The old Google Pay app is scheduled to die so you can switch to the new app

Google Pay 2020 logo (Image credit: Joe Maring / Android Central)

What you need to know

The old Google Pay app is being stripped of its core functionality on April 5th.
Any remaining balance in the old Google Pay app will have to be accessed using the new app.
The change will only affect users in the U.S., meaning regions without the new app aren't affected.

After launching the new Google Pay app in November of last year, it seemed like a matter of time before Google killed off the old version of the app. Just like it did with Google Play Music, the company has finally decided to strip the old app of most of its core functions on April 5th, effectively killing off the app.

Google has been sending notices to users of the older Google Pay app informing them of the upcoming changes. The following notice can be found on the Google Pay support page:

Starting April 5, 2021, you'll lose the ability to:

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Send, receive, claim, request, or withdraw money, or find past transactions where you sent or received money with the old Google Pay app Google Pay.
Send, request, receive or withdraw money on pay.google.com.
Send or receive money for commercial payments.

Additionally, users will be unable to view their transaction history, leaving the app effectively dead. Google informs that users that don't act will still be able to access their balance after the deadline, but they'll have to use the new app in order to do so. Those adamant about not switching to the new app will be able to transfer their balance to a bank by contacting Google support.

According to 9to5Google, the change will only affect users in the United States, where the new version is available. Other regions using the older app can continue to use it normally, and there's no word on when the new experience will reach these regions. Meanwhile, users in the U.S. can follow our guide on how to download and set up the new Google Pay.

If you own any of the best Wear OS watches, it's currently not clear how these devices will be affected by the death of the old app, but for now, it should continue working for those that don't have access to the new Google Pay.

Derrek is the managing editor of Android Central, helping to guide the site's editorial content and direction to reach and resonate with readers, old and new, who are just as passionate about tech as we are. He's been obsessed with mobile technology since he was 12, when he discovered the Nokia N90, and his love of flip phones and new form factors continues to this day. As a fitness enthusiast, he has always been curious about the intersection of tech and fitness. When he's not working, he's probably working out.