A wave of reports has emerged from Samsung Galaxy S23 users across Europe, detailing sudden disruptions in Google Wallet functionality. The issue appears to be tied to the May 2024 security patch that Samsung rolled out recently, but there’s still no certainty in this claim.
The primary symptom is the inability to make contactless payments using Google Wallet, with the app displaying an error message indicating that the phone doesn’t meet the required security standards. Some users have also reported difficulties adding new cards or accessing their existing ones within the app.
The Culprit? Well, several factors are being explored as potential triggers for the issue. One leading theory points to a conflict between the May 2024 security patch and Google Play’s safety certificate. A glitch in this verification process could be causing Google Wallet to flag the device as insecure, thus disabling its payment functions. Another theory floating around is that the latest Google Wallet app update may be at fault, but the fact that most reports are coming from Samsung Galaxy S23 users makes this an unlikely culprit.
While the majority of reports originate from Europe, isolated cases have also surfaced in other regions, including Australia, UAE and the United States. These reports involve devices like the Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22, suggesting that the problem might not be exclusive to the Galaxy S23 series or even Samsung devices alone. This raises the possibility of a broader issue related to the recent Google Wallet update.
Temporary workarounds
In the absence of official fixes, users have shared potential workarounds. One method involves uninstalling updates for the Google Play Store app, which seems to restore payment functionality for some, although the error message might persist.
Another user who claims to have resolved the issue suggests flashing a different firmware build number (CXDF) using Odin since the issue seems to affect build number CXDE. However, this method requires technical knowledge and should be approached with caution. Interestingly, SamMobile reports that Samsung is now rolling out a new build CXD7 for Galaxy S23 units in the US with other regions to follow soon. Perhaps this firmware will address the issue with Google Wallet not working, so be sure to keep an eye on it.
Official response
Samsung Members support has allegedly acknowledged the issue and confirmed that they are actively collaborating with Google to investigate and resolve the problem. However, there hasn’t been a public statement from either company regarding the matter.
As users await an official solution, it’s recommended to try the workarounds mentioned above if the issue is causing significant inconvenience. It’s also advisable to keep an eye on updates from Samsung and Google for any announcements regarding a fix. If indeed the May patch triggered the issue with Google Wallet not working properly, affected Galaxy S23 users may have to wait until the next update rolls out.
In the meantime, affected users can consider alternative payment methods like Samsung Pay or physical cards until the issue is resolved. It’s also a good practice to back up any important data in Google Wallet in case of further complications.
Himanshu Arora
239 Posts
I have been writing tech-focused articles since 2010. In my around 15 years of experience so far, I have written for many leading publications, including Computerworld, GSMArena, TechSpot, HowtoForge, LinuxJournal, and MakeTechEasier to name a few. I also co-founded PiunikaWeb, which went on to become a huge success within 5 years of its inception. Here at TechIssuesToday, I aim to offer you helpful information in a way that you won't find anywhere else easily.
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