Full Breakdown
Turning Physical Membership Cards into Digital Wallet Passes on iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel
By Drooid · · How we work
Apple iOS 27 Lets Users Build Their Own Wallet Passes
Apple’s iOS 27 update adds a built-in tool that creates a Wallet pass from a photo or screenshot of a barcode or QR code. The feature is available on compatible iPhones—including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 series—and may depend on language and regional settings. Apple highlights library cards and gym memberships as typical use cases, noting that the “Add to Apple Wallet” button will appear when the system recognizes a clear code in an image.
Samsung and Google Offer Parallel Options
Samsung states that almost any membership card with a barcode can be stored in Samsung Wallet. Users open the app, select Memberships, and either import a photo from the gallery or capture a new image to scan the code. Google similarly allows Pixel owners to add passes to Google Wallet by selecting Add to Wallet, choosing a photo, and confirming the detected information. Google lists library cards, gym passes and parking passes as examples.
Step-by-Step Creation on Each Platform
*Apple* – Take a clear photo of the card, tap Add Pass to Wallet when prompted, or open Wallet, tap +, choose Create a Pass, select a template, and manually enter or edit fields.
*Samsung* – Open Samsung Wallet, tap All -> Memberships, choose Import from Gallery or Take a picture, then follow on-screen prompts to save the card.
*Google* – Capture a clear image, open Google Wallet, tap Add to Wallet -> Photo, select the image, add a name/description, review the previewed data, and confirm.
Limitations and Security Considerations
Apple warns that a photo-based pass does not replace official digital credentials. Drivers’ licenses, credit cards, secure workplace badges and many event tickets require issuer verification and may not function when displayed on a phone screen. Payment cards have separate enrollment processes, and some ticketing services use dynamic barcodes that can fail if captured as a static image. When an issuer provides an official “Add to Wallet” option, Apple, Samsung and Google advise using that method instead of a user-generated pass.
Overall, the new iOS feature and existing Samsung and Google capabilities expand the range of cards that can be digitized, but users should test each pass and retain the physical card until the digital version proves reliable.