# iOS 26: A Significant Update for Apple Wallet
iOS 26 represents a notable advancement for the Apple Wallet application, bringing a variety of new features and improvements aimed at enhancing user experience. Among the standout updates are enhancements to order tracking, which has historically been one of the app’s least utilized features. With this new version, Apple Wallet is poised to evolve into a more all-encompassing tool for overseeing purchases and monitoring orders.
## The Difficulty of Order Tracking in Apple Wallet
Order tracking was first introduced in iOS 16, meant to unify information regarding online purchases from different retailers within the Wallet app. Nevertheless, the feature struggled to gain popularity due to insufficient support from merchants. Many users discovered that they seldom received order updates via the Wallet app, resulting in frustration and limited use of the feature.
The gradual introduction of digital IDs and car keys underscores the difficulties encountered by Apple Wallet, as these functions rely heavily on collaborations with external entities. Without widespread backing from merchants, the order tracking feature’s potential remained largely unfulfilled.
## Improvements in iOS 26
With the launch of iOS 26, Apple has made considerable advances in enhancing the order tracking experience. The primary improvement involves the integration of Apple Intelligence, enabling the Wallet app to automatically recognize and summarize order tracking information from confirmation emails sent by merchants or delivery services. This new functionality allows users to view all their order details and receive progress updates conveniently in one place.
This refinement is particularly advantageous since nearly every online purchase generates confirmation emails, facilitating the Wallet app’s ability to collect relevant information. The integration of AI technology ensures efficient extraction of essential order tracking data, enhancing the user experience.
## Requirements for the New Feature
To benefit from the upgraded order tracking experience in iOS 26, users must possess compatible devices, specifically the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 16, or iPhone 15 Pro. The reliance on Apple Intelligence for this new feature indicates that older models will not have access to the enhanced functionality.
## Conclusion
The updates to order tracking in Apple Wallet with iOS 26 signify a substantial enhancement for users aiming to manage their online purchases more efficiently. By utilizing AI technology to extract order information from confirmation emails, Apple has tackled a long-standing challenge that limited the app’s usability. As users start to enjoy these improvements, the Wallet app may finally realize its potential as a centralized hub for managing purchases and tracking orders.
