
Hundreds of popular online merchants have integrated Samsung Pay as a checkout option which is great for mobile users.
Samsung Pay for In-App Purchases
The process for paying within mobile apps via Samsung Pay is very similar. Launch the app and add items to your cart. Proceed to purchase checkout and select Samsung Pay if shown as an option.
Approve the payment by scanning your fingerprint or entering your wallet PIN code. Samsung Pay will automatically charge the default card saved or let you pick one if multiple exist.
So Samsung Pay truly hopes to make your smartphone your wallet, accessible anywhere whether in apps, online or in the real world!
Expert Tips for Managing Samsung Pay
Now that you know how to set up cards and make transactions with Samsung Pay, here are some pro tips for managing your payments:
Organize Cards into Groups
You can create custom groups for saved cards in Samsung Pay like Personal, Business, Travel etc for quick access to relevant ones.
View Payment History
See your past transactions, payment date and locations right within Samsung Pay app. Tap cards for individual history.
Get Receipts and Statements
Dig into monthly statements for any saved card and share or save purchase receipts to the Samsung Cloud.
Change Wallet PIN
Ensure your 4-digit Samsung Pay wallet PIN is secure and change it anytime under Settings > Authentication and security.
Report Lost or Stolen Device
You can remotely wipe and disable Samsung Pay on a connected lost or stolen device via Find My Mobile website. This secures all saved payment cards.
Remove Unused Cards
Deleting expired, unused or unwanted cards keeps the wallet clean and optimized. Just tap into each card and select Remove.
Enable Travel Notifications
Turn on travel notifications so Samsung Pay informs you about any relevant benefits, deals or incompatible terminals when abroad.
Contact Customer Support
The Samsung Members app lets you talk to a support agent for any Samsung Pay related issues and troubleshoot problems.
The Future of Samsung Pay
While already feature-packed, Samsung continues innovating with Samsung Pay and the aligned Samsung Wallet.
Some upcoming improvements planned by Samsung include:
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Merging Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass into one unified identity and payments platform
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Launching virtual debit/credit cards for online transactions
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Allowing peer-to-peer money transfers through Samsung Pay
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Integrating cryptocurrency storage and transactions
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Next-generation biometric authentication like vein scanning
So the scope of Samsung Pay is expected to expand over time with more financial capabilities. Of course, new security and privacy controls will be implemented in parallel.
With Samsung dominating the Android device market and Samsung Pay supported on everything from budget phones to premium foldables to smartwatches, its growth potential remains strong.
And thanks to proprietary technology like MST for contactless payments combined with NFC, Samsung Pay is likely to achieve nearly universal acceptance globally in just the next few years.
Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung Pay
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Samsung Pay:
Does Samsung Pay work on non-Samsung devices?
No. Samsung Pay is a proprietary solution designed exclusively for Samsung‘s own ecosystem of devices including phones, tablets, wearables and TVs due to reliance on integrated hardware security modules.
What‘s the difference between Samsung Pay and Samsung Wallet?
Samsung Pay refers to just the mobile payments functionality while Samsung Wallet is the entire app that stores your cards, passes etc. The payment feature is contained within the new wallet app.
Is Samsung Pay safe to use?
Yes. All transactions via Samsung Pay are protected by tokenization, encryption and biometric authentication for security so your actual payment card details are never exposed to merchants.
What happens if I lose my phone with Samsung Pay?
You can remotely lock your device, secure all cards in Samsung Pay or fully wipe everything for protection against fraudulent transactions from Find My Mobile site.
Can I use Samsung Pay abroad?
Samsung Pay works globally thanks to Magnetic Secure Transmission as long as card issuers support international transactions. Some limits may still apply so check with your bank beforehand when traveling.
Do I need a data connection to use Samsung Pay?
An active internet connection via WiFi or mobile data is usually required to process full transactions and authenticate via back-end payment networks. Some basic offline functionality may work on latest devices.
Final Takeaways
And there you have it – a complete walkthrough from installing to setting up Samsung Pay followed by step-by-step usage instructions for all kinds of mobile payments covering in-store, online and mobile app transactions.
The key takeaways around Samsung Pay are:
- It offers wider acceptance than rival mobile wallets thanks to MST
- Extremely easy to set up and manage all your payment cards
- Core feature of new Samsung Wallet for unified access to payment cards, passes
- Highly secure end-to-end transactions backed by biometrics and tokenization
- Continues to expand with more financial capabilities on the horizon
If you found this guide useful, don‘t forget to share it with any friends or family who may be looking to understand or start using Samsung Pay!
