Some Ontario Transit Riders Can Now Use Presto Card in Apple Wallet

A Presto card is shown in a file photo on Jan. 29, 2019. Shutterstock/HKPhotography Toronto

Public transit riders in Toronto and Hamilton are now able to pay for fares using their Apple Wallet.

The Presto card is now able to be added to the Apple Wallet, according to a July 16 news release from Apple. The Presto card is a reloadable payment method for those who use the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), GO Transit, UP Express, and other Ontario transit agencies.

Making the card available from the Apple Wallet enables commuters to pay transit fares with their iPhone and Apple Watch, the company said.

“We’re thrilled to bring PRESTO to Apple Wallet, enabling GTHA residents and visitors alike to securely and seamlessly use their iPhone or Apple Watch to ride transit,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

How to Add Presto Card to Apple Wallet

Adding a Presto card to your Apple Wallet can be done by registering the physical card to a Presto account. It’s important to know that once you transfer your physical card, it will no longer work. Users are advised to download their transaction history before converting the card to the account.

Here are the steps to convert a physical Presto card into a digital one in the Apple Wallet.

1. Sign into the Presto account and select the card to put in the wallet.
2. Tap the ‘convert to Apple Wallet’ button.
3. Follow the prompts.
4. You will be asked to use your phone to scan your physical card. Hold the card against the back of the phone until a checkmark appears on the screen.
5. Hit the ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ button.

New Presto cards can also be purchased and added to the wallet. TTC riders can opt to purchase a card for their Apple Wallet instead of converting a physical card to the wallet. Here’s how:

1. Sign into your Presto account.
2. Click ‘Add a card.’
3. Select the ‘Presto in Apple Wallet’ option.
4. Follow the prompts to add funds to the card.
5. Enter a nickname for your card.
6. Hit the ‘Add to Apple Wallet’ button.

Using Apple Wallet for TTC Fares

Presto cards in your Apple Wallet need to have ‘Express Mode’ enabled before they can be used to pay transit fares. Users can have more than one Presto card in the Apple Wallet, but only one can be set to Express Mode.

Once Express Mode is enabled, users can hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a reader to pay. Devices do not have to be unlocked or awake for the Presto card to work. Additionally, if an iPhone is in low-power mode, it can still be used to pay transit fares.

Funds can be added to Presto cards in the app or from the Apple Wallet.