The Wallet app has become the command center for payments, access, and digital documentation on the iPhone. From Apple Pay to keys, passes, orders, and loyalty cards, everything lives in one place, with the security of the Apple ecosystem and quick access from the iPhone and the Apple Watch.
If you want to master it thoroughly, here's a complete guide with step-by-step processes, recent updates, and privacy tips. We've integrated how to add and use cards, passes, and keys, share tickets, restore expired passes, pay in stores and apps, and manage pre-authorized orders and charges. without losing sight of safety.
What is Wallet and what can you store?
Wallet centralizes items such as Apple Pay payment cards, boarding passes, tickets, transit passes, gift cards, ID cards, and compatible digital keys. The goal is to pay, access, and organize your credentials from your iPhone or Apple Watch securely and quickly., reducing dependence on the physical wallet.
Key benefits include contactless payments using Face ID, Touch ID, or a code, travel and event pass organization, and integration with NFC-enabled car, home, or hotel keys. Some cards and passes can be synced with other Apple devices., like Apple Watch, iPad or Mac with Touch ID, making it easier to use in different contexts.
Apple has recently updated documentation and features, with changes released in late February 2025 and new features such as order tracking (April 8, 2025) and pre-authorized payments (April 14, 2025). Wallet is evolving into a true hub for purchases, access and subscriptions. with greater control for the user.
Set up and manage payment cards with Apple Pay
First, confirm with your bank that your card works with Apple Pay. The issuer validates and approves the card, so if you encounter any issues when adding it, their support has the final say.
To add a card, open Wallet on your iPhone and tap the add button. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple account. to continue. Then choose the type: debit or credit card, Apple Card (if available in your region), previously used cards, or cards offered through apps on your iPhone.
For new cards, tap "Debit or Credit Card," tap Continue, then hold your iPhone to the card chip if supported, or scan the card with the camera or enter the details manually. Complete the bank's verification steps (sometimes they ask you to validate in their app) and when it appears as verified, you can pay with Apple Pay.
If the card has already been in Wallet or on another device, go to "Previous Cards," select it, and follow the instructions to recover it. You can also add cards directly from the bank's app. if it appears suggested in “From the apps on your iPhone.”
Managing cards is just as simple: you can sort their placement, set a default, or delete them whenever you want. To remove it, enter its details and choose "Delete card"; you'll also find it in Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay. If you mark your iPhone as lost from Find My, Apple Pay is automatically locked for security.
Billing and contact information (address, phone number, email) can be adjusted in Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay or in the details for each card. With iCloud turned on, changes can propagate to your other devices for higher comfort.
Where and how to pay with Apple Pay (stores, apps, and the web)
Apple Pay works with iPhone and Apple Watch in stores with contactless payments. In Spain, major chains such as El Corte Inglés, MediaMarkt, Fnac and Cepsa accept it., as well as small businesses with NFC-compatible payment terminals. You can check this in Apple Maps by looking for the Apple Pay icon on the business listing.
To use in-store with Face ID: Double-press the side button, look at your iPhone or enter your passcode, and then hold the top of your phone to the contactless reader. You will see "Done" and a check mark when the payment is complete.With Touch ID, hold your finger and hold your iPhone close to the device until a confirmation appears.
To pay with Apple Watch, double-press the side button and hold your watch to the contactless reader. You will feel a slight vibration when you finish., indicating that the transaction has been approved. Learn how to get the most out of your watch with specific guides like the Apple Watch app to improve the payment experience.
In supported apps and websites, select Apple Pay as your payment method and authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. On iPhone or iPad with Face ID, double-press the side button to confirm.This method avoids entering card numbers, addresses, and other data manually.
In addition to being convenient, Apple Pay is fast: the transaction takes seconds and is typically faster than traditional EMV chip cards. The "tap, authenticate, and go" flow speeds up queues and improves the experience both in stores and mobile shopping.
Passes, tickets, and boarding passes: add, use, and share
To add a pass (boarding pass, ticket, travel pass, etc.), open the email, app, notification, or other communication that contains it and tap "Add to Wallet." Follow the on-screen steps and, if necessary, confirm by tapping "Add" in the top right corner.If you don't see the option, contact the issuer to confirm compatibility with Wallet.
When you add a pass on your iPhone, it automatically syncs with your paired Apple Watch. This way you can validate access or tickets from your wrist. without having to take out your phone.
Use is simple: open the pass in Wallet and present it to the NFC reader or show the QR code to the corresponding scanner. In NFC passes, when you approach the control the correct pass usually appears automatically.; if not, open it manually and swipe to choose between several.
