Wallet Pass Not on Lock Screen? Fix
If your Wallet pass (boarding pass, ticket, or coupon) isn’t showing up on your iPhone’s Lock Screen, the most common cause is that the pass was added to the Wallet app but the “Lock Screen� setting for that specific pass is turned off, or the pass type doesn’t support Lock Screen display. This guide walks you through the exact steps to enable it, why it sometimes fails, and what to do if the fix doesn’t work.
Why Wallet Passes Appear on the Lock Screen
Apple’s Wallet app is designed to surface passes at the right time and place. When you add a boarding pass, event ticket, or store card, iOS can show it on the Lock Screen automatically when it’s “relevant� — for example, when you’re near the airport, at the venue, or when the event time approaches. This is part of the pass’s Lock Screen setting, which is separate from the pass being in your Wallet. Each pass has its own toggle, and it can be turned off by accident or default for certain pass types.
How to Enable Lock Screen for a Pass
Here’s the step-by-step fix for iOS 16 and later (the steps are nearly identical on older versions):
- Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.
- Tap the pass you want to appear on the Lock Screen (e.g., your boarding pass or ticket).
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner, or the “i� icon if you see it.
- Look for a toggle labeled Lock Screen or Show on Lock Screen. Turn it on.
- If you don’t see that toggle, check the pass’s Details or Info section — some passes have it under “Automatic Updates� or “Notifications.�
After enabling, lock your phone and wake it. The pass should appear when the phone is locked, usually as a notification or a small preview at the bottom of the screen, depending on your notification settings.
Why the Pass Still Isn’t Appearing
If you’ve turned on the Lock Screen toggle and the pass still doesn’t show, check these common culprits:
- Notifications are disabled for Wallet: Go to Settings → Notifications → Wallet and make sure “Allow Notifications� is on. The Lock Screen pass uses the same notification channel.
- Pass is not “relevant� yet: For location-based passes (like a boarding pass), the Lock Screen only shows it when your iPhone detects you’re near the airport or the departure time is close. If you’re testing at home, it won’t appear.
- Pass was added from an email or website: Some passes are added as “generic� passes and may not have the Lock Screen flag enabled by the issuer. You can still try the toggle, but if it’s missing, the pass might not support it.
- iOS bug or glitch: Restart your iPhone (press and hold the side button and volume button until the slider appears, then slide to power off). After restart, check again.
- Low Power Mode: In some iOS versions, Low Power Mode delays background updates and can prevent the Lock Screen from refreshing. Turn it off temporarily.
How to Remove a Pass from the Lock Screen (If You Don’t Want It)
If you’re seeing a pass on your Lock Screen and you don’t want it, the fix is the same toggle — just turn it off. Alternatively, you can swipe left on the pass notification and tap “Clear� to dismiss it temporarily, but it may reappear if the pass is still relevant. To permanently stop it, go to the pass in Wallet and disable the Lock Screen option.
Common Misconception: “Wallet Pass� vs. “Apple Pay Card�
Many users confuse a Wallet pass (boarding pass, ticket, coupon) with an Apple Pay credit/debit card. Apple Pay cards never appear on the Lock Screen as a pass — they only appear when you double-click the side button to pay. So if you’re looking for your credit card on the Lock Screen, that’s not how it works. The Lock Screen feature is only for passes that have a “Lock Screen� setting.
What to Do If the Toggle Is Missing
Some passes don’t have a Lock Screen toggle at all. This happens when the pass issuer didn’t enable the “lockScreen� entitlement in the pass’s JSON data. In that case, you can’t turn it on from your side. Your options are:
- Contact the pass issuer (airline, venue, store) and ask if they can re-issue the pass with Lock Screen enabled.
- Try deleting the pass and re-adding it from the original email or app — sometimes the toggle appears after a re-add.
- Use a third-party app that creates passes with the Lock Screen flag, but be cautious about sharing personal data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my boarding pass disappear from the Lock Screen?
Boarding passes typically disappear after the flight time has passed, or if the pass’s expiration date has been reached. Also, if you turned off notifications for Wallet, it won’t show. Check the pass in Wallet to see if it’s still valid.
Can I make any Wallet pass show on the Lock Screen?
Only passes that have the Lock Screen flag enabled by the issuer. You can’t force it for passes that don’t support it. However, you can try the toggle in the pass details — if it’s there, you can turn it on.
Does the Lock Screen pass work on iPad or Apple Watch?
On iPad, the same toggle exists in Wallet, but the Lock Screen only appears when you wake the iPad. On Apple Watch, passes appear in the Wallet app on the watch, but the watch’s Lock Screen doesn’t show passes the same way — you typically access them via the side button.
Why does my pass show on the Lock Screen but not when I unlock?
That’s normal. The Lock Screen pass is meant to be a quick glance — once you unlock, it disappears. If you want to see it after unlocking, open the Wallet app.
Will updating iOS fix the Lock Screen issue?
Sometimes yes. Apple has fixed bugs related to Wallet notifications in past updates. Make sure your iPhone is up to date under Settings → General → Software Update.
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