Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
In Greater Manchester, you can create a digital Bee Card directly in Apple Wallet: open Wallet, tap +, choose Travel Card, select Bee Card, tap Continue, then buy an eligible ticket. The same process is available in Wallet on a compatible Apple Watch.
This creates a new digital Bee Card. A physical Bee Card cannot be transferred into Apple Wallet, and the Wallet card stores Bee Network tickets rather than cash value.
Check compatibility before you start
TfGM’s Apple Wallet guidance, checked on 13 October 2026, lists the following minimum requirements. Model and operating-system requirements can change, so check the current TfGM guidance if the Travel Card option is missing.
| Device | Minimum model | Minimum software |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone SE (2nd generation) or iPhone 11 and later | iOS 27 or later |
| Apple Watch | Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) or Apple Watch Series 8 and later | watchOS 27 or later |
You also need an Apple device with Wallet available, an internet connection for setup and ticket purchase, and a supported payment method for the purchase screen. The device must be charged enough to present the ticket at a bus or tram reader.
#1 Best Overall
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/416RQ0rtsUL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
A Wallet Bee Card is separate from a plastic Bee Card
TfGM does not support importing an existing physical Bee Card into Wallet. The Wallet version is a separate digital card, and its tickets must be purchased in Wallet. If you already use a plastic card, keep using it; adding Bee Card in Wallet will not copy its remaining tickets or balance.
There is no cash balance in Wallet
The Wallet Bee Card holds the supported ticket products listed below. TfGM says you cannot add cash value to it. You can, however, buy more than one ticket on the same Wallet Bee Card.
Add a Bee Card to Apple Wallet on iPhone
Follow this path on the iPhone that you intend to use when travelling:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Open the Wallet app.
- Tap the + button.
- Choose Travel Card from the card types.
- Select Bee Card. If it is not immediately visible, use the search field and search by card name or location.
- Tap Continue.
- Choose the ticket you want to buy from the available Bee Network products.
- Complete the onscreen purchase and confirmation steps. The ticket is then added to the Bee Card in Wallet.
The first ticket purchase creates the Bee Card and loads that ticket. You do not need to obtain a physical card first, and there is no separate card-number transfer step.
What to check on the purchase screen
- Read the ticket name and validity before confirming, especially when choosing between bus-only, tram-only and combined products.
- Confirm that the zones and family or off-peak wording match your journey.
- Keep the purchase confirmation until you have verified that the ticket appears on the Bee Card in Wallet.
Add a Bee Card to Apple Wallet on Apple Watch
You can set up the card directly on a compatible watch:
Rank #2
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31caPPnRysL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
- Open Wallet on the Apple Watch.
- Tap the three-dot button.
- Tap Add Card, then choose Travel Card.
- Select Bee Card.
- Tap Continue.
- Choose an eligible ticket and follow the prompts to purchase and add it.
Depending on your Apple Watch setup, you may be asked to authenticate with the paired iPhone or Apple Account payment details. Finish that authentication before leaving the purchase flow.
Which Bee Network tickets are available in Wallet?
TfGM lists these products for a Bee Card in Apple Wallet:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Ticket | What the name indicates |
|---|---|
| 1-day Bee Bus | One-day bus ticket |
| 1-day Bee Bus Family – off-peak | Family bus ticket restricted to off-peak validity |
| 7-day Bee Bus | Seven-day bus ticket |
| Weekend Tram – all zones | Weekend tram ticket covering all zones |
| 7-day Tram – all zones | Seven-day tram ticket covering all zones |
| Weekend Tram Family – all zones | Family weekend tram ticket covering all zones |
| 1-day Bus + Tram – all zones | One-day combined bus and tram ticket covering all zones |
| 7-day Bus + Tram – all zones | Seven-day combined bus and tram ticket covering all zones |
Availability, names and terms are controlled by TfGM. If a ticket is not shown in your Wallet flow, do not substitute a similarly named product without checking its transport mode, zone coverage and validity.
Use the Wallet Bee Card on buses and trams
At a bus reader
Hold the top of the iPhone near the bus reader, or hold the Apple Watch display near it. Wait for the checkmark and the “Done” confirmation on the device and for the reader to accept the tap.
At a tram platform
Present the top of the iPhone or the Apple Watch at the platform reader before boarding. Tap again when leaving the tram platform. The tap-out is part of the tram journey process even when your ticket was bought in advance.
Rank #3
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Starlight Aluminum Case with Starlight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31YiTby0pOL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
Keep the device isolated while tapping
Separate the phone or watch from physical bank cards, travel cards and other contactless cards. Two cards held together can cause an unintended simultaneous read or make it unclear which payment method was used.
