How to open pkpass file

Passbook pkpass file

With iOS version 6 Apple introduced a new application called Passbook that simplifies user's management of their boarding cards, tickets, store cards and other coupons in electronic form. Passbook on iPhone can manage credit cards as well as debit cards and can be used for payment through Apple Pay service. Passbook uses for this purpose special file format that features pkpass file extension.

Several ways how to import passes to your Passbook exist, namely with an integrated barcode scanner (Aztec, PDF417 and QR barcodes are supported), via other apps from App Store with Passbook integration, web browser, link in e-mail message, sms, mms or other similar services.

Contents

What is a pkpass file

Sometimes you can get your pass as an attachment via email. In such case, the file will be named something like pass.pkass, depending on the sender.

PKPASS is an archive compressed with ZIP compression format that stores other files:

  • icon.png
  • logo.png
  • manifest.json
  • pass.json
  • signature

You can rename .pkpass to .zip extension and open the .zip file in any compression tool with ZIP support and explore the content.

Opening pkpass files on iPhone or iPad

iPhone users can easily import .pkpass files to Apple Wallet (previously known as Passbook), with a simple click on the file in their iPhone e-mail client through the Add button in the upper right corner.

iPhone email iphone import pkpass file

Import pkpass file on iPhone

You can also send passes from your Passbook via e-mail, iMessage, or AirDrop ad-hoc sharing service to other users.

Opening pkpass files in Google Android

When you download email message with .pkpass file as attachment in Android device, you will see it as an unknown file format. However, with apps such as PassWallet, users can easily open .pkpass files on their devices and view it pretty much the same way as in Passbook app on iPhone/iPad.

PassWallet for Android

PassWallet for Android

Opening pkpass files in Windows Phone

The Microsoft Wallet is an app similar to Passbook and was first integrated to Windows Phone 8.1 and is available ever since.

It can also import .pkpass files directly from email or web pages. But in order to do so, it requires 3rd party apps like Pkpass Wallet, Wallet Pass etc. to display the pass correctly.

Wallet Pass for Windows Phone

Wallet Pass in Windows Phone

Opening pkpass files on PC (Windows)

Windows 10 users have really easy solution for this, because the very same Microsoft Wallet app for Windows Phone works on the desktop.

For older versions of Windows, one of the viable alternatives would be virtualize Android (for example through BlueStack App Player) and use some Android app to view .pkpass files.

BlueStacks for Windows
PassWallet in BlueStacks

 

Opening pkpass files on Mac

By default, any .pkpass files opened in Safari on Mac are automatically synced with iCloud so you can view them on your mobile device, but not on the computer. Same goes for the default mail app.

pkpass ticket viewed in Apple Safari

Unfortunately, this function is bugged and it won't show you the ticket or show some other error.

Event ticket viewed in pass viewer included in macOS (OS X)

One alternative presents itself by using development tools. You can download and install Xcode which also contains iOS simulator. It can be used to launch apps that support .pkpass files, in this case the Apple Wallet (previously Passbook).

Of course you can also some virtual Android environment and use Android app for viewing .pkpass files on Mac.

How to convert pkpass file

The primary purpose of pkpass conversion is to transform it to another pass format, such as mswallet format used in Microsoft Wallet.

This conversion can be simply achieved by Windows / Windows Phone app called Passbook Converter, which was specially designed for the purpose to convert pkpass to mswallet file.

PassBook converter for Windows Phone

Passbook Conveter for Windows Phone

 

For simple previewing or printing purposes, some users may try to export the actual ticket to some common picture format, such as PNG.

The best way for this would be to take advantage of some of the screenshot making apps in your mobile device, which often save in PNG format. Once you have the .png you can convert it to anything you like, including PDF or XPS/OPXS in Windows.

XnView for Windows
XnView / XnConvert tool allows users to quickly convert many different graphics formats
 

Sometimes you even get a copy of your pass in a PDF format as email attachment together with the actual .pkpass file. It depends purely on the seller of the coupon.

 

Related software and links:

Apple iOS icon

Apple iOS    Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch devices) platform
Operating system for Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices

 
Apple Wallet (Passbook) icon

Apple Wallet (Passbook)    Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch devices) platform
A digital pass managing utility integrated in iOS 6 and above

 
BlueStacks App Player for Mac icon

BlueStacks App Player for Mac    Apple macOS / Mac OS X platform
Android virtualization software for Apple Mac

 
BlueStacks App Player for Windows icon

BlueStacks App Player for Windows    Microsoft Windows platform
Android apps virtualization software for Windows

 

Passbook Converter    Microsoft Windows platform
A PKPASS to MSWALLET converter

 

PassWallet    Google Android platform
Pass application for Androids compatible with Apple Passbook

 

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Related file extensions

mswallet - Microsoft Wallet item package

pkpass - Apple Wallet pass data

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