Google Play Store purchases will use biometric authentication soon

Google will give you the option to use biometric authentication when making purchases on the Google Play Store. This will be an alternative to using the synced Google account password. The Android OS developer has started sending out email notifications alerting Android smartphone users about the upcoming change.

Google Play Store will let you use biometric authentication to authorize payments

Google has started sending out emails to Android smartphone and smart device owners. The email is reportedly encouraging users to switch on biometric authentication for purchases made on the Play Store. The email states:

“On Google Play, you can set biometrics (fingerprint or face) as your purchase verification method on mobile devices that have biometric capability. If you set biometrics, it means you’ll be asked to verify it’s you with biometrics each time you make a purchase through Google Play.”

Enabling biometric verification for purchases in the Play Store currently requires a password rather than confirming biometrics with your finger or face.

Google is going to fix this nonsense soon. I think "Finally!" is well-deserved here.https://t.co/3YASu1i808 pic.twitter.com/2Jq56ZztYe

— Artem Russakovskii (@ArtemR) April 12, 2024

Google hasn’t switched over to biometric authentication entirely. Moreover, the company isn’t flipping the switch for everybody. Instead, Google has indicated that the change will take place over the next few weeks.

“In the coming weeks, there will be a change in how you confirm your setting when you choose biometric verification. For mobile devices, when you’re asked to confirm this setting, you’ll use your fingerprint or face instead of your Google Account password.”

Is Google making biometric authorization mandatory?

The email from Google states that switching on biometric authentication is voluntary. In other words, the search giant is merely urging Android device users to adopt a better and more secure method of authorization.

Currently, if you want to enable the “Biometric Verification” feature in the Play Store settings, you need to enter your Google Account password. This might seem a bit redundant, especially when unlocking your phone already involves a secure biometric method. Google’s update… https://t.co/LH0w3GHclr

— PiunikaWeb – Everything Google Pixel (@PiunikaWeb) April 16, 2024

Google has been offering biometric authorization support for about 10 years now. Simply put, using a registered fingerprint or face to unlock a supported Android device and authorize transactions isn’t new. However, it appears Google is streamlining and simplifying the process, and this does enhance convenience. Incidentally, Google recently mandated every Google Wallet transaction would need authorization.

Opting to authorize with just a glance or a thumbprint is indeed way more convenient than typing in a password. However, Google has warned about the pitfalls of relying solely on biometric authentication.

Android smartphone users often register multiple fingerprints, including those of their spouses and children. Needless to say, this is risky. Moreover, with Google pushing hard for biometric authorization, anybody could authorize a payment with their registered fingerprint.

Hence, moving forward, it would be wise to limit fingerprint registration to responsible adults. Meanwhile, children could be given devices on which biometric authentication is disabled.