Sharing some passes is possible when the issuer allows it. In Wallet, tap the pass and press the share icon (square with an arrow), choose the method (AirDrop, Messages, Email, etc.), and send it. If the share icon does not appear, the sender has not enabled sharing. in Wallet: check their website or app to see if they offer alternatives.
You can also share by bringing two iPhones together. Open the pass, hold your iPhone a few inches from the top of the other person's iPhone, and wait for both screens to light up, indicating a connection. Don't separate the devices until the pass appears and tap "Share" to finish the shipment.
Restore and manage expired passes
If a pass expires, you can bring it back to your Wallet stack in seconds. Useful to re-query data or reactivate it if the issuer allows it., without having to search for the original communication again.
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Slide to the end of the stack to see additional options.
- Tap “View Expired Passes.” Expired items that you can re-post will be displayed..
- Choose the pass and press “Show”. You will return to the main portfolio view. ready for consultation.
If you'd rather see all expired passes permanently, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and turn off "Hide Expired Passes." This will prevent them from being hidden automatically in the future..
Loyalty and Membership Cards: How to Add Them (Pass2U)
In addition to bank cards, Wallet also stores rewards, membership, and rewards cards. When the issuer does not offer direct integration, a practical solution is to use Pass2U, which allows you to create compatible passes for Wallet.
- Download Pass2U on your iPhone and launch it. The free version is suitable for most cases., and there is a one-time purchase for further customization.
- Tap the Search button and enter the name of your rewards card. Choose a template that fits your card and click to continue.
- Fill in the required fields and scan the barcode if it has one, or enter the number manually. When you're done, tap "Done" and it will be added to Wallet..
If you purchase the professional version of Pass2U, you'll be able to create your own templates and fine-tune visual details. This is how you keep all your customer cards organized in Wallet. and ready to use in a box.
Keys in Wallet: Express Mode, Sharing, and Security
On compatible iPhone and Apple Watch, you can store car, house, office, or hotel keys. If the key supports express mode and is activated, when it reaches the reader you can enter with one touch without authenticating., thanks to NFC and automatic recognition of the correct pass.
Express mode is enabled by default when you add a key, and you can disable it from the More button on the front of the key in Wallet. To reactivate it, Face ID, Touch ID or code is required., balancing comfort and control according to your preference.
Since iOS 16, certain types of keys can be shared. The owner chooses the access level and duration, sees all shared keys, and can revoke them at any time, even if the recipient forwards them to someone else. Sending is launched from the share icon on the key itself and uses the system's share sheet methods.
The sharing invitation is hosted anonymously and securely on a dedicated server, protected with 128-bit or 256-bit AES encryption. The decryption key is only held by the recipient., and mailbox access is controlled with device declarations (each iPhone has a unique RFC 4122 UUID) so that only valid devices can access it.
As a backup, the owner can require a 6-digit activation code, with attempts controlled by the owner or the server. Once the invitation is redeemed, the receiving iPhone immediately deletes it., and the server automatically deletes expired ones.
The keys leverage the device's Secure Element and communicate with the reader via the NFC controller over a secure channel. Apple doesn't know when or where you use your keys, nor does it store those credentials on its servers., keeping privacy in the foreground.
The number of devices (iPhone and Apple Watch) to which you can add a key is defined by each manufacturer or partner. Apple provides anonymous identifiers per device and per user to each partner to link the key to your iCloud account without exposing your real identity.
Keys can be disabled or removed in several ways: remotely erasing the device with Find My, enabling Lost Mode, MDM commands, removing all cards from your Apple account or iCloud.com, deleting them in the Wallet app, or deleting them from the issuer's app. Since iOS 15.4, pass and key details are not displayed after double-clicking until you authenticate., adding an extra layer of protection.
To add keys (with exceptions such as student ID cards), sign in to iCloud and turn on two-factor authentication. During registration, steps similar to those for payment cards are followed., with secure link and validation from the reader to the Secure Element.
Privacy and Security: Apple Pay, Passes, and Data
With Apple Pay, your actual card number isn't stored on your device or shared with merchants. A device account number and dynamic security code are used with each purchase., which prevents card data from being exposed and makes fraud more difficult.
Wallet only processes the information necessary to display and manage your cards and passes. You can turn off Wallet syncing in iCloud if you prefer to keep your information local.Health or vaccination cards added from Health are not synced or backed up to iCloud.
