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Google patches an annoying Wear OS authentication bug affecting Wallet

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The app repeatedly asked users for their smartwatch's PIN or pattern.

The Wear OS 5 app drawer on the Google Pixel Watch 3
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • A bug affecting Google Wallet caused repeated authentication prompts for Wear OS users.
  • More than a week after first acknowledging the problem, Google confirmed it has patched the bug.
  • Wear OS users can now continue making Wallet payments without authenticating their purchase if it is unlocked and on their wrist.

A tweak to how Google Wallet handles contactless payments on Android phones may have resulted in a frustrating bug for Wear OS users, but it has since been resolved. In a community post Thursday, May 29, a Google employee confirmed the bug causing Wear OS devices to repeatedly ask for PIN/pattern authentication is fixed (via 9to5Google).

Now, users can continue to make Wallet transactions without needing to authenticate their purchase every single time. After unlocking the smartwatch and keeping it strapped to your wrist, you can make Google Wallet contactless payments quickly and easily without entering your PIN or pattern.

The updated community post explains that some Wear OS users were "being asked to re-enter their PIN/password on their smartwatch during in-store payments." The company acknowledged the issue on May 20, and more than a week later, the patch is available.

Add new card to Google Wallet on Pixel Watch

(Image credit: Android Central)

Initially, it was unclear whether this bug was a behavior change coinciding with an adjustment made to the way Google Wallet works on Android. For smartphones, Google Wallet now needs to be unlocked with a passcode or biometrics for the app to be opened. While the emergence of the Wear OS bug seemed to line up with this tweak, it turned out to be a mistake after all.

Not all Wear OS users were affected by the problem, so if you haven't been dealing with repeated authentication prompts, you can continue using Google Wallet as normal. However, the issue seemed fairly widespread, as over 360 users reported having the same problem on the community post — and those are just the ones we know about.

To get the fix, make sure your Google Wallet app is updated to version 25.17 on your Wear OS smartwatch. It's unclear if the patch is a server-side adjustment or if it requires an app update.

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Brady Snyder
Brady Snyder
Contributor

Brady is a tech journalist for Android Central, with a focus on news, phones, tablets, audio, wearables, and software. He has spent the last three years reporting and commenting on all things related to consumer technology for various publications. Brady graduated from St. John's University with a bachelor's degree in journalism. His work has been published in XDA, Android Police, Tech Advisor, iMore, Screen Rant, and Android Headlines. When he isn't experimenting with the latest tech, you can find Brady running or watching Big East basketball.

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