How to split bills and customize passes in Apple Wallet with iOS 27 update

The upcoming iOS 27 update will bring much-needed system optimizations and improvements to iPhone, as well as a more convenient way to host a group meal. For those who prefer to contribute to the collective dining experience rather than foot the entire bill, Visual Intelligence will read receipts, split the bill, and send Apple Cash requests to the group. Luckily, this new feature isn’t buried in the settings menu. Instead, it works with the iPhone’s visual intelligence and camera to recognize a receipt.

However, it is not a universal bill sharing tool. iPhone users need to set up Apple Cash to receive and send money through Wallet. You’ll also need a compatible iPhone running iOS 27, an itemized receipt that the camera can read, and contacts who can receive and send an Apple Cash request.

iOS 27 will also include a separate tool for Apple Wallet Passes, also using visual intelligence. As with receipts, the camera identifies a compatible physical title (boarding passes, loyalty cards, tickets, etc.) and adds it to Wallet. Overall, this is a nice little upgrade, especially for those who already use their iPhone as a debit/credit card. All you have to do is set it up through the Control Center and start splitting bills.

Visual Intelligence is basically your camera with Siri floating in the background. This is a separate icon that you can add to your Control Center for quick access when you need to identify something or scan a receipt. Swipe down from the upper right corner of your iPhone screen to open Control Center. Touch and hold an empty area, then tap Add Control when prompted. Research and add visual intelligence. Once configured, you can swipe down to access Visual Intelligence at any time.

When you’re ready to split a bill, follow these steps:

1. Place an itemized receipt on a flat, well-lit surface.

2. Open Control Center and tap Visual intelligence.

3. Point the camera at the receipt and let iPhone scan it.

4. Press the yellow centered Share the bill with Apple Cash button when it appears.

5. Choose the contacts included in the share.

6. Review items and amounts before sending Apple Cash requests.

Visual Intelligence is designed to analyze the receipt so that the entire group can consider individual items instead of achieving an even distribution. You can always check for taxes, tips, discounts, or any shared appetizers before requesting payment, especially if the receipt includes a service charge or promotion.

The same Visual Intelligence control will scan a physical pass and add it to Apple Wallet. For the most part, anything that works with Apple Wallet will usually come with QR codes or Apple Wallet logos. However, not everything is effective, but visual intelligence can do the trick in a pinch.

Open Control Center, tap Visual Intelligence, and point your camera at the pass. If iOS 27 recognizes it as compatible, follow the on-screen prompt to add it to Wallet. Of course, this process may vary by issuer, and some passes will still need to be added through the airline, venue, or retailer’s app.

You can organize the cards and passes already in your wallet by touching and holding one, then dragging it until it suits your preferences. Until fall, Visual Intelligence and Split Bill Pay are only available in iOS27 Public or Developer Beta. Even when iOS 27 is officially released, this is still a relatively new feature: using the issuer’s official “Add to Apple Wallet” link or process may yield more reliable results. For now, Visual Intelligence is a great backup option for compatible physical passes.