iOS 26 transformed the Apple Wallet app and this is everything current and upcoming that'll change how you use it

If you’re an iPhone owner then you’ll be familiar with Apple Wallet, but you might not know that it can store a lot more than just your credit and debit cards.

Apple introduced its digital wallet in 2012, and it was initially named Apple Passbook before becoming Apple Wallet three years later. 

The Apple Wallet is a super useful bit of tech that allows you to store your credit and debit cards that can then be used with Apple Pay, as well as boarding passes, car keys, and more. 

And with the updated iOS 26, Apple brought some cool new features to its Wallet that make it more useful than ever. 

The Apple Wallet has had some changes, making it more useful than ever before

Every year, Apple launches a new version of its iOS, most recently iOS 26, with a bunch of smart new updates and functions. 

Between the annual launches, Apple also releases smaller updates that also bring new features, like the recently rolled out iOS 26.4. 

With the launch of iOS 26, Apple introduced some smart new updates for the Apple Wallet, including airport maps, live activities, and luggage tracking for boarding passes.

It also launched a ‘save card’ option for the first time, which means you can safely store your full credit card details in a secure wallet on your iPhone or Apple Watch.

But the big changes to the Wallet don’t just come from Apple; third parties also play an important role in functionality. 

Take the newly upgraded boarding passes, for example, it’s down to airlines to launch support for the updated tech. 

And several already have, including American Airlines, Southwest, and Delta. 

Similarly, Apple has had the Car Key function in the Wallet for a while now, but it’s up to individual carmakers to offer support for the feature. 

Last June, the tech giant confirmed that 13 new brands had joined up to support Apple Car Keys, including Lucid Motors, Rivian, Chery, and, more recently, Toyota has also introduced it on its RAV4. 

Your Apple Wallet can also be used to open up your doors, but much like with cars, it’s down to smart lock manufacturers to create locks that support the tech. 

Several brands have already signed up, including Level Lock, Aqara, and Yale, and as the technology becomes more common, we can expect to see more companies signing up. 

And there’s still more to come…

As ever, Apple is already working on ways to make your iPhone more useful, and there are a handful of updates set to come to the Apple Wallet in the not-too-distant future. 

Alongside boarding passes, car keys, credit cards, and concert tickets, the Apple Wallet can also store your Digital ID that can be added with your US passport. 

Now, some states have begun offering Digital ID support via digital driver’s licenses, with Virginia and Arkansas set to sign up soon, 9to5Mac reports. 

Meanwhile, Texas University has recently announced it’ll be digitizing its student IDs and bringing them to Apple Wallet. 

There’s also set to be a bunch of new carmakers joining Apple Car Keys, including Porsche, GMC, Chevrolet, and Cadillac. 

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