It can be frustrating when you go to access your Ticketmaster ticket in your Apple Wallet only to find there is no barcode available. This leaves you unable to scan your phone at the venue to gain entry. There are a few potential reasons why your Ticketmaster ticket may not have a barcode when viewing it in your Apple Wallet:
The ticket is not yet available
One of the most common reasons for missing barcodes is that the ticket is not yet available in your Apple Wallet. Ticketmaster will send the ticket to your Apple Wallet when it becomes available, which is generally 7-10 days prior to the event. If you recently purchased the ticket, it simply may not be accessible in your Apple Wallet yet. You’ll need to wait until the specified timeframe for the barcode to appear.
You’re viewing the wrong ticket
Another possibility is that you are looking at the wrong ticket in your Apple Wallet. If you have multiple tickets in your Apple Wallet, make sure you are selecting the correct event ticket to view. It’s easy to accidentally view another ticket and think the barcode is missing. Double check that you have the right ticket for the event you are attending displayed.
Connectivity issues
Connectivity problems either with your phone’s internet connection or between Apple Wallet and Ticketmaster can also prevent the barcode from displaying properly. Try disconnecting from the internet, resetting your network settings, and reconnecting again. Also, completely close out of Apple Wallet and reopen to refresh the connection. This may resolve any temporary glitches that are preventing the barcode from generating.
Outdated Apple Wallet app
Your Apple Wallet app may need to be updated in order to show barcodes correctly. Go to the App Store and check for any available updates to Apple Wallet. Make sure you have the latest version installed, as newer versions often contain bug fixes and improvements for displaying barcodes. Once updated, restart Apple Wallet and check if your ticket barcode now appears.
Outdated iOS software version
In addition to the Apple Wallet app, your overall iOS software may need to be updated. Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest iOS updates available. Having an outdated operating system can affect how Apple Wallet functions, so maintaining your iOS version can help resolve any ticket barcode issues.
Ticket transferred improperly
If you received the ticket from someone else or transferred it to another Apple Wallet, there may have been errors in the transfer process. This can lead to issues like missing barcodes. The sender needs to properly transfer the ticket through Ticketmaster. Un-added and re-add the ticket following Ticketmaster’s transfer instructions to get the barcode to generate correctly.
Ticketmaster technical issues
In some cases, there may be glitches or technical problems on Ticketmaster’s end that is impacting your ability to see the barcode. Check Ticketmaster’s website and social media pages for any notifications about known technical issues that may be affecting barcodes not displaying properly. You may just need to wait until their system is restored before the barcode returns.
Troubleshooting Steps
If your Ticketmaster ticket still doesn’t display a barcode in your Apple Wallet after reviewing those common reasons, here are some troubleshooting steps to try:
Contact Ticketmaster
Reach out to Ticketmaster’s customer service by phone or through their online chat. They can look into the status of your ticket and let you know if there are any issues on their end contributing to the missing barcode. They may be able to re-push the ticket to your Apple Wallet to resolve it.
Un-add and re-add the ticket
Try removing the ticket from your Apple Wallet completely, restart your phone, then add the ticket back. This may reset any errors that caused the barcode not to generate properly initially. Be sure to allow enough time after re-adding for the barcode to populate.
Update payment information
If your ticket is tied to a credit card, verify that the payment information is still valid. Outdated or invalid payment details could disrupt the connection to Apple Wallet. Enter updated card details on your Ticketmaster account.
Switch Apple Wallet devices
On a different iOS device, add the Ticketmaster ticket and check if the barcode appears. Sometimes issues are isolated to a particular device. If the barcode shows on another iPhone or iPad, you know something is interfering on your original device. You may need to factory reset that device to resolve it.
Update Apple Wallet app permissions
Make sure Apple Wallet has the proper permissions allowed to avoid any conflicts that could prevent barcodes from displaying. Go to Settings > Privacy > Apple Wallet and toggle permissions on for allowing access to App Store information, Wallet notifications, and other categories.
Restore Apple Wallet
As a last resort, try fully restoring Apple Wallet to factory defaults. Back up any other important tickets you don’t want to lose, then go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Transfer Wallet Passes and hit “Restore Wallet”. Re-add your Ticketmaster ticket afterwards.
