Apple Wallet now supports Presto Card for select Ontario transit riders

The Presto card can now be added to the Apple Wallet, as announced in a July 16 news release by Apple. The Presto card is a reloadable payment method for users of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), GO Transit, UP Express, and other Ontario transit agencies.

“We’re excited to introduce PRESTO to Apple Wallet, empowering GTHA residents and visitors to easily and securely use their iPhone or Apple Watch for transit rides,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

How to Add Presto Card to Apple Wallet

To add a Presto card to your Apple Wallet, you need to register the physical card to a Presto account. It’s crucial to note that once you transfer your physical card, it will no longer be usable. Users are advised to download their transaction history before converting the card.

Here are the steps to convert a physical Presto card into a digital one in the Apple Wallet:

1. Sign into the Presto account and select the card to add to the wallet.
2. Tap the ‘convert to Apple Wallet’ button.
3. Follow the instructions.
4. You will need to scan your physical card using your phone. Hold the card against the back of the phone until a checkmark appears on the screen.
5. Click the ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ button.

New Presto cards can also be purchased and added to the wallet. TTC riders can choose to buy a card for their Apple Wallet instead of converting a physical card. Here’s how:

1. Sign into your Presto account.
2. Click ‘Add a card’.
3. Select the ‘Presto in Apple Wallet’ option.
4. Follow the prompts to add funds to the card.
5. Provide a nickname for your card.
6. Click the ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ button.

Presto cards in the Apple Wallet must have ‘Express Mode’ enabled to be used for paying transit fares. Users can have multiple Presto cards in the Apple Wallet, but only one can be set to Express Mode.

Once Express Mode is activated, commuters can simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a reader to make payments. The devices do not need to be unlocked or active for the Presto card to function. In addition, even if an iPhone is in low-power mode, it can still be used for paying transit fares.