A flat iPhone battery doesn’t let you use every Apple Pay card. On supported iPhones, some cards, passes and keys set up for Express Mode can use a limited power reserve. Ordinary shop payments that require Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode still need a working device.
Check which situation applies
| Situation | What you can expect |
|---|---|
| Screen asleep, phone still powered | You can wake it for normal Apple Pay, or use an eligible Express item at its compatible reader. |
| Battery depleted and phone needs charging | Some Express Mode items may work using reserve power. |
| You deliberately shut the iPhone down | Apple says the power-reserve feature is unavailable. |
| Ordinary card payment at a shop | Do not assume an Express Transit setting enables general purchases with a dead phone. |
Express Mode: set it up while you have battery
Open Wallet, select the eligible item, then open More → Card Details → Express Transit Settings or Express Mode, if offered. Choose the item you want to use. The available settings depend on the card, issuer, transit system or key.
Apple lists supported transit cards, payment cards for transit, student IDs and certain keys among the compatible items. This is not a setting you can add to every bank or loyalty card.
Apple’s Express Mode guide says reserve power can last up to five hours for some eligible items. It is an upper limit, not a guaranteed journey length. Pressing the side or Home button can show available items, but repeatedly checking can reduce the reserve.
Why this is different from normal Apple Pay
Apple’s security documentation describes a small remaining power reserve that can support an Express Transit payment/transit card or compatible keys. The main operating system can be unavailable while this limited function remains usable. The phone still needs energy; the card does not work indefinitely without a battery.
Do not rely on a universal PIN threshold such as €20 or €50. Express eligibility and payment rules belong to the particular service and issuer.
Before relying on it for travel
- Confirm your exact iPhone and card are supported by the transit operator or issuer.
- Set up and try Express Mode while the phone is charged.
- Keep a physical card or another accepted payment method for an unexpectedly long delay.
- Charge the phone when you can. Express Mode support on an Apple Watch doesn’t mean it works the same way when the battery runs out.
Technical information checked October 12, 2026, using the sources linked above.