Turn membership cards into digital passes on your phone
Apple, Samsung, and Google have added new features that let users turn physical membership and loyalty cards into digital passes, easing the temptation to carry an ever‑growing stack of plastic.
Apple’s iOS 27 lets users add any barcode‑ or QR‑code card
With the launch of iOS 27, iPhone owners can now create a pass in Apple Wallet from a photograph, screenshot, or even a photo taken directly in the app. The feature, powered by Apple Intelligence, scans the image for a readable code and offers to add a new pass to the user’s Wallet.
The function works on the latest iPhone models that support Apple Intelligence, including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 series and later. Availability can vary by language and region, so users may need to check their device settings.
“Apple is giving iPhone owners more control over that process,” says a technology analyst. “It fixes a surprisingly annoying limitation.”
After a pass is created, users can edit its appearance, swap out fields, or delete information they don’t need. They can also tap “View Original Photo” to see the image that was used.
The feature is aimed at cards that rely on a single static barcode or QR code, such as library cards, gym memberships, loyalty cards, and parking passes. It is not designed for sensitive credentials such as driver’s licenses, credit cards, or secure work badges, and the software explicitly warns that a photo‑based pass is not an official replacement.
Samsung Wallet expands its membership support
Samsung Galaxy owners can add barcode‑based membership cards to Samsung Wallet, a feature that has been available for several years. The app can import almost any card that the user can capture with a photo or scan directly from the device’s camera. The barcode then appears on the screen for scanning at a cashier or other reader.
Samsung also supports built‑in membership cards that have been pre‑loaded into Wallet by the issuer. The menu labels differ slightly depending on the Galaxy model and the version of Samsung Wallet, but the process is similar: select the card in Wallet, and the barcode is displayed for use.
Google Wallet on Pixel adds a similar capability
Google Pixel phones running the latest software can create passes in Google Wallet from an image that contains a barcode or QR code. When a user opens the pass, the barcode can be scanned by a reader. Users can also view the original image that was used to create the pass by tapping the “More” button in the upper right corner.
Google provides an “Everything else” option that lets users create a pass from any photo, even if it doesn’t contain a barcode, by manually editing the information before adding it. The company lists library cards, gym passes, and parking passes as common examples.
Practical use cases and caveats
Both Apple and Google note that the feature is best suited for low‑risk cards that the issuer verifies by scanning a static code. If the organization uses dynamic codes that change for each transaction—common for event tickets or certain loyalty programs—an image‑based pass may not work. Likewise, the feature does not support payments, and users should use the issuer’s official “Add to Wallet” button where available.
Security experts recommend keeping a physical copy of any card that might be required in a situation where a digital version could fail to be read, such as a driver’s license or a high‑value payment card. “A photo‑based pass is not a substitute for an official digital credential,” notes a privacy analyst.
What this means for consumers
The new capability means that people who previously had to keep a library card, gym membership, or parking pass in their wallet may now be able to remove it altogether. The process is quick and can be done from a single photo, making it an attractive option for those looking to declutter.
“It’s one of those rare phone features that can help you regardless of which of the big three you carry,” says a tech reviewer. “Just remember that a photo‑based pass and an official digital credential are very different things.”
Looking ahead
While Apple, Samsung, and Google all provide ways to turn physical cards into digital passes, the companies are clear that the best practice remains to use the official add‑to‑wallet links offered by the card issuers when available. Until that integration becomes ubiquitous, the new photo‑based feature offers a practical stop‑gap for everyday membership cards, helping users keep fewer cards in their pockets and more in their pockets.