To use your phone as a TAP card for LA Metro and other transit systems, download the TAP LA app (available on Google Play and Apple App Store) to create a virtual card or add an existing one. Load funds, then tap your phone on the validator (no need to unlock for iPhone, or use NFC for Android) to pay.
You have 2 ways to tap to pay in a store: Unlock your phone and hold it near the reader: You can tap the terminal when your phone is unlocked, even when the Google Wallet app is not open. If prompted, use your Android screen lock to verify the payment.
Hold your Android device near the card reader and wait for the checkmark. Pay with your default card or select another.
Quick Steps
NFC Access Card is digital key function in Samsung Wallet that allows you to use your smartphone to perform the same function as an NFC physical card (i.e. residential building access, commercial building access, campus access, elevator access, parking lot access etc.).
Most modern smartphones, including iPhone (iPhone 6 and later) and many Android devices (Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, newer OnePlus, etc.), support tap-to-pay via NFC, using digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, or Samsung Pay for contactless payments, with specific model compatibility depending on the app and carrier. The key is an NFC chip and a compatible digital wallet app for seamless, card-free transactions.
You can pay with Google Wallet wherever you find the contactless or Google Pay symbols on the payment terminal screen or cash register.
Make quick and easy purchases by adding your Virtual Debit Card to your mobile wallet (Tap to Pay). Enjoy the convenience of making secure online purchases without the hassle of entering card information each time.
To pay with your phone, set up a digital wallet like Apple Pay (iPhone) or Google Wallet/Pay (Android), add your debit/credit cards, ensure your phone's NFC is on, then simply unlock your phone and hold the back near a contactless payment terminal (look for the symbol) to tap and pay.
What is Click to Pay?
Widely used – it works at any place that accepts contactless payments. Make sure to check for the contactless symbol on card reader machines before you use Tap to Pay.
Once the transfer is complete, your plastic TAP card will be deactivated and replaced with a new “virtual” TAP card (with a new card number) in your TAP account. Any Stored Value amount on your plastic TAP card will be transferred to the virtual card. One TAP card per Android phone may be used at a time.
Setting up a TAP card is easy.
Yes, your phone likely has tap-to-pay if it's a modern smartphone with Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled, which you can check in your phone's settings (look for "NFC" or "Contactless payments") and then set up using apps like Google Wallet or Apple Pay. To use it, turn on NFC in Settings, add your credit/debit cards to your phone's digital wallet app, unlock your phone, and tap it near any terminal showing the contactless symbol.
To enable NFC, go to your phone's Settings, search for "NFC," and toggle the switch on; you can find it under Connections or Connected Devices, or use the Quick Settings panel by swiping down from the top for a fast toggle, but remember the exact path (like 'NFC & contactless payments' on Samsung) can vary by phone model.
Tap to Pay solutions
It includes support for American Express, Mastercard, Visa contactless cards and NFC-based mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay).
Yes, tapping your card is generally considered safer than inserting it because it uses tokenization and encrypted one-time codes, preventing your actual card details from being exposed to the terminal and reducing the risk of skimming, keeping your card in your possession at all times, and often requiring biometric authentication with mobile wallets, though both methods are secure due to EMV technology. While both tap and insert (chip) use strong EMV security, tapping avoids physical contact with potentially compromised readers and keeps your data encrypted for each transaction, making it a superior choice for security and hygiene.
Yes, you can use your phone as a card reader, either by using its built-in NFC (Near Field Communication) for "Tap to Pay" with apps like Square or Shopify for contactless payments, or by connecting a small, external physical reader (like for chip/swipe) to your phone via USB-C or Lightning for more options, with both methods requiring a payment processing service. Your phone acts as the terminal, accepting payments directly (tap) or through a small dongle, making it a convenient way for businesses to accept cards.
Most modern smartphones support NFC technology, including the Apple iPhone 6 and newer models, Samsung Galaxy S4 and newer models, Google Pixel and newer models, Sony Xperia Z3 and newer models, LG G3 and newer models, HTC One M8 and newer models, Huawei Mate 20 and newer models, and Nokia Lumia 930 and newer models.
Step 1: If you have an iPhone 8 or iPhone 7, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Center. Step 2: If you have an iPhone X, swipe down from the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the Control Center. Step 3: Tap the NFC Tag Reader icon to turn on NFC.