5 Ways to Use Apple Wallet (Beyond Storing Your Payment Cards)

Apple Wallet is an iPhone app that lets you digitally and conveniently store a variety of cards that you can use to make purchases. The idea is to reduce the size of your physical wallet (or eliminate the need to carry one around altogether) due to the numerous credit, debit, and similar cards you may feel the need to carry with you wherever you go. Once you add a payment card to Apple Wallet, you can essentially use Apple Pay to pay with that card wherever it’s accepted.

While the main benefit of Apple Wallet is its ability to use your iPhone as a quick and easy payment option when you need it, the app is also useful for other purposes. Once you’ve launched the Wallet app, you should be able to see the types of cards you can manually add to it by clicking the “+” symbol. Additionally, some third-party providers may offer the ability to access the necessary identification through Apple Wallet — this is indicated by the Add to Apple Wallet button you may see in the company’s official app or in an email it may send you.

Below are some useful examples of how you can use Apple Wallet on your iPhone, beyond using it as a handy payment tool. Keep in mind that some of these suggestions are only available to iPhone users living in certain regions.

Store your most frequently used loyalty, rewards and membership cards

customer touching iPhone in grocery store

Grace Cary/Getty Images

Instead of carrying all your points-earning cards to coffee shops, grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, retail stores, and the like, you can save some space in your physical wallet by transferring them digitally to Apple Wallet on your iPhone. That way, when you’re ready to pay at the checkout, instead of wasting time rummaging through your bag for the right loyalty or rewards card — only to discover you left it at home or, worse yet, misplaced it — you can simply tap your iPhone near the payment screen, and all your points will be properly registered to your account.

You can add a wide range of loyalty, rewards, and membership cards to Apple Wallet, from airline miles accounts like Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus, to food and drink chain cards like Chipotle and Dunkin’ Donuts, to pharmacy points cards like CVS, and several retail store accounts. You can even add a local library card and attraction memberships like Walt Disney World and the like.

To find out which of your special cards can be added to Apple Wallet, check the company’s official iPhone app to see if a virtual copy of your card is available on your account and can be transferred to the Wallet app, usually marked with an Add to Apple Wallet button. You can also contact the company’s customer service for additional guidance.

Use it to get into ticketed events

You can easily add any type of ticket to Apple Wallet, whether it’s for a concert, sporting event, movie, or other form of entertainment. This eliminates the need to bring a physical ticket or a printed one to the venue and the risk of it being lost or taken and used by someone else. As long as you have your iPhone with you, event ticket holders can scan your mobile ticket saved in the Wallet app and grant you admission.

If the show or event you’re buying tickets for has a mobile ticketing option, you should be able to add it to your Apple Wallet once you’ve completed your order. You may need to access the app from the company you bought your tickets from—such as Ticketmaster—or tap the Add to Apple Wallet button in your ticket confirmation email. Keep in mind that in most cases, once you’ve selected the mobile ticketing option, you won’t be able to switch to another ticket delivery option.

Carry a digital version of your ID with you

Soon, any iPhone user in the U.S. will be able to add their driver’s license to Apple Wallet and use it at select TSA checkpoints as a way to verify their identity and get through airport security. For now, only people with IDs from Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Ohio can add their driver’s license to Apple Wallet on their iPhone, but more should join the growing list.

If you have an employee ID at work that you use to enter the building, pay for meals at the company cafeteria, or access workout facilities, you can add it to Apple Wallet, too. Check with your company’s HR department to see if your office has this capability. Keep in mind that if so, you’ll need an eligible iPhone with the latest version of iOS for this to work.

Likewise, some participating colleges and universities may also allow students to add their student ID to Apple Wallet. In addition to using it to enter the school itself, it can also serve as an access card for dorms, the library, and other school-approved activities. You can also use it to pay for food, school supplies, and services sold and provided on campus. To find out if you can do this, visit your school’s card office for information.

Travel and commute with greater ease

Most airlines offer mobile boarding passes instead of physical plane tickets. Unless you’re carrying a lot of luggage, you save time standing in line at the airport to check in. The same goes for train tickets. When you book your trip, choose the mobile ticket option, if available. Once you’ve completed your order, you should see an Add to Apple Wallet button on your confirmation screen or in the confirmation email you receive. Once you’ve added your boarding pass to Apple Wallet, simply present your iPhone at your designated gate so it can be scanned before boarding.

You can also store public transit passes in Apple Wallet. In the United States, this includes the Clipper card for those living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the SmarTrip card for commuters in Washington, D.C., and the Tap card for getting around the Los Angeles area. There are also other public transit options in other countries, such as Canada, mainland China, France, Hong Kong, and Japan.

If you’re trying to add a new public transport card to Apple Wallet and don’t see a local option for your region, you can try paying with a saved debit or credit card, provided the mode of transport accepts one of these payment methods.

Use it as a car, hotel or home key

You can use your iPhone to control your car via Apple Wallet. Using NFC, you can touch your iPhone to your car door handle to unlock it. Once you’re in the car, simply place your iPhone on the charging pad and press the car’s start button to start your drive. Depending on your car model, you can securely share your digital car key with others via messaging apps or AirDrop. You have control over the level of permissions associated with your car key, as well as how long it remains active.

For now, only 34 car models support using car keys through Apple Wallet, including vehicles manufactured by BMW, BYD, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, and RAM. To find out if your car supports Apple Wallet Car Key, contact your car manufacturer or dealer for more information.

You can also use it to get into your hotel. To date, more than 200 Hyatt hotels and resorts support Apple Wallet’s room key feature. You can use it to bypass the front desk, check in with your digital key, and unlock your room as soon as it’s ready. Once you’ve booked your stay, you can add your room key to your Apple Wallet using the Hyatt app. If you have an Apple Watch, it’ll be automatically added to it, too.

While Hyatt is the most prominent hotel group to adopt Apple Wallet’s digital room key feature, other companies may have the technology available as well. Check with your specific hotel or its official app to see if the Add to Apple Wallet feature is available. Finally, if you have a compatible smart lock installed at home, you can use Apple Wallet to unlock your door and get in instead of a physical key.