iOS 27 Adds "Create a Pass" Feature to Wallet App
Test the new Create a Pass flow on iOS 27 devices to ensure compatibility with existing pass‑generation workflows.
Test the Create a Pass flow on iOS 27 devices and update any pass‑generation workflows that rely on PassKit.
Summary
iOS 27 introduces a new "Create a Pass" button in the Wallet app, allowing users to build passes directly on their device without a developer account or PassKit pipeline. The flow supports scanning a QR code from a paper ticket or building a pass from scratch in a template editor, with adjustable styles, images, colors, and text fields. Apple is testing three starting templates—Standard (orange), Membership (blue), and Event (purple)—each tied to a default color that also determines visual sorting in the Wallet stack. The feature is expected to preview at WWDC on June 8 and will be publicly released in September 2026. While the new flow removes the developer barrier for small businesses and consumers, details such as iCloud sync, export to .pkpass, barcode type support, and merchant claim or update capabilities remain unknown. The change is significant for agencies and businesses that previously relied on third‑party tools like WalletWallet to generate passes, as it brings the pass‑creation workflow natively into iOS. The feature may reduce volume for simple one‑barcode passes but opens the door for broader adoption of Wallet passes. For now, the feature is limited to iPhone, with no Android or cross‑platform support.
The announcement was first reported by Bloomberg on May 4, 2026, and confirmed by multiple outlets including MacRumors, 9to5Mac, and AppleInsider. Apple’s decision to allow users to create passes without a Pass Type ID or signing certificate marks a shift from the 14‑year PassKit drought, where only large retailers and airlines had adopted the platform. The new templates are color‑coded to aid visual identification, and the UI is described as template‑driven, similar to third‑party generators. The feature’s impact on existing pass‑generation workflows will be clearer after the WWDC preview and subsequent developer betas.
Agencies and developers should prepare to test the new Create a Pass flow on iOS 27 devices and evaluate how it integrates with their current pass‑generation pipelines, especially for small‑business clients who previously used external tools.
Key changes
- iOS 27 adds a "Create a Pass" button in Wallet
- Users can scan QR codes or build passes from scratch without a developer account
- Three color‑coded templates: Standard (orange), Membership (blue), Event (purple)
- Feature previewed at WWDC June 8, public release September 2026
- No iCloud sync or .pkpass export documented yet
- Barcode support limited to QR codes, other types unknown
- Passes are built natively on iPhone, no third‑party tool needed
- Impact on small‑business pass generation workflows expected to increase