Guide

What is a .pkpass file? How to open one

If someone sent you a file ending in .pkpass, it’s a pass for Apple Wallet: a ticket, a boarding pass, a loyalty card or a coupon. This guide explains what a .pkpass file is, how to open one on iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android, and what to do when it won’t open.

Last updated October 9, 2026. Facts about Apple Wallet and Google Wallet were checked against Apple’s and Google’s own documentation, linked in the sources.

The short answer

A .pkpass file is an Apple Wallet pass saved as a file. It’s a small compressed package containing the pass’s design, its details and a digital signature from the business that issued it. Open it on an iPhone and you’ll see the pass with an Add button; tap it and the pass goes into Apple Wallet.

The “pk” comes from PassKit, Apple’s name for the technology behind Wallet passes, which began life in the app called Passbook.

What’s inside a .pkpass file

A .pkpass file is a ZIP archive with a fixed set of files:

File	What it is
`pass.json`	The pass’s details: names, dates, fields, colors and the barcode
Images	The icon, logo and any banner or thumbnail image, in several sizes
`manifest.json`	A fingerprint (hash) of every other file in the package
`signature`	The issuer’s digital signature over the manifest

The signature is what lets your iPhone check that the pass really came from its issuer and hasn’t been changed. For a closer look at each file, see the .pkpass file format explained.

Open a .pkpass file on iPhone

Tap the file where you received it: an email attachment in Mail, a file in Messages, a download in Safari, or the Files app.
Check the preview. iPhone shows the pass as it will appear in Wallet.
Tap Add. The pass is saved to Apple Wallet, and appears on a paired Apple Watch too.

On a Mac

In Safari, open the pass and click Add to Wallet. This sends the pass to your iPhone through iCloud, so iCloud needs to be set up for Safari on both devices.
Or send it to your iPhone with AirDrop, Messages or email, and open it there.

On Windows

Windows has no Apple Wallet, so it can’t add the pass anywhere. To use the pass, email the file to yourself and open it on an iPhone.

If you just want to see what’s inside, make a copy, rename it from .pkpass to .zip, and open it like any other ZIP file. You’ll find pass.json and the images. Don’t edit and re-zip it: any change breaks the signature, and Wallet will refuse the pass.

On Android

A .pkpass file is made for Apple Wallet. Google Wallet uses a different system, so it can’t open a .pkpass file on its own. You have three options:

Ask for the Google Wallet version. Many businesses issue both. Look for an “Add to Google Wallet” button in the same email or on the same page.
Use a third-party app. Several apps on Google Play can open .pkpass files and show the pass with its barcode.
Make your own copy. In the US, Google Wallet can create a pass from a photo of a card or barcode. It’s a snapshot, though: it won’t update if the business changes the original.

If a .pkpass file won’t open

What you see	Likely cause	What to try
Nothing happens when you tap it	An app’s built-in browser opened it	Open the link in Safari
It downloads as a .zip or a page of text	The website sent it with the wrong file type	Save it and tap it in Files, or ask the business
“Cannot add pass” or a similar error	The pass is damaged, or its signature isn’t valid	Ask the business for a new copy
It opens on a computer, not your phone	Wallet passes are added on iPhone	Send the file to your iPhone
It won’t open on Android	.pkpass is an Apple Wallet format	Ask for the Google Wallet version

For more problems with adding passes, see our guide on adding a pass to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.

Is a .pkpass file safe?

A .pkpass file contains only data and images - no apps or code - and iPhone checks its signature before adding it. Even so, only add passes from businesses you recognize: a pass can display any text, including links, and the issuer can update it later.

What about personal information?

A pass can contain your name, booking details or a member number, so treat a .pkpass file like the ticket or card it represents, and don’t post it publicly.

For businesses sending .pkpass files

Serve it with the right file type. Web servers must send .pkpass files as application/vnd.apple.pkpass, or browsers may show or save them as plain files instead of opening Wallet.
Offer Google Wallet too, so Android customers aren’t left with a file they can’t open.
Prefer a link to an attachment. A link can open the right wallet for each phone.

Frequently asked questions

What is a .pkpass file?+

A .pkpass file is a pass for Apple Wallet, such as a ticket, boarding pass, loyalty card or coupon, saved as a file. Opening it on an iPhone shows the pass with an Add button that saves it to Wallet.

How do I open a .pkpass file on iPhone?+

Tap it in Mail, Messages, Safari or the Files app. iPhone shows a preview of the pass; tap Add to save it to Apple Wallet.

Can I open a .pkpass file on Android?+

Not with Google Wallet on its own. Ask the business for a Google Wallet version of the pass, or use a third-party app from Google Play that can read .pkpass files.

Can I open a .pkpass file on Windows?+

Windows can’t add it to a wallet. You can see what’s inside by renaming a copy from .pkpass to .zip and opening it, but to use the pass, send the file to an iPhone.

What’s the difference between .pkpass and .pkpasses?+

A .pkpass file holds one pass. A .pkpasses file is a bundle of several passes, such as tickets for a group, that can be added together.

Can I convert a .pkpass file to PDF?+

There’s no built-in way. You can take a screenshot of the pass once it’s in Wallet, but a screenshot won’t update if the business changes the pass, and some venues only accept the pass itself.

Sources

Apple’s newer developer pages load dynamically, so where a number comes from Apple it is taken from its Wallet Developer Guide and support pages. If Apple’s or Google’s current documentation differs, follow theirs.