iOS 15 Wallet Guide: Everything You Need to Know

[jaytv111]

I could never leave all those items home. Imagine at the border or airport and you get ready to flash your ID and the phone freezes or battery dies.

Then what happens?

Sure a run to the local store is fine for pay but I want my personal ID on me.

26,000 mAH external batteries, man. It will change your travel. No dead phones for at least 4 days. Stream video all you want, use GPS all you want, internet, etc. I would never have a dead phone at an airport, so long as I kept my large battery charged.

That said, it’s wise to keep plastic cards in carry-on as a backup. Also regular passports are required for international travel and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

 

[400]

Paper backup all the way at airports or where it is very important. Still carry plastic though Apple Pay is handy, it is not a universally accepted method and that tech can still fail (my 6s was terrible at this). Keyless car entry, trying to get away from that until they sort out the thefts due to the systems and at the moment it looks high end cars only?

 

[RadioHedgeFund]

These are all great additions. The wallet app is one of the best things about iOS and I use it every day.

I can’t help but think Apple has its sights on the wrong side of the pond though. From the comments above, the USA seems like a ponderous giant at rolling out societal tech upgrades whereas Europe does it faster.

It wouldn’t have been hard for Apple to negotiate with the EU and UK on digital ID’s or workplace ones at all.

 

[ghanwani]

I don't use the wallet app, so not of interest to me. I've always had concerns about security, but now I'm concerned about privacy as well.

 

[dentontay]

"In the United States, Apple is working with state authorities to allow iPhone users to add their driver's license or state ID card to the Wallet app, which would allow digital IDs to be used in lieu of a physical ID card."

Just what I want to do, hand over my entire phone to the nice officah who wants my license and registration...

 

[The Game 161]

Like the fact COVID pass can be used in the apple wallet.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Not my experience at all. My iPhone has been my only key for my car and home for over a year without issue. I don’t own ANY keys, and I don’t carry a wallet just my ID and one card… and looking forward to getting rid of them!

This is my general experience too.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Why would it need a photo? It has a name and a bar code… your ID has a phot if necessary.

Is this really not obvious?

Fraud prevention. Paper certs without a picture are ripe for fraud as they are a magnitude easier to forge.

Just this week US CBP intercepted a shipment of fake vaccine cards.

Requiring two pieces of ID to be checked by a person who was hired for a service job adds friction, delay, error, inattention, disinterest, perfunctory review, etc.

Most folks making the review (restaurants, cinema, etc.) will prefer not to be the heavy and will prefer to get onto their primary business function.

 

[Robert.Walter]

I don't use the wallet app, so not of interest to me. I've always had concerns about security, but now I'm concerned about privacy as well.

LoL. You are worried about the he wrong thing my friend. In this case you avoid the superior practical snd superior security solution over extensive unrealistic and illusory fears.

Apple created a big big brother issue regarding CSAM scanning but the info you put into wallet is available to the cops from your bank and credit card issuers, etc already.

you are just forgoing security and convenience to protect against nothing.

 

[Robert.Walter]

"In the United States, Apple is working with state authorities to allow iPhone users to add their driver's license or state ID card to the Wallet app, which would allow digital IDs to be used in lieu of a physical ID card."

Just what I want to do, hand over my entire phone to the nice officah who wants my license and registration...

That’s not how this is likely to work.

 

[macgabe]

Shame you can't import EU vax pass into it. Hundreds of millions of people need to produce their vaccine certificates, this is a perfect use case.

 

[ElectricPotato]

Get a watch. Then you have redundancy.

Remotely readable documentation embedded in your body is harder to lose. An indicator can be placed in the palm of your hand. If it blinks red when buying a latte, a friendly Sandman will be dispatched to assist.

 

[827538]

I saw the Bolt on Amazon, and I liked it but I think my issue if I recall, was that it didn't support the watch if you didn't have your phone. I have a lot of trails near me and it would be cool to be able to just take my watch.

But, I like the idea of the touch because then I can give the cards to guests so they can go for hikes on their own.

