Google Wallet is adding QR code card payments for phones without NFC

1 min readUpdated May 26, 2025Jun 28, 20236:05 AM

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Google Wallet is adding support for QR code payments, making it easier for users to pay for goods and services at locations and with devices that do not support NFC. With QR code payments, users can simply scan a code displayed by the merchant with their phone’s camera, and the payment will be processed automatically.

This capability was announced by Google today via a blog post specifically targeting the Google for Brazil conference taking place in said country. Expanding digital payments in the country was referenced as one of the initiatives currently in the works.

As such, Brazilians who use Google Wallet will be the first that will get to experience this new way of making payments. QR codes are pretty universal and as long as the device has a camera, it will be able to use them with their digital wallet.

The QR code payment feature is being launched in Brazil first because a significant portion of smartphones in the country do not have NFC, the technology used in contactless payment methods. This means that many Brazilians have been unable to use Google Wallet’s digital payments feature.

This addition will make Google Wallet more accessible as well as bring the safety and ease of digital payments to more people. QR code payments are a secure and convenient way to pay for goods and services, and their worldwide popularity makes them the perfect workaround for those that lack the necessary hardware to use NFC.

Google Wallet is expected to launch the QR code payment feature in Brazil in the coming months and will, of course, be available to all Android devices with a camera. Hopefully, if this experiment works out well in Brazil, this could open up the possibility for this payment method to become available elsewhere in the world via Google Wallet.

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Questions & Answers

Why is Google Wallet adding QR code payments?

This feature is being added to support payments in locations and on devices that do not have NFC technology. It allows users to scan a merchant's code with their phone camera to process payments.

Which country will get this new Google Wallet feature first?

Brazil will be the first country to experience this new payment method. Google announced this capability during a conference specifically targeting Brazil.

When is this QR code payment feature expected to launch?

Google Wallet is expected to launch this QR code payment feature in Brazil in the coming months. It will then be available to all Android devices with a camera.

What kind of devices will be able to use the new QR code payment system?

All Android devices that have a camera will be able to use the QR code payment feature. This is because QR codes are universal and only require a camera to function.