Technology
How to add a loyalty card to your phone: iPhone, Android and Samsung
How do you put a loyalty card on your phone? It depends on your phone and on what the retailer offers. Here are the steps for iPhone, Android and Samsung, the workaround for a card with no “Add to Wallet” button, and answers to the related questions about bank cards.
Key takeaways
- On iPhone, a loyalty card goes into Apple Wallet through the retailer’s “Add to Apple Wallet” button: email, website, app or QR code.
- On Android, Google Wallet also accepts cards with no button: pick the program from the list, enter the number, or import a photo of the barcode.
- On Samsung, Samsung Wallet opens with a swipe up from the bottom of the screen and accepts cards picked from a list, typed in or scanned.
How do I put my loyalty card on my phone?
The simplest way is the wallet already on your phone: Apple Wallet on iPhone, Google Wallet on Android, Samsung Wallet on Samsung. If the retailer offers an “Add to Wallet” button, one tap is enough. Otherwise, Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet accept a card typed in or scanned.
First, check what the retailer offers: a QR code at the counter, a link in an email, a button in its app. A card issued by the retailer itself is the best option: its balance updates on its own and it can tell you when a reward is available.
A card you add yourself from a barcode does only one thing: display that code at checkout. It beats cardboard, but the balance never moves.
How do I save my loyalty cards on my iPhone?
On iPhone, tap “Add to Apple Wallet” in the retailer’s email, website or app, or scan its QR code with the Camera. Apple Wallet only accepts cards issued by the retailer; for a card that does not offer one, a third-party app can convert its barcode into a pass.
According to the iPhone User Guide, a pass can be added to Apple Wallet from:
- a Wallet-enabled app;
- an email or message containing the pass;
- a website, in Safari;
- a QR code scanned with the Camera;
- an AirDrop share.
Each time, a preview of the card appears with an “Add” button. For a card without a Wallet version, apps such as Pass2U Wallet (free, with in-app purchases) turn a scanned barcode into an Apple Wallet pass. The balance will not update: it is only a copy of the code.
How do I add a loyalty card to my digital wallet on Android?
Open Google Wallet, tap “Add to Wallet”, then “Loyalty card”, and search for the retailer: you can scan your card or enter your number. For a card that is not listed, choose “Photo” and import a clear picture of its barcode or QR code.
According to Google Wallet Help, there are three paths:
- From the retailer: an “Add to Google Wallet” button on its website, in its app or in an email.
- From the program list: “Add to Wallet”, “Loyalty card”, then the program name; Google Wallet offers to scan the existing card or enter its number.
- From a photo: “Add to Wallet”, “Photo”, choose a clear photo of the barcode, add a name and description, then “Add”. This also works for library, gym or parking cards.
How do I save loyalty cards on a Samsung phone?
Open Samsung Wallet, go to Memberships and pick your retailer from the featured memberships, or enter the number manually if it is not listed. You can scan the card’s barcode instead of typing it. Tap Save, and the card is ready at checkout.
Samsung Canada’s steps:
- Open Samsung Wallet and tap Menu;
- Tap Memberships;
- Choose from the featured memberships, or enter the number manually if your card is not listed;
- Scan the barcode to avoid typing;
- Tap Save.
Labels can vary slightly between versions of the app. A recent Samsung also has Google Wallet: both work, so use the one you already open to pay.
Where is Wallet on a Samsung phone?
Samsung Wallet opens in two ways: from its icon in the app drawer, or through Quick Access, by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, even when the phone is locked. Quick Access can be turned on or off in Samsung Wallet’s settings.
Samsung Wallet replaces Samsung Pay: according to Samsung Canada’s FAQ, it includes Samsung Pay’s features along with Samsung Pass. If you cannot find it, search for “Wallet” in the app drawer; it can also be downloaded from the Galaxy Store.
What if the store does not offer a phone card?
You can save its barcode in Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet or a third-party app, but the card will stay frozen. If it is your neighbourhood shop, tell them: a real Wallet card can be set up in a few days and updates after every visit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download a loyalty card?
You do not download a loyalty card like an app: you add it to your wallet. The retailer provides a link, a QR code or an “Add to Apple Wallet” or “Add to Google Wallet” button; tapping it saves the card on your phone. If the retailer offers none, a photo of the barcode can be imported into Google Wallet.
How do I put a store’s loyalty card on my phone?
Start with the store’s app or website: many offer their card in Wallet format. Otherwise, on Android, add it to Google Wallet by picking the program from the list, entering the number or importing a photo of the barcode. On iPhone, a third-party app can convert the barcode into an Apple Wallet pass.
How do I add my bank card to a Samsung phone?
Open Samsung Wallet, tap “+”, then scan the card, enter its details or hold it to the phone (NFC). The bank then verifies the card, sometimes with a one-time code. In Canada, Samsung Wallet accepts Visa, Mastercard, Interac and American Express cards from partner banks.
Which app should I use to put my bank card on my phone?
Your phone’s wallet app: Apple Wallet on iPhone, Google Wallet on Android, or Samsung Wallet on a Samsung. Some banks also let you add the card from their own app. The same wallets store your loyalty cards.
Sources
- Apple. Add and use passes in Wallet on iPhone (iPhone User Guide).
- Google. Loyalty cards & gift cards (Google Wallet Help).
- Google. Add other passes and cards from images (Google Wallet Help).
- Samsung Canada. How can I manage my membership cards with Samsung Wallet?.
- Samsung Canada. Samsung Wallet FAQ.