You might have learned about Fitbit Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. It is a mobile payment system that works in association with contactless payment readers. It helps you check out at a store, right from your smartwatch, without needing your wallet or phone. Let’s find out What is Garmin Pay, how it works, and How to Use it?
For instance, with Garmin Pay, you can be out shopping, stop to buy a bottle of water, and pay for it with just your Garmin device.
Here’s what you must know about Garmin Pay, including which devices provide it and how it works.
What is Garmin Pay?
This payment system works just like other contemporary contactless payment systems. With a compatible Garmin smartwatch, you can make payments for stuff by holding your wrist close to a contactless card reader – that’s it. There’s no need to look for your phone, wallet, cards, or cash.
How to set up Garmin Pay
It is quite easy to set up Garmin Pay. All you have to do is go to the Garmin Connect mobile app on your smartphone, then tap Garmin. Your linked device will come to the top of the page.
You’ll be directed to add your MasterCard or Visa card (or Maestro or Discover), which is what Garmin Pay will use to make your purchases. First, opt for the card type, then manually enter your card data. You’ll also have to enter a security code that you’ll be sent.
You will also need a passcode on your watch to secure it – this is a four-digit PIN code.
Once you have completed the verification and tokenization process, the card gets added to your wallet. You can see the card by tapping Garmin Pay. You will also have options to temporarily suspend or delete a card from your wallet when you tap on the card in the Garmin Connect app.
How to use Garmin Pay in a store
This mobile payment system works almost everywhere that accepts contactless payments. You just have to look for the contactless payments icon near card readers during checkout.
While some stores may not have a particular Garmin Pay accepted logo in their window alongside Google Pay and Apple Pay. If you see a contactless payment symbol, you should be able to use your Garmin device to pay.
How to make a Payment with Garmin Pay
On your watch, press and hold the action button to bring up the Navigation Controls menu. Then, hit the virtual wallet icon and put in your four-digit passcode. You will be directed to enter your passcode every 24 hours or after every time you put the watch back on after taking it off. When the wallet is open, your last-used card will automatically appear, but you can also change to a different card.
To switch, you have to swipe down on your screen to the next one. Once you’ve selected a preferred card, your watch will direct you to keep your wrist close to a contactless card reader. The outer edge of your watch face will light up green after a few moments to indicate that the purchase is done, and then it’ll come back to your default watch face once done. You are done.
Alert: Three incorrect attempts at entering your passcode will lock your virtual wallet on the watch itself. You’ll have to go to the Garmin Connect app on your phone to set a new passcode. (You must need to re-enter your old passcode to reset your new password. If you don’t remember it, Garmin will delete your entire virtual wallet to protect you. If this happens, repeat the setup steps prompted.)
Which Devices Support Garmin Pay?
This payment system is available on 51 of Garmin’s current devices. You can view the full list on Garmin’s website, but here is a short list of a few of the devices supported.
- Garmin Forerunner – 645, 645 Music, 745, 945
- Garmin Vivoactive – 4, 4s, 3, 3 Music
- Garmin Fenix 6 – Pro Solar, Pro, Sapphire, Solar, S Pro Solar, S Pro, S Sapphire, S, X Pro, X Sapphire, X Pro Solar
- Garmin Vivomove – Luxe, Style
- Garmin Venu – Venu Sq, Venu Sq Music, Venu 2
Which cards/banks support Garmin Pay?
Garmin Pay works with “many credit and debit cards from major banks,” and many major credit and debit cards, including Visa and MasterCard as well. The fact is, although cards from MasterCard and Visa are all compatible, you cannot use them by default with any bank unless your bank is supported. If your bank doesn’t support this payment system, you can’t connect your card.
Both Google Pay and Apple Pay took a while to get banks on board with their respective mobile payment technologies, so it will take a while for your bank to be supported. Some traditional banks don’t support Garmin Pay, but many cards and online bank providers do so if you’re bank isn’t supported, you might consider opening a new account to give you access.
What else should you know?
In addition to your passcode that you created during setup, you won’t need any other authentication, such as a fingerprint scan, but you might not be able to do large payments.
