The fastest way to disable Samsung Pay
Open the Samsung Pay app on your phone. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner. Scroll down and select Settings. At the bottom of the Settings screen, you will see Deactivate Samsung Pay — tap it and confirm when the app asks you to verify. Your Samsung Pay account will be disabled within a few minutes.
If you cannot find the Deactivate option in Settings, your phone may have an older version of the app. In that case, go to Settings > Apps > Samsung Pay and tap Uninstall. This removes the app entirely from your device.
Disabling Samsung Pay does not delete your payment cards or account information — it only stops the service from running on your phone. You can reactivate it later by opening the Samsung Pay app again and signing back in.
Key Takeaways
- The Deactivate option in the Samsung Pay app Settings menu is the cleanest way to turn off the service while keeping your account data intact.
- If your version of Samsung Pay does not show a Deactivate button, uninstalling the app from your phone's app settings will stop it from running.
- Disabling Samsung Pay does not erase your saved cards or login information — you can turn it back on whenever you want.
- Removing Samsung Pay from your lock screen or home screen does not actually disable the service; you must use the app's own settings or uninstall it.
Why you might want to disable Samsung Pay
Some people turn off Samsung Pay because they prefer a different payment method, worry about accidental payments when their phone is in their pocket, or straightforward do not use the service. Others disable it temporarily while troubleshooting phone problems or before selling or giving away their device.
If you are concerned about security, disabling Samsung Pay removes one app that has access to your payment information. If you are switching to a different phone or brand, you will need to set up payments on your new device anyway, so turning it off on your old phone makes sense.
What happens to your cards and account when you disable it
Your payment cards remain saved in Samsung Pay's servers even after you disable the service. Your account login and transaction history stay in place. This means you can reactivate Samsung Pay at any time by opening the app and signing in — you will not have to re-enter your card details.
If you uninstall the app instead of using the Deactivate option, the same is true. Uninstalling only removes the app from your phone; it does not erase your account or cards from Samsung's system.
Removing Samsung Pay from your lock screen and home screen
If you want to hide Samsung Pay without fully disabling it, you can remove it from your lock screen and home screen. On your lock screen, swipe left to see the Samsung Pay widget, then tap the settings icon and toggle it off. This prevents Samsung Pay from appearing when you wake your phone, but the app itself remains active in the background.
To remove the Samsung Pay app icon from your home screen, press and hold the icon, then select Remove from Home Screen or Uninstall. Removing it from the home screen only hides the shortcut — the app is still installed and running. If you want to fully stop the service, you must disable or uninstall it through Settings.
Reactivating Samsung Pay later
If you disabled Samsung Pay and want to turn it back on, open the app and sign in with your Samsung account. The app will walk you through a brief setup process and restore your saved cards. You do not need to enter your card numbers again — Samsung Pay remembers them.
If you uninstalled the app, read it again from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the Galaxy Store (on Samsung devices). Sign in, and your account and cards will be restored automatically.
Troubleshooting if you cannot find the Deactivate button
Older versions of Samsung Pay may not have a Deactivate option in Settings. If you do not see it, update the app through the Google Play Store or Galaxy Store. Open the store app, search for Samsung Pay, and tap Update if an update is available. After updating, return to the app's Settings and look for Deactivate again.
If updating does not reveal the Deactivate option, uninstalling the app is your next step. Go to your phone's Settings > Apps, find Samsung Pay in the list, and tap Uninstall. You will be asked to confirm; tap OK. The app will be removed from your phone within seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling Samsung Pay delete my saved cards?
No. Your cards stay saved in your Samsung Pay account on Samsung's servers. When you reactivate the app and sign in, your cards will be there waiting for you. You only lose access to them on your phone while the service is disabled.
Can I disable Samsung Pay without uninstalling the app?
Yes. Use the Deactivate option in the app's Settings menu. This turns off the service while leaving the app installed on your phone. If your version does not have a Deactivate button, uninstalling is your only option to fully stop it.
Will disabling Samsung Pay stop it from appearing on my lock screen?
Yes. Once you deactivate or uninstall Samsung Pay, it will no longer show up on your lock screen or as a payment option. If you only want to hide it from the lock screen but keep it active, toggle off the lock screen widget in the app's settings instead.
What if I sold my phone — should I disable Samsung Pay first?
Yes. Before selling or giving away your phone, disable or uninstall Samsung Pay. This removes the app from the device and signs you out of your account. The new owner will not be able to access your payment cards or account information.
Can I disable Samsung Pay on one device but keep it on another?
Yes. Samsung Pay works independently on each device. Disabling it on your phone does not affect it on your tablet or smartwatch. You control each device separately through its own Samsung Pay app settings.