Android 15 Now Lets You Choose a Default Wallet App; Here’s How

Google is making it easier for you to set any other app that you use regularly for payments as your default wallet app in the upcoming Android release. Android 15 Beta 1 adds the option to allow you to set any other app as the default wallet. Similar to how you can change the default browser, and the default assistant on your phone.

As reported by Mishaal Rahman on his X (formerly Twitter) post, Android 15 Beta 1 lets you change the wallet role. This means that going forward after the stable release, we might see banking and other apps asking permission to be your default wallet app.

The major benefit of setting a default wallet app is the ability to make NFC payments or Tap-to-Pay Transactions. You could previously do this by navigating to Connected devices > Connection Preferences > NFC > Contactless payments and choosing the app you want to use. This new option will make it easier to do so.

If you’re running Android 15 Beta 1, here’s how to set an app as the default wallet.

1. Open Settings and go to the Apps menu.
2. Here, tap on Default apps.

3. Tap on Wallet app and then choose the app you want to use.

We noticed that it only shows Paytm and ICICI bank’s iMobile apps that currently allow NFC payments. Google Pay or Google Wallet app won’t show up unless you register a card inside the respective apps. We can expect support for more apps to arrive soon when Android 15 is rolled out widely.

Typically on Pixel devices, Google Wallet used to take the default while on Samsung devices, it used to be their own Samsung wallet service. But if you don’t like either one of them, you will be able to change it according to your preference. This is something iOS users still can’t do at this point.

This flexibility to do things on Android is why I still stick to the platform. Hopefully, in future builds, we will hear more about this feature, and support for more apps will start showing up.