When you save a credit or debit card to your Google Account, you may be able to turn on a virtual card number. Virtual card numbers can be shared with merchants for online or in-app transactions to keep your actual card number info more secure.
This feature is currently available for eligible cards in the US only.
About virtual cards
Virtual cards are a safer way to pay online or in-app. When you use a virtual card to make a purchase, the app replaces your physical card number with a unique virtual card number. When you check out, the virtual number hides your personal payment details and helps to protect you against fraud.
- You can use your virtual card for online or in-app purchases.
- When you pay online, you can check out faster if you allow Google to automatically fill out your virtual card payment info and CVC.
- If you use autofill, your bank may send a temporary code to your phone to verify your identity.
Tip: The virtual card number, expiration date, and CVC may be different from your physical card. For added security, some card issuers change your virtual card number or CVC for different merchants or transactions.
How to turn on & use a virtual card
Important: To turn on a virtual card, you must have autofill turned on.
Turn on a virtual card when you check out
When you make a purchase online with Chrome, you may be able to turn on a virtual card. If you check out with an eligible card:
- Not yet saved to your Google Account: You may get the option to turn on a virtual card before you complete your purchase.
- Already saved to your Google Account: You may get the option to turn on a virtual card after you complete your purchase.
If you turn on a virtual card, the next time you make a purchase, you can use the virtual card number to check out.
Turn on a virtual card for a card saved to your Google Account
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- Go to chrome://settings/payments
- At the top, make sure these settings are turned on:
- Save and fill payment methods
- Allow sites to check if you have payment methods save
- Find the card that you added to your Google Account.
- If there are no cards, next to “Payment methods,” click Add and follow the onscreen steps.
- Next to the card you want a virtual card for, click More
Turn on virtual card.
- If this option isn’t available, the card you chose isn’t currently eligible for a virtual card. More cards will have this feature in the future so check back later.
- On the next screen, read the Terms of Service and click Yes.
Turn on virtual card.
Make a purchase with your virtual card
You can use your virtual card when you shop online. When you check out on a website:
- Choose the virtual card from your payment method options.
- Let Chrome fill in the payment info automatically. You may be asked to verify your identity with a code, fingerprint, or other method.
- Check out as usual.
Tip: If Chrome doesn’t automatically fill out the form after you select your virtual card, enter your virtual card info manually.
- At the bottom of the screen, click View card.
- Copy and paste or enter the card number, expiration date, and CVC.
- Finish checking out.
Common questions about virtual cards
How do I turn off a virtual card?
Computer
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- Go to chrome://settings/payments
- Next to the card you want to remove, click More
- On the next screen, click Yes.
Android
- On your Android device, open the Chrome app
.
- To the right of the address bar, tap More
- Tap Payment methods.
- Next to the virtual card you want to remove, tap More
Tip: If you want to re-add a virtual card that you turned off, follow the steps above. This process turns on a new virtual card.
Do I need the Google Pay app to use virtual cards?
How can I find & manage my virtual card number?
Go to the website for your debit or credit card or check the transaction emails that Google Pay sent you.
Tip: If you make a transaction and then turn off your virtual card, you may still be able to find the card number on your card issuer’s website or in your Google Pay transaction emails.Is there a fee or charge to use a virtual card?
Do virtual cards have a single card number?
Do I have to reenter my virtual card info each time?
Does a virtual card mean that I have multiple cards with separate credit lines?
No, the virtual card number replaces your physical card number, but is used the same way. Your credit line, balance, fees, and transaction info stay the same. You use your virtual card number during the checkout process. Instead of your actual card info, the merchant gets your virtual card number, expiration date, and CVC.
Why am I asked to verify my identity?
If I lose my card, can someone create virtual cards with it?
Can I set up a virtual card to be used with only one merchant?
How do I fix a chargeback issue or unauthorized transaction?
Return a purchase made with a virtual card
Important: To return an item that you purchased with a virtual card, you may have to locate the virtual card number. Your physical card number doesn’t match the transaction record. To find the virtual card number, check the transaction email that Google Pay sent you or go to your card issuer website.
Return something you bought online with Google Pay
If you used Google Pay to buy something from a non-Google website or app, contact the merchant's customer support team. Refunds are deposited to your linked bank account, not your Google Pay balance.
Return a Google product
To return a purchase from Google, contact the support team for the product.
Fix issues with order delivery or quality
If the product or service you ordered was missing or unsatisfactory, to cancel the order or fix the issue, contact the merchant’s customer support.
Fix issues with incomplete payments to merchants
For more info on incomplete payments, contact your bank.