HMMMMM.

I like the idea of only taking my watch too. I fully expect them to update the lock eventually to support Apple’s new keys.

 

[kerr]

Shame you can't import EU vax pass into it. Hundreds of millions of people need to produce their vaccine certificates, this is a perfect use case.

Australia added this two weeks ago #handy

Add proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay

You can now add your COVID-19 digital certificate to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay on your device for easy storage.

www.servicesaustralia.gov.au

 

[DailySlow]

It seems like adding a copy of Covid vaccination cards is an obvious and very timely miss here, especially since those cards (at least here in MA) are just too big to conveniently carry in a regular wallet. Why they didn't design them to be the same size as a credit card completely puzzles me.

I get the privacy concerns, but I think they're largely overblown in regards to this feature as all the companies pretty much already know where we're going and what we're buying at this point.

I use Apple Pay on my Apple Watch as often as I can because the convenience is really nice. Some of the Speedway gas stations have started accepting Apple Pay recently, so using it at gas stations is starting to become a reality.

I use a note in notes app that includes photos of both sides of CDC (Virginia) vax cert card, a photo of my printed vax record, a screensot of most recent test results / pin note in the app so it’s easy to access.
I really like the transit cards that work in wallet (the SFBay Area Clipper card) but for backup keep photo of original plastic card. It’s very important (going all wallet or not) to store your card/account info though so you are not totally hapless/screwed if/when your phone is misplaced. Replacing wallet items from scratch can mean a day of toil.

 

[nawk]

How expired passes weren't archived from day one is beyond me. But it'll be nice to finally have it.

I flew a lot pre-Covid and it was a pain managing old boarding passes. The manager in charge of Apple Wallet really needed a good dressing down because this person had obviously never really used the product they were in charge of.

 

[DblHelix]

Based upon the reliability of Apple pay I can't see leaving any of these "replaced" items behind. Pay works much of the time but then it doesn't at a certain register at a certain store. Go on a trip and count on my phone having all the doc - oops I dropped my phone and now I don't have any those docs. I know I could lose my wallet and have similar issues but I just don't think we are there yet.

What issues. I use Apple Pay about 90% of all purchases and never have issues ever.

 

[justperry]

There's a (very) cheap way to get any action done with homekit/siri support.

I am able to unlock my door(s) with cheap €10 shelly devices, upload custom Homekit enabled firmware
onto the shelly...*done.


*Done= Installing an electronic lock, mine was about €50 + 24 Volt Supply which I already had for LED lighting.

I live in an appartement complex with 14 apartments, none of them are able to unlock the main door with their phones, I soldered two wires parallel to the open button on my intercom, next I inserted a €10 shelly, upload custom firmware...done, cost...€10 instead of €360 for a Urmet remote video opener, yes, it comes with video, no need for that, save €340.

Moral of the above: Even unlocking/starting a car is possible, not even that hard.

 

[Konigi]

Apple is hoping to replace standard physical keys with digital versions

Replace? That's a strong statement. Perhaps just offer an alternative to? Another option?

 

[nardobenz]

Is there a way to add it yet on beta 5?

 

[danny842003]

Based upon the reliability of Apple pay I can't see leaving any of these "replaced" items behind. Pay works much of the time but then it doesn't at a certain register at a certain store. Go on a trip and count on my phone having all the doc - oops I dropped my phone and now I don't have any those docs. I know I could lose my wallet and have similar issues but I just don't think we are there yet.

reliability? I’ve not used cash or a physical bank card for a long time. I have my drivers licence in the state app and haven’t used a wallet for ages.
never had issues with it being unreliable.

 

[danny842003]

It seems like adding a copy of Covid vaccination cards is an obvious and very timely miss here, especially since those cards (at least here in MA) are just too big to conveniently carry in a regular wallet. Why they didn't design them to be the same size as a credit card completely puzzles me.

I get the privacy concerns, but I think they're largely overblown in regards to this feature as all the companies pretty much already know where we're going and what we're buying at this point.

