Samsung Pay turns off in your phone's settings, not in the app itself

To disable Samsung Pay, you go to your phone's main settings menu, find the Samsung Pay section, and turn it off. The process takes about two minutes. You do not delete the app — you simply stop it from running and accepting payments. If you change your mind later, you can turn it back on the same way.

The exact steps depend on whether you have a Samsung phone running Android 11 or newer, or an older model. Both are straightforward, but the menu locations differ slightly.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Pay disables through Settings, not through the Samsung Pay app itself.
  • On newer Samsung phones, you find it under Settings > Apps > Samsung Pay, then toggle off the permission to use NFC.
  • On older phones, you go to Settings > Biometrics and Security > Samsung Pay and select Disable.
  • Disabling Samsung Pay does not delete your saved payment methods or account — it only stops the service from working.
  • You can re-enable Samsung Pay at any time by reversing these steps.

Disable Samsung Pay on Android 11 and newer

On newer Samsung phones, Samsung Pay is controlled through your app permissions rather than a dedicated settings page. Open Settings and tap Apps. Scroll down and find Samsung Pay in the list, then tap it. At the top of the Samsung Pay app page, you will see a toggle or button labeled Permissions. Tap that, then find NFC (Near Field Communication) in the list and toggle it off. This stops Samsung Pay from using the wireless technology it needs to process payments.

If you do not see an NFC toggle, look for a button that says Disable or Turn Off at the bottom of the Samsung Pay app page instead. Tap that button and confirm when the phone asks you to verify. Your phone will show a message confirming that Samsung Pay is now disabled.

Disable Samsung Pay on older Samsung phones

If your Samsung phone runs Android 10 or earlier, the process is simpler. Open Settings and scroll down to find Biometrics and Security (the exact name varies slightly by model — it might say Lock Screen and Security). Tap that section. Look for Samsung Pay in the list and tap it. You will see a button labeled Disable or Turn Off. Tap it and confirm when prompted.

Some older models show Samsung Pay under Settings > Apps instead. If you cannot find it under Biometrics and Security, go to Settings > Apps, find Samsung Pay in the full app list, and tap the Disable button there.

What happens when you disable Samsung Pay

Disabling Samsung Pay stops the service from working, but it does not erase your information. Your saved credit cards, debit cards, and Samsung Pay account remain stored on your phone. The app itself stays installed. If you disable Samsung Pay and later want to use it again, you simply reverse the steps above and toggle the permission back on or tap Enable.

While Samsung Pay is disabled, you cannot use your phone to pay at contactless terminals. You will need to use a physical card or another payment method instead. No one can use Samsung Pay on your phone without your permission, since the service is completely off.

Why you might want to disable Samsung Pay

Some people disable Samsung Pay because they do not use it and want to reduce the number of active services on their phone. Others turn it off temporarily while traveling or if they are concerned about accidental payments. If your phone has been lost or stolen, disabling Samsung Pay is one step to take while you work on remotely locking or wiping the device through Samsung Find Mobile or your carrier.

Disabling Samsung Pay does not affect other payment methods on your phone, such as Google Pay or your bank's own app. Those continue to work normally unless you disable them separately.

Re-enable Samsung Pay if you change your mind

To turn Samsung Pay back on, follow the same steps you used to disable it, but toggle the NFC permission back on (or tap Enable instead of Disable). Your saved payment methods will still be there, and you can start using Samsung Pay again immediately. You do not need to re-enter your card information.

If you have forgotten your Samsung Pay PIN or fingerprint, you will need to set those up again when you re-enable the service. Samsung Pay will prompt you to do this the first time you try to make a payment after turning it back on.

Uninstall Samsung Pay completely if you want

If you want to remove Samsung Pay entirely rather than just disable it, you can uninstall the app. Go to Settings > Apps, find Samsung Pay, and tap Uninstall. On some Samsung phones, Samsung Pay comes pre-installed and cannot be fully uninstalled — in that case, you will only see the option to Disable, which is the same as turning it off through the steps above.

Uninstalling Samsung Pay is permanent until you reinstall it from the Google Play Store. Your saved payment information will be deleted. If you reinstall later, you will need to add your cards again from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling Samsung Pay affect my credit cards or bank account?

No. Disabling Samsung Pay only stops the payment service from working on your phone. Your actual credit cards, debit cards, and bank accounts are not affected. The card information stays stored on your phone until you uninstall the app or manually delete it from Samsung Pay settings.

Can someone else use Samsung Pay on my phone if I disable it?

No. When Samsung Pay is disabled, no one can use it to make payments, even if they have access to your phone. They would need to re-enable it first, which requires going into your phone settings — something they cannot do without unlocking your phone.

Will disabling Samsung Pay slow down my phone?

Disabling Samsung Pay will not noticeably affect your phone's speed. The app uses very little processing power when it is off. If you want to free up storage space, uninstalling the app instead of disabling it will recover a small amount of space, though Samsung Pay is typically only 50 to 100 megabytes.

What if I cannot find Samsung Pay in my settings?

Some Samsung phones do not come with Samsung Pay pre-installed, or it may be hidden if you have never set it up. If you cannot find it in Settings > Apps or Settings > Biometrics and Security, you likely do not have it installed. You can check the Google Play Store to see if Samsung Pay is available for your phone model.

Do I need to disable Samsung Pay before selling my phone?

You should uninstall Samsung Pay or factory reset your phone before selling it. Disabling the service is not enough — you need to remove your saved payment information completely. A factory reset erases everything, including all apps and stored data, which is the safest option before handing your phone to someone else.