If you lose your iPhone, mark it as lost in Find My to turn off Apple Pay and protect your credentials. You can also remove cards from iCloud.com or your Apple account page., or request remote wipe via MDM in managed environments.
MagSafe Wallet with Find My
If you use a MagSafe physical wallet Compatible with Find My, you can pair it to receive notifications when you leave your iPhone and see your last location. If you declined to link it the first time, you can do so later from the Find My app. smoothly.
Place the wallet on your iPhone, open Find My, and tap “Add MagSafe Accessory” in the Options section. Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the pairing to complete.If the animation doesn't appear, lock and unlock your iPhone, replace the wallet, and wait a few seconds.
Once set up, you'll see its last location and can enable separation notifications, Lost Mode, or remove the accessory from your device. Everything is managed from Find My with a couple of taps.
Order tracking within Wallet
Wallet allows you to check the status of certain orders from participating merchants: status, estimated date, incidents, order number, and payment status, with direct contact with the merchant. This feature, publicly documented on April 8, 2025, strengthens Wallet as a post-purchase hub..
Tracking can be turned on automatically for Apple Pay purchases on iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or macOS 13 and later, or manually by tapping “Continue with Apple Wallet” in the order confirmation (iOS/iPadOS 17 or web with iOS/iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma). This is how you can gather useful information in Wallet after the purchase..
To view it, open Wallet, tap the More button, and go to "Orders." Select one to view details and options like "Manage Order," "Email Merchant," or "Total Order Amount." You can also open the tracking on the carrier's website. if available.
If you need to share the information, tap the Share button and choose the channel (e.g., Messages). Another way is to enter the recent transaction from your card in Wallet and open that transaction to see the associated tracking.
Pre-authorized payments: consultation and control
Some apps and websites allow you to set up recurring or deferred payments with Apple Pay. With supported cards, Wallet displays and organizes these deals., giving visibility to who and when.
To manage them, open Wallet > More > "Pre-Authorized Payments" and select the merchant to review the information. If you want to change or cancel, click "Manage with" to go to their site and adjust the subscription.
If you can't change it there, Wallet offers "Revoke Payment Authorization," which asks the merchant not to charge that Apple Pay method in the future. This does not cancel the subscription by itself.: Always process the cancellation directly with the merchant to avoid charges.
When you remove a card from Wallet, you'll see "View Pre-Authorized Merchants" to identify and, if applicable, manage links. The experience varies if the merchant does not share that information with Wallet.This functionality is documented as of April 14, 2025.
Tips, compatibility and troubleshooting
For loyalty cards, you can disable "Automatic Selection" if you don't want them to be presented automatically when you arrive at a participating store. On transportation cards linked to your Apple ID, the balance is protected and you can get it back when you set up a new device.
If you don't see "Add to Wallet" when adding a boarding pass or pass, contact the issuer to confirm Wallet support. Many issuers offer the button in their app, website or email., and in some cases a notification from the system itself appears.
For those running businesses, all you need is an NFC reader (e.g., Square Reader, Square Register, or Square Terminal) to accept Apple Pay. Testing payments on your own helps you guide first-time customers and reduces friction on the counter.
Behavior has been observed where, in certain contexts, payments with cards issued outside the U.S. are not accepted. If this happens to you, check with your bank or review the issuer's conditions. to confirm availability by region.
In family settings, it is possible to share certain passes with child accounts, depending on the settings of In family. Parental controls are respected and, in some cases, invitations may be accepted automatically., facilitating responsible use.
Extra practical steps: adding and accessing boarding passes
When you receive your tickets by email, app, or website from the carrier, locate the "Add to Wallet" button and follow the on-screen instructions. Check name, flight, dates and other information before confirming to avoid mistakes at the counter.
Once added, open the Wallet app to see them ready when you need them. The Wallet icon on your home screen gives you direct access, and if you wear an Apple Watch you can present them from your wrist.
As a reminder, some official features and guides have been updated recently (end of February 2025). Keep the system up to date to enjoy the latest Wallet improvements
If you need help with advanced settings, consult your issuer's documentation or your bank's support. Usual channels (phone, mail or messaging) can speed up resolution when it comes to verifications or blocks.
Wallet concentrates payments, access and documentation with a very practical approach: You pay without showing your real card, you enter with secure keys, you share passes when appropriate and you control your recurring orders and charges.With fine-tuned settings and a familiarity with shortcuts, your iPhone and Apple Watch become the fastest and safest way to get around, shop, and access things without the hassle.
