How to Add Tickets to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet
To add a ticket to your phone’s wallet, open the confirmation email, app or notification from your ticket seller and tap Add to Apple Wallet on an iPhone or Add to Google Wallet on an Android phone. Confirm the prompt, and the ticket is saved. If you don’t see that button, the seller or event may not support wallet passes, and you have a few fallbacks, which we cover below.
This guide walks through both phones, explains what to do when the button is missing, and covers the questions that trip up first-time buyers: sharing tickets, screenshots, and what happens at the gate.
TL;DR
On iPhone, open the email, app or notification with your ticket, tap Add to Apple Wallet, follow the prompts, and tap Add if asked.
On Android, finish checkout with a participating seller, tap Add to Google Wallet, then tap Add.
No button? Contact the seller. A photo of a barcode only works for static codes, not for event tickets whose codes refresh.
To give a ticket to a friend, use the seller’s official transfer tool unless the Share option appears in Apple Wallet.
Add tickets before event day, on Wi-Fi, so you aren’t hunting for a signal in a crowded entry line.
Table of Contents
What you need before you add a ticket
A wallet pass is only as good as the ticket behind it. Three things have to line up:
A seller that supports wallet passes. Apple notes that if you don’t see an option to add a ticket to Wallet, you should contact the merchant or company that issued it to check that it supports passes. Not every venue or event does.
The right account. The ticket lives in the account you used at checkout, so sign in to that same app or open the email sent to the address you used.
A phone with the wallet app. Apple Wallet comes on iPhone. On Android you may be prompted to download Google Wallet the first time you tap the button, which Google says happens if the app isn’t installed.
If you’re still shopping and haven’t bought yet, our guide to types of concert ticket discounts is a good place to start. Then come back here once your order confirmation lands.
How to add tickets to Apple Wallet on iPhone
Apple’s own instructions are short, and they work the same whether the ticket is for a concert, a ball game or a Broadway show:
Open the app, email, notification or other message that contains your ticket.
Tap Add to Apple Wallet.
Follow the instructions on screen.
If necessary, tap Add in the upper right corner.
These are the steps in Apple’s support article on tickets and passes. When you add a ticket on your iPhone, it is also added automatically to a paired Apple Watch, so you can show it from your wrist.
Where to tap
Most sellers show the button in one of three places:
The confirmation email. Scroll to the order details or the ticket section. The button is usually a black badge reading Add to Apple Wallet.
The seller’s app. Open your orders or tickets tab, select the event, then view the tickets. The Add to Apple Wallet option appears there for supported events.
A text or push notification. Some sellers send a link once tickets are delivered. Tap it on your iPhone, not on a laptop.
Open the email on your iPhone itself. If you open it on a desktop browser, the button can’t add the pass to your phone directly.
How to find the ticket again
When it’s time to use the pass, Apple says you can either tap a Wallet notification, if one appears, or double-click the side button on an iPhone with Face ID (or the Home button on one with Touch ID). You may be asked to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Practice this once at home. Fumbling through it at the gate with a line behind you is the most common avoidable stress on show day.
How to add tickets to Google Wallet on Android
Google’s process is just as quick. According to Google Wallet Help, you can buy your ticket through the app or website of a participating airline or venue, or through a ticket broker app or website. Then:
Check out with your seller.
Tap Add to Google Wallet, then tap Add.
If Google Wallet isn’t installed, follow the prompts to download it and finish adding the ticket.
Using the ticket at the gate
Google describes two ways to scan in:
Tap to enter. Unlock your phone and hold the back of it close to the ticket reader for a few seconds. A blue check mark appears when the reader accepts your ticket.
Show the code. If your phone can’t be used at the reader, open Google Wallet, select View more passes, pick the ticket, and show the barcode or QR code to the attendant. If you have more than one ticket, show each code.
Not every venue has tap readers, so expect to show a code in many places. Turn your screen brightness up before you reach the scanner.
A note on boarding passes
You may see advice about screenshotting a pass to add it to Google Wallet. That shortcut is for select boarding passes on Google Pixel phones, per Google’s support page, not for concert or sports tickets. Don’t count on it for events.
What if there’s no Add to Wallet button?
This is the most common reason people search for this topic. Work through the options in order.
Look again in the right place. The button sometimes appears only in the seller’s app, not in the email, or only after tickets are delivered closer to the event date. Many events release tickets days before the show.
Check the ticket type. Some tickets are PDFs or print-at-home files. Our explainer on instant download tickets covers how those work and why they behave differently from wallet passes.
Contact the seller. Apple’s guidance is to ask the issuer whether it supports Wallet passes. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to use the seller’s app or a barcode on screen.
Try the photo method only for static codes. Google Wallet can save passes that lack an Add button if they have a barcode or QR code. Google’s page on adding passes from images lists library cards, gym passes and parking passes as examples. You open Google Wallet, tap Add to Wallet, choose Photo, and select the image.
Why the photo method usually fails for events
Many event tickets use barcodes that refresh every few seconds to stop copying and resale fraud. A photo freezes one version of that code, so it won’t scan once the code rotates. Use the photo method for fixed codes like a gym card, and keep event tickets in the seller’s app or as an official wallet pass. If you want to understand why, see our breakdown of what a ticket barcode is and how it works.
Wallet pass vs. screenshot: which is safer at the door?
