Apple’s iOS 26 introduces a significant enhancement to the Wallet app: universal order tracking. This feature allows users to monitor all their deliveries directly within the app, regardless of the payment method used. Previously, order tracking in Wallet was limited to purchases made via Apple Pay with participating merchants. With iOS 26, this functionality expands to include any purchase, offering a centralized hub for tracking deliveries.
Enabling Universal Order Tracking
To activate this feature:
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. Select Apple Pay Defaults.
4. Tap on Order Tracking.
5. Toggle on Orders Found in Mail.
This setting allows the Wallet app to scan your emails for tracking information, integrating it seamlessly into the app. It’s important to note that this feature is currently labeled as beta, indicating ongoing refinements.
How It Works
Once enabled, the Wallet app utilizes Apple Intelligence to scan your emails for order confirmations and tracking numbers. This process is conducted entirely on-device, ensuring that your data remains private and secure. The extracted information is then organized within the Wallet app, providing a chronological list of your orders. Each entry includes the merchant’s name, a thumbnail image, courier status, and an estimated delivery date. Tapping on an order opens the original email, and a subsequent tap can launch a Live Activity card on the Lock Screen, allowing you to monitor the delivery in real-time.
Privacy and Security
Apple emphasizes that all data extraction occurs on-device, leveraging the Apple Intelligence framework. This approach ensures that your order information remains private and is not transmitted to external servers unless you choose to sync through iCloud. The feature is available on devices equipped with the necessary on-device neural engine, approximately the A20 generation and newer.
Integration with Other iOS 26 Features
The universal order tracking feature integrates seamlessly with other iOS 26 functionalities:
– Live Activities: Receive real-time updates on your Lock Screen about your delivery status.
– Focus Modes: Customize notifications during delivery windows to minimize distractions.
– Visual Intelligence: Recognize product photos in receipts and receive price-drop alerts in Safari.
Additionally, Wallet’s enhancements include passport storage, website age verification via QR codes, and enriched boarding-pass Live Activities.
Availability
Currently, the universal order tracking feature is exclusive to the iOS 26 developer beta, released on June 23, 2025. A public beta is scheduled for July, with the official iOS 26 release expected in September alongside the iPhone 17 lineup. As with all beta software, users should anticipate potential bugs and are advised to install it on secondary devices if they rely on timely delivery alerts.
Conclusion
The introduction of universal order tracking in iOS 26 marks a significant step toward making the Wallet app a comprehensive tool for managing purchases and deliveries. By consolidating tracking information from various sources into a single, user-friendly interface, Apple enhances the convenience and efficiency of the shopping experience for its users.
