Google Android $135 Million Settlement — No Claim Form Required, Automatic Payments to Over 100 Million Users
By Steve Levine
Published: March 25, 2026
You may be part of a new $135 million class action settlement reached with Google over allegations that the company secretly used Android users' cellular data in the background -- without their knowledge or consent -- potentially impacting over 100 million mobile device users across the United States.
The best part: no claim form is required. If you qualify, your payment will be sent to you automatically.
What Is This Settlement About?
The lawsuit alleged that Google performed data transfers on Android phones that consumed users' cellular data without permission. These transfers happened in the background -- even when the phone was sitting on a table, the screen was locked, all apps were closed, and the user was not touching the device. Google allegedly transmitted significant quantities of information between Android devices and its own servers through these background transfers, consuming cellular data that users were paying for.The plaintiffs claimed Google conducted these transfers for its own purposes -- including advertising, product development, ecosystem monitoring, and rolling out software updates -- without telling users it was happening and without compensating them for the cellular data consumed. The lawsuit also alleged that Google's existing disclosures and settings (including a toggle that appeared to let users turn off background data use) were misleading.
Google denied all allegations of wrongful conduct. The court did not determine that Google did anything wrong. Both sides agreed to settle.
What Is the Total Settlement Amount?
The total settlement fund is $135,000,000. This is a non-reversionary fund, meaning any money not distributed to class members does not go back to Google. After deducting court-approved attorney fees (up to $39,825,000 or 29.5%), approximately $750,000 in litigation costs, up to $75,000 in service awards to the three named plaintiffs ($25,000 each), and approximately $9.3 million in settlement administration costs, the remaining net fund is estimated at approximately $85 million.How Do I Qualify for a Payout?
You qualify if you are a person in the United States who used a mobile device running the Android operating system to access the internet through a cellular data network operated by a mobile carrier at any time between November 12, 2017 and the date of the final court order.In plain terms: if you used an Android phone with a cell phone plan in the U.S. at any point since November 2017, you are likely part of this class.
The only people excluded are California residents who are part of the separate Csupo v. Google settlement (a parallel California-only case that has already received final approval), Google employees and executives, the judges involved in the case, class counsel, and anyone who opts out by the May 29, 2026 deadline.
How Much Can I Get Paid?
Individual payments are estimated at approximately $1.01 to $1.48 per person, depending on how many class members ultimately receive payments. The settlement administrator estimates that 55% to 80% of the class will receive payments. If participation lands around the midpoint of 67.5%, the estimated per-person payment is approximately $1.20.Payments are calculated on a pro rata basis -- meaning the net settlement fund is divided equally among all eligible class members. Everyone gets the same amount regardless of how long they have been an Android user. Individual payments are capped at $100 per person, but that cap is not expected to be reached given the size of the class (over 100 million people).
The amount is small, but it arrives automatically with no effort required on your part.
How Do I File a Claim?
You do not need to file a claim. This is one of the rare settlements where no claim form is required. Payments will be sent automatically to eligible class members.Here is how it works: Google will provide the settlement administrator (Angeion Group) with the email addresses associated with class members' Android/Google accounts. Angeion will email you a notification about the settlement and give you the option to select your preferred payment method: Zelle, PayPal/Venmo, ACH direct deposit, or Virtual Mastercard.
The administrator estimates that only 1% to 5% of class members will actively select a payment method. For everyone else (the vast majority), Angeion will attempt to send your payment automatically through Zelle, PayPal, or Venmo using information provided by Google. You do not need to take any action to receive your payment.
Virtual prepaid cards will only be sent if you specifically choose that option. They are not the default.
Is Proof Required to File a Claim?
No. No proof of purchase, no receipts, no screenshots, no documentation of any kind is required. Google already has the records needed to identify class members through its Android account data. The settlement administrator will use that information to contact you and send payment.What Are the Important Dates?
Preliminary Approval: Granted March 5, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline: May 29, 2026
Objection Deadline: May 29, 2026
Motion for Final Approval: June 12, 2026
Final Approval Hearing: June 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose), Courtroom 2, 5th Floor, 280 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113, before Hon. Virginia K. DeMarchi
Attorney Fees Motion Deadline: April 24, 2026
When Will Payments Be Sent?
Payments will be distributed after the court grants final approval and any appeals are resolved. The final approval hearing is June 23, 2026. If the settlement is approved and no appeals are filed, payments could begin in the months following that date. Google must deposit the $135 million into the settlement trust within 45 days of the preliminary approval order (which was granted March 5, 2026), so the money is already being set aside.Any unclaimed funds after the first distribution will be redistributed to class members. If a second distribution is not feasible, remaining funds go to a court-approved nonprofit. No money goes back to Google.
How Many People Are Affected?
Over 100 million Americans are estimated to be eligible for this settlement. This is one of the largest class action settlements in terms of the number of affected people. Essentially, if you used an Android phone with a cellular data plan in the U.S. at any point since November 2017 and you are not a California resident covered by the separate Csupo settlement, you are part of this class.What About Google's Disclosures Going Forward?
In addition to the $135 million payment, Google must make several changes to its disclosures and settings as part of the settlement's injunctive relief. Google must update the Google Play Terms of Service to disclose that its system services may use cellular data. Google must update its Help Center to explain that Google Play services causes Android devices to exchange information with Google over cellular networks and that these transfers "cannot be turned off." Google must also add a new disclosure to the Android device setup flow clearly explaining that apps and software on the device may automatically communicate with Google servers using cellular data, including in the background when the user is not interacting with the device.Google must also deactivate (gray out) the Google Play services mobile background data toggle, which the plaintiffs alleged created the false impression that users could turn off the background data transfers. These changes must remain in effect for at least two years after implementation.
Settlement Notice PDF
Download the Full Court Order Granting Preliminary Approval (PDF)Case Information
Case: Taylor v. Google LLC, Case No. 20-cv-07956-VKD (N.D. Cal.)
Court: U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose)
Judge: Hon. Virginia K. DeMarchi
Defendant: Google LLC
Settlement Fund: $135,000,000 (non-reversionary)
Net Fund (estimated): Approximately $85 million
Estimated Per-Person Payment: $1.01 to $1.48
Claim Form: Not required -- payments are automatic
Proof Required: None
Payment Methods: Zelle, PayPal/Venmo, ACH, Virtual Mastercard
Class Period: November 12, 2017 through date of final order
Eligible Class: U.S. Android users with cellular data plans (excluding California Csupo class)
Estimated Class Size: 100+ million
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline: May 29, 2026
Final Approval Hearing: June 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Attorney Fees: Up to $39,825,000 (29.5%) + $750,000 costs
Service Awards: Up to $25,000 each for 3 named plaintiffs
Administrator: Angeion Group, LLC
Class Counsel: Bartlit Beck LLP and Korein Tillery LLC
How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?
Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:Filing Class Action Settlement Claims
No claim form is required for this settlement. Payments will be sent automatically to eligible class members. If you are not sure whether you qualify, watch for an email notification from the settlement administrator at the email address associated with your Google/Android account. OpenClassActions.com is a consumer advocacy and class action news site, and is not a class action administrator or a law firm.
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Pre-Qualify| Google Android Cellular Data Settlement Summary | |
| Settlement Fund | $135,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Claim Form | Not required -- automatic payments |
| Proof Required | None |
| Est. Per Person | $1.01 to $1.48 |
| Who Qualifies | U.S. Android users with cell plans (Nov 2017 -- present) |
| Class Size | 100+ million |
| Opt-Out Deadline | May 29, 2026 |
| Final Approval | June 23, 2026 |
| Payment Methods | Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, ACH, Virtual Mastercard |