Highlights:
- Android 16 causing FeliCa (Osaifu‑Keitai) payment issues in some Xperia phones.
- Sony suspends the update for affected models like Xperia 10 VI and VII.
- Company provides a temporary method to restore the wallet function.
- Permanent software patch is being developed.
- Users advised to handle SIM cards carefully while applying the fix.
Wallet Function Problem After Android 16
Sony Mobile has officially admitted that certain Xperia smartphones updated to Android 16 are facing wallet‑related problems. The popular Osaifu‑Keitai service—which lets users make contactless FeliCa payments through apps such as Suica—stops responding after the update.
The issue has been reported mostly on the Xperia 10 VI, with similar complaints coming from some Xperia 10 VII owners.
Update Suspended for Safety
In its announcement dated November 27 and revised December 5, Sony stated that it has stopped the Android 16 rollout to prevent additional devices from being affected.
The company has not yet provided a schedule for resuming the update, promising to display further details on the official Xperia support page once testing is complete.
Sony’s Temporary Workaround
Sony has suggested a quick but temporary procedure that may restore payment functions:
- Remove the SIM tray from the phone.
- Restart the phone without the SIM inserted.
- When the startup screen appears, insert the SIM tray again.
Important: do not restart while the SIM is inserted. Sony warns that doing so will likely cause the wallet function to fail again.
Many users on the platform X (formerly Twitter) have confirmed that this method revives FeliCa, but the fix vanishes after the next reboot, limiting it to a first‑aid measure rather than a real repair.
User Frustration Continues
Reports continue to surface from Japanese users who rely on mobile payments daily.
One user wrote that after using the temporary fix, FeliCa worked fine “until I restarted; then it broke again.”
The repetition of this pattern shows a clear need for a solid software patch instead of repeating manual steps.
Permanent Solution Awaited
According to Sony, engineers are investigating the root cause and preparing a revised Android 16 build that will stabilize FeliCa performance permanently.
Until then, Xperia owners are encouraged to postpone updates or apply the temporary method carefully. A verified patch will likely be released soon via OTA (Over‑The‑Air) update.
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