Google Wallet Code Suggests Option to Pay at Checkout Without Unlocking Phone
A hidden setting in test code would let phones pay at registers without unlocking, requiring spending caps or biometric checks to limit losses.
Overview
- Researchers who tore down Google Wallet build 26.42.1003171897 found a new “Tap to pay” verification toggle that appears to let users tap terminals without unlocking their screens.
- The option is still under development because tapping the setting in test builds currently crashes the app and Google has not announced any rollout plans.
- Coverage links the idea to Google Wallet’s existing transit passes, which already allow unlocked taps through turnstiles, showing a technical precedent for the change.
- Tech observers expect Google to protect users with limits such as low spend caps for unlocked taps and mandatory biometric checks for larger purchases to reduce theft risk.
- App teardowns often expose experimental code that can take months to ship or be dropped, so users should treat this as unconfirmed and keep normal unlock checks on for now.