FoilPassWhat is a .pkpass file?
Guide · Updated
When someone sends you a boarding pass, a ticket or a membership card "for Apple Wallet", you're getting a .pkpass file. If you only got a PDF, see how to turn a PDF ticket into a pass.
What's inside
A .pkpass is a zip archive with a few parts:
pass.json: the text, colors, dates, locations and barcode.- Images such as the icon, logo and artwork, at several sizes.
manifest.json: a checksum of every file.signature: a cryptographic signature over the manifest.
Why it has to be signed
Wallet only accepts passes signed with a certificate Apple issued to the pass's creator. That's why you can't just write a pass by hand, and why apps like FoilPass sign passes on a server that holds the certificate. Signing proves the pass hasn't been altered since it was made.
Opening a .pkpass
- iPhone: tap the file in Mail, Messages or Files and choose Add.
- Android: Google Wallet can import many .pkpass files. The layout may look different from the iPhone version.
- Computer: it's a zip file, so you can rename it to .zip to look inside. It won't do anything on its own.
Sharing a pass
In FoilPass you can share any pass you made as a .pkpass file or a 30-day link. Membership cards can also be shared in Wallet by holding two iPhones close together.
Try it
FoilPass is coming soon to the App Store. It's free for your first three passes, with no ads and no account. Read the FAQ