Understand Express Mode and card selection
The first Bee Card added to Apple Wallet has Express Mode enabled by default. With Express Mode, you normally do not need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID for every transport tap.
If Wallet contains both a valid Bee ticket and a payment card, TfGM says the reader selects the Bee Card first. That is useful when you intend to use a pre-purchased ticket, but it can be surprising if you meant to pay contactlessly with your bank card.
Make a payment card the Express option
- Open Wallet and select the payment card you want to use for contactless travel.
- Enable Express Mode for that payment card using the card’s settings.
- Open the Bee Card’s settings and disable Express Mode for the Bee Card.
- At the next reader, present only the device and check the confirmation so you know which method was used.
The exact settings labels can vary with Apple software versions. The important rule is that only the intended card should have Express Mode enabled for the journey.
Wallet Bee tickets versus Apple Pay contactless travel
These are two different ways to use an Apple device on the Bee Network. A Wallet Bee Card contains a ticket bought in advance. Apple Pay contactless uses a bank card or its device token as the payment method.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #4
![Apple Watch SE 3 [GPS 40mm] Smartwatch with Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band - S/M. Fitness and Sleep Trackers, Heart Rate Monitor, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Gq8SToFJL._SL160_.jpg)
- GET SMARTER HEALTH INSIGHTS—Apple Watch SE 3 is an advanced health tracker that helps you better understand your body. The smartwatch sends alerts for an irregular heart rhythm, or an unusually high or low heart rate.* You can view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app,* track your sleep score, and get sleep apnea notifications.*
- A GREAT FITNESS TRACKER—SE 3 can track your workouts in a healthy number of ways—from running and strength training to simply achieving your 10K steps a day. With real-time metrics and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone,* you’ll hit your goals like never before.
- KEEP HELP CLOSE AT HAND—SE 3 is a smartwatch that can detect a hard fall or severe car crash and automatically help connect you to emergency services and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- WOMEN’S HEALTH INSIGHTS—SE 3 has advanced sensors that track your wrist temperature while you sleep. With this smartwatch, you can log your periods and symptoms, get period predictions, and get notified of cycle deviations.*
- GREAT BATTERY LIFE AND FASTER CHARGING—Enjoy a smartwatch with all-day, 18-hour battery life* from sunup to sundown. Then charge up to twice as fast as SE 2* and get up to 8 hours of battery in just 15 minutes.*
| Question | Bee Card ticket in Wallet | Apple Pay contactless |
|---|---|---|
| Is a ticket bought before travel? | Yes. Select and purchase a supported Bee ticket in Wallet. | No separate ticket purchase; the bank card is charged under contactless rules. |
| What does Wallet select? | The Bee Card, normally through its default Express Mode setting. | The payment card or device token that you have configured for contactless use. |
| Bus tapping | Tap the device when boarding and wait for the acceptance confirmation. | Tap the same card or device when boarding. |
| Tram tapping | Tap in and tap out at the platform readers. | Tap in and tap out at the platform readers. |
| Fare capping | The purchased ticket has its own stated validity; it is not a contactless cap. | TfGM says daily or weekly capping depends on using the same card or device consistently. |
| Cash value | Not available on the Wallet Bee Card. | Charges are made to the selected bank card under contactless payment rules. |
Do not assume that tapping a bank card after adding Bee Card will use the Bee ticket, or that buying a Bee ticket activates contactless fare capping. Choose one method deliberately for each journey.
Move the Bee Card between iPhone and Apple Watch
TfGM says a Bee Card can be moved between an iPhone and Apple Watch through the Watch app and authentication prompts. Moving it is different from creating a second independent card.
- Open the Watch app on the paired iPhone.
- Open the Wallet or card-management area and select the Bee Card.
- Choose the option to move or add the card to the other device.
- Complete the authentication prompts.
- Open Wallet on the destination device and verify that the Bee Card and its ticket are present before travelling.
Apple’s labels can change between iOS and watchOS releases. If the transfer control is not shown, update both devices where supported, keep them near each other, and confirm that you are using the same paired Watch configuration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Ticket validity, expiry and multiple purchases
Expiry time
TfGM defines the Wallet ticket expiry as the end of service at 3:59 a.m. on the shown expiry date. The date displayed in Wallet is therefore not a promise that travel remains valid until midnight. If you will still be travelling after 3:59 a.m., renew the ticket or buy another valid product before continuing.
More than one ticket
TfGM allows more than one ticket on a single Wallet Bee Card. Before tapping, open the card and check which ticket is active or valid for the trip. Having several tickets does not turn them into cash or combine incompatible zone and mode restrictions.
