Android 15 supports choosing a new ‘default wallet app’

Google just released the first beta version of Android 15 and, with it, a new option to set the default wallet app.

Android has long had the ability to set system-wide default apps, but not every category is available yet. More options have been added over time, such as default assistant settings and, more recently, a default notes app. Now, in Android 15, Google is adding the ability to set the default wallet app.

This functionality, which is active by default in Android 15 Beta 1, allows users to set the default app as their “Wallet” app on the device. This is an application that will manage NFC payments. On the Pixel, this is set to Google Wallet, and the only other app that seems to work with that setting so far is the AMEX app, but it doesn’t do anything new yet (at least we’ve noticed).

It seems reasonable to expect that other applications, such as banking/credit card applications, may have this functionality in the future. Google describes the “wallet app” by saying:

Wallet apps can store your credit and loyalty cards, car keys, and other things that help you with various types of transactions.

Namely, Apple is currently under fire for not allowing other applications to be used as digital wallets in iOS. While Android has never directly blocked third-party apps from being used as wallet apps, this setting will seemingly make it easier for other apps to take over that role.