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| Other names | Passbook (2012–2015) |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
| Operating system | iOS watchOS |
| Service name | Apple Wallet (Wallet for short) |
| Type | Digital walletapp |
| Website | www |
Apple Wallet (or simplyWallet, known asPassbook prior to iOS 9) is adigital wallet developed byApple Inc. and included withiOS andwatchOS that allows users to store Wallet passes such ascoupons,boarding passes,student ID cards,government ID cards, business credentials, resort passes, car keys, home keys, eventtickets,public transportation passes,store cards, and – starting withiOS 8.1 –credit cards, anddebit cards for use viaApple Pay.[1]
Apple Passbook was announced at the 2012Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 11, 2012, and released withiOS 6 on September 19, 2012.[2] It was renamed "Apple Wallet" with the release of iOS 9 on September 16, 2015.[3][4]
Wallet displaysAztec,PDF417, andQR 2D barcodes andCode 128 1D barcodes beginning withiOS 9.[5] Each digital coupon or ticket is known as a "pass".[6] When the user launches Wallet for the first time, a brief introduction screen appears with a button inviting users to browse apps on theApp Store with Wallet integration. Passes can also be distributed online viaSafari, sent to the user via email, or scanned using the built-in scanner in Wallet.
Passes are synced between iOS devices usingiCloud, andOS X 10.8.2 and later also support opening passes to be sent to users' iOS devices. Although the app is available iniOS 6 or later, it is only available oniPhone andiPod Touch, but not oniPad.[7]
Since iOS 16, Wallet has also included the ability to track package deliveries for Apple Pay purchases from selected retailers, providing order details and shipping estimations as well as notifications for order arrivals or updates.[8]
Wallet has the following features:
The first form of Express Mode came under the name "Express Transit" in iOS 12.3. Since then, supported payment cards, as well as somestored-value transport cards (such asOctopus orSuica) could be used to pay for journeys on certain public transport networks without requiring the user to authenticate the payment withTouch ID orFace ID, or even needing to wake the device.[12] Once a supported payment or transit card is selected as a user's Express Transit card, one can simply hold their device near the card reader to authorize payment for the journey.
Since the initial functionality launched, Express Mode has expanded along with the number of card schemes Wallet supports. As of 2023,[update] home keys, transit cards, access badges, campus IDs, hotel keys, and car keys are supported types of cards that can be used with Express Mode. However, Apple limits some passes if they are the same type or from the same issuer from being used with Express Mode. For example, a user can only have one campus ID and one car keyeach set to Express Mode. This can be mitigated in a sense by using an Apple Watch to split the Express Mode passes between multiple devices. Some cards support grouping to help ease the space that could be taken in the device's secure element. For instance, if a user has multiple home keys linked to Apple Home or multiple hotel rooms at a supported resort, all locks will be valid with a singular pass.[13]
On iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, Express Mode cards can be used up to five hours via power reserve after the device has powered off due to a drained battery. A low-battery icon will display with "Express Cards Available" text appearing at the bottom of the display, letting users know that Express Mode-enabled cards are still available for usage. Payment cards are only available via power reserve when used for transit transactions. Power reserve functionality isnot available for any Apple Watch model as of 2023.[14]
Passes exist in a larger ecosystem, because passes are created as a package. The package is a pass template, that is created with a pass signer, along with relevant data and a private key. Passes can be updated at any time using the PassKit API and an iOS app can interact directly with passes stored in Wallet.
Passes are presented and managed by Wallet. Systems and apps interact with passes via the PassKitAPI.[15]
In its simplest form, an interaction (or transaction) between a pass and a system is facilitated by a 2D barcode or the modern QR code although it requires the customer to initiate the activity.
In late 2014, the first known implementations utilizing the iBeacon wirelessGeo-fence started to appear in retail locations in the US. The iBeacon solutions allowed the retailer to broadcast an unsolicited lock-screen notice onto smartphones withinBluetooth range.[16]
In 2015, Apple incorporated the ability to present a loyalty card in Wallet to aPayment terminal viaNFC.[17]Walgreens enabled this first with their Balance Rewards loyalty program; customers can add their card to Wallet through the Walgreens orDuane Reade mobile apps and tap their device to the terminal when prompted for their rewards card.
