Samsung Pay can be removed in Settings in about two minutes
To remove Samsung Pay from your Samsung phone, open Settings, tap Apps, find Samsung Pay in the list, and tap Uninstall. If the uninstall button is grayed out, tap Disable instead — this removes it from your home screen and stops it from running in the background, though the app files remain on your phone.
The difference matters: uninstalling removes the app entirely, while disabling leaves it installed but inactive. Most people choose to uninstall if they no longer want Samsung Pay. If you have stored payment cards or passes in Samsung Pay, they will be deleted when you remove the app, so take note of any information you need to keep before you start.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Pay uninstalls through Settings > Apps > Samsung Pay > Uninstall on most phones.
- If Uninstall is grayed out, your phone may require you to disable it first or remove it as a device administrator.
- Disabling Samsung Pay stops it from running but leaves the app on your phone; uninstalling removes it completely.
- Any payment cards or passes stored in Samsung Pay will be deleted when you remove the app.
- You can reinstall Samsung Pay later from the Galaxy Store if you change your mind.
The standard removal path through Settings
Open Settings on your Samsung phone. Scroll down and tap Apps (sometimes labeled process Manager on older phones). Scroll through the list until you find Samsung Pay. Tap it to open the app details page.
On the app details page, look for the Uninstall button at the top. Tap it, then confirm when the phone asks if you want to remove the app. The app will be deleted within seconds. If you see a message saying you cannot uninstall it, move to the next section — your phone has set Samsung Pay as a protected app.
What to do if Uninstall is grayed out
If the Uninstall button is grayed out or unavailable, Samsung Pay is likely set as a device administrator or a system app on your phone. Try tapping Disable instead. This removes the app from your home screen and stops it from running, which solves the problem for most people who want Samsung Pay gone.
If Disable is also grayed out, go back to Settings and search for Device Admin Apps or Device Administrators. Look for Samsung Pay in the list. If it appears there, tap it and select Deactivate or Remove. Once you deactivate it as a device administrator, go back to the Samsung Pay app details page — Uninstall should now be available.
On some Samsung phones, Samsung Pay cannot be fully uninstalled because it is a system app. In that case, disabling it is the closest you can get to removal. The app will not appear on your home screen, and it will not run in the background.
Removing payment cards and passes before you uninstall
Before you uninstall Samsung Pay, open the app and review what you have stored. Any credit cards, debit cards, or digital passes (like boarding passes or loyalty cards) will be deleted when you remove the app. If you need to keep a record of card numbers or expiration dates, take a screenshot or write them down before you proceed.
If you have set up Samsung Pay as your default payment method for contactless transactions, your phone will revert to a different payment method or ask you to choose one the next time you try to pay. This does not affect your ability to pay with your cards — it only changes which app handles the transaction.
Reinstalling Samsung Pay if you change your mind
If you uninstall Samsung Pay and later decide you want it back, you can reinstall it from the Galaxy Store (Samsung's app store) or the Google Play Store, depending on your phone model and region. Open whichever store your phone uses, search for Samsung Pay, and tap Install. You will need to set up your payment cards again from scratch.
Reinstalling takes about the same time as the original setup — usually five to ten minutes if you have your card information ready. Your phone will not remember the cards you had stored before, so you will enter them as if for the first time.
Why you might want to disable instead of uninstall
Disabling Samsung Pay is useful if you want to stop using it for now but might want it back later without having to reinstall. Disabled apps take up minimal storage space and do not run in the background, so they do not drain your battery or slow your phone down. The app straightforward sits inactive until you re-enable it.
To re-enable a disabled app, go back to Settings > Apps, find Samsung Pay, and tap Enable. Your phone will restore it to your home screen, though you will still need to set up your payment cards again because they were deleted when you disabled it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing Samsung Pay affect my other Samsung services?
No. Samsung Pay is a standalone app. Removing it does not affect Samsung Health, Samsung Internet, Samsung Notes, or any other Samsung service. Your phone will continue to work normally, and you can still use other payment apps like Google Pay or Apple Pay if they are installed.
Can I remove Samsung Pay if it is my default payment app?
Yes. If Samsung Pay is set as your default for contactless payments, your phone will ask you to choose a different default the next time you try to pay, or it will automatically switch to another payment app. You can uninstall Samsung Pay without changing this setting first.
What happens to my Samsung Pay balance or rewards?
Samsung Pay itself does not hold money or rewards — it only stores your payment cards. The money and rewards stay with your bank or card issuer. When you remove Samsung Pay, you lose access to those cards through that app, but your actual accounts and balances are unaffected. You can use the same cards with a different payment app or in person.
Will uninstalling Samsung Pay free up storage space?
Yes, but not much. Samsung Pay typically uses 50 to 100 megabytes of storage, depending on your phone model. If you are trying to free up space, uninstalling Samsung Pay will help slightly, but removing photos, videos, or large apps will have a much bigger impact.
Can I remove Samsung Pay from my smartwatch too?
Yes, but the process is different. On a Galaxy Watch, open Galaxy Wearable app on your phone, go to Apps, find Samsung Pay, and tap Uninstall. Or on the watch itself, hold down the Samsung Pay app icon and select Remove. You will need to set up payment cards again if you reinstall it later.