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What the new Wallet feature does
Apple announced in June 2026 that iPhone users can create Wallet passes from physical cards, such as library and gym memberships, as well as from screenshots of digital codes. A saved pass can display a barcode or QR code for scanning. You can also create a pass manually in Wallet and choose from templates including standard, membership, and event passes. Apple says fields and appearance can be edited after creation.
On compatible devices, Apple also describes a Siri Mode camera flow that can recognize a card’s barcode or QR code and offer an Add to Wallet control. The feature is about making and presenting a pass; it does not turn Wallet into the card issuer or reproduce every function attached to an account.
When is it genuinely useful?
It is most useful when a store, library, gym, or other organization accepts a stable barcode or QR code, but does not provide an official Wallet pass. Instead of finding the plastic card or opening a separate app, you can keep a scannable copy with your other Wallet items. Apple says a saved pass can also be pinned to Apple Watch Smart Stack, making wrist presentation an option rather than a requirement.
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Before relying on the pass, consider what the original card actually does:
- Static code: A code that stays the same is a reasonable candidate for a self-created pass, provided the issuer accepts it.
- Rotating or expiring code: A photo can become stale. Apple Support warns: “If you take a photo of a barcode or QR code that expires, such as a ticket for a concert, the pass won’t work.”
- Account-linked features: A copy of a code does not by itself carry balances, eligibility, account updates, or the issuer’s other services.
- Issuer-controlled credentials: For event entry, payment, transit, identification, or other credentials managed by an issuer, use its official Wallet integration and follow its directions.
Try a newly created pass during a low-stakes visit while you still have the physical card. That confirms the scanner accepts it without risking being turned away when the card matters.
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How to add a card: photo, screenshot, or manual entry
Use a photo or screenshot
- Take a photo of the physical card or a screenshot showing its barcode or QR code.
- If Wallet offers an Add to Wallet control for that image, tap it and follow the prompts to save the pass.
Apple’s current guide says this photo and screenshot workflow uses Apple Intelligence and requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 model or later. Apple’s separate Siri Mode instructions specify an iPhone 15 Pro or later compatible with Apple Intelligence, the latest iOS, and Visual Intelligence enabled. These are Apple-published requirements for the photo-recognition routes, not a stated requirement for every way of making a pass.
Create a pass manually
- Open Wallet and tap Add Card.
- Choose Create a Pass, then tap Create Pass Manually.
- Select a template, enter the available details, adjust the fields or appearance if needed, and save.
Manual creation is the alternative when the photo workflow is unavailable or not appropriate. The template lets you represent information in Wallet; it does not make a code valid with an issuer that does not accept it.
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Availability and device caveats
Apple Intelligence availability depends on compatible hardware as well as language and region; Apple says its supported languages and regions can change. Apple Support also says Siri AI is in beta in iOS 27 and will not initially be available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Availability may therefore differ by device, software version, language, and location. Check Apple’s current instructions for your setup before depending on the camera-based flow. Apple does not state that the same Apple Intelligence hardware requirement applies to manual pass creation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens to your pass information?
Apple’s Wallet privacy documentation makes a specific distinction for self-created passes: “When you create a pass from your physical cards, photos, or screenshots, Apple cannot see the details of the pass you create.” That statement concerns passes made from cards, photos, or screenshots; it should not be generalized to every pass in Wallet.
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For other added passes, Apple says the device sends information needed to display the pass, including information visible on it, and that the information is associated with your Apple Account while the pass remains in Wallet. A provider may also receive a device identifier for setting up and managing a pass.
Bottom line: a convenient copy, not a universal replacement
If you regularly carry a stable membership or loyalty barcode and its issuer has no Wallet pass, creating one can make that card easier to find and present. It is less useful for changing codes, issuer-managed credentials, or cards whose value depends on account data and updates. Keep the physical card until you have confirmed the pass works where you use it.
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