I use Apple Pay on my Apple Watch as often as I can because the convenience is really nice. Some of the Speedway gas stations have started accepting Apple Pay recently, so using it at gas stations is starting to become a reality.

I have my covid certificate in my Apple wallet. Just requires your state or whoever to implement it.

 

[Ori]

Apple in iOS 15 is taking another step toward replacing the traditional wallet, adding several new features to its digital Wallet app that will allow people to leave their physical cards and keys behind.

This guide highlights all of the new features that are coming to the Wallet app in iOS 15, but it's worth noting that many of them rely on third-party companies and services adopting Wallet support.

Digital IDs

In the United States, Apple is working with state authorities to allow iPhone users to add their driver's license or state ID card to the Wallet app, which would allow digital IDs to be used in lieu of a physical ID card.

Apple is also working with the TSA to allow digital ID cards to be used at TSA checkpoints, with the digital ID able to be shown to a TSA agent prior to boarding a plane.

ID cards stored on the iPhone are also able to be brought up on an Apple Watch.

Apple says that digital ID cards will roll out to select states first, but we don't yet know which states. Apple has to secure agreements with each individual state to allow the Wallet to be used to store an ID card or driver's license, and it will take some time for states to agree to the feature.

Key Storage

With iOS 15, Apple is hoping to replace standard physical keys with digital versions that can be used right from the Wallet app.

All of these key features require partner companies to implement support, and these are not features that will be immediately available when iOS 15 launches.

Homes

Companies that make HomeKit-compatible locks can add support for a Wallet-based house key that can be used to tap to unlock HomeKit door locks.

Home keys will be available in the Wallet app and can be accessed on iPhone and Apple Watch.

Offices

Corporate offices can also implement digital keys for the Wallet app, allowing employees to unlock doors with a tap of an iPhone or an Apple Watch instead of requiring a corporate badge for location access.

Hotels

Participating hotels that use digital keys can allow customers to add those keys to the Wallet app after making a reservation, allowing them to bypass the lobby.

The digital hotel key stored in the Wallet app can be used to unlock a hotel room. After checkout, the hotel room key is automatically archived.

Cars

Apple already introduced a Car Keys feature that lets you unlock your car with a key stored in the Wallet app, but in iOS 15, Apple is implementing Ultra Wideband support for precise spatial awareness.

Improved spatial awareness prevents an iPhone from being locked in a car or a car from starting when the iPhone isn't inside.

iOS 15 also adds support for locking or unlocking the car, honking the horn, preheating the car, or opening the trunk with control options that are located in the Wallet app when you're nearby your vehicle.

BMW is the only car manufacturer that has implemented Car Keys support at the current time, and this feature needs to be adopted by car manufacturers to work.

Archived Passes

Expired boarding passes and event tickets are automatically removed from the Wallet app and housed in an "Expired" section so you no longer need to manually take them out or deal with the clutter of old passes.

"Hide Expired Passes" is an option in the Wallet & Apple Pay section of the Settings app that is toggled on by default, but can also be turned off if you want to keep your passes.

Multiple-Pass Downloads

Safari lets you download multiple passes to the Wallet app in one go, so if you buy movie or zoo tickets for the whole family, you can download them to Wallet all at once rather than having to do so one pass at a time.

Feedback

Have questions about the new Wallet app features in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Article Link: What's New With the iOS 15 Wallet App: ID Support, Home Keys, Car Keys, Archived Passes and More

How expired passes weren’t deleted until now is beyond me.
As for car digital keys…..well BMW aren’t even installing those anymore due to silicon shortage. Could be a while before they do…..

 

[Daniel B]

 

[mansplains]

Gas stations gas stations gas stations!!!! In the past year I have come across ONE gas station that accepts Apple Pay. I don’t get it.

Hardly any gas station pump readers even support chips on cards. I usually just go inside and pay with Apple Pay, if it's available then it's inside and not usually at the pump in my experience.