NFC Interference?

[ItsBaldDave_]

Afternoon all,

New S25 Ultra owner here with a question. I'm having a little difficulty using Google Pay in shops. It takes a couple of attempts for it to be recognised when holding it against the POS machines, and I wondered if it has anything to do with my MagSafe case and magnetic pop socket?

I know the NFC chip is roughly in the middle of this phone, which is where the magnets are, but I wasn't sure if NFC would interfere with magnets.

Thanks.

EDIT... the accepted solution worked for me, I was clearly holding the phone wrong near the card reader 🤦‍♂️

[SocietyGirl]

Try without the case and see if it improves? Sometimes bank cards and I 'think' some key fobs can interfere with it too.

You can test NFC without going into a shop by placing a bank card near your phone - it should vibrate an display a code.

+ you can do a diagnostic of the phone in the Members app just to be sure.

[ItsBaldDave_]

Thanks, I'll give that a try. I'm used to using Apple Pay, so maybe it's just getting used to the change.

[arianwen27]

The nfc chip actually isn't in the middle, it's near the top. Think in line with the little camera below your flash. The wireless charging coil is in the middle of the device. So try tapping the top of your phone onto the contactless reader

[GusB · Accepted solution]

This is an image of the S24 Ultra where the NFC chip if top left (if your looking at the screen)

Unsure if it's the exact same for s25u

[ItsBaldDave_]

Thank you. I'll give that a try too.

[ItsBaldDave_]

I don't know why I thought it was near the middle; maybe I was getting confused with the wireless charging coil.

[Chistery]

I sent my S25 Ultra back today as I couldn't get Google Pay to work. I spent days troubleshooting with Samsung. They assumed it was my fault and I was stupid and blamed me quite a bit. Their diagnostics reported no issues but every time I waved it around (the phone) at a card reader, nothing happened. They tried blaming my Barclaycard and Amex cards too, but after several days of explaining that nothing happens at all and it's not a payment declined issue, they agreed to replace it. So off it goes, and will see how long it takes for a replacement to arrive.

[ItsBaldDave_]

That's annoying! Hope the new one is alright.

[SiHeaton1]

Hi Dave,

Im really glad you asked this question. I have been googling it since I got my S25+ 5 days ago and couldnt find anything. I am also having Google Wallet NFC contactless problems too. I have to try between 2 and 5 times at the payment terminal every time i pay its starting to annoy me. I have people behind me huffing and puffing but never had this problem on any previous S series phone its always been near instant before. I have even gone as far as factory resetting my new phone even tho its less than a week old thinking i had a bug or bad installation of google wallet. Im glad im not the only one. Im not sure what to do. I have got so used to paying with phone that i dont even take my wallet out with me anymore. Im hoping its a temporary bug that will be resolved on the first software update. But u dont expect a basic feature to be iffy on a new release phone. I dont think its how we put the phone on the terminal because i have tried different areas of my phone with the same issue. Im not sure if its a google wallet bug, android 15 bug. Im just really hoping its not a hardware issue and i have to live with this for the 3 year contract i got with my phone. If u find a resolution or it suddlenly starts working smoothly please let me know i will do the same. Hope its resolved soon just glad im not alone i thought maybe i had a dodgy handset.