Apple is introducing a new Tap to Share feature in iOS 27 that aims to make in-person purchases faster and more interactive. Built on top of Tap to Pay on iPhone, the feature allows merchants and customers to securely exchange information with a simple NFC tap between devices.
The new capability is designed for businesses that use an iPhone as a payment terminal, including small retailers, local vendors, and market sellers. Instead of relying on separate hardware or lengthy checkout processes, merchants can handle customer information, loyalty programs, and payments directly from their iPhone.
Tap to Share works during an active Tap to Pay on iPhone session. When a customer taps their iPhone to the merchant’s device, they can securely share information such as contact details, shipping addresses, or an email address for digital receipts. Customers remain in control of the process and only share the information they choose.
Apple says the feature can also streamline loyalty and membership program signups. Businesses can enroll customers in programs directly from an iPhone, while customers can instantly receive and save passes to Apple Wallet for future use.
Another benefit is improved purchase transparency. With Tap to Share, customers can view their shopping cart directly on their own device, including discounts, sale prices, and order details before completing a transaction. This creates a more seamless checkout experience and reduces the need to review information on the merchant’s screen.
When it is time to pay, customers can complete all or part of the transaction using Apple Pay. The process remains powered by NFC technology, similar to existing contactless payments on iPhone and Apple Watch.
Apple has also included a fallback web experience that launches automatically when needed. This ensures customers can still securely review their cart, share information, and complete purchases even if a native app experience is unavailable.
Privacy and security remain a key part of the feature. Apple says information shared through Tap to Share is visible only to the customer and the merchant’s app, with data protected by the built-in security features of iPhone.
There are some limitations at launch. Tap to Share requires an iPhone 12 or newer, and Apple says the feature will not initially be available in the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes all European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The company has not provided a reason for the regional restriction or announced when support might expand to those markets.
Tap to Share is one of several Apple Wallet and Apple Pay enhancements arriving with iOS 27. Combined with new features like Create a Pass and Apple Cash bill splitting, Apple is continuing to expand the iPhone’s role as both a digital wallet and a complete checkout platform.