A wallet pass is a live ticket, while a screenshot is a picture of one. Here is how they compare in practice:
Factor | Wallet pass | Screenshot |
Works with refreshing codes | Usually yes, when the seller supports it | Often no |
Opens quickly at the gate | Yes, can appear on the lock screen | Depends on how fast you find the photo |
Works offline | Generally stored on the phone once added | Yes, it’s an image |
Accepted everywhere | Only where the seller offers it | Only where the venue allows it |
Easy to lose in a camera roll | No | Yes |
Some venues reject screenshots outright. Our guide on why screenshots cost people entry walks through three approaches that do work. If your venue has gone fully digital, our mobile-only venue guide covers the five steps to get in without paper.
Why your ticket pops up on the lock screen
If your ticket suddenly appears on your phone as you walk toward the venue, that’s by design. Apple’s developer documentation says Wallet is time and location enabled, so passes can be configured to display on the lock screen at the right moment. Ticket providers use this to get fans into the building faster, since you don’t have to search through apps while the line moves.
That feature depends on the seller setting it up and on your phone’s notification and location settings. If the pass doesn’t pop up, don’t panic. Open Wallet manually and the ticket will still be there.
Sharing and transferring wallet tickets
Buying for a group is where wallet tickets get tricky. Your options depend on the seller.
Apple Wallet Share button. Apple says you can share tickets with other iPhone or Apple Watch users through the Share button in the Wallet app. If the button is missing, the issuer has turned sharing off.
The seller’s official transfer. When Share is unavailable, use the original ticketing platform to transfer the ticket, so it stays valid and is registered to the recipient’s account.
Android. Google’s help page for event tickets doesn’t describe a universal sharing function, so for Android friends the safest route is the seller’s own transfer tool. Check what your seller offers.
A practical rule: never send a screenshot of a ticket to a friend and call it a transfer. If the code is tied to your account, the friend may be turned away, and you can’t be sure the code hasn’t been used by someone else.
Common problems and quick fixes
Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
No Add to Wallet button | Seller doesn’t support passes, or tickets aren’t delivered yet | Check your seller’s app, then contact the seller |
Button appears on desktop but nothing happens | You’re not on your phone | Open the email or app on the phone you’ll carry |
Error saying the pass can’t be added | Often a temporary or account issue | Retry on a stable connection, sign out and back in to the seller’s app, then contact the seller |
Pass shows up in the wrong account | Ticket is tied to a different Apple or Google account | Add it while signed in to the account you’ll use at the gate, or ask the seller to reissue |
Only some tickets in a group | Each ticket may be a separate pass | Add every pass, and check the count before leaving home |
Phone dies or loses signal | Battery and connection | Add the ticket early, charge fully, and carry a battery pack |
The error fixes above are general troubleshooting steps rather than official guarantees. If the problem persists, the seller that issued the ticket is the only party who can reissue or fix it.
Our perspective: add tickets early, and add all of them
We write about ticketing every day, and the same pattern shows up again and again: most entry problems have nothing to do with the ticket itself. They happen because a buyer waited until the gate to open the email, signed into the wrong account, or relied on a photo of a code that had already refreshed.
Our advice is simple. As soon as tickets are delivered, add them to your wallet, open the pass once to confirm it displays a code, and make sure the name and event details look right. If you bought on a secondary market, check the buyer guarantee before event day, because your protection matters most when something goes wrong at the door. Our guide to avoiding concert ticket fees also helps you compare what you’ll really pay before you buy.
If you’re heading to a festival or a high-demand show, the wallet step is the last link in a longer chain. Our festival ticket guide covers presales, and the summer concert checklist includes a pre-show list you can adapt for any season.
— The Ticket Blog
Find deals before you add the ticket
The best time to think about your wallet is after you’ve bought at a fair price. At The Ticket Blog we publish guides, promo codes and pricing insights for concerts, sports and theater. Start on our homepage or read how to buy tickets for events to compare your options before checkout.
A pre-event checklist
Use this list a few days before the show:
Confirm the seller has delivered your tickets, not just your receipt.
Add each ticket to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Open each pass and check the event name, date and seat details.
Make sure notifications and location are on if you want the lock screen reminder.
Charge your phone and bring a backup battery.
Know where the seller’s app is installed in case the venue asks for a different format.
Arrive early enough to fix a problem rather than discover one.
FAQ
How do I add tickets to Apple Wallet?
Open the app, email or notification that contains your ticket and tap Add to Apple Wallet. Follow the on-screen instructions, and tap Add in the upper right corner if asked. If the option doesn’t appear, the seller may not support Wallet passes, so contact them.
How do I add tickets to Google Wallet?
Buy through a participating venue, airline or ticket broker, then tap Add to Google Wallet after checkout and tap Add. If you don’t have the Google Wallet app, you’re prompted to download it. To use the ticket later, open the app and select the pass, or hold your phone near the reader.
Can I add a screenshot or PDF of my ticket to my wallet?
Only in limited cases. Google Wallet can save passes from images if they have a static barcode or QR code, such as library or gym cards. Event tickets with codes that change will not work from a photo, so use the official pass or the seller’s app instead.
Can I send a wallet ticket to a friend?
On iPhone, you can use the Share button in Wallet if it’s available. If it’s missing, the issuer has disabled sharing, and you need to transfer through the original ticketing platform. Transfers made that way keep the ticket valid and registered to the new holder.
Do I need internet at the gate?
Once a ticket is added, it is saved in your wallet app, but some passes refresh their details, so don’t count on offline access. Google’s screenshot-for-offline feature applies only to select boarding passes on Pixel phones. Add your tickets early, on a good connection, and ask your seller about offline entry if you’re worried.
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