Adding a new card to Google Wallet could get a lot easier soon, as the Google-based payment app looks ready to finally add NFC-based card enrollment based on code seen in a teardown of the latest beta APK.

NFC Card Enrollment Should Be a Staple of Payment Apps

Adding a new card to Google Wallet has historically been rather annoying. You either need to pull out your phone’s camera and try to snap a perfect photo of the back of the card—number and expiration date included—or you have to enter the number manually.

However, based on new data found by Android Authority in an APK breakdown of the latest Google Play Services beta, NFC card enrollment could be on its way. The teardown relates specifically to version 25.16.33 of Google Play Services, which is a catch-all system for various functions found on your Android device.

This is a feature that I’ve enjoyed for quite a while on my iPhone, and its exclusion from Google Wallet has never made much sense to me. It’s also one of the many reasons I haven’t been able to talk myself into ditching my iPhone completely, though the idea of going back to Android does entice me, especially after how much of a letdown Apple Intelligence has been.

By adopting NFC card enrollment, Google Wallet is finally catching up a little more. Last year, Google also added support for passports in Wallet. These are small but important upgrades that prioritize convenience—something extremely important, considering mobile payments are all about convenience and ease of use.

How Adding a Card via NFC Works

Based on the code that Android Authority spotted, the process looks very similar to how it works on Apple devices. You start the new card functionality, then hold your card to the back of your phone.

Once it has registered the chip inlaid in the card, the phone will vibrate, letting you know it’s complete. Google will add the card number, expiration date, and other needed information to your Wallet—though Android Authority notes that you may still need to add the CVV code manually for security purposes. It’s also possible that your bank or credit card company may require additional verification steps before the card is added fully.

Unfortunately, the APK teardown didn’t confirm compatibility details. The feature will likely be designed for EMV-compliant cards, including those from Europay, Mastercard, and Visa, so there might be some limitations to which exact cards are supported.

That said, not every card under that umbrella may work at launch. Other apps that offer NFC enrollment sometimes run into issues depending on how a card issuer handles contactless data.

Since the feature is already live in the latest beta build, there’s a good chance it could roll out officially soon. However, it’s important to remember that APK teardowns are based on in-progress code. Some features spotted in beta testing never reach full release—or they arrive months later.