How to remove a payment method in Google Play

Many Android users who are also heavy gamers will likely purchase games from the Google Play Store and have credit card information stored in their account to speed up the process. Purchasing apps and other microtransactions require payment, and credit cards are the best way to close the deal. However, there may come a time when deleting a payment method is necessary.

Users who want to know how to remove a payment method from Google Play are in luck. Below are the different ways to do this. Read on for the details.

How to remove a payment method in Google Play

You may notice that Google Play asks you to provide a payment method when installing certain apps. You can easily ignore them, but players who rely on Google Play to make microtransactions should store their credit or debit card information on Google. This is the only way to buy in-game currency or items without grabbing everything every time.

However, these credit cards will also expire one day, or you may decide to switch banks and switch cards. Therefore, the now obsolete cards are not accepted for payment, so users must remove them.

Here's how to do it:

1. Launch Google Play on your Android device.
   
2. In the top right corner, tap the menu.
   
3. Select “Payments and Subscriptions”.
   
4. Go to “Payment methods”.
   
5. Tap "More".
   
6. Finally, navigate to “Payment Settings”.
   • You may need to sign in to Google Play if prompted at this point.
     
7. Find the payment method you want to remove.
   
8. Tap "Delete" and again when the option appears for the second time.
   

Your credit or debit card information is now gone from Google Play.

PC users can try these steps:

1. Log in to your Google Play account on your computer.
2. From this page, click on “Change payment methods”.
   
3. Select “Payment Methods” on the left side.
   
4. Find the payment method you want to remove.
   
5. Click "Delete".
   
6. Do the same for the second “Delete”.
   

After that, you should be free to add new payment methods as you see fit. As you browse new maps, all you need to do in the future is to refer again to the same steps above before deleting the information from Google Play.

Users with monthly subscriptions can also pause them if they no longer wish to pay.

How to remove GCash payment method in Google Play

GCash is a popular mobile wallet and remote banking service in the Philippines. It seamlessly integrates with Google Play, allowing users to instantly transfer money for purchases. For this feature, you will need a valid GCash account linked to your Google Play account.

Google Play will automatically charge your GCash account if you have active recurring subscriptions. However, if you no longer wish to use GCash, you can also unlink the account from your Google Play settings.

Follow these steps to learn how:

1. Launch Google Play on your device.
   
2. Tap the menu located in the upper right corner of the screen.
   
3. Select “Payments and Subscriptions”.
   
4. From there, navigate to “Payment Methods”.
   
5. Choose “GCash”.
6. Go to "More payment settings".
   • Depending on your platform, you will be redirected to the app or the website.
     
7. Select the account you want to delete.
   
8. Select "Delete" to unlink this GCash account.
   
9. Confirm your choice by tapping on the second option “Delete”.

GCash account will no longer be charged for Google Play purchases.

This set of instructions will work for PC:

1. Log in to your Google Play account on your computer.
2. From this page, click on “Change payment methods”.
   
3. Select “Payment Methods” on the left side.
   
4. Find the GCash account you want to delete.
   
5. Click "Delete".
   
6. Do the same for the second “Delete”.
   

If you delete your current GCash account and have no other payment method on Google Play, you will not be able to pay for your subscriptions. However, you can always link another GCash account or credit card number to Google Play. This way, your subscriptions can stay active as long as the app can charge you for your fees.

How to remove a family payment method from Google Play

Google Play allows families to create family groups, where multiple users come together and become part of an organization. Members can still make purchases on Google Play if they have the necessary permissions. However, this information will still be presented to the family manager.

The family manager is responsible for the family payment method. They can set up the group so that any member under the age of 18 must ask for approval before making purchases. In other words, the head of the family is the boss.

If you're a family admin and want to remove a payment method from your family group, these instructions should help:

1. Launch Google Play.
2. Log in to your family manager account if needed.
3. Tap the menu in the upper right corner.
   
4. Go to “Payments and subscriptions”.
   
5. Then go to “Payment methods”.
   
6. Locate the payment method you want to remove.
   
7. Select it and press “Delete”.
   
8. Press the second "Delete" to confirm your choice.

Now the payment option is removed.

PC users can refer to these instructions:

1. Sign in to your Family Manager Google Play account on your computer.
2. From this page, click on “Change payment methods”.
   
3. Select “Payment Methods” on the left side.
   
4. Find the payment method you want to remove.
   
5. Click "Delete".
   
6. Do the same for the second “Delete”.
   

Although you can delete a payment option in the family group if there are several, there are complaints that you cannot delete an option if it is the only one available. The user's only solution is to delete the entire family group, which also deletes the credit card information of said group.

Unfortunately, it appears the issue persists even into 2022. Until Google implements a change or fix, the only way to remove the only remaining family payment method is to remove the family group altogether. You'll have to create another one, which isn't difficult but can be very inconvenient to repeat.

How to Remove UPI Payment Method from Google Play Store

UPI stands for Unified Payments Interface, a system developed in India that combines multiple bank accounts into a single application. Google Play has been working with UPI since 2016, and users can pay with UPI accounts. The money transfer process is instantaneous and does not require entering card numbers each time.

After linking your UPI ID to Google Play, these instant transfers help make shopping convenient and simple. However, if you want to remove the ID from your Google Play account, it is possible to do so. It only takes a minute or two.

Here are the instructions to remove your UPI ID from Google Play:

1. Launch Google Play on your Android device.
2. Select the menu located in the upper right corner of the screen.
   
3. Tap "Payments & Subscriptions".
4. From there, navigate to “Payment Methods”.
   
5. Head to “More payment settings”. Depending on your platform, you will be redirected to the app or the website.
   
6. Scroll down and find the UPI ID.
   
7. Select "Delete" to unlink the UPI account.
   
8. Confirm your choice by tapping on the second option “Delete”. Your UPI ID will no longer be associated with the Google Play account.
   

Following the sections above, here's how to do it on a computer:

1. Log in to your Google Play account on your computer.
2. From this page, click on “Change payment methods”.
3. Select “Payment Methods” on the left side.
4. Scroll down and find the UPI ID you want to remove.
5. Click "Delete".
6. Do the same for the second “Delete”.

Deleting your UPI ID will prevent the account from being charged for purchases on Google Play. If you didn't set up a backup option beforehand, you may need to add another payment method to continue using your apps and services.

The steps are not too different for all the payment method removal processes above, even if you switch from mobile to PC or vice versa. The process is slightly faster on PC, as you can click on the link and immediately go to the corresponding page.

No overspending on games

While controlling your spending on games can be one reason to remove your payment methods from Google Play, there are plenty of others too. Some people want to get rid of outdated cards, while others don't like having too many payment options tied to Google Play at once. Either way, you will find the removal process virtually effortless.

Do you spend a lot on games on Google Play? What is your preferred payment method? Let us know in the comments section below.