In 2016, Apple released theiPhone 7, along with Apple Pay support in Japan. This includedIC e-cards likeSuica to also be added digitally onto Apple Wallet. These cards work like a normal IC card, just on theiPhone, and Apple Wallet users can make normal transactions with their IC card using their iPhone, using theFeliCa NFC contactless technology to operate. Apple Wallet users can also reload their IC card just from their device using a debit or credit card added to Apple Wallet. To get a Suica, you could buy one digitally from Apple Wallet, or get a physical one from aJR East station and transfer the card balance to an iPhone. Japan's second main IC card,PASMO, would also be released later in 2020 with support with Apple Wallet.[18][19]
In 2018, support was added for contactlessCampus card for select universities. Such credentials operate in a similar manner to physicalRFID cards in that they can be tapped to supported readers.[20] The power reserve feature on select iPhones and Apple Watches allows for continued use of the card even when the battery is depleted as long as Express Mode is enabled.[21]
In 2020, car keys were made available for the Apple Wallet, beginning with supportedBMW vehicles. Such keys can be shared with friends and family, and permissions can be set per member, such as how fast they can go and whether or not some vehicle-specific features can be enabled/disabled or not. Such passes can also operate overUWB in addition to NFC.[22]
In 2021, Apple announced the ability to storegovernment-issued ID cards, resort passes, home keys, and business credentials in Wallet. As of October 2024, seven U.S. States offer the ability to store aIDUS within the wallet app, those being Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Ohio.[23]
In 2022, Apple announced a new feature to track yourApple Pay orders in Wallet.[24]
Apple Account is a stored value gift card that is issued and managed within Wallet. Users can add balances from iTunes and Apple gift cards for use in physicalApple Stores via Apple Pay or online across Apple's various services and online shop. Available only in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Japan.[25][26][27]
Apple Card is an Apple-branded credit card that is issued and managed within Wallet. The service is provided byGoldman Sachs in association with Apple. Users can receive "Daily Cash" when shopping at certain retailers. A digital card is available to be added to Apple Pay for wherever Mastercard cards are accepted online or in-store. A physical card is also available, though it notably lacks anNFC antenna. Available only in the United States.[28]
In November 2023, it was revealed that Goldman Sachs would cease to be Apple's financial partner in the venture within the next 18 months.[29]
Goldman Sachs also offers a savings account to Apple Card holders, with a maximumannual percentage yield of 4.15%. A savings account is not required to utilize Apple Card.[30]
Apple Cash is aP2P payment service within Wallet. The service is provided byGreen Dot Bank in association with Apple. Users can send and receive funds with others through the Wallet or Messages apps on iOS, watchOS, iPadOS, or macOS, or via tapping another user's iPhone or Apple Watch. A digital card is available to be added to Apple Pay for wherever Visa cards are accepted online or in-store. At launch, this service operated over theDiscover Debit network, but has since switched toVisa Debit. Available only in the United States.[31]
Apple Pay is a service within Wallet that allows for payments with select banks and card networks. Currently available in 83 countries.[32]
FinanceKit is an API that allows third party iOS & iPadOS apps to display data from Apple Card, Apple Cash, Savings, and Orders stored in Wallet. Available only to apps that are listed in the AmericanApp Store.[33]
The Apple Wallet app is preinstalled on most iPhone and Apple Watch models worldwide, and developers from any country where Apple Developer resources are available can develop passes for Wallet. This is different from Apple Pay, which resides within Wallet, which currently has limited availability to a smaller selection of nations.
