Answers to common questions about setting up and using Tap to Pay, along with troubleshooting steps if a transaction doesn’t go through as expected.

General

Do I need a card reader or extra hardware?
No. Tap to Pay uses the NFC chip already built into your phone, so no external reader or terminal is required.

Which devices support Tap to Pay?

• iPhone XS or later, running iOS 16.6 or later
• Android phones with NFC support

If your device doesn’t meet these requirements, Tap to Pay won’t be available in the app.

What payment methods can donors use?
Contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other NFC-enabled digital wallets.

Is there a minimum or maximum donation amount?
Check your campaign and payment processor settings in the app for any limits that may apply to your account.

Are there fees?
Standard payment processing fees apply to Tap to Pay donations, the same as other donation methods on Ideali. Donors can optionally choose to cover fees at checkout to help your campaign keep more of each gift.

Setup Issues

Tap to Pay isn’t showing up in the app.

• Confirm your device meets the minimum requirements above.
• Make sure NFC is turned on in your device settings.
• Update the Ideali app to the latest version.
• Confirm your campaign has payouts enabled with a connected bank account.

The app is asking for NFC permission — is that normal?
Yes. The first time you use Tap to Pay, your device will ask for permission to use NFC so the app can read contactless payments. This is required for the feature to work.

During a Transaction

The donor tapped but nothing happened.

• Ask the donor to hold their card or phone flush against the back of your device for a couple of seconds, rather than a quick tap.
• Remove any thick phone case that might be blocking the NFC signal.
• Confirm NFC is still enabled in your device settings.
• Try re-entering the donation amount and attempting the charge again.

Can I cancel a transaction in progress?
Yes, you can cancel before the donor taps. Once a payment has been confirmed, treat it like any other completed donation and follow your usual refund process if needed.

The donation didn’t appear in my dashboard.
Give it a moment to sync, then pull to refresh your campaign dashboard. If it still doesn’t appear after a few minutes, check your internet connection at the time of the transaction and contact support with the approximate time of the donation.

Security

Is Tap to Pay secure?
Yes. Transactions are processed through Ideali’s PCI-compliant infrastructure, and card details are encrypted in transit. Card numbers are never stored on your device.

Can a donor’s card details be seen or stored on my phone?
No. Your device only facilitates the tap; it does not store or display the donor’s card information.

Still Need Help?

If you’re still running into issues, contact Ideali support with your device model, OS version, and a description of what happened, so we can help you resolve it quickly.