The Wallet app on iPhone has provided built-in order tracking since iOS 16, yet many users may not have noticed it. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how this feature operates and why it remains seldom seen.
Understanding Order Tracking in Wallet
Apple’s aim to eliminate the need for a physical wallet through its Wallet app has had its triumphs and setbacks.
A principal obstacle in Wallet’s effectiveness is its reliance on third-party participation. For instance, while U.S. states can provide digital IDs within Wallet, few have taken that step.
Order tracking is another feature that has been slow to gain traction.
In the upper-right corner of the Wallet app, a box icon ideally serves as a centralized hub for your various Apple Pay orders.
When functioning correctly, this feature allows you to check:
- The status of your order, estimated delivery time, or issues that may have arisen
- Your order number, the total purchase amount, and payment status
Regrettably, it’s a promising feature that has seen limited use over the past two years.
The Rarity of Apple Wallet Order Tracking
In the two years since the introduction of order tracking, I personally have not been able to utilize the feature at all—until today.
A reader recently informed me that they also encountered their first compatible order in the Wallet app.
Another member of the DMN team has managed to track three compatible orders during these two years.
What accounts for this scarcity?
According to Apple, order tracking is functional for Apple Pay transactions made on iPhone, iPad, or Mac through a participating app or website.
When you make a purchase from a participating merchant, you can track orders in the Wallet app from your iPhone
The issue lies in the difficulty of identifying a ‘participating merchant’. Apple hasn’t released a comprehensive list, and, as previously noted, many users may not have had the chance to make purchases from those merchants in the past two years.
When the feature was initially introduced, Apple had several partnerships with major e-commerce companies like Shopify.
Nowadays, however, third-party shopping platforms often prefer to provide their own order tracking solutions, aiming to keep customers within their ecosystem instead of directing them to Apple’s.
Final Thoughts on Wallet Order Tracking
Perhaps my recent ability to view my first order in the Wallet app signals that Apple has onboarded new partners. Or maybe it’s merely coincidental.
Regardless, it is a pleasure to track orders in one unified location with an intuitive user interface. Unfortunately, the concept of a centralized hub loses its impact when the majority of your orders are absent from it.
What has your experience been with Apple Wallet order tracking? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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