ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google Pockets can do rather more now than retailer playing cards.
- The app gained a number of main options in 2026.
- You can provide your baby their allowance, undergo TSA, and extra.
Most individuals know by now that Google Pockets can do issues in addition to retailer your bank cards, however you may need missed that Google has added loads to its digital pockets app in simply the previous few months.
Along with an enormous residence display and interface redesign, Google launched a number of important options in 2026 that make the app rather more helpful (it’s even reportedly coming to iOS quickly, in accordance with Android Authority).
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I’ve began utilizing Google Pockets increasingly more just lately, and I’m persistently shocked after I discover new methods to keep away from reaching for my actual pockets. Right here’s a take a look at my favourite additions this 12 months.
1. Hold a watch out for orders
There’s no scarcity of the way to simply observe your incoming packages, however now there’s another. In June, Google rolled out the flexibility to view your on-line orders and observe your packages in Pockets.
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You’ll need to have package deal monitoring enabled in Gmail, however upon getting that on, you possibly can see your detailed receipts, monitoring numbers, and delivery standing contained in the Pockets app.
2. Breeze by airport safety
In June of this 12 months, Google introduced a partnership with the Transportation Safety Administration that made Pockets the primary digital pockets appropriate with the PreCheck Touchless ID program. Which means at 65 US airports, you possibly can present your cellphone as an alternative of your bodily ID when you’ve got TSA PreCheck.
Right here’s the way it works: Once you look into the digicam on the TSA checkpoint, the system compares the dwell picture to your saved digital ID. You’ll need to arrange your ID move and save your boarding move to Pockets, however upon getting that able to go, you’ll be by airport safety extra rapidly than ever.
3. Give your youngsters cash securely
August 2026 noticed the rollout of a brand new allowance function for Google Pockets that allows you to ship cash to a baby’s account — both frequently or each time wanted. Your baby can then use their cellphone to faucet to pay.
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This can be a improbable choice for those who don’t need your baby to hold a bodily card or money that they may lose, and it has the safety of not with the ability to be used on-line in any respect. I attempted this with my son, and this methodology was by far his favourite over a card.
4. Add your driver’s license
This function isn’t new, however extra states have been added in 2026. Residents in 11 states can now add their official state driver’s license or ID card to Google Pockets: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Ohio.
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A number of extra states, together with North Carolina, are including the potential as early as spring 2027. Including your ID to Google Pockets isn’t an entire alternative in your bodily card, however you should utilize the digital model for age verification at collaborating retailers and inside choose apps.
5. Switch your transit card by NFC
Customers have been ready so as to add transit playing cards to Google Pockets for a while now, however a September replace to the app added the flexibility to switch bodily transit playing cards (and their balances) to your Pockets through NFC. Earlier than, you needed to manually sort all the knowledge to switch a card.
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