Creating Digital Passes for Your Phone’s Wallet

Check your wallet. You probably have a plastic card displaying a barcode. It might be a library card, gym membership, or grocery rewards card. Getting these onto an iPhone often depended on the organization’s digital pass offerings. Apple changes this with iOS 27.

The new software allows iPhone users to create passes in Apple Wallet from physical cards, photos, or screenshots. Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones provide similar options. You can now leave some plastic cards at home.

Apple Wallet Innovations in iOS 27

Apple’s iOS 27 enables iPhone users to convert physical membership cards with barcodes or QR codes into digital passes. This includes library and gym membership cards. Apple Intelligence on compatible iPhones recognizes codes in photos or screenshots, prompting you to add them to Wallet.

Supported devices include iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 family. Availability varies by language and region. Manual creation of passes in Wallet is also possible.

Creating a Pass from a Photo or Screenshot

• Ensure the code is visible and clear.
• On a compatible iPhone, capture or view the photo in the Photos app.
• Tap ‘Add Pass to Wallet’ when available.

After creating the pass, you can view the original photo. It helps verify the pass image quality.

Manual Apple Wallet Pass Creation

• Open Wallet and tap ‘+’.
• Select ‘Create a Pass’ then ‘Create Pass Manually’.
• Choose a template and enter information as needed.
• Tap ‘Done’ when finished.

Editing a Created Pass

• Select the pass in Wallet.
• Tap ‘More’, then ‘Edit Pass’ to make changes.
• Adjust colors, fields, or information as needed.
• Tap ‘Done’ to finalize changes.

Using Samsung Wallet

Samsung Galaxy users can store membership cards with Samsung Wallet. Most barcoded cards are compatible.

• Open Samsung Wallet and tap ‘All’, then ‘Memberships’.
• Choose ‘Import from Gallery’ or ‘Take a picture’.
• Follow prompts to save the card.

Use Samsung Wallet to access and display the stored barcode.

Google Wallet and Pixel Phones

Google Wallet saves passes from barcoded images. Examples are library and gym cards.

• Photograph the card clearly, focusing on its barcode or QR code.
• Open Google Wallet and select ‘Add to Wallet’.
• Select ‘Photo’, ‘Manual’, then your photo library.
• Add a name and description, then tap ‘Add’.

You can access the original image from the pass. Choose ‘Everything else’ for other types of passes from photos.

Choosing Appropriate Cards

Begin with cards that use barcodes or QR codes for scanning, such as library and gym cards. Verify if a digital version works before discarding the physical card. Test first to prevent scanner issues.

Limitations of Digital Passes

Not every card can be replaced digitally. Official digital credentials often require issuer verification. Do not photograph licenses or credit cards for this purpose. Payment and ticket cards also have unique requirements.

Key Considerations

This iOS update addresses the limitation of adding various cards to Apple Wallet. Samsung and Google users had options, now iPhone users gain a similar advantage.

Start with cards of low importance and observe their functionality. It reduces physical card use but does not replace all. Hold onto essential cards until substitutes pass real-world tests.