Apple Wallet allows you to store digital versions of things like concert tickets, boarding passes, and loyalty cards on your iPhone. Adding a concert ticket to Apple Wallet is a convenient way to keep it organized and readily accessible on your phone. But what exactly happens when you add a concert ticket to Apple Wallet? Here’s a look at the process.
How to add a concert ticket to Apple Wallet
The first step is obtaining a digital concert ticket that is compatible with Apple Wallet. Many major ticket sellers like Ticketmaster now offer digital tickets through their apps or websites. When purchasing a ticket, you’ll have the option to add it directly to Apple Wallet. If you already have a paper ticket, you may be able to convert it to a digital pass by scanning the barcode or entering the ticket number manually in the Apple Wallet app.
Once you have a digital concert ticket, open the Apple Wallet app on your iPhone. Tap the plus (+) symbol in the upper right corner and select the option to add a ticket. Follow the prompts to find your digital ticket in the email it was sent to or the app you saved it in. Confirm the addition and the concert ticket will now appear in your Apple Wallet.
What happens behind the scenes
So what exactly happens when you add that concert ticket to Apple Wallet? Essentially, the wallet is creating a virtual container to store that ticket in.
Apple uses something called a “pass” to hold tickets, boarding passes, and other digital wallet items. This pass encrypts and stores data from the concert ticket including details like the venue, performer, seat location, barcode, and any other information the issuer chose to include. The pass gets generated locally on your device when you first add the ticket.
Along with the ticket data itself, the pass contains information like:
– Template graphics: This allows passes to be styled to match the design of the issuing app/organization. For a concert ticket, this would include graphics like the ticket stub borders, venue logos, etc.
– Authentication: To ensure the ticket wasn’t tampered with, the pass is signed and verifies against the issuing source.
– Relevant updates: If details like gate number or show time change, that information can update right in the wallet.
The pass itself gets stored in the secure element of your iPhone, which houses encrypted data like Apple Pay cards. This keeps the tickets protected.
When you first add it, the wallet downloads any necessary templates, logos or certificate files from the issuing source. Your iPhone will periodically re-sync passes with their issuers to check for updates. This allows details like seat assignments to automatically update right in the wallet without you needing to do anything.
What happens when you get to the venue
Once you’ve added that coveted concert ticket to your Apple Wallet, how does it actually work when you get to the show?
To enter the venue, you’ll open Apple Wallet, select the ticket and hold your iPhone near the venue’s ticket scanner. Most major venues now have scanners equipped with NFC (near field communication) technology to read digital passes.
Your iPhone will communicate with the scanner using NFC. This allows the barcode and other identifying information to be transmitted securely to the reader to authenticate your ticket. Apple Wallet will display the barcode animation and play a sound during this process to confirm transmission.
Once verified, you’ll get that satisfying green check screen indicating your ticket is valid. The venue staffer will allow you through and you can head into the show! They will often visually confirm the identifying details like section, row and seat printed on the pass as an extra validity check.
If for any reason the scanner can’t read your digital pass, you should have the email confirmation as a backup. They may ask to visually inspect this as a fallback option.
Benefits of using Apple Wallet concert tickets
Using Apple Wallet to store concert and event tickets offers some great benefits:
– **Convenience:** Your ticket lives right on your phone, avoiding the need to print paper tickets or fumble through emails to access it. The wallet provides quick access from your iPhone lock screen for smooth entry.
– **Organization:** Keep all your tickets, boarding passes, loyalty cards neatly in one place rather than multiple apps. Apple Wallet organizes your passes by time/date.
– **Validation:** The NFC scanners provide seamless and secure ticket validation when entering the venue. Wallet prevents content from being shared to avoid fraud.
– **Updates:** Should your seat, gate, or other details change, the digital pass will automatically update to reflect those changes. No need to call the box office.
– **Visuals:** Digital passes often include the issuer’s logos, colors and graphics providing appealing visuals that mimic a real ticket stub. It’s more visually engaging than simply showing a bar code on your phone screen.
– **Environmentally friendly:** Avoid wasting paper and help the environment by using digital tickets. You can even add a passes for things like loyalty cards and transit tickets.
