How can you use your switched-off iPhone to take public transport in Paris and the Ile-de-France region with your Navigo pass? As you probably already know, the Navigo liberté pass, as well as the other Navigo passes apart from Navigo Annuel and Imagine R, can now be activated on your smartphone. But did you know that you can use it even when your iPhone is switched off? We tell you how.
The Navigo pass is finally becoming 100% digital for iPhone owners. Since the iOS system update and the opening up of RATP services, tickets such as Navigo Liberté+, weekly or monthly, can be loaded into the Apple Maps application. The next step, not yet widely known, is to use your phone as a validation badge, even if the battery is flat. So don't panic if your battery runs out!
For the iPhone to function as a transport ticket even when switched off, you need to manually activate Express Transport mode. Here's how to do it:
Open the Settings application, then Maps and Apple Pay
Get off at Carte de transport express
Select your Navigo card
Please note that only one Navigo card and one bank card can be activated in express mode. The validation terminal will automatically select the correct card depending on the city. In Paris, only the Navigo card is used.
All iPhone models equipped with the NFC chip and iOS 15 or later can benefit from Express Transport mode. This feature enables reading even after a recent reboot or when the phone is discharged, thanks to a residual power supply provided by Apple for this type of use.
Currently, all Navigo passes except Navigo Annuel and Imagine R are compatible with iPhone activation. The latter should be supported shortly. It is already possible to load a weekly or monthly Navigo Liberté+ via the IDF Mobilités application, before adding it to the Cartes application.
In addition to Ile-de-France, several cities such as Lyon, Rennes and Dijon also use the Transport express mode, although the compatible tickets vary. In these cases, the bankcard is often used as direct access to transport.
Once activated, validation is a simple gesture: bring your phone up to the terminal, with no additional handling required. An ease of use that should appeal to more and more users in the Paris region. With this system, there's no need to activate the screen to swipe your pass at the kiosks and gates, saving a little time.
