Google Pockets’s new characteristic can lear...

Google Wallet
is arguably among the best digital pockets apps (sorry

Apple Wallet
), and it is filled with useful options, reminiscent of the flexibility to retailer your driver’s license in some states, maintain your

NFC-based car keys
, and retailer reward playing cards. If you happen to’re seeking to declutter your bodily pockets, Google Pockets is the pure app to attempt — if you happen to’re on an Android gadget, that’s.

At Google’s I/O 2025 occasion, the tech large showcased most of the new Android and Gemini options it has been engaged on, reminiscent of

Google Search’s AI Mode
and Android 16’s Expressive Material 3. Nevertheless, what caught my eye as a digital pockets fanatic was the brand new Close by Passes notifications characteristic coming to Google Pockets.

Because the identify suggests, Close by Passes notifications will provide you with a warning about any pertinent passes you’ve got, reminiscent of a live performance ticket or a boarding go, once you strategy a focal point associated to it. For instance, in case you have a loyalty card for a espresso store, Google Pockets will ship you a notification to entry the cardboard once you’re on the espresso store.

In case your Google Pockets has turn out to be simply as cluttered as your bodily pockets as soon as was, with many various bank cards, debit playing cards, loyalty playing cards, and extra, Close by Passes notifications will present a useful approach to rapidly entry the go you want, the place you want it, and once you want it.

Google Pockets

Google Pockets is Google’s digital pockets app for managing credit score and debit playing cards, tickets, pupil IDS, and extra.

Associated

I waited too long to start using this convenient payment app

I am unable to consider it took me so lengthy to start out utilizing Google Pockets.

Close by Passes is not enabled by default

You may management which playing cards you get notifications for

Google

Since Close by Passes makes use of your location, the characteristic is not enabled by default. To make use of it when it launches, you will have to go to your Google Pockets settings and activate Close by Passes.

Google will even enable customers to disable notifications for particular playing cards. For example, if you don’t need a Google Pockets notification popping up each time you stroll by your favourite espresso store for which you’ve got a card, you’ll be able to flip it off if you happen to select.

Each time I am touring or attending an occasion, I am all the time scrambling to seek out the precise ticket, so having Google Pockets notify me concerning the right one to make use of once I’m on the airport or nearing the baseball stadium might be extremely helpful. As proven within the picture above, the notification pops up in your lock display, you faucet it, after which the go or card you are searching for instantly seems. It nearly looks like Google Pockets is studying your thoughts for the precise go you want.

Close by Passes will quickly be obtainable to all Google Pockets customers. From what I’ve seen thus far, Close by Passes appears to be like to be a powerful quality-of-life characteristic that I feel will improve the accessibility of Google Pockets. I notably like that it is completely optionally available and that customers can select which playing cards they obtain notifications for.

One other upcoming characteristic of Google Pockets showcased at Google I/O is Auto Linked Passes for airways, which is able to “routinely push boarding passes to their customers’ pockets as soon as they test in for a flight.” So if you happen to’ve spend lots of time flying, this can enable airways to right away add your boarding go to your Google Pockets upon check-in, whether it is linked to your airline loyalty card.

If you wish to take a look at the total Google Pockets and Google Pay I/O presentation, you’ll be able to watch it beneath.

Associated

Adding cards to Google Wallet could soon be as easy as a tap

Including your new credit score or debit card to Google Pockets could also be lots simpler sooner or later.