6 Ways To Make The Most Out Of Your Apple Wallet

Apple Wallet has evolved significantly since its 2015 rebranding from Passbook, offering far more than just a digital repository for boarding passes and movie tickets. While the functionality extends well beyond basic credit card storage, many users may overlook several powerful features available in iOS 27 and earlier versions. By navigating to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay within the Wallet app, users can unlock a range of capabilities designed to streamline daily tasks.

One of the most versatile new additions is the ability to create custom passes natively. This feature allows users to store digital versions of items that lack third-party app integration, such as gym scan tags or Costco memberships. Users can snap a photo of a physical pass for Apple Intelligence to process or begin with a template based on Standard, Membership, or Event categories. The customization options extend to adding personal details like membership numbers and dates, as well as adjusting color schemes and backgrounds.

Bill splitting has also been simplified with a new Apple Intelligence-driven tool in iOS 27. By simply photographing a receipt, the Wallet app can analyze item quantities, tax, and tips to facilitate payment splitting through Apple Cash. This eliminates the need for dedicated third-party apps like Splitwise or Tab, although the feature is currently exclusive to Apple Cash and does not integrate with external services like PayPal or Venmo.

For travelers, Apple Wallet supports the creation of digital driver’s licenses and U.S. passports. Fifteen U.S. states and Puerto Rico currently offer digital IDs for state-issued licenses, while virtual passports are available nationwide. These digital credentials can verify age or identity at select venues and expedite TSA checkpoints for domestic flights, though physical passports remain necessary for international border crossings.

Public transit payments have replaced the need for physical cards or exact change in participating cities like New York and Los Angeles. The Express Mode feature enhances this experience by allowing payments without waking or unlocking the device. Additionally, a power reserve mode ensures that contactless transit payments remain functional for several hours even after the iPhone battery depletes, provided the device has not been manually shut down.

Apple Wallet can also replace physical keys by storing digital keys for compatible smart home locks, vehicles, hotels, and employee badges. Participating car brands allow users to lock, unlock, and start their vehicles directly from their iPhone. Similar to transit payments, digital home keys can unlock doors for a limited time even when the phone’s battery is critically low.

Finally, users can consolidate online shopping tracking within the Wallet app. By accessing the Orders section, the app scans the user’s Mail inbox to extract shipping estimates and tracking information. This centralized view not only helps monitor deliveries but also provides convenient access to merchant contact information for resolving order issues or sharing tracking details with others.