U-Pass® in Apple Wallet
Students with an iPhone 8 (or newer) and/or an Apple Watch Series 5 can transfer their physical U•Pass card to Apple Wallet.
After you transfer the physical GW U•Pass to Apple Wallet, your physical card will be deactivated and cannot be used again.
How to Participate
- Instructions
First, you must pick up a new U•Pass card at the start of every academic year. Please note that the virtual card from the previous academic year is now void.
Second, follow the instructions or watch the video to transfer your existing U•Pass card to Apple Wallet.
Students no longer need to add a unique date of birth, last name, and phone number. Please enter only the last four digits of the U-Pass card.
- Troubleshooting
- Remove all personal Smart Trip and old U•Pass cards from your Apple Wallet before adding the new U•Pass card.
- Turn on Express Mode for Transit Cards in Apple Wallet. With Express Transit turned on, your Apple Wallet will recognize the U•Pass card to use at the turnstiles. Just tap and go.
- Follow the U-Pass Restoration Instructions (PDF) to add the U•Pass card back to your Apple Wallet if it did not work correctly the first time.
Once the physical GW U•Pass card has transferred to Apple Wallet, it will be deactivated and cannot be used again. Please keep the physical card in case your Apple Wallet stops working, and exchange it for a new U•Pass card at the GWorld Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I have lost my iPhone, or I bought a new iPhone. How do I recover my U•Pass card from my old iPhone?
Please note that if you switch your phone throughout the academic year and restore your new device from a backup of your old device, you will be given the opportunity to restore your SmarTrip card to Apple Wallet on your new phone.
- If you are setting up your new phone as a new iPhone, and you removed your SmarTrip card from Apple Wallet on your old iPhone prior to disposing of it, simply select "Add Card' in Apple Wallet and follow the steps to restore your transit card.
- If you are setting up your new iPhone and did not take any action to remove your SmarTrip card from your old iPhone, you can remove your SmarTrip card from your old iPhone by logging into iCloud, selecting Account Settings, selecting your old device, and following the prompts to remove your SmarTrip card from Apple Wallet. Once that is complete, select "Add Card" in Apple Wallet on your new iPhone and follow the steps to restore your SmarTrip.
- Please note that your previous device must be nearby and connected to the internet to complete the transfer to your new device.
For additional questions about your U-Pass card in your Apple Wallet, check out the FAQ page from Apple Support.
- What happens if the battery on my iPhone device dies and I need to use my U•Pass card?
On iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR and newer, you can use power reserve with your Express Transit card. Power reserve enables you to quickly pay for rides and is available for up to five hours when your iPhone needs to be charged.
To see if Express Transit cards are available when your iPhone needs to be charged, press the side button. Doing this often may significantly reduce the power reserve for Express Transit cards. If you choose to power off your iPhone, this feature will not be available.
- Can I add the U•Pass card to my personal Smart Trip online account?
- Can I add a stored value to my virtual U•Pass card?
Unfortunately, the option to add stored value is not available on the U•Pass card.
- When will the mobile feature be available for the Android Google Pay platform?
U•Pass in Google Pay is not currently available. Metro will provide updates as we plan support for Android users.
Reach out to upass
gwu [dot] edu (upass[at]gwu[dot]edu) with any questions. For more information on how to transfer U•Pass to Apple Wallet, visit https://www.wmata.com/fares/U-Pass/U-Pass-in-Apple-Wallet.cfm or call (888) - SMARTRIP (888-762-7874).