Google Home App Errors Get a Fix as Pixel Wallet Tap-to-Pay Issues Persist

Android Authority reported that some users are currently seeing errors in the Google Home mobile apps, although the web version appears to work fine. Google has acknowledged the bug and confirmed that a fix is rolling out. One affected user described the problem on Reddit, saying Google Home had become “very slow” and displayed errors when they tapped or interacted with linked devices. Reinstalling the app produced an “Internal error encountered” message along with the loading indicator, the user said. One person found that clearing the cache and storage and switching to a different Wi-Fi network fixed the problem, according to Android Authority.

Android Authority said it had reported several other Google Home problems in the past month, including an alarm routines and smart lights bug and a separate bug in which connected devices refused to answer simple questions.

ZDNET reported that since the middle of last month, users on Reddit and other support forums have reported problems using tap-to-pay on Pixel phones. In some cases, the feature fails intermittently; in others, it is entirely non-functional. The issue appears to be that some Pixel phones do not acknowledge an NFC terminal nearby when users open Google Wallet, so the device does not transmit the necessary information to complete the transaction.

The Pixel 11 has a repositioned NFC antenna toward the top of the phone rather than in the middle, as on previous generations, but ZDNET said the bug affects a number of devices, including nearly every phone from the Pixel 9 series onward. ZDNET reported seeing the problem on its own Pixel 10 Pro. It is not clear whether the issue is with Google Wallet or the device, and Google has not acknowledged the bug or provided an official fix, according to ZDNET.

Based on user reports, ZDNET listed several possible fixes. Restarting the phone is the most reliable option for now, some users said, though it is inconvenient in a checkout line. Others said closing the Wallet app, returning to the home screen, and reopening it resolved the issue. A few users reported that clearing the Wallet app’s cache permanently fixed the problem. Users with a smartwatch running Google Wallet said they had no problems using the watch instead of their phone.

ZDNET noted that Google Wallet now holds items including driver’s licenses, transit passes, and insurance cards, making tap-to-pay failures disruptive when they occur.