Samsung Pay Geo Locked?

[Yannerix]

While working in Europe I purchased a Galaxy S23 Ultra unlocked in the Netherlands, but now that I am back in the US I wanted to use Samsung Pay with my new Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. Seemingly there is no way to get the accounts opened up in Samsung Pay as neither that app (through the Watch) or Samsung Wallet will start on the phone.

As the Netherlands are one of the few EU countries in which Samsung Pay still is not supported - I am wondering if that extends on the phones sold in that area. Everything else on the phone just works fine like Sims, eSims, local Samsung and Goggle accounts, etc. Just not Samsung Pay or Wallet. Annoying when having accounts in countries that support it, but the phone seems to clamp it.

Are there solutions or will it be necessary to re-purchase a phone from a market that allows Samsung Pay to function?

[useraDwbgGf1Sg]

Not sure about the Samsung wallet issue but can you switch over to Google wallet??

[Yannerix]

Of course I can and I have, but wouldn't it be beautiful to use all the things Samsung talks about during the Unpacked Event? Using Samsung infrastructure on Samsung devices I would find preferable, yes? If I would look at it really negatively I could say 'switching to Apple devices and infrastructure is then an option too, no?

[useraDwbgGf1Sg]

Absolutely. That's the one thing Apple has over Samsung imo. Their stuff integrates SO WELL. I switched to Apple for awhile, but I still came back. It would be nice if Samsung could catch up to that lol. I've always used Google wallet/gpay so for me it was easier to just continue using it. I never liked the Samsung wallet 🤷🏻

[VerbumVeritum]

This is likely an issue caused by a region lock on your phone. We offer extremely limited support of international models here in the U.S. Samsung Community. With that being said, to get Samsung Pay working, you'd likely have to enable the right CSC profile for your region, or flash the correct firmware onto the device for your respective country. Be very careful if you decide to do this option, because if you make a mistake while flashing firmware you can permanently brick your device. 

[Yannerix]

Yeah. But region lock - I do understand why Samsung would fo this - should be possible to undo for individuals on a case by case basis due to the realities of globalization and workforces (especially in tech and entertainment) working in more than one country. Also - and that is thr kicker - region lock is only a reality for pay/wallet. Everything else works. And if Banks are not supporting Samsung Pay, the app should work, but just wouldn't be able to add any due to Bank restrictions. Funny enough - on top - the app stops saying something didn't work, try later. A bit more concrete error message would always be appreciated. I'd yell at my guys if any code is done like that. Probably they weren't even aware of region lock when they did the app 🙄

[VerbumVeritum]

This is an element of Samsung Knox, or possibly CSC, and seems like a security feature. Also, every country has their own unique rules and restrictions with banks, electronic communications, etc. If anyone would be able to answer this question definitively, it would be Samsung support. You can search online about flashing the correction regional firmware, or enabling the right CSC settings; you might find something I haven't thought of. The XDA forums might be able to help as well. 

[space808]

Every country has it's own rules and restrictions, sure. But, Apple Pay and Google Pay are able to switch regions in less than a minute. Do these rules and restrictions apply uniquely  to Samsung Pay?