Google Pay has stopped working on smartphones from China: causes and solutions

Users of smartphones imported from China (with China ROM) are reporting a widespread issue: contactless payment via Google Pay has stopped working. This occurred after updating Google Play services to version 26.28.33.

Although the Google Wallet app appears to function normally, NFC transactions are not going through. Developer MarvinFS confirmed on the XDA forums that Google now recognizes Chinese firmware versions (SKU) and is forcibly disabling the TapAndPay HCE service, effectively blocking payments.

Which devices are affected?

The issue affects only smartphones running Chinese firmware (China ROM). The list of affected devices includes popular flagships such as:

• Vivo X200 Ultra
• Vivo X200 Pro (mini)
• Vivo X300 Pro / X300 Ultra
• Vivo X100 Ultra
• Vivo X Fold5 / X Fold3 Pro
• Oppo Find N3
• Oppo Find X9 Pro
• Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Interestingly, users who purchased global versions of these same models outside of China (e.g., in Europe) are not encountering these restrictions.

Symptoms of the block

At first glance, everything appears normal. However, after the Play Services update, many devices began displaying a persistent pop-up window prompting the user to set Google Pay as the default payment method, even though this had been set previously. When attempting to pay at a terminal, the transaction is rejected due to a software block of the service.

Error logs from Google Play Services for a Vivo X200 Ultra device confirmed the detection of the “CN SKU” (Chinese identifier) and the subsequent disabling of the HCE service.

How to try and fix the issue?

Currently, there is no official solution or statement from Google. Enthusiasts are suggesting several workarounds:

• Rolling back Google Play Services: You can try to revert to a previous stable version (e.g., 26.26.62) via ADB. This is a complex path that requires resetting wallet settings and re-adding all cards. Additionally, the system may update automatically again.
• Using alternatives: Some users are attempting to use alternative wallet apps, such as Curve Pay, to avoid dependency on Google Wallet.

Should you wait for a fix?

As of now, the issue does not look like a random bug but rather a targeted restriction for Chinese device versions. For those who still have Play Services version 26.26 installed on their phone, it is recommended not to update the software if NFC payment functionality is critical for them.

UPD:

User Just_Soul on the XDA-Forum discovered that leaving beta programs in Google Play resolves the Google Pay malfunction on Chinese firmware (verified on a Vivo X200 Ultra). The issue is resolved via “Settings -> General -> Account and device preferences,” where you need to tap “Leave beta program.” This method restores contactless payment, confirming that the cause was an erroneously pushed beta version; however, this case demonstrates Google’s willingness to block the service on Chinese ROMs.