Express Transit is an Apple Pay feature that lets you make a payment without unlocking your Apple Watch using Face ID or Touch ID. Thanks to Express Transit, you can now make a transaction at a transit gate just by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch. But first you have to set it up. This article shows you how.

omny

Where Can I Use Express Transit?

Apple has a web page that it updates with the countries and regions that support the feature. As of writing, Express Transit works in the following places:

  • In mainland China with Beijing Transit cards and Shanghai Transit cards.
  • In Japan with all forms of transit that accept Suica.
  • In London with Transport for London (TfL).
  • In New York City with Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) terminals at select stations.
  • In the San Francisco Bay Area with the Clipper card.
  • In Chicago with the Ventra card.
  • In Portland, Oregon, with all forms of transit that accept Hop Fastpass.

How to Set Up Express Transit on iPhone

To set up Express Transit, you need to be using an ‌iPhone‌ 6s or later with iOS 12.3 or later installed. You can check what software version your device is running by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update.

Obviously, you also need to have a registered at least one debit or credit card with ‌Apple Pay‌. That said, it's worth mentioning that not all banks support Express Transit, but you can find out if your bank does by following these steps.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌.
  2. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
  3. Tap Express Travel Card.
  4. Tap one of your cards in the list to use it with Express Transit. A tick will appear next to the card you select. The default option is None.
  5. Authenticate your device using ‌Touch ID‌ or ‌Face ID‌.

settings
If your bank card doesn't support Express Transit, you'll get an error message telling you that the card is incompatible. If no error message appears, you're good to tap-and-go.

How to Set Up Express Transit on Apple Watch

You can also set up Express Transit to work on your watch, so long as it's running watchOS 5.2.1 or later. You can check what version you're running by going to General -> Software Update in the Watch app on your ‌iPhone‌.

  1. Launch the Watch app on your ‌iPhone‌.
  2. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
  3. Tap Express Travel Card.
  4. Tap one of your cards in the list to use it with Express Transit. A tick will appear next to the card you select. The default option is None.
  5. Authenticate by entering your passcode on your Apple Watch.

watch settings
If your bank card doesn't support Express Transit, you'll get an error message telling you that the card is incompatible. If no message appears, you're all set.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
vision pro video recording

WSJ: Some Apple Vision Pro Buyers 'Feel Total Regret'

Friday May 16, 2025 7:43 am PDT by
Apple's Vision Pro headset has left many early adopters expressing dissatisfaction over its weight, limited use cases, and sparse software ecosystem, according to a new article from The Wall Street Journal. In the year following the device's launch, user feedback suggests that it has failed to meet expectations for comfort, software support, and social acceptance. In interviews conducted by T...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Could Debut Advanced Silicon Battery Tech

Friday May 16, 2025 8:00 am PDT by
The upcoming all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air could become the first Apple smartphone to adopt advanced battery technology, with Japanese supplier TDK preparing to ship its new generation of silicon-anode batteries by the end of June. According to DigiTimes, TDK CEO Noboru Saito revealed in a recent interview that the Apple supplier has accelerated its production timeline, moving shipments...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...