How I Finally Managed to Add Tickets to My Apple Wallet (Eventually)
This might sound obvious now, but I spent way too long chasing this down, so sharing in case it helps someone else. Basically, adding tickets—whether it’s a boarding pass, concert entry, or just some other pass—feels straightforward but can get weird in practice. Usually, the main thing is locating that “Add to Apple Wallet” button somewhere—email, app, or website—and tapping it. Simple, right? Well, not always.
Tracking Down the Ticket or Pass
Start by hunting through your email inbox. Like most people, I get tickets through Gmail, Outlook, or whatever I use—most of the time, from airlines, event organizers, or ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster or Eventbrite. These emails typically have an obvious button or link, often with a shiny icon or just plain text—saying “Add to Apple Wallet.” Sometimes, it’s right in the email body; other times, it’s hidden as an attachment or tucked inside the app for the service.
For tickets from apps—if you’re using, say, Delta or United’s app—you’ll need to open that app and find the ticket. Usually, those apps offer a button labeled “Add to Wallet” on the ticket page. Sometimes it appears before you even buy, especially in airline apps, so don’t give up if you don’t see it immediately. Check again after confirming your booking. My old ASUS, for example, buried the option somewhere in Advanced menus, but on newer iOS devices, it’s usually a lot closer to the surface.
Clicking That Magic “Add” Button in Email or App
Once you find that “Add to Apple Wallet” button—whether in email or within the app—just tap it. I’ve seen it sometimes open a tiny web view, or redirect straight to the Wallet app. Make sure your iPhone is unlocked, connected to Wi-Fi or cellular, and ready. If it seems unresponsive, long-pressing the link and opening it in Safari (or another browser) sometimes helps. Also, be aware that if your device is running an older iOS version—like anything below 12—you might hit compatibility issues. Check your iOS version in Settings; Apple’s features tend to require 12 or newer.
When you tap that button, expect a redirect or a prompt, usually at the top or center of the screen, saying “Add” or displaying the ticket details. Tap that, and if everything goes right, your ticket or pass gets added to your Wallet. If nothing happens or the option to add is grayed out, double-check that your iOS is up to date, and that Wallet & Apple Pay are enabled in Settings > Wallet.
Verifying the Ticket’s Safe in Wallet
Afterward, go back to your home screen and open your Wallet app—either via its icon or through Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay. Usually, the new ticket should appear at the top, pending or upcoming. Sometimes, these get organized by date or can be searched using keywords. It honestly feels pretty slick once it’s working—no more digging through PDFs or QR codes stored somewhere else. But of course, it’s not foolproof. They sometimes don’t sync right away or go missing if there was a hiccup in the process.
If the ticket doesn’t show up immediately, it’s worth confirming you used the correct email or source link. Also, verify that your device’s iOS version is current—older systems sometimes lack support for newer Wallet features. Restarting your device can sometimes fix glitches, too. Something about cache or temporary bugs, I guess. If you’re still having trouble, checking restrictions in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions can sometimes block Wallet features.
Some Final Tips & Troubleshooting Hell
If the elusive “Add to Wallet” button isn’t appearing, a few things to try: Double-check you’re looking at the right menu—sometimes, links work only in specific email clients or inside their internal browsers. Try opening the link from a different browser or go through Safari if you’re on a different app or email client. Clearing Safari’s cache (Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data) can help clear up weird loading issues, especially if pages are cached incorrectly.
Make sure your device is running at least iOS 12. Compatibility issues can cause options to disappear. Also, check that Wallet & Apple Pay are enabled; sometimes restrictions or regional settings can block the feature. If nothing works, consider updating iOS, rebooting completely, or even reinstalling the affected app. Some of the more stubborn tickets might need to be exported as a PDF or image and then stored locally, or tried in Pass2U Wallet or similar third-party apps, but honestly, most of my tickets worked just fine with a single tap in Wallet once I found the right link.
Honestly, it’s frustrating how inconsistent it can be—sometimes it just works instantly, and other times you’re stuck chasing that button for a while. Hopefully, this rundown helps someone avoid all the wasted hours. Typically, just double-check your iOS version, confirm the link works, and keep looking in the right app or email. Hope this helped — it took way longer than it should have to figure out. Anyway, good luck, and safe travels!