Kibbles and Bytes

The Versatile Apple Wallet

Written by Don Mayer | Aug 18, 2022 3:21:01 PM

I seldom carry my wallet around since Apple introduced Wallet to iOS and Watch .  With ApplePay being available at so many places and cash seldom needed it is really only for identification that I need a wallet. Even that is on the way out as more states are allowing driver's licenses and state IDs to be virtually carried.   Whether it is tickets to the Celtics game or that rock concert, airplane boarding passes, hotel room keys, auto keys, home keys, loyalty cards and so much more can be carried virtually with Apple Wallet.

Apple Wallet was originally called Passport and introduced at WWDC in 2012 and renamed to Wallet in 2015.  Apple has been adding features and capabilities to Wallet ever since. Cashiers are no longer amazed when I pay for my groceries by waving my Apple Watch over the terminal and some venues will only use virtual tickets for entry.   I carry my vaccine card, insurance info and a host of credit and debit cards all virtual.  Many hotels now allow virtual keys so many times I do not even have to go to the front desk to check in, the key is sent to my Wallet and the electronic locks recognize me.

Wallet is also where Apple's innovative credit card lives along with Apple Cash that allows you to send and receive cash easily.   If you haven't started using Wallet yet, here is how you can check it out.

Wallet on iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple Watch allows you to easily manage payment cards, boarding passes, tickets, gift cards, and other passes. Wallet is time and location enabled, so passes can be configured to display on the user’s device at the appropriate moment, like when the user reaches the airport or walks into a store. Passes can also be updated with push notifications so, if details change you can simply tap the notification to view the updated pass.

Set up Apple Pay

To set up Wallet for payments you need to set up Apple Pay. You will need

Add Your First Card

If you have all that you need to add your first credit or debit card:

  1. In the Wallet app, tap the Add button .
  2. Tap Debit or Credit Card.
  3. Tap Continue.
  4. Follow the steps on the screen to add a new card. If prompted, choose your bank or card issuer from the list or find them using the search bar. You will have the option to scan your physical credit card or enter the information manually.
  5. Verify your information with your bank or card issuer.  Most cards will send you a quick email to click "agree" and then the card is available. In rare cases,  they might ask you to provide additional information or to download an app before approving your card for use with Apple Pay.
  6. If you have a paired Apple Watch, you have the option to also add the card to your watch.

It is important that you set your default card - the one that will first pop up when you use Wallet.  The first card you add to your Wallet becomes your default card for payments. To set a different card as the default, move it to the front of the stack.

  1. In Wallet, choose your default card.
  2. Touch and hold the card, then drag it to the front of the stack.
  3. To reposition another card, touch and hold it, then drag it to a new location.

Add a Boarding Pass

The process is a bit different to add other items to your Wallet, such as tickets, boarding passes, etc.
  1. Open the app, email, notification, or other communication that contains your boarding pass, ticket, or other pass.
  2. Tap Add to Apple Wallet.
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
  4. If necessary, tap Add in the upper right corner.

When you add a boarding pass, ticket, or other pass to the Wallet app on your iPhone, you automatically add it to the Wallet app on your paired Apple Watch.

Sharing a Pass

You can share some passes and tickets in the Wallet app with other iPhone or Apple Watch users.

  1. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app.
  2. Tap the pass or ticket that you want to share.
  3. Tap the More button .
  4. Tap the Share icon .

If you don't see the share icon, the merchant or company that issued the pass or ticket hasn't enabled sharing in the Wallet app.

Add your Driver's License?

Want to add your driver's license to Apple Wallet? Right now, the Wallet driver's license feature is only available in Arizona and Maryland  but soon Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, and Utah will join the digital driver's license and state ID program and I assume other states will follow suit soon.

 To add your license or ID to Apple Wallet, you need:

 

  • An iPhone 8 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, with the latest version of iOS or watchOS.
  • Face ID or Touch ID turned on.
  • An Apple ID with two-factor authentication turned on.
  • A license or ID from a participating state.
  • Your device region set to United States.

If you have all that here's what you do:

  1. On your iPhone, open the Wallet app.
  2. Tap the Add button .
  3. Tap Driver's License or State ID and choose your state. If your state isn't listed, they might not participate yet.
  4. Choose whether you want to add your license or ID to your iPhone only or to both your iPhone and paired Apple Watch.
  5. Follow the onscreen instructions to scan the front and back of your license or ID.

Next, you need to confirm that you're you.

To prove that you're really you, you're prompted to complete a series of head or facial movements. For example, you might be asked to smile or turn your head to the right. After the movements, you take a selfie. To help this process:

  • Stand in front of a plain background, like a wall with neutral paint.
  • Make sure that you're in a well-lit area with even lighting. Indoors works best.
  • Take off any sunglasses, masks, hats, or other accessories.
  • Hold your iPhone as steady as possible.
  • Hold each movement until your iPhone vibrates.
  • If you can't complete a movement, just tap Try a Different Movement.

When you're ready to send your information to your state issuing authority, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.

Once you have your cards, passes and perhaps your ID in Apple Wallet you are almost ready to use them.  I would suggest that you first visit the Wallet & Apple Pay settings to refine your settings.   Here you can see which cards are listed, add cards and toggle some handy features.

Here you can toggle the double-click on the side button to quickly bring up your default card to pay, hide passes that are expired and if you have an express transit card you can just pull out your phone and wave it at the terminal without waking up the phone.

You can also toggle to use Apple Pay online when you are shopping at vendors that support Apple Pay and allow payments from your Mac, too.  If your vendor is hip you can also add the orders to the Wallet and get notifications about the progress of your order.

I have really only touched the surface of the capabilities of this innovative Apple app.  It has become so much a part of life that I don't know how we did without it!

 
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