Apple Wallet Push Notifications Spark Frustration Among iPhone Users
Apple Wallet is suddenly sending push notifications to promote F1: The Movie, and many iPhone users are not happy. A $10 discount on movie tickets may seem like a nice offer, but when it shows up uninvited in your Wallet app, it feels more like spam than service.
The promo includes a discount via Apple Pay using the code APPLEPAYTEN when buying two or more tickets through Fandango. But users expected the Apple Wallet to be a secure space for payments and passes, not movie marketing.
Why Apple Wallet Ads Feel Intrusive to iPhone Users
Apple has long prided itself on delivering a clean, ad-free experience in its core apps. That’s why this move is especially controversial. Apple Wallet was designed to store credit cards, boarding passes, tickets, and transit cards, not to deliver ads.
For many, these push notifications from Apple Wallet cross a line. One Reddit user put it bluntly:
“I did not pay over $1,000 for an iPhone to get advertised at.”
And the sentiment is echoed across social media, where others say this behavior feels out of character for Apple’s typically user-first design philosophy.
How to Turn Off Apple Wallet Movie Ads in iOS 26
Thankfully, Apple is responding. With the release of iOS 26, users can now disable ads in the Apple Wallet app without shutting off all notifications. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Apple Wallet app.
- Tap the three dots (…) in the top-right corner.
- Select Notifications.
- Toggle off Offers & Promotions.
This will silence promotional content like the F1 movie ads but still allow important alerts, such as boarding pass updates or Apple Pay receipts.
What If You Haven’t Updated to iOS 26 Yet?
If you're still using a version before iOS 26, options are limited:
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Mute all Wallet notifications
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Go to Settings > Notifications > Wallet, then toggle Allow Notifications OFF.
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Downside: You won’t get any Wallet alerts, including useful ones.
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Hide card benefits at checkout
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Go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, scroll to Transaction Defaults, and disable Show Offers.
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Caveat: This only hides offers during checkout; it won’t stop push ads.
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Until iOS 26 rolls out more broadly, muting Wallet entirely is the only way to block these messages.
Apple Wallet Ads May Signal a Bigger Shift in Strategy
The use of Apple Wallet to promote Apple’s own content marks a significant shift. Since 2022, Apple has slowly added ads to places like the App Store and Apple News, but the Wallet app has remained ad-free until now.
This could be the beginning of more in-app promotions in areas we once assumed were safe from ads. The key concern for many is whether Apple will continue to respect user trust and allow clear opt-out options, like the one introduced in iOS 26.
Final Thoughts: Control Your Notifications Before They Control You
Apple Wallet is meant to be a tool, not a billboard. Getting movie ads from it feels like a breach of trust for many iPhone users. While Apple has begun offering a way to turn these off in iOS 26, it’s clear that user feedback played a role in prompting the fix.
Until then, if you want peace and quiet on your iPhone, your best option is to mute Apple Wallet notifications entirely.
Quick Tips Table: How to Manage Apple Wallet Ads
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Current iOS | Settings > Notifications > Wallet | Turn off Allow Notifications to stop all alerts |
| iOS 26 and later | Wallet app > (…) > Notifications > Offers & Promotions | Stops ads but keeps essential alerts active |
| Alternative Option | Hide card offers during checkout in Wallet settings | Hides offers visually but doesn’t block push notifications |
