Samsung Pay turns off in your phone's settings, not in the app itself
Samsung Pay does not have a built-in "disable" button inside the app. Instead, you turn it off through your phone's main settings menu. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you have a Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 10 or later, or an older model, but the process takes less than two minutes either way.
Turning off Samsung Pay stops the service from running in the background and removes it from your lock screen or payment menu. Your card information stays stored on your phone until you delete it separately — turning off the service does not erase your saved payment methods.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > Apps > Samsung Pay, then tap "Disable" or "Turn off" to stop the service from running.
- Disabling Samsung Pay removes it from your lock screen and payment shortcuts but does not delete your saved card information.
- You can re-enable Samsung Pay at any time by returning to the same settings menu and tapping "Enable."
- If you want to remove your card information permanently, open Samsung Pay, go to Wallet, select each card, and choose "Delete."
Steps to disable Samsung Pay on Android 10 and newer
Open Settings on your phone. Scroll down and tap Apps (sometimes labeled Applications). Search for or scroll to find Samsung Pay in the list.
Tap Samsung Pay to open its app information page. At the top or bottom of the screen, you will see a button labeled Disable or Turn off. Tap it. Your phone will ask you to confirm — tap Disable again. Samsung Pay will now stop running.
If you see a button labeled Uninstall instead of Disable, your phone came with Samsung Pay pre-installed and you can only disable it, not remove it completely. That is normal — tap Disable and the service will stop.
Steps to disable Samsung Pay on older Android versions
The path is the same on Android 9 and earlier, but the menu names vary slightly. Open Settings, then tap Apps or process Manager. Find Samsung Pay in the list and tap it.
Look for a button at the bottom of the screen labeled Disable. Tap it, then confirm when your phone asks. If you see Force Stop instead, tap that first, then look for Disable below it. On some older Samsung phones, you may need to tap a menu icon (three dots) at the top right to find the disable option.
What happens when you disable Samsung Pay
Once disabled, Samsung Pay will no longer appear on your lock screen, in your notification panel, or in any payment menu. It will not run in the background or check for transactions. The service is completely off.
Your saved card information remains on your phone in encrypted storage. If you decide to use Samsung Pay again later, you can re-enable it through the same settings menu — your cards will still be there. You do not have to re-enter them.
How to delete your card information from Samsung Pay
If you want to remove your saved cards permanently, you need to delete them before or after disabling the service. Open Samsung Pay (if it is still enabled). Tap Wallet at the bottom of the screen.
Long-press or tap the card you want to remove. A menu will appear with options including Delete or Remove. Tap it and confirm. Repeat for each card you have saved. Once all cards are deleted, you can disable Samsung Pay if you have not already.
Re-enabling Samsung Pay if you change your mind
Return to Settings > Apps > Samsung Pay. Instead of a Disable button, you will now see Enable or Turn on. Tap it to restore the service. Your phone will restart Samsung Pay, and your saved cards will be available again if you did not delete them.
You can also re-enable Samsung Pay from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store by searching for the app and tapping Install if it was completely removed, though most phones have it pre-installed and only need to be re-enabled.
Why you might want to disable Samsung Pay
Some people disable Samsung Pay to reduce the number of payment services running on their phone, especially if they use a different payment app like Google Pay or Apple Pay. Others turn it off if they are not using contactless payments and want to simplify their lock screen.
Disabling the service also prevents accidental payments if your phone is unlocked near a payment terminal. Since Samsung Pay can work with just your fingerprint or PIN, some users prefer to keep it off and only enable it when they plan to make a payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling Samsung Pay delete my card information?
No. Disabling the service stops it from running but leaves your saved cards in encrypted storage on your phone. If you want to permanently remove your card information, you must delete each card individually through the Samsung Pay app before disabling it.
Can I disable Samsung Pay if it came pre-installed on my phone?
Yes. Pre-installed apps can be disabled just like any other app. Go to Settings > Apps > Samsung Pay and tap Disable. You cannot uninstall it completely, but disabling it stops the service from running.
Will disabling Samsung Pay affect other payment apps on my phone?
No. Disabling Samsung Pay does not change Google Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo, or any other payment service. Each app operates independently, and turning off one does not affect the others.
What if I cannot find the Disable button in Samsung Pay settings?
Check that you are in the correct settings menu — go to your phone's main Settings app, not inside the Samsung Pay app itself. If you still cannot find it, your phone may have a different Android version. Try searching "Samsung Pay" in Settings and look for an option to turn it off or manage permissions.
Can I disable Samsung Pay temporarily and turn it back on later?
Yes. You can disable and re-enable Samsung Pay as many times as you want. Your saved cards will remain on your phone unless you delete them, so re-enabling the service takes just a few taps.