As announced at I/O 2024 in May, Google Wallet for Android now offers an expanded “Everything else” option for creating digital passes. This new feature replaces the old “Photo” option, providing a more versatile and user-friendly way to manage various types of passes.
What is the “Everything Else” Option?
The “Everything else” option allows you to scan a photo of any pass, such as an event ticket, gym membership, insurance card, and more, to create a digital version that appears in Google Wallet. This feature leverages AI to determine the type of pass you’re adding and suggests the relevant content for it. This intelligent approach ensures that your digital passes are organized correctly and easily accessible.
Privacy and Security
When adding sensitive information, such as health or government ID details, the pass will be classified as private. This means it won’t sync to other devices, and authentication will be required before opening it. You have the option to change the private pass classification later if needed, giving you control over your personal information.
Adding and Editing Passes
To add a pass, you simply take a picture of it. Google Wallet will then extract the information and allow you to edit common fields and add your own. You can also change the pass type to one of the following:
– Business card
– Car insurance
– Driver’s license
– Events & tickets
– Health insurance
– ID card
– Library card
– Loyalty card
– Passport
– Residence permit
– Student ID
– Tax ID card
– Vehicle registration
– Voter ID card
– Other
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Once finalized, the digital pass will appear below your carousel of credit/debit cards in Google Wallet. Additionally, you can access the original “Pass photos” when viewing the digital copy, ensuring you always have the original information on hand.
Rolling Out Widely
The “Everything else” option is now widely rolling out after appearing for initial users earlier this month. If you’re still seeing the old “Photo” option, you can update your Google Wallet by going to Settings > App info page for Google Play services and selecting Force stop. This should refresh the app and enable the new feature.
Availability
According to a support article, the “Everything else” option is currently available only in the US. Google plans to expand this feature to other regions in the future, enhancing the functionality and convenience of Google Wallet for users worldwide.
Conclusion
Google Wallet’s new “Everything else” option significantly enhances the app’s functionality, making it easier for users to manage various types of passes digitally. By leveraging AI for accurate pass categorization and providing robust privacy controls, Google ensures a secure and user-friendly experience. Whether you’re organizing event tickets, gym memberships, or important identification cards, Google Wallet’s latest feature simplifies the process, offering a seamless digital solution for all your pass management needs.