Can you share Google Wallet to Apple Wallet?

Bridging the Wallet Divide: Sharing Google Pay Loyalty Cards with Apple Wallet

The digital wallet has become an indispensable tool for modern life, consolidating loyalty cards, transit passes, and even boarding passes into a convenient, readily accessible space. However, the walled gardens of competing operating systems often present a hurdle to seamless sharing. Can you share a Google Pay loyalty card with someone using Apple Wallet? The answer is a qualified yes, but the process isn’t a direct transfer. Instead, it relies on leveraging the underlying mechanism by which these digital cards are initially obtained.

The key lies in understanding that Google Pay and Apple Wallet don’t directly communicate. There’s no built-in feature allowing a direct transfer of a digital card from one platform to the other. However, most loyalty programs distribute their digital cards via email. This email contains a link or button that initiates the addition of the card to a digital wallet.

The Simple Solution: Forwarding the Email

The most straightforward method for sharing a Google Pay loyalty card with an iPhone user is simply forwarding the original email containing the loyalty card information. This email typically includes a button or a link prompting the recipient to add the card to their Apple Wallet. The recipient simply taps this button, and provided they have Apple Wallet installed, the card will be added to their digital wallet.

This method works because the email contains the raw data needed to generate the Apple Wallet card. It bypasses the need for any direct interaction between Google Pay and Apple Wallet.

Alternative Method: Utilizing Third-Party Sharing Features (If Available)

Some loyalty programs offer in-app sharing capabilities. These features might be branded as “share with a friend” or utilize a similar functionality. While not a universal feature, if the loyalty program’s app or website includes this option, it usually involves sending a link or code to the recipient. This link, when clicked, again initiates the addition of the card to Apple Wallet. Look for a “share,” “invite,” or similar button within the loyalty program’s mobile app or online portal.

Important Note: This process is reliant on the loyalty program itself offering a digital card and the necessary infrastructure for sharing. Not all loyalty programs offer a digitally transferable card, so this method may not always be possible.

In conclusion, while directly sharing a Google Pay loyalty card to Apple Wallet isn’t feasible, sharing the card remains remarkably simple. Forwarding the original acquisition email or using a program’s in-app sharing functionality allows effortless transfer of the digital loyalty card to an iPhone user, bridging the gap between different digital wallet ecosystems.