Preventing Missing Barcodes for Future Events
Once you get the barcode issue resolved for your current ticket, follow these tips to avoid this happening again for future events:
Add tickets as soon as available
Don’t wait to add the Ticketmaster tickets to your Apple Wallet. Add them as soon as they are available to ensure enough time for the barcode to process properly before the event.
Limit ticket transfers
Avoid forwarding Ticketmaster tickets to multiple Apple Wallet users. Stick to only sending tickets directly to the intended recipient to reduce transfer errors.
Update iOS and apps frequently
Maintain your Apple Wallet app, iOS, and other apps by installing updates as they become available. Keeping your device ecosystem updated improves performance and compatibility.
Leave troubleshooting buffer room
If an issue does occur, resolve it at least 1 week prior to the event date. This gives a buffer in case troubleshooting takes longer than expected. Don’t wait until the last minute.
Verify ticket barcodes after receipt
Make a habit of opening each Ticketmaster ticket in your Apple Wallet and confirming the barcode is there right after you obtain the ticket. Identify and troubleshoot any issues immediately.
Alternative Options if Barcode Remains Missing
If you still cannot get the barcode to appear on your Apple Wallet ticket after exhausting all troubleshooting options, here are some alternative solutions:
Print out the ticket
Print a physical copy of the ticket by accessing it through your Ticketmaster account. You can bring the printed ticket to be scanned at the venue entrance. Double check that the barcode prints clearly and is not distorted or pixelated when printing.
Purchase a duplicate ticket
Contact Ticketmaster and ask if they can sell you a duplicate ticket for the same event with a newly generated barcode. Show your proof of purchase for the original ticket. The duplicate should sync correctly to Apple Wallet with a functioning barcode.
Show email confirmation
You likely received an email receipt or confirmation when purchasing the ticket. Show this email on your phone as proof of ticket purchase when arriving at the event. In some cases, they can manually look up your ticket to grant you entry without a barcode.
Get ticket transferred to Android
Ask Ticketmaster to instead transfer the ticket to an Android device. In some cases, Android phones may have better luck displaying the barcode properly from Ticketmaster. As a last resort, borrow an Android to display the ticket and barcode on.
Conclusion
Having ticket barcodes fail to display in your Apple Wallet can create unnecessary stress when trying to access an event. If your Ticketmaster ticket lacks a scannable barcode, don’t panic yet. In many cases, the situation can be resolved by troubleshooting connectivity issues, app updates, Ticketmaster transfers, and other solutions. Make sure to act well in advance of the event date, so you have plenty of time to address the problem. If you continue to be unable to get the barcode to appear, last minute options like printed tickets and alternative devices should still grant you entry. With the right help from Ticketmaster’s support team, a missing barcode doesn’t have to ruin your event experience.
Reason for No Barcode | Solutions |
---|---|
Ticket not yet available in Apple Wallet | Wait 7-10 days until ticket releases to Apple Wallet |
Viewing wrong ticket | Select correct ticket for event in Apple Wallet |
Connectivity issues | Reset network settings, restart Apple Wallet app |
Outdated Apple Wallet app | Update to latest Apple Wallet app version |
Outdated iOS version | Install newest iOS software updates |
Transfer issues | Un-add and re-add ticket properly in Apple Wallet |
Ticketmaster technical problems | Wait for Ticketmaster to resolve known issues |
Troubleshooting Steps
Contact Ticketmaster support |
Remove and re-add ticket to Apple Wallet |
Update payment method on Ticketmaster account |
Try ticket on different Apple device |
Adjust Apple Wallet app permissions |
Restore Apple Wallet to factory settings |
Preventing Future Barcode Issues
Add tickets immediately when available |
Limit ticket forwarding/transfers |
Keep iOS and apps updated |
Resolve issues 1+ week before event |
Confirm barcode after ticket receipt |
Alternative Options
Print out paper ticket |
Buy duplicate ticket from Ticketmaster |
Show email purchase confirmation |
Transfer ticket to Android device |