iOS 27 could let you add custom passes to Apple Wallet, which might spell the end for physical cards

Date:
Tue, 05 May 2026 09:24:14 +0000

Description:
iOS 26.5 is almost here and Apple has confirmed three major features that
will be included, but a rumored iOS 27 Wallet upgrade is even more exciting.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter iOS 26.5 could launch imminently, and it includes end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging It also includes Suggested Places in Apple Maps and a new wallpaper Later this year, with iOS 27, Apple Wallet might get support for custom passes There are some big features coming to iOS this year, and some of them could arrive very
soon. Apple has just released the first iOS 26.5 RC (Release Candidate)
build, and in the changelog, the company has detailed three significant upgrades coming to your iPhone.

That build is a near-final version of the software, so its arrival means the finished version of iOS 26.5 could land in the next week or so, and it should be worth the wait, as one of the highlighted features is end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging, which has been a long time coming. This basically adds full encryption when using the Messages app to communicate with Android users, so its a major security upgrade. That said, the feature will launch in beta initially, and Apple adds that its available with supported carriers and will roll out over time. Article continues below You may like iOS 26.5 beta contains bad news for Siri and Apple Maps but there's a major privacy bonus for iPhone messaging iOS 26.4 is here these are 5 best upgrades for your iPhone iOS 26.4 will bring these 5 upgrades to your iPhone, but not the new Siri

As well as that, this update also includes a Pride Luminance wallpaper that dynamically refracts a spectrum of colors, and Suggested Places will be added to Apple Maps, with this new section providing recommendations of trending spots nearby, as well as of things based on your recent searches. Suggested Places in an iOS 26.5 beta (Image credit: MacRumors) A bigger feature is coming later But while these certainly sound like promising features, Im more excited about iOS 27 , as that will reportedly add an Apple Wallet feature that lets you create custom passes.

This is something that was first rumored a while back, but now Mark Gurman at Bloomberg (via MacRumors ) has provided more details on it.

Supposedly, this feature will be called Create a Pass, and it will let you scan the QR code on passes or tickets to add those to Apple Wallet. That
means if you have something that includes a QR code but lacks native Apple Wallet support, it can easily be added. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

But if theres no QR code, youll still seemingly be able to create a custom pass instead. This will apparently work for tickets, memberships, gift cards, and more, and different types of passes will be assigned a different color, with blue being used for memberships, purple for events, and orange for all other types of passes. Youll then be able to customize the text and images.

So, it sounds like, with this feature, physical cards could soon be a thing
of the past. Already, most of my cards and tickets end up in Apple Wallet,
and Create a Pass could allow a workaround for the few holdouts that dont support it.

Theres no guarantee that this feature will arrive with iOS 27, but this
report suggests it will. In which case, we should see it soon, as iOS 27 is likely to be announced at WWDC 2026 on June 8 though it probably wont be finished until September. Today's best iPhone deals Contract Deals Sim Free gift Apple iPhone 17 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 10GB data 19 upfront 34.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices Apple iPhone 17 Pro
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/ios/ios-27-could-let-you-add-custom-passes-to -apple-wallet-which-might-spell-the-end-for-physical-cards


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