Best Value
![Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 42mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - S/M. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41s72HIk5TL._SL160_.jpg)
- A FULL-FEATURED HEALTH TRACKER—Apple Watch Series 11 gives you invaluable insights about your body, right from your wrist. Take an ECG anytime* and get alerts for a high and low heart rate or an irregular rhythm*—so you can stay closer to your heart. You can also view your overnight health tracking metrics with the Vitals app* and be notified of possible sleep apnea.*
- KNOW YOUR SLEEP SCORE—With advanced sleep tracking, Series 11 gives you a daily sleep score. It’s an easy way to help measure and understand the quality of your sleep, so you can make it more restorative.
- GET HYPERTENSION NOTIFICATIONS—Did you know that Series 11 can spot signs of chronic high blood pressure? By analyzing how your blood vessels respond to beats of the heart, it can notify you of possible hypertension.*
- SAFETY FEATURES—A smartwatch that puts your safety first. Series 11 can detect a hard fall or severe car crash, automatically help connect you with emergency services, and notify your emergency contacts.* Check In can automatically notify a loved one when you’ve arrived at your destination.
- A POWERFUL FITNESS TRACKER—With advanced metrics and motivating features like Pacer, Heart Rate Zones, training load, and Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence from your nearby iPhone*—Series 11 is made to help everyone stay active, from runners and hikers to strength-training enthusiasts.
Family and off-peak restrictions
Products containing “Family” or “off-peak” in their names carry those restrictions. Read the product description at purchase rather than assuming that a family ticket is valid at every time or that a bus ticket covers tram travel.
Troubleshoot common setup and travel problems
Bee Card does not appear under Travel Card
- Check that the iPhone or Apple Watch meets TfGM’s listed model and software requirements.
- Confirm that Wallet is available on the device and that you have an internet connection during setup.
- Search for “Bee Card” by name or location in the Travel Card picker.
- Reopen Wallet after updating the operating system, then try the add-card flow again.
You expected an existing physical card to appear
That is not supported. The Wallet setup creates a separate digital Bee Card, so any physical-card tickets or balance remain on the physical card.
The ticket purchase completed but the card is not visible
- Reopen Wallet and select the Bee Card.
- Check whether the purchase confirmation or ticket entry is still processing.
- Verify that the device is online and signed in to the Apple payment setup used for the purchase.
- Do not immediately buy the same ticket again if the first transaction may have succeeded; check the card and transaction record first.
- If the ticket still does not appear, contact TfGM or the payment support channel shown in the transaction rather than presenting an unverified payment card at the reader.
The reader rejects the tap
- Hold the top of the iPhone or the Apple Watch display close to the reader for a moment longer.
- Look for the checkmark and “Done” confirmation.
- Remove nearby physical cards and other contactless devices.
- Confirm that the ticket is valid for the mode, zones and time of travel.
- On a tram, make sure you tapped in at the start and are tapping out at the correct platform reader.
The wrong card is being charged
Review Express Mode. If the Bee Card and a bank card are both configured for Express Mode, change the preferred card before travelling and present only the intended device. If you meant to use a Bee ticket, leave Express Mode enabled on Bee Card and verify its ticket before tapping.
The Apple Watch cannot use the card
Check that the watch meets the listed minimum model and watchOS version, that it is unlocked and worn as configured, and that the Bee Card appears in Wallet on the watch rather than only on the iPhone. If the card was moved, authenticate the transfer again through the paired iPhone’s Watch app.
Other ways to pay or buy Bee Network travel
TfGM also lists the Bee Network app, smart cards, cash and card payments as alternatives. Choose the method that matches how you want to manage tickets:
- Use the Bee Network app when you prefer to purchase and display tickets in the transport app rather than Wallet.
- Use a smart card when you need a non-phone travel card.
- Use cash where accepted and appropriate for the service.
- Use ordinary contactless payment when you want pay-as-you-go travel and the applicable daily or weekly cap.
TfGM’s visitor guidance advises contactless users to use the same card or device for all journeys so capping can be calculated consistently. Apple-device users can also buy bus and tram tickets in Wallet, but that pre-purchased-ticket route remains distinct from contactless pay-as-you-go.
Quick Recap
Before you leave: a practical check
- Confirm your iPhone or Apple Watch meets the current TfGM compatibility list.
- Open Wallet and verify that Bee Card is present.
- Open the card and check the ticket name, mode, zones, restrictions and expiry.
- Decide whether you are using the Bee ticket or a bank card for this journey.
- Set Express Mode accordingly.
- Keep physical cards away from the device while tapping.
- For tram travel, plan to tap out when leaving the platform.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