These features in Wallet are locked behind a specific region setting of an iOS/watchOS device.[34]
| Feature | Country |
|---|---|
| E-Money (WAON, nanaco) | Japan[35] |
| Apple Card Family | United States[36] |
| Apple Cash Family | |
| Select State IDs[37] |
These programs are conveyed through NFC via Apple Wallet's VAS protocol. Programs that support One Tap are conveyed at the same time as a payment card stored in Apple Wallet. Conversely, Two Tap programs are redeemed in a sequential manner, where a loyalty pass is scanned first, and then the payment can be presented.[38][39]
| Country | Retailer | One Tap/Two Tap |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Dan Murphy's My Dan's[40] | |
| Woolworths'Everyday Rewards[41] | Two Tap | |
| Finland | S Group's S-Etukortti[42] | One Tap |
| France | Carrefour's Carrefour Card[43] | One Tap & Two Tap |
| Ireland | Nando's Nando Card[44] | Two Tap |
| Japan | d Point [ja][45] | One Tap & Two Tap |
| Ponta [ja][46] | One Tap & Two Tap | |
| United Kingdom | Nando's Nando Card[47] | Two Tap |
| Texaco's Star Rewards | Two Tap | |
| United States | CAVA's CAVA Rewards[48] | One Tap |
| Coca-Cola's Vending Pass[49] | One Tap | |
| Dave & Buster's Power Card[50] | Two Tap | |
| Jimmy John's Freaky Fast Rewards[51] | One Tap | |
| Maverik's Adventure Club[52] | One Tap | |
| Panera Bread's MyPanera[53] | One Tap | |
| Quiznos' Toasty Points[54] | One Tap | |
| Salsarita's Salsarita Rewards[55] | One Tap | |
| Yogurtland's Real Rewards[56] | One Tap |
Forpublic transport systems where payment cards can be used & Express Mode is supported, passengers can travel with Apple Pay without authenticating each transaction. Transit cards that support direct provisioning can be issued within the Apple Wallet app itself, without needing to download a separate third-party application. Express Transit/Travel mode is available in the following places:[57][58][59]
| Country/Region | Transport Operator/Fare payment system | Express mode with payment card | Transit card support |
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia | All stations and buses ofTransport for NSW |  | |
 Belarus | All stations ofMinsk Metro | | |
 Canada | All forms of transit that acceptPRESTO exceptOC Transpo[60][61] | | |
| OC Transpo[60] | | ||
 Mainland China | All forms of transit and stores that acceptBeijing Transit cards (including Yitongxing Miaotong Card) | | |
| All forms of transit that acceptShanghai public transportation cards and selected forms of transit that acceptChina City Union [zh] cards | | ||
| All forms of transit that acceptChina T-Union cards:Changsha,Changzhou,Chaozhou,Dalian,Foshan,Guangzhou Transit Card,Heyuan,Jiangmen,Jieyang,Jinan,Jinhua,Lhasa,Maoming,Nanchang,Nanjing,Ningbo,Shanwei,Shaoguan,Shenzhen Transit Card,Shijiazhuang,Suzhou,Taizhou,Tianjin,Xiamen,Xi'an,Xuzhou,Yunfu transit cards.[62] | | ||
 Finland | All Föli transit operators | | |
 France | Occasional travelers that want daily or single ticket withNavigo[63] | | |
 Hong Kong | All forms of transit and stores that acceptOctopus[64] | | |
 Japan | All forms of transit and stores that acceptSuica | | |
| All forms of transit and stores that acceptPASMO[65] | | ||
| All forms of transit and stores that acceptICOCA | | ||
 Serbia | Belgrade city public transport | | |
 Singapore | All Land Transport Authority public transit operators | | |
 Sweden | AllSkånetrafiken city buses | | |
 United Kingdom | AllArriva UK Bus transit operators | | |
| AllBrighton & Hove transit operators | | ||
| AllFirst Bus Group transit operators | | ||
| AllMetrobus transit operators | | ||
| AllOxford Bus Company transit operators | | ||
| All stations and buses ofTransport for London | | ||
 United States | All forms of transit that acceptVentra (direct provisioning not available)[66] | | |
| All forms of transit that acceptTAP | | ||
| All stations ofMetropolitan Transportation Authority withOMNY readers | | ||
| SEPTA Bus and Metro lines that accept contactless payments[67] | | ||
| MTS andNCTD busses, trains, and trolleys[68][69] | | ||
| MBTA bus, subway, and light rail lines that accept contactless payments[70][71] | | ||
| All forms of transit that acceptHop Fastpass (direct provisioning not available) | | | |
| All forms of transit that acceptClipper | | ||
| All forms of transit that acceptSmarTrip | |
In addition to the above scenarios, Apple Pay can still be used with other non-Express Transit/Travel readers that accept contactless open loop payment cards, but they will have to be verified beforehand.
