How to Enable or Disable NFC on a Google Pixel 4A

To enable or disable NFC on a Google Pixel 4A, open Settings, tap Connected devices, tap Connection preferences, tap NFC, and then turn the Use NFC switch on or off. The change takes effect right away, and you can reverse it at any time from the same screen.

NFC stands for near field communication. It is a short-range wireless feature that lets your phone exchange small amounts of data with another NFC device, such as a payment terminal, when the two are held very close together. On a Pixel, its most common job is contactless payments.

Quick Steps: Turn NFC On or Off on a Pixel 4A

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Connected devices.
3. Tap Connection preferences.
4. Tap NFC.
5. Turn Use NFC on or off.

These menu names match Google’s own instructions for Pixel phones in Make contactless payments with your Pixel phone.

Before You Start

You only need the phone itself. No account, app, or internet connection is required to change this setting. A few things are worth knowing first:

• Which phones this covers. The steps apply to the Pixel 4A and the Pixel 4A (5G). Other Pixel phones use the same menu path.
• Android version. Google notes that some of its Pixel payment steps work only on Android 11 and up. The Pixel 4A shipped with Android 10 and could be updated past Android 11, so most phones qualify. You can see which Android version your Pixel 4a has in the About phone menu.
• Updates have ended. Google lists the Pixel 4A among the phones that no longer receive Android version updates or security updates. The NFC setting still works, but the menus on your phone will not change further. You can read the details on Google’s Pixel software update page.
• Label differences. On older software the switch may simply be labeled NFC. Current Google instructions call it Use NFC. It is the same switch.

If a menu on your phone looks different from the steps here, you can also compare it with another Pixel 4A settings guide to see how the Settings app is laid out on your version.

How to Change the NFC Setting on a Pixel 4A (Detailed Steps)

The screenshots in this section come from a Pixel 4A running Android 11. Later Android versions on the Pixel 4A keep the same path, though colors and spacing differ.

Step 1: Open the Settings app.

Swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen to open the list of all apps, then tap Settings. Its icon is a gear.

Step 2: Tap Connected devices.

This is near the top of the Settings menu. It holds the options for Bluetooth accessories and other ways the phone talks to nearby devices.

Step 3: Tap Connection preferences.

You will find it below the list of saved and connected devices. This screen groups several connection features, and NFC is one of them.

Step 4: Tap NFC.

The line under the NFC label shows the current state, so you can tell whether it is on or off before you open it.

Step 5: Turn the NFC switch on or off.

Tap the switch at the top of the screen. There is no save button and no confirmation prompt. The setting changes as soon as the switch moves.

What Happens When You Turn NFC Off

Read this before you switch NFC off. Google’s Pixel help states that turning off NFC also turns off other features that use NFC. That means the effect is not limited to one app.

• Contactless payments stop. Google Wallet cannot tap to pay while NFC is off. The Wallet app may show a message such as Turn on NFC to pay with Wallet.
• Other NFC features stop. Anything else that relies on touching the phone to an NFC device will not respond.
• Your cards are not removed. The switch only controls the NFC radio. It does not delete anything from the phone, and turning it back on restores the feature.
• Other connections are separate. The NFC switch does not change your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile data settings.

If you only want to stop tap to pay and keep NFC for other uses, Google mentions another route: some payment apps let you turn off contactless payments inside the app. Not every payment app offers this.

How to Confirm the Change or Undo It

Go back one screen to Connection preferences. The text under NFC shows whether it is on or off. To undo the change, open NFC again and tap the same switch.

Turning NFC on does not make the phone ready to pay by itself. Google lists these requirements for contactless payments on a Pixel:

• NFC is turned on.
• Google Pay is set as the default payment app. You choose it at Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > NFC > Contactless payments > Payment default.
• A contactless payment method from a supported country has been added to Google Wallet.
• A screen lock is set up.
• The phone meets Google’s security requirements.

Only payment apps that work with contactless payments appear in the Contactless payments section. Google notes that money transfer apps do not.

Troubleshooting NFC on a Pixel 4A

You cannot find the NFC setting

Make sure you are in Connected devices and then Connection preferences, not the Network & internet menu. On most Android versions you can also tap the search field at the top of the Settings app and type NFC. Google says that if a Pixel phone does not show an NFC setting at all, that phone does not have NFC. The Pixel 4A is sold with NFC, so a missing setting on this model points to a software or hardware problem rather than a missing feature.

NFC is on, but tap to pay does not work

Work through the requirements list in the section above. Google’s Wallet help adds two practical checks: unlock the phone before you pay, and hold it closer to the reader for a few more seconds. The NFC antenna may be near the top or middle of the back of the phone, so try a different position. Google’s tap to pay troubleshooting page lists the remaining checks.

Payments fail and the battery drains quickly

Google describes one specific cause: a payment card or other item with an NFC chip sitting right against the phone, such as a card stored in a wallet-style case. The phone’s sensor keeps trying to read that chip. Remove the case or the card and try again. Google recommends using a case designed for your phone model.

The Wallet app asks you to turn on NFC

That message means NFC is off or the phone does not support it. Follow the quick steps at the top of this article to switch Use NFC on, then reopen Wallet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is NFC in the Pixel 4A settings?

NFC is at Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > NFC on a Google Pixel 4A. The on and off switch is at the top of that screen.

Does the Google Pixel 4A have NFC?

Yes. The Pixel 4A and Pixel 4A (5G) both include NFC, and Google’s Pixel payment instructions apply to them.

Does turning off NFC on a Pixel 4A delete my cards from Google Wallet?

No. Turning off NFC on a Pixel 4A only disables the NFC feature, so cards in Google Wallet stay saved. Contactless payments will not work again until you turn NFC back on.

Should I leave NFC on or off on my Pixel 4A?

Leave NFC on if you use tap to pay or other NFC features on your Pixel 4A, because they need it. If you never use them, turning NFC off does no harm, and you can switch it back on in a few seconds when you need it.

Can I use tap to pay on a Pixel 4A without a screen lock?

No. Google lists a screen lock as one of the requirements for contactless payments on a Pixel phone, along with NFC being on and a supported payment method in Google Wallet.

Does turning NFC off also turn off Bluetooth on a Pixel 4A?

No. NFC and Bluetooth have separate switches on the Pixel 4A. Changing the NFC switch leaves Bluetooth and Wi-Fi as they were.

Next Steps

Once NFC is set the way you want, open Google Wallet and check for a message above your card. No message means the card is ready for tap to pay. For more settings on this phone, see how to turn on Battery Saver on the Google Pixel 4A or how to turn off Google Assistant on a Google Pixel 4A.