Google Wallet stops supporting older versions of Android and Wear OS

Starting next month, Google will increase the minimum operating system version for users using Google Wallet on Android and Wear OS devices.

Here's What We Know

According to the new support document, which goes into effect on 10 June, "Google Wallet will require devices running Android 9 or later on phones and Wear OS 2.x or later on smartwatches. Security updates are not available for Android versions below 9.

In order to provide greater security for Wallet features, such as tap-to-pay transactions, it is necessary to be able to push security updates to users' devices.

Previously, the operating system requirements for using Google Wallet were less stringent: at the time of the app's release in 2022, eligible Android versions included Android 5.0. Now, this change applies to users of Android Nougat (7.0, 7.1) and Oreo (8.0, 8.1).

As for the Wear OS platform, which was based on Android, it was initially powered by Android 8.0 Oreo, but then was updated to Android 9.0 Pie.

Google Wallet, which is powered by Google Play services, requires support for the respective versions of operating systems.

Google last stopped supporting Play services in August 2023 for Android 4.4 KitKat.

Source: Google