A step-by-step guide to blocking contacts on Google Pay

Google Pay is one of the most popular apps in India to send and receive money over UPI (unified payments interface). It launched in India in September 2017 and has become one of the winners in the digital payments ecosystem created by the introduction of UPI.

While the search giant introduced Google Wallet as an app to store calendar invites, boarding passes, and even movie tickets earlier this month, Google Pay retains its place as the payments application from the Mountain View-based company. While Google Pay makes it effortless to send and receive money over UPI, it could also mean receiving requests from people whom you don’t want to connect with on Google’s payments application.

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The company is fully aware of the possibility of unknown people sending you requests for money on Google Pay, and thus offers the option to block them. Whether you are using the app on Android smartphones or iPhones, there is an option to block contacts on it. Here is a step-by-step to do the same.

Blocking on Google Pay: What it means

Similar to how you can block someone on social media platforms or a messaging app like WhatsApp, Google Pay also lets you block contacts or if someone you don’t know requests money from you. The feature is essentially a privacy option designed to help you restrict who can connect with you on the app.

This feature gains further importance because of the fact that Google Pay is a payment application and security is of utmost importance. The app is designed to send money to or receive money from family and friends you trust. However, the app might be used by malicious actors trying to steal money from you.

There have been a number of scams where perpetrators have requested personal financial details or other sensitive info on Google Pay. Google clearly states that its “customer service or tech support will never ask for confidential information or personal identification numbers.” One of the ways to avert such a request is by blocking the sender’s request for money or personal financial details.

Google Pay account block means blocking a particular account or contact from connecting with you on the payments app. It is important to note that if you block someone on Google Pay, they will also be blocked on some other Google products, such as Google Photos.

How to block Google Pay contacts on an iPhone

You can block contacts on Google Pay through an iPhone. Here are the steps to follow.

1. Open the Google Pay app on your iPhone.

2. Authenticate yourself using Face ID on Touch ID on your iPhone.

3. Scroll down to view your contacts or people with whom you have transacted on Google Pay.

4. Next, you need to tap the person you want to block on Google Pay.

5. Now, click on the three dots at the top right corner.

6. From the given options, tap “Block this person” to block the contact on Google Pay.

The above steps will block this contact on Google Pay, and they will not be able to send or request money from you.

How to block Google Pay contacts on an Android phone

Here are the steps to block someone on Google Pay using an Android device.

1.  Open the Google Pay app on your Android smartphone. 

2. Scroll down to find your contact. 

3. Click on the person that you want to block on Google Pay. 

4. Now, click on the three dots (or More) option at the top right corner. 

5. Hit “Block this person” from the given menu to block the contact you want.

If you decide that you no longer wish to block a contact on Google Pay, then you can unblock them at any time. To unblock a contact, follow the steps mentioned above and tap on the Unblock option on both iPhones and Android devices.

How to report and block a contact on Google Pay

In addition to blocking, you might also want to report a user on Google Pay. Here’s how to do the same.

1. Open the Google Pay app on iPhone or Android.

2. Select the contact you want to report.

3. Click on the three dots (More) option at the top right corner.

4. Select Report user from the menu.

5. Select the reason you want to report the user.

6. Tap Report and block user.

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With the above steps, you will be able to block or report and block a contact on Google Pay, or even the next time you get a request for money from an unknown user.