Update: Our article earlier incorrectly mentioned that the Samsung Wallet app will no longer work from March 15, 2024, on devices running Android 9.0 (or older version). However, Samsung has clarified that the Samsung Wallet app will continue to work as usual on those affected devices (running Android 9.0 or older). It is just that the Samsung Wallet app will no longer get updates or new features going forward. So, you don't need to worry if you use Samsung Wallet on your Galaxy phone running Android 9.0 (or older version).
Samsung Pay was among the most attractive features of Galaxy smartphones. Last year, Samsung merged Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass into a single app called Samsung Wallet. Now, the company is ending support for Samsung Wallet updates on some older Galaxy smartphones, which might affect some users.
Galaxy phones running Android 9 (or older) will no longer support Samsung Wallet
Samsung has started sending out notices (via @theonecid) to Galaxy smartphone users in some countries about ending support for Samsung Wallet updates on older Galaxy phones. The notice says that Samsung Wallet will not get any new updates on Galaxy phones running Android 9.0 (or earlier versions of Android) starting March 15, 2024. This notice was sent out to people in Canada, and users in other countries might also start getting similar notices.
This change will affect users who have the Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 8, or even older Galaxy smartphones. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 series aren't compatible with Android 10, while the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 run Android 10 as their last version of Android. The South Korean firm recently released a new update to Samsung Wallet, and the company is suggesting users install that update if their Galaxy phone runs Android 10 (or newer version of Android). This could be the last update for the Samsung Wallet app, and it will no longer get new features. However, users will be able to continue using Samsung Wallet as they are doing now.
Since affected phones are seven years old now, and most people might have upgraded to newer phones, this end of support for Samsung Wallet might not affect many users. Samsung Wallet lets users add their credit and debit cards to the app to make mobile payments via MST or NFC. The app also allows people to add their loyalty/membership cards, bus/flight/train tickets, gift cards, digital keys, and government-approved IDs.
