Android updates sometimes reset toggles and settings to their defaults for security, privacy, or battery reasons. This is especially common with NFC, which can use power and has privacy implications. The update didn’t break anything — it just turned the feature off. Turning it back on in Settings is all you need to do.

The app likely doesn’t have permission to use NFC. Android updates often reset app permissions, and your payment app may need explicit permission to access the NFC hardware. Check the app’s permissions in Settings > Apps, find NFC, and set it to Allow. Close and restart the app, then try again.

If NFC stopped working right after an update, it’s almost certainly software — either the toggle was reset or permissions were removed. NFC hardware failures are rare and would typically show no response even after toggling and granting permissions. If basic checks don’t work, try restarting the phone before assuming hardware damage.

No. Factory reset should be your last resort, not your first step. Start by checking the NFC toggle and app permissions. If those don’t work, restart the phone. Only after those steps fail would you consider a factory reset — and even then, contact Samsung Support first to rule out other causes.