How to Claim Your Share of Google’s $135M Android Data Settlement
If you’ve used an Android phone with mobile data in the US since late 2017, you may be owed money from a $135 million Google settlement over background cellular data use.
What the Google settlement is about
A group of Android users sued Google in 2020, claiming that Android was quietly using paid cellular data in the background without their consent. They said this happened even when apps were closed, Wi‑Fi was available, and location settings were turned off. Google has agreed to pay $135 million to settle the case but has not admitted any wrongdoing.
The case is known as Taylor et al. v. Google LLC, and it covers alleged “passive” data transfers that mainly benefited Google’s services and advertising.
Who can get paid
The settlement covers people in the United States who used an Android phone with a cellular data plan at any time from November 2017 onwards. You must have used an Android device with mobile data from a carrier, not just Wi‑Fi. California residents are generally covered by a separate, larger $314 million settlement over similar location and data issues, so they are not included in this $135 million cellular data case.
Each eligible Android user could receive up to around $100, but the final amount will depend on how many people are in the class and the total claims, as the money is shared on a pro‑rata basis after fees and costs.
How to claim your money
You don’t have to fill in a traditional claim form, but you do need to choose how you want to be paid. The official site for this settlement is FederalCellularClassAction.com, where you can select your payment method.
To log in, you’ll need a Notice ID and Confirmation Code from the email or letter you received about the settlement. Once logged in, you can pick from options like Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, bank transfer, or a virtual Mastercard, depending on what the administrator offers. If you think you qualify but haven’t received a notice, the site lists contact details so you can ask for help from the settlement administrator.
Deadlines and what happens next
If you do nothing at all, you should still be eligible for a payment, but you might not receive it if you never pick a payment method. The settlement gives people a limited window to opt out or object; these actions must be taken by the date listed on the official website and notice (currently in May 2026). A court hearing to decide final approval is scheduled for late June 2026, after which payments can be processed and sent out.
If you want to stay in the settlement and get paid, the safest move is to log into FederalCellularClassAction.com, confirm your details, and select a payment option before the posted deadline.