Android users may get payouts

Android users in the United States may be eligible for a share of a $135 million Google settlement over claims the company used their cellular data without permission. (federalcellularclassaction.com) The case is Taylor v. Google LLC, filed in federal court in San Jose, California, and Google agreed to settle in January 2026 without admitting wrongdoing. A judge granted preliminary approval on March 5, 2026. (news.bloomberglaw.com) (govinfo.gov) Plaintiffs said Android devices sent and received data with Google servers in the background, including when phones were idle, locked, or had apps closed. The settlement site says the class covers people who used an Android mobile device on a cellular network in the United States from November 12, 2017 to the present, unless they are part of a separate California case. (courthousenews.com) (federalcellularclassaction.com) That California carveout exists because a different case, Csupo v. Google LLC, already certified a class of California residents over similar Android data-use claims. The federal settlement website tells users in Taylor that they are excluded if they are class members in Csupo. (courthousenews.com) (federalcellularclassaction.com) For most eligible users, the key point is that there is no standard claim form to fill out. The settlement site and consumer reports say payments are automatic for class members, but users are urged to choose a payment method so the money can be delivered. (federalcellularclassaction.com) (pcmag.com) To do that, users need a Notice ID and Confirmation Code from an official email or mailed notice, then can pick PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, direct deposit, or a virtual prepaid card on the settlement site. The site also lists contact information for people who think they qualify but did not receive a notice. (pcmag.com) (androidauthority.com) The settlement fund will be split after deductions for attorneys’ fees, expenses, service awards, and administration costs, so the final payment per person is not fixed. Court filings cited by PCMag say individual payments are capped at $100 per class member. (news.bloomberglaw.com) (pcmag.com) Several outlets, including NBC Chicago and ClassAction.org, estimated that roughly 100 million Android users could fall inside the class, which would make individual payouts relatively small if participation is broad. (nbcchicago.com) (classaction.org) Google denied the allegations in the case, and the settlement papers say the company agreed to make changes to Google Play terms and disclosure screens to better inform users and obtain express consent for certain data practices. (news.bloomberglaw.com) The next deadlines are already set: objections and opt-outs are due by May 29, 2026, and the final approval hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026. For Android users wondering whether they are in the class, the fastest check is the official settlement website — and the notice in their inbox or mailbox. (pcmag.com) (federalcellularclassaction.com)