This overlooked Apple Wallet feature is getting the attention it deserves with iOS 26

Summary

With iOS 26, Apple is finally enhancing the order tracking feature it added to Apple Wallet all the way back with iOS 16.
When iOS 26 rolls out later this year, Apple Wallet will be able to use Apple Intelligence to automatically add online orders for tracking in the app.
Apple should also consider adding the ability for users to manually add tracking numbers to the app, rather than just relying on Apple Intelligence.

One of my favorite apps on the iPhone is Apple Wallet. Not a day goes by that I don’t use it for quick contactless purchases, and I also love that I can easily store train and event tickets in it, which helps make travel less stressful. Suffice to say, over the past five or so years, Apple Wallet has become the app I rely on the most on my device — that is when I’m not using Google Wallet on my Android.

At WWDC in June, Apple announced several new features coming to Apple Wallet with iOS 26, including live activities and airport maps for boarding passes, more automakers supporting Car Keys in Apple Wallet, and the ability to store your US passport as a Digital ID in your Apple Wallet.

Your next hotel key could be in your Apple Wallet

Apple Wallet handed me my hotel room before the front desk could.

However, one feature coming to Apple Wallet that Apple announced at WWDC, which I believe was overlooked, is enhanced order tracking. You might find it surprising, but order tracking has been part of Apple Wallet since iOS 16. The problem is that very few vendors support the feature, which is why you’ve probably never used it with your Apple Wallet. To address this, Apple is utilizing Apple Intelligence to improve the functionality of its order tracking feature in Apple Wallet, finally making it genuinely useful.

With iOS 26, Apple Wallet will be able to add your online orders to its order tracking page by identifying and summarizing order details from emails sent by online stores or delivery carriers, using Apple Intelligence to do so. For example, suppose you order something online and receive an email from DHL stating that it is on its way, along with a tracking number. In that case, Apple Wallet will automatically recognize this and add it to your Orders in Apple Wallet to track, making it easier to manage all your online deliveries.

Apple is on the right track, but it can do more

Apple should allow users to manually input tracking numbers

Apple / Pocket-lint

When I first heard this news, I was pleased to see Apple finally taking steps to improve its Orders feature on Apple Wallet, and its approach makes a lot of sense. Typically, when you buy something online, you receive an email from the merchant or delivery carrier indicating that it’s on its way, along with a tracking number. It’s the one thing all online orders have in common, which makes it easy for Apple Intelligence to collect that information and display it on the Orders page in Apple Wallet.

However, since this new Orders feature relies on Apple Intelligence, users with older iPhones won’t be able to use it when iOS 26 launches this fall, as Apple Intelligence is only compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro or later.

…if Apple genuinely wants to compete with third-party order tracking apps like Parcel, letting users manually input tracking numbers would be a smart move…

That said, I do think there is an easy solution to this. What I think would be helpful is if Apple took it a step further and allowed users to add their tracking numbers to Apple Wallet manually. If Apple Intelligence scans delivery emails and extracts that same info, why not let users type in a tracking number directly on the Apple Wallet Orders page? Perhaps I’m just dreaming, but if Apple genuinely wants to compete with third-party order tracking apps like Parcels, letting users manually input tracking numbers would be a smart move, and it would also give users without Apple Intelligence a chance to use the feature.

iOS 26 is launching this fall, so you’ll soon be able to try the enhanced Orders feature in Apple Wallet. To view the Orders page right now, open Apple Wallet, tap the three dots in the top right, and choose Orders. To prepare for iOS 26, consider reorganizing your Wallet to give it a cleaner look and to easily access your most-used cards.