Google Android $135 Million Settlement: Automatic Payment for U.S. Users by May 29, 2026

If you are a U.S. consumer outside California and have used an Android phone or tablet to access the internet over a cellular network at any time since November 12, 2017, you are likely eligible for a payment from a $135 million class action settlement against Google — and you may not need to file a claim at all. Most eligible class members will receive their payment automatically. The deadline to opt out and preserve your right to sue Google separately is May 29, 2026.

The lawsuit, Joseph Taylor, et al. v. Google LLC, alleged that Google's Android operating system transferred user information to Google over cellular data networks without permission — even when devices were idle and not in use — and that Google could have limited those transfers to Wi-Fi but chose not to. Plaintiffs argued this consumed users' paid cellular data plans for Google's benefit. Google denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle for $135 million in monetary relief plus injunctive measures requiring disclosure changes on Android devices.

Who Qualifies for the Google Android Settlement

You are a class member if all of the following are true:

1. You are an individual in the United States;
2. You used a mobile device running the Android operating system;
3. You used the device to access the internet through a cellular data network operated by a mobile carrier;
4. You used the device this way at any point from November 12, 2017, through the date the settlement receives final approval; and
5. You are not a class member in Csupo v. Google LLC, the parallel California-only class action that resolved in July 2025 for $314.6 million.

That last point is important. California Android users covered by the prior Csupo settlement are excluded from this $135 million settlement. If you were eligible for and received notice of the Csupo settlement, you cannot also recover from this one.

The court estimates approximately 100 million U.S. Android users qualify under the Taylor class definition. If you have used an Android phone with cellular data since November 2017 and you do not live in California, you are very likely a class member.

What You Can Receive

The settlement provides a pro-rata cash payment of up to $100 per person, with the final amount depending on the total number of valid claims and the post-deduction net fund. Because the class is so large — approximately 100 million people — per-person payments will be modest.

Eligible class members do not need to file a claim form to receive their payment. The settlement administrator will distribute payments using contact information from Google's records. To ensure your payment reaches you successfully, the administrator recommends submitting a payment election form using the notice ID and confirmation code from your settlement notice.

Payment options include Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, ACH bank transfer, or a virtual Mastercard. If the administrator cannot reach you electronically, you may receive a check at the address Google has on file. If the payment cannot be delivered at all, your share will be returned to the net settlement fund and may be redistributed to class members who were successfully paid.

Why This Settlement Exists: Background Cellular Data Transfers

The class action lawsuit was filed in 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Joseph Taylor, et al. v. Google LLC, Case No. 5:20-cv-07956-VKD). The complaint alleged that Google's Android operating system transferred user information — including device identifiers, system telemetry, and other data — to Google's servers in the background, even when the device was idle and the user was not actively using it.

According to the plaintiffs, these transfers happened over cellular data networks rather than waiting for the device to connect to Wi-Fi. Because cellular data is paid for by the user, the lawsuit argued that Google effectively appropriated the user's paid resources for its own benefit. The plaintiffs claimed Google could have configured Android to send the data only over Wi-Fi but chose not to in order to keep its surveillance and ad-targeting infrastructure operating continuously.

Google denies the allegations. As part of the settlement, Google agreed to update its disclosures and settings related to data transfers on Android devices — injunctive relief that the plaintiffs estimated would prevent approximately $300 million in cellular data costs per year for U.S. users going forward.

The court granted preliminary approval on March 5, 2026.

Key Deadlines

How to Submit a Payment Election

The official settlement website is FederalCellularClassAction.com. Although no claim form is required to be eligible, the administrator strongly recommends submitting a payment election to make sure your payment reaches you in your preferred form.

To submit a payment election, log in at the settlement website using the notice ID and confirmation code printed on your settlement notice. Once logged in, you can choose your preferred electronic payment method — Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, ACH transfer, or virtual Mastercard — and confirm the email address or phone number where the payment should be sent.

If you did not receive a settlement notice and believe you qualify, contact the settlement administrator directly: Federal Cellular Class Action, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or by phone at 1-844-655-4255.

Frequently Asked Questions

I live in California — can I file under this settlement?

No. California Android users were covered by the separate Csupo v. Google LLC class action, which settled for $314.6 million in July 2025. If you were eligible for that settlement, you cannot also recover from this one. If you live in any other U.S. state and used Android with cellular data since November 12, 2017, you likely qualify.

Do I need to file a claim form?

No. Payments will be distributed automatically. Submitting a payment election with your preferred electronic payment method is recommended to ensure successful delivery, but it is not required for eligibility.

How much will I actually receive?

The settlement provides a pro-rata cash payment up to a maximum of $100 per person. With approximately 100 million class members and a $135 million fund, individual payments are expected to be modest — likely in the low single digits — once attorney fees and administrative costs are deducted.

What information did Google allegedly transfer?

The complaint alleged that Google's Android operating system transferred device identifiers, system telemetry, and other user information to Google's servers in the background, including when the device was idle and the user was not actively using it. The plaintiffs argued these transfers consumed cellular data without users' meaningful consent.

I have a Samsung phone — does that count as Android?

Yes. Samsung Galaxy phones run Android, as do phones from Google (Pixel), Motorola, OnePlus, LG, and most other major manufacturers. If your phone runs Android (rather than Apple's iOS), it is covered.

I had an Android phone for only six months in 2018. Am I still eligible?

Yes. Eligibility requires only that you used an Android device to access the internet through a cellular data network at some point since November 12, 2017. Even brief use during the class period qualifies you as a class member.

I switched to an iPhone after using Android — can I still claim?

Yes. If you used Android with cellular data at any point during the class period, you are a class member regardless of what device you use now.

What happens if I miss the May 29 deadline?

If you take no action by May 29, 2026, you remain in the class and will receive your automatic payment if the settlement is approved — but you cannot opt out after the deadline to preserve your right to sue Google individually. Submitting a payment election after the deadline may also be more difficult, although the administrator typically continues processing payment information until distribution begins.

Will accepting this payment release my rights against Google?

Yes. Class members who do not opt out by the May 29, 2026, deadline will release their claims against Google relating to the alleged Android cellular data transfers covered by the settlement. The full release language is in the settlement agreement available on the settlement website.

Where can I get more information?

The official settlement website is FederalCellularClassAction.com. The settlement administrator can be reached at 1-844-655-4255 or by mail at 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Disclaimer

This content is for general informational purposes only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Joy Coleman is licensed in Georgia and New Jersey and is not licensed to practice law in California. Readers should consult a qualified attorney licensed in their jurisdiction.

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