Did Samsung Discontinue Samsung Pay or Samsung Wallet?

Samsung has not discontinued Samsung Pay or Samsung Wallet. Instead, they have merged the two services into a single app called Samsung Wallet.

Samsung Pay was rebranded as Samsung Wallet in some countries in June 2022. The new app combines features from both Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass, creating a unified hub for various functionalities related to payments, digital IDs, digital keys, and loyalty programs on Samsung Galaxy phones. The Samsung Wallet app allows users to store and access a variety of items, including:

Boarding passes
Credit cards
Cryptocurrencies
Debit cards
Digital keys
Identification cards
Login passwords
Loyalty cards
Membership cards

Currently available in six countries—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US—the app is expected to expand its availability to more countries soon.

Additionally, thanks to integration with SmartThings Home, Samsung Wallet also supports digital automobile keys for select BMW, Genesis, and Hyundai cars.

Users can lock/unlock their cars, start the engine, and even share digital keys with friends or family members. South Korean airlines will also soon support boarding passes within the app, all securely stored on supported Galaxy smartphones using Samsung Knox’s defense-grade security

However, it’s worth noting that Samsung has ended support for Samsung Wallet updates on some older Galaxy smartphones. Specifically, Galaxy phones running Android 9 or older will no longer support Samsung Wallet.

If you’re a Samsung Pay user, the service will continue, but the new Samsung Wallet will only replace it once you go to the Google Play Store. Once you upgrade your Samsung Pass and Samsung Pay to Samsung Wallet, they will not be usable anymore.

The Samsung Pay to Samsung Wallet Transition

Samsung made a significant change to its mobile payment ecosystem by transitioning from the well-established Samsung Pay app to the new Samsung Wallet app.

While the move aimed to provide users with a more comprehensive and feature-rich experience, the transition has not been without its fair share of issues. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the problems users have encountered during the migration process and provide guidance on how to smoothly transfer your cards and data to the new app.

The Promise of Samsung Wallet:

Samsung Wallet was introduced as an upgrade to Samsung Pay, offering users a unified platform to manage not only their payment cards but also loyalty cards, digital keys, and more. The app promised a streamlined user experience, enhanced security features, and the convenience of having all your essentials in one place. However, the reality of the transition has left many users frustrated and confused.

Issues During the Transition:

Card Migration Woes: One of the most common problems users have faced during the transition is the failure of the Samsung Wallet app to automatically import their payment cards from Samsung Pay. Despite the promise of a seamless migration, many users have reported that their cards were not recognized or transferred, forcing them to manually re-add each card to the new app.
Verification Headaches: Adding insult to injury, some users have encountered difficulties verifying their cards during the manual re-adding process. Issues with SMS or email verification codes not being received or recognized have left users unable to complete the setup process, rendering the app useless for mobile payments.
Regional Restrictions: Users who have purchased their Samsung devices in a different country than where their Samsung account is registered have faced additional hurdles. Regional restrictions and incompatibilities have prevented some users from accessing or using the Samsung Wallet app altogether, leaving them without a mobile payment solution.
App Instability and Performance: Some users have reported that the Samsung Wallet app feels less stable and responsive compared to its predecessor, Samsung Pay. Frequent crashes, laggy performance, and inconsistent behavior have marred the user experience, making it difficult for users to trust the app for their daily payment needs.

Navigating the Transition:

Despite the challenges, there are steps users can take to minimize the headache of transitioning from Samsung Pay to Samsung Wallet:

Backup Your Data: Before initiating the transition, make sure to backup your Samsung Pay data, including your cards, loyalty programs, and transaction history. This will provide a safety net in case anything goes wrong during the migration process.
Follow Official Guidelines: Samsung has provided official guides and support articles to help users navigate the transition. Make sure to follow these guidelines carefully, as they often contain valuable troubleshooting steps and best practices.
Reach Out to Support: If you encounter any issues during the transition that you can’t resolve on your own, don’t hesitate to reach out to Samsung’s support channels. They may be able to provide personalized assistance or escalate your case if needed.
Consider Alternatives: If the Samsung Wallet app proves to be too problematic or unstable for your needs, consider exploring alternative mobile payment options, such as Google Pay, until Samsung addresses the issues and stabilizes the app.

Samsung Pay to Samsung Wallet Transition

The transition from Samsung Pay to Samsung Wallet has been a bumpy road for many users, with issues ranging from card migration failures to regional restrictions and app instability.

While Samsung continues to work on improving the user experience and addressing the reported problems, users can take proactive steps to navigate the transition and ensure a smoother migration process.

By backing up data, following official guidelines, reaching out to support when needed, and considering alternative payment options, users can mitigate the frustrations and continue to enjoy the benefits of mobile payments on their Samsung devices.