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Does Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Support MST Payments?

Yes, the Galaxy Watch 4 supports MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) for Samsung Pay, making it the last Samsung smartwatch to include this technology. Samsung removed MST from all newer models starting with the Galaxy Watch 5.

What MST Does​

MST emits a magnetic signal that mimics swiping a physical credit card, allowing payments at traditional magnetic stripe readers that don't support contactless payments.

  • How It Works: Hold your watch near the card reader's magnetic stripe slot. The watch generates a magnetic pulse that the terminal reads as if you swiped a physical card.

  • Compatibility: Works at approximately 90% of payment terminals worldwide, including older terminals without NFC support where Apple Pay and Google Pay don't work.

  • Combined with NFC: The Galaxy Watch 4 has both MST and NFC, giving you maximum payment flexibility. Use NFC at contactless terminals and MST at older magnetic stripe readers.

Why MST Matters​

MST provides payment options that NFC-only watches can't match, particularly useful in certain situations.

  • Small Businesses: Many independent shops still use non-NFC terminals.

  • Rural Areas: Limited contactless infrastructure makes MST valuable.

  • International Travel: NFC adoption varies significantly by country.

  • Older Retail Locations: Gas stations, vending machines, and parking meters often lack contactless support.

MST Discontinuation​

Samsung removed MST from the Galaxy Watch 5 and all subsequent models, making the Galaxy Watch 4 uniquely valuable for users who need this technology.

  • Why Samsung Removed It: NFC adoption has increased significantly, magnetic stripe technology is being phased out globally, and removing MST hardware reduces manufacturing costs.

  • Future Outlook: Visa and Mastercard are eliminating magnetic stripes by 2027, so MST will eventually become obsolete. However, it remains useful during this transition period.

Regional Availability​

MST support varies by region due to regulatory differences and banking partnerships.

  • Full Support: USA and South Korea have full MST functionality.

  • Limited Support: European countries and other regions may have MST disabled or limited. Check with Samsung support for your specific region before relying on MST.

Using Samsung Pay with MST​

Set up and use Samsung Pay for both MST and NFC payments.

  1. Open Samsung Pay on your watch and sign in
  2. Add your credit or debit cards
  3. Verify cards with your bank
  4. Double-press the Home button to launch Samsung Pay
  5. Authenticate with your PIN
  6. Hold the watch near the terminal (contactless symbol for NFC, card swipe slot for MST)

See Also: Does Galaxy Watch 4 Support NFC|How to Use Samsung Pay

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