Guide

What is iBeacon? Beacons and wallet passes

A beacon is a small Bluetooth transmitter that tells nearby iPhones “you’re here”. Paired with an Apple Wallet pass, it can put a customer’s loyalty card or offer on their lock screen as they walk in - no app needed. This guide explains how iBeacon works and how to set one up for your passes.

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

iBeacon is Apple’s standard for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, introduced in 2013. A beacon repeatedly broadcasts an identifier. An iPhone that has an Apple Wallet pass listing that identifier can recognize when it’s nearby and suggest the pass on the lock screen - so the right card is ready at the counter.

How a beacon works

• It only broadcasts. A beacon sends the same short signal many times a second. It doesn’t connect to phones or collect data.
• Phones listen. An iPhone with Bluetooth on notices beacons it has been told about - by an app, or by a pass in Wallet.
• Range is short. Typically a few meters to a few tens of meters, depending on the beacon’s power setting and the building.

UUID, major and minor

Every iBeacon signal carries three values:

A pass can match on the UUID alone (any of your beacons) or on a specific major and minor (one particular beacon).

Beacons and wallet passes

An Apple Wallet pass can include up to ten beacons, each with a UUID, optional major and minor values, and an optional line of text. When the iPhone is near a matching beacon, Wallet can show the pass on the lock screen with that text - for example “Welcome back! Show this card at the counter.”

Beacons vs locations

Passes can also carry GPS locations. Locations work outdoors and across a wider area; beacons are more precise indoors, such as a counter inside a shopping center where GPS is unreliable.

Setting up a beacon for your pass

1. Get a beacon that supports iBeacon and lets you set its UUID, major and minor in the maker’s app.
2. Pick your values - one UUID for your business, a major per store and a minor per spot.
3. Add the same values to your pass, with the text you want on the lock screen.
4. Place the beacon near where customers use the pass - the counter or the entrance - away from metal and thick walls.
5. Test with an iPhone that has the pass saved and Bluetooth on: lock it and stand nearby. iOS decides when to show the pass, so give it a little time.

To test before buying hardware, a Mac or phone app that simulates a beacon can broadcast the same values.

Choosing a beacon

• Supports iBeacon, not only Eddystone.
• Configurable UUID, major and minor through the maker’s app.
• Power: USB-powered beacons never need a battery change - good next to a till. Coin-cell beacons go anywhere and usually last one to a few years.
• Total cost: many basic beacons cost $5 to $15, but shipping and import fees can cost more than the beacon itself.

Limits and privacy

• Not guaranteed. iOS decides whether and when to suggest the pass, and Bluetooth must be on.
• iPhone only, for wallet passes.
• No tracking. The beacon doesn’t know who walked past, and Wallet doesn’t tell the business. It’s the customer’s phone deciding to be helpful.
• Don’t overdo it. A pass that pops up every time someone walks past is annoying; keep the text useful.

Frequently asked questions

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.

• Apple: iBeacon
• Apple: Wallet Passes, beacons
• Apple: Turning an iOS device into an iBeacon device
• Apple: Wallet Developer Guide, Pass Design and Creation