| Country | Scenario | Fare Payment Method(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Select forms of transit that acceptBreeze | Pre-authenticated payment cards linked to Breeze Mobile 2 account | Payment cards that are linked via Apple Pay to a Breeze Mobile 2 account can be used to board. These transactions do not actually charge the payment card, instead acting as an unofficial ID forwarding method. Uses funds from the affiliated Breeze Mobile 2 app balance to pay fare.[72][73] |
| Country | Scenario | Fare Payment Method(s) |
|---|---|---|
 South Korea | Forms of transit and stores that acceptT-Money | T-Money[74] |
| United States | Forms of transit that acceptORCA | ORCA[75] |
These territories permit their residents to save theirgovernment-issued identification credentials in Apple Wallet. Unlike the equivalent physical credentials,mobile government IDs in Apple Wallet can only be presented using NFC, so no barcode is scanned when presenting. Mobile IDs in Apple Wallet operate over the ISO 18013-5 or ISO 23220 mobile personal identification standards.[76] Once the credential is read, the ID holder must confirm the personal information they wish to share (full name, age, etc.) The transmission to the reader device will be completed overBLE after the presentation is fully verified. Added credentials can also be requested by apps to present virtually.[77] Available for iPhone 8 or later, and Apple Watch Series 4 or later.[78]
| Country/Region | State/Territory | Launch date |
|---|---|---|
 United States |  Arizona[79] | 23 March 2022 |
 California[80] | 19 September 2024 | |
 Colorado[81] | 9 November 2022 | |
 Georgia[82] | 18 May 2023 | |
 Hawaii[83] | 28 August 2024 | |
 Iowa[84] | 23 October 2024 | |
 Maryland[85] | 26 May 2022 | |
 New Mexico[86] | 5 December 2024 | |
 Ohio[87] | 1 August 2024 | |
 Puerto Rico[88] | 12 December 2024 |
| Country | State/Territory | Launch date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Greece | Countrywide | July 2022[89][90] | Issued in a normal.pkpass format with a barcode for verification. ISO 18013-5 non-compliant. |
 Iceland | Countrywide[91] | July 2020[92] | Issued in a normal.pkpass format with a barcode for verification. ISO 18013-5 non-compliant. |
 UAE | Countrywide[93] | 2024 | Issued in a normal.pkpass format with a barcode for verification. ISO 18013-5 non-compliant. Available through the UAE ICP App.[94] |
| Country | State/Territory | Estimated Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Countrywide[95] | Spring 2025 |
| United States |  Arkansas[96] | Unknown |
 Connecticut[97] | Unknown | |
 Illinois[98] | Unknown | |
 Kentucky[97] | Unknown | |
 Mississippi[99] | Unknown | |
 Montana[100] | Unknown | |
 Oklahoma[97] | Unknown | |
 Utah[97] | Unknown | |
 Virginia[101] | Unknown | |
 West Virginia[100] | Unknown |
These home locks, vehicle models, hotel rooms, and more can be unlocked via NFC with the iPhone XR, iPhone XS or later, and Apple Watch Series 5 or later. In addition, certain car models that support operation via UWB (AKA "passive entry") require anUWB compatible device (such as the iPhone 11 or later or the Apple Watch Series 6 or later) for enhanced functionality.[102][103]
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