Boarding pass not showing on iPhone lock screen? Why and how to fix it

You are at the airport, the line is moving, and the pass you added last night is nowhere on your lock screen. Take a breath. In most cases the pass is fine and your phone is behaving as designed. This guide shows how to open it right now, why it may not appear on its own, and what to change so it does next time.

How do I open my boarding pass right now?

Do this first if you are short on time. You don't need the lock screen suggestion to use the pass. Apple's guide lists several ways to reach a Wallet item:

Apple adds that if Automatic Selection is turned on for the item, you can double-click the side button on an iPhone with Face ID, or the Home button on an iPhone SE, to bring it up. If you can't find the pass in Wallet at all, jump to the section on adding it again below.

Boarding pass not showing on iPhone lock screen: is that normal?

Often, yes. Apple's iPhone User Guide describes Suggest on Lock Screen this way: the item automatically appears on the Lock Screen based on your time or location, for example a boarding pass near your departure time. So the pass is not supposed to sit on your lock screen all day. It shows up when your phone decides you are about to need it.

That means a few things are normal. The pass may not appear the night before your flight. It may not appear at home. It may appear later than you expect. Apple does not publish exact timing, so we can't tell you the hour it will show. What you can control is whether the option is turned on, and we cover that next.

How to turn on Suggest on Lock Screen for a boarding pass

This is the setting that decides whether your pass can pop up on its own. Apple's guide gives the path.

If you don't see the toggle, the pass doesn't offer it. That is a limit of the pass itself, which the airline creates, not a fault on your phone. In that case, use the Wallet app method above. Apple's page on boarding passes says that if something is missing, you should contact your airline.

Is the pass really in Wallet?

Check this before you change anything else. A pass in an airline app, an email or a screenshot is not the same as a pass in Apple Wallet. Only a pass added to Wallet can show on the lock screen.

If there is no Add to Apple Wallet button, Apple says to contact the airline and confirm it supports boarding passes in Wallet. Apple's page also lists two requirements: your iPhone or Apple Watch should run the latest version of iOS or watchOS, and Face ID or Touch ID should be turned on. A boarding pass you add on iPhone also appears on a paired Apple Watch.

Check location, notifications and Live Activities

If Suggest on Lock Screen is on and the pass still doesn't show, look at the settings that a time or location suggestion depends on. Apple does not list these as required fixes for boarding passes, so treat them as reasonable checks, not guaranteed cures.

• Location Services: Apple says the suggestion is based on your time or location. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services, and make sure it is on.
• Notifications: Open Settings, tap Notifications, and look for Wallet and your airline's app. Allow notifications and lock screen alerts for them.
• Focus modes: A Focus such as Do Not Disturb or Sleep can hide alerts. Check the Focus icon at the top of Control Center.
• Low Power Mode: It reduces background activity, so turn it off for a test if the battery allows.

If your airline shows flight updates as a Live Activity rather than as the pass, the settings are different. One third party guide updated in May 2026 gives these paths: open Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, and turn on Live Activities under Allow Access When Locked. Then open Settings, tap Apps, choose the airline app, tap Live Activities and turn on Allow Live Activities. Menu names can shift between versions, so look for similar wording if yours differs. For a wider set of fixes, see our guide on notifications not showing on the lock screen.

Why does the pass show on my Apple Watch but not my iPhone?

A pass you add on your iPhone also appears on a paired Apple Watch, so seeing it there is a good sign that the pass is in Wallet. The lock screen suggestion on the phone is a separate feature, so it can behave differently from the watch. Open the pass on either device. Use whichever is faster and works with the scanner.

Should I delete and re-add the pass?

Only as a last step, and only if you are sure you can get the pass again. Apple's guide is clear about the risk. If you delete a pass on your iPhone, it is permanently removed from Apple Wallet on your other devices. If the airline only lets you add the pass once, or you don't have the email any more, you could be left with nothing.

• Make sure the airline app or the confirmation email still has the Add to Apple Wallet button.
• Save a copy of the pass in the airline app so you can show it there if needed.
• In Wallet, tap the pass, tap More or Info, then tap Remove Pass.
• Add the pass again from the airline app or the email.

If time is short at the airport, skip this and use the airline app, or ask a ticket desk to print the pass. That is quicker than troubleshooting at the gate.

Common reasons a boarding pass isn't on the lock screen

Tips to avoid trouble on travel day

• Add the pass to Wallet at home, then open it once to confirm the barcode shows.
• Don't rely on the lock screen suggestion. Think of it as a bonus.
• Keep your phone charged. A dead phone is the one problem no setting fixes.
• Know the Wallet shortcut: open the app and tap the pass, or use the side button double-click if Automatic Selection is on.
• Keep a backup, such as the airline app, an email or a printed pass for a tight connection.

If you are heading abroad, also plan your data before you land. Our guide on using your phone when you travel abroad covers eSIM, roaming and offline downloads, so your airline app and maps still work. For general Wallet help, see setting up Apple Pay and Wallet.

What if none of this works?

Restart your iPhone, update to the latest iOS, and try again. Apple's boarding pass page names the latest version of iOS as a requirement. If the pass still won't appear on its own, you can keep using the Wallet app, which works whether or not the lock screen shows it. For a pass that is missing or won't add, contact your airline first, because the airline controls what its pass supports. Apple Support can help with Wallet itself if the app is failing for other reasons.

We haven't verified every menu name on every iOS version, and Apple can change them. If your screen looks different, look for the pass, the More or Info button and a Details screen, which is where Apple places these options.