Potential limitations
While Apple Wallet concert tickets provide significant benefits, there are a few potential limitations or things to consider:
– **Requires compatible scanner:** The venue must have NFC enabled scanners at the gate to read the digital pass. Most major venues do, but some smaller places may not.
– **Phone died?:** Like anything digital, you’ll want to make sure to have enough battery charge on your phone. Some places may allow you to show your dead phone with the ticket on-screen, but policies vary.
– **Wi-Fi?:** You’ll need an internet connection to initially add the ticket and have it sync. The wallet itself does not require persistent internet to display tickets already added. But a dead battery with no Wi-Fi prevents new ticket syncing.
– **Apple only:** The tickets are stored specifically in Apple Wallet, so they are designed for iPhone/Apple Watch. Android users unfortunately can’t utilize this wallet function.
– **Third party apps:** Some concerts require using a specific third-party app for features like transferring tickets. The native Apple Wallet may not integrate with these apps.
As digital tickets become more ubiquitous, these limitations continue to decrease over time.
Troubleshooting Apple Wallet tickets
Hopefully you’ll have smooth sailing using concert tickets in Apple Wallet. But should any issues pop up, here is some troubleshooting advice:
– **Verify NFC enabled:** Ensure the iPhone model you are using has NFC capability to interface with the scanners. All iPhones from iPhone 6 and newer support this.
– **Check connection:** Confirm you have an active internet connection via Wi-Fi or mobile data when initially adding the ticket and at the venue. This allows syncing and verification.
– **Restart devices:** As a catch-all fix, restart both your iPhone and the venue’s ticket scanner. Rebooting can resolve many transient glitches.
– **Remove and re-add ticket:** Try removing the ticket from Apple Wallet and then adding it back. This forces it to freshly re-sync with the issuer.
– **Contact issuer:** For persistent problems, contact the ticket seller/issuer directly. They can confirm if there are any issues on their end pairing the ticket with your Apple Wallet.
– **Bring backup:** Always have a printed ticket or email confirmation as a fallback just in case. Most venues will accept these alternatives if you have trouble with the Apple Wallet version.
Adding multiple tickets
For concerts, festivals or events where you bought multiple tickets, you can add all of them to Apple Wallet on your iPhone.
Add the first ticket through the Apple Wallet app as outlined above. Once added, you can add additional tickets by tapping the (+) icon again and selecting to add another pass. Repeat the process to locate and add the other digital passes.
If the tickets were purchased together or issued as a group, they may automatically sync together in a single stack when added. You can tap into the stack to expand and view individual barcodes/details for each ticket when entering the event.
Having a group of tickets consolidated into one Apple Wallet pass makes managing multiple concert seats simpler. You avoid juggling numerous email confirmations or individual QR codes. It also allows faster re-entry if you leave the venue area and return during the show. The staff can quickly scan your single wallet pass again for seamless re-entry.
Transferring tickets
For many events, Apple Wallet tickets include a transfer button to gift or sell them to someone else. Tap this button and you can assign the ticket directly to a contact’s Apple Wallet. Or, you can remove the ticket from your wallet and transfer it outside the Apple ecosystem.
If no direct transfer capability exists, you will need to coordinate the ticket swap outside of Apple Wallet. Guide the recipient through removing it from your Apple account and into theirs. Provide any confirmation details needed to authenticate the pass transfer. Agree on the delivery method – email, text, etc.
Some issuers may not permit ticket transfers or sales conducted outside their official channels. Make sure to check the event terms before attempting to transfer an Apple Wallet ticket independently. Direct integrated transfers are always safest when provided.
Conclusion
Adding your concert tickets to Apple Wallet provides convenient, organized access to them on your iPhone. The digital passes store useful information like seat locations, venue maps and updates right on your device. When entering the event, the tickets in Wallet interface with NFC scanners for smooth, hassle-free admission. While a few limitations exist, Apple Wallet tickets increasingly provide a superior concert-going experience. As more venues adopt advanced digital ticketing and scanners, expect the Apple Wallet integration to become an even more popular way to manage concert and event tickets.