Google is beginning to test a new type of Google Wallet pass on Wear OS smartwatches that supports photo passes containing scannable patterns such as QR codes or barcodes. Previously, photo-based passes added to Google Wallet on phones did not appear on Wear OS devices, but early sightings and testing indicate that passes with scannable elements are now showing up on some Wear OS watches. However, standard photo-only passes, such as images without QR or barcodes, still do not appear, suggesting this is an initial experiment with limited support for scannable custom passes on smartwatches.
A Reddit post showed a Google Wallet pass with a “Press to scan” label in Spanish, indicating a QR or barcode-based pass on a Wear OS device. A disclaimer on the watch version notes some pass information might not be visible on the watch, prompting users to open the pass on their phone for full details. Google’s official support documentation still states that private or custom passes are generally unsupported on Wear OS, and there has been no formal announcement about this feature. This development is the clearest indication that Google may be moving toward adding broader support for custom photo passes on Wear OS in the near future.
Users who want to try this feature should check for updates to Google Wallet and Wear OS apps, as improved pass support and new functionalities have been rolling out recently, including grouped passes, pass archiving, and better integration with various types of tickets and loyalty cards.
This early test suggests Google Wallet on Wear OS is evolving beyond just payment cards to embrace more diverse passes, improving convenience for smartwatch users who rely on mobile tickets, loyalty cards, or photo passes with scannable codes.
If you’ve noticed your photo passes or scannable passes appearing on your Wear OS watch, this may be part of Google’s gradual rollout of enhanced Google Wallet functionality on wearables, paving the way for more comprehensive pass support soon.