Push Notifications for Wallet Passes: A Complete Guide

Why Wallet Pass Notifications Are Different

App push notifications are fighting for attention in a crowded notification center. But wallet pass notifications appear directly on the lock screen — in the same space as urgent messages — making them significantly more visible.

This visibility translates to higher engagement rates compared to traditional app notifications.

Three Types of Notifications

PassEditor supports three notification types, each serving different purposes.

1. Push Updates

Push updates change the content of the pass itself after it’s been issued. When a push update is sent:

• The pass content changes automatically
• A notification appears on the lock screen
• The update is visible even without opening the pass

Use cases:

• Update event times or venue changes
• Change membership tier status
• Refresh points balance
• Update travel itinerary information

2. Location-Based Notifications

Location notifications trigger when the customer enters or exits a geographic region. This uses GPS, so it works automatically when the customer is near your location.

Use cases:

• “You’re near our store — you have a coupon waiting!”
• Remind customers when they park near your venue
• Notify transit riders of delays on their route

3. Time-Based Notifications

Time notifications are scheduled to appear at a specific date and time.

Use cases:

• Event day reminders
• Birthday rewards
• Points expiring soon alerts
• Renewal reminders for memberships

How to Configure Notifications

In PassEditor, navigate to your pass template and click “Notifications” to set up each type:

1. Push Updates — Enable the API endpoint and configure the notification message
2. Location — Draw a geo-fence on the map and set trigger behavior (entry/exit)
3. Time-Based — Set the date, time, and message content

Best Practices

Be Relevant

Only send notifications that matter to the customer. Every notification is a touchpoint — make it count.

Good: “Your gate changed to B12 — updated ticket attached” Bad: “Thank you for your purchase”

Be Timely

Location-based notifications work best when they’re actionable in the moment. Don’t send a “we miss you” notification when someone is 500 miles away.

Don’t Over-Notify

Even though wallet notifications have high visibility, too many becomes annoying. Set clear rules for when notifications are sent.

Notification Analytics

PassEditor tracks notification performance:

• Delivery rate — Did the notification reach the device?
• Open rate — Did the customer view it?
• Conversion — Did they take action (use a coupon, view the event)?

Implementation via API

All notification types can be triggered programmatically via our REST API:

curl -X POST https://api.passeditor.com/v1/passes/{id}/notify \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}" \
  -d '{"type": "push", "message": "Your points balance has been updated!"}'

Get Started

Notifications are one of PassEditor’s most powerful features for driving engagement. Create a free account to start experimenting with notification-enabled passes.