Transform Physical Cards Into Digital Key: Unveiling New Google Wallet Features

Google Wallet can now generate high-quality digital versions of real-world passes and IDs. No more awkward photos, PDFs, or QR codes; these are real digital cards with proper labels and easy-to-read text. They live alongside all of your other digital cards, and they can sync between your devices.

The Google Wallet app introduced digital card support some years ago. But your insurance company, gym, or local transit service had to issue a digital card through an app or email—a somewhat awkward and cumbersome process. This functionality was kinda-sorta improved when Wallet introduced a “Photo passes “ feature in 2023. But photo scanning was limited to barcodes and QR codes.

Now, thanks to expanded functionality, Google Wallet lets you turn physical cards, IDs, passes, tickets, business cards, passports, permits, and other documents into fully-fledged Wallet items. Just open the Google Wallet app, tap the “Add to Wallet” button in the corner of the screen, select “Everything Else,” and scan away. If you’ve already photographed your physical cards or passes, you can import the images to Google Wallet instead of performing a scan.

Google Wallet

I see this as an incredible convenience. My most-used cards and passes are available in a digital format from the card issuer, but I loathe the traditional process of adding digital cards to Wallet. Now, instead of digging through emails or apps to find and import my digital cards, I can just scan the real-world cards that I already have on hand.

However, you should know that automatic card scanning utilizes “AI” to identify the contents of a physical card and generate an accurate digital clone. You have the option to enter card information manually, which is great, but the use of AI still raises questions about how card information is processed—Google’s Support page doesn’t specify whether card info is processed on device or in the cloud. This may be a moot point, as most Wallet items, barring insurance cards and other sensitive stuff, are synced to your Google account.

The updated Google Wallet scanning function is now rolling out to Android users in the United States. It may take a few days or weeks to reach your device.

Source: Google via 9to5Google

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