Mobile wallets have quietly become the default way to carry an event ticket in the UK. Most platforms now offer Apple Wallet and Google Wallet support alongside the older PDF and paper formats, and on tickts every ticket can be added to either wallet at no extra cost. This guide explains how wallet tickets work, the differences between Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, what you can expect once a pass is in your wallet, and what organisers should know about offering wallet tickets at their events.
How wallet tickets work
An Apple Wallet pass is a small file with the extension .pkpass. When you add a ticket to Apple Wallet, you are downloading and installing this file: it contains your event name, date, time, venue, seat details, and a barcode or QR code for entry. Google Wallet uses a different format but does the same job. In both cases the ticket lives natively on the phone, can be opened from the lock screen, and shows the QR code instantly when needed at the gate.
For the long-form explanation of pass formats, push updates, and what happens when an organiser changes a detail after you have added the pass, see our full guide to adding event tickets to Apple Wallet.
Apple Wallet vs Google Wallet
The user experience is broadly similar. The differences:
- Apple Wallet is the built-in passes and payments app on iPhone. It auto-surfaces relevant tickets on the lock screen as the event approaches, integrates with Apple Maps for navigation, and supports Live Activities for countdown displays. Tickets stay in Wallet until removed.
- Google Wallet is the equivalent on Android. It surfaces tickets in similar ways and supports its own location-based reminders. It also stores boarding passes, loyalty cards, and payment cards.
Practically: if you are an iPhone user, Apple Wallet is the friction-free option. If you are on Android, Google Wallet is the equivalent. tickts supports both, so the choice is whichever matches your phone.
What lock-screen integration actually does
Modern wallet passes do more than just store a barcode. Once a tickts ticket is in your Apple Wallet, the pass surfaces:
- The event name, venue, and start time in a structured format that iOS understands.
- The venue location as latitude and longitude, so Maps can deep-link to the venue when you tap.
- The attendee name and seat information when seat-allocated tickets are involved.
- Lock-screen visibility as the event approaches, with one-tap access to the QR code at the gate.
This relies on a layer of pass metadata called PassKit semantics, which tickts started shipping on 25 April 2026. Most other UK ticketing platforms do not yet ship this metadata, so the lock-screen and Live Activity behaviour you get on a tickts pass is not always available on other platforms.
Wallet tickets in the broader paperless picture
Wallet passes are one of three common formats for paperless event tickets:
- QR code in the platform's website or app: the most basic. Works everywhere but requires opening a browser at the venue.
- Wallet pass (Apple or Google): native to the phone, works offline, surfaces on the lock screen.
- Card-linked entry: less common in the UK; you tap the same payment card you bought the ticket with at the gate.
For a fuller picture, see our guide to paperless ticketing and the complete guide to mobile ticketing.
Common wallet ticket questions
Will my wallet ticket work if my phone has no signal at the venue?
Yes. The QR code is stored on the phone, not fetched from the internet at the gate. As long as the phone screen turns on and shows the pass, the scanner can read it.
What if my battery dies?
This is the only real failure mode for any digital ticket, and it applies equally to wallet passes, app tickets, and screenshot QR codes. Bring a power bank, screenshot the ticket as a backup, or arrive with a healthy battery.
Can I transfer a wallet ticket?
tickts supports ticket transfer. The recipient gets a fresh copy of the pass and the original is invalidated, so two people cannot use the same ticket. The transfer happens in your tickts account rather than by sharing the pass file directly.
Will the pass update if details change?
If the organiser changes the start time, venue, or other event details, the pass updates automatically as long as the platform supports push updates. tickts does. The change appears the next time you open the pass, with no action required from you.
What happens if I lose the email with the wallet link?
Sign in to your tickts account and re-download the pass from the order page. You can also use the resend-tickets-to-my-email option on the order page if you cannot find the original email.
For organisers: offering wallet tickets at your event
If you run events on tickts, wallet support is on by default. Every ticket you sell can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet by the buyer, with no setup required from your end. The QR code on the wallet pass scans the same way as the QR code in any other format using the tickts scanner app.
Wallet support sits inside the broader mobile ticketing flow:
- The complete guide to mobile ticketing: the operational picture for organisers.
- What is paperless ticketing and why it matters: the rationale and the trade-offs.
- The rise of mobile wallet tickets: the broader market context for where wallet ticketing is going.
- Seated ticketing and interactive seat maps: relevant when your wallet pass needs to display seat detail.
- Accessible digital ticketing options: how wallet passes interact with accessibility needs.
How tickts compares
Wallet support is now expected on most UK platforms, but the depth varies. tickts ships both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet support, with the PassKit semantics layer for richer iPhone integration. Some competitors require you to open a separate native app to access your ticket rather than using the platform-level wallet.
Where to start
If you are buying a ticket, no setup is needed beyond owning a smartphone. After purchase, the email confirmation and your tickts order page both have an "Add to Apple Wallet" / "Add to Google Wallet" button.
If you are running events and want to confirm wallet support is enabled (it is, by default), create an organiser account and the wallet links will appear automatically on every ticket you sell. There is no extra setup or configuration step.
For deeper reading, the full Apple Wallet guide goes into the file format, push updates, and troubleshooting if a pass does not add the first time.
