Google has announced that it will be discontinuing its Google Pay app in the U.S. starting June 4th, 2024. The move is part of the company's efforts to streamline its payment options and transition users to Google Wallet, which is more widely used in the country.
According to Google, Google Wallet serves as the primary platform for securely storing payment cards for in-store tap and pay transactions, as well as other digital items such as transit cards, driver's licenses, and state IDs. As a result, the standalone Google Pay app will no longer be available for use in the U.S. after the specified date.
Users of the U.S. Google Pay app have until June 4th to transfer their balances to another bank account. After the deadline, funds will need to be managed through the Google Pay website. Peer-to-peer payments and access to in-app deals will also cease on June 4th.
Google has assured users that any pending cash-back rewards from in-app deals will be processed according to the usual timelines even after the app discontinuation. In terms of deals, Google is redirecting users to Google Search instead of migrating them to the Wallet app.
Following the app's discontinuation, the Google Pay app may only serve as a balance viewing window without operational capabilities. To ensure the safety of their funds, users are advised to transfer their balances to another account before the deadline.
While the Google Pay app will no longer be functional in the U.S., it will continue to operate normally in Singapore and India. Google Wallet, on the other hand, will become the primary Android payments app, focusing on tap and pay functionality, card storage, loyalty cards, transit passes, and some forms of identification.
Google's decision to streamline its payment services comes after years of experimenting with various mobile payment methods. The simplicity of Google Wallet is intentional and likely to remain a permanent feature, although future enhancements may be introduced. Users are encouraged to refer to Google's guide for instructions on transferring their balances before the app discontinuation date.
