Google Wallet Requiring Authentication To Even Open The App After A Few Minutes

In 2024, Google Wallet introduced a “verify it’s you” requirement a few minutes after phone unlock, and now appears to be extending that beyond payments to opening the entire Android app.

For the past year or so, opening Google Wallet 3+ minutes after unlocking your phone would result in a “For your security, you need to verify it’s you before paying” message appearing at the top of the app. As such, three minutes from unlock, tap-to-pay transactions don’t work until PIN, pattern, password, fingerprint, face (Class 3 biometric unlock), etc. Officially, Google says:

For security, your payment methods can’t be used unless you verify it’s you. If you’ve verified it’s you on your device in the past few minutes, you may not be required to verify for another transaction. Once the verification has timed out, you must verify again for your next transaction.

Recently, Google Wallet has changed or is in the process of testing a new behavior. Now, after three minutes, you cannot even access the app’s homepage with your carousel of cards and list of passes without authentication.

Google throws up a splash screen with the Wallet logo up top and system-level “Verify it’s you” sheet to authenticate. Sometimes, we still see the old card prompt at the top instead of the new fullscreen version, but the latter is beginning to appear more frequently. We’re seeing this change with version 25.18 of Google Wallet on both Pixel and Samsung phones.

Old vs. new (fingerprint sheet hidden by system in screenshots)

This is quite a security escalation. As our digital wallets contain more and more (including state IDs, passports, home/room and car keys, boarding passes, medical information, etc.), you might not want people with your phone to even know what’s being stored.

That being said, there’s a convenience argument for only requiring authentication at time-of-use. Additionally, some people might not think it’s necessary to require unlock for something trivial like loyalty cards or frequently used transit passes.

Ultimately, Google might think that more Wallet security is worth the convenience trade-off.