iPhone User runs out of Secure Element space | Hacker News Reader

iPhone User runs out of Secure Element space

twitter.com

38 pointsnotmysql_11 comments

A bit of context:

Apple devices had a hard limit on the number of cards that could be stored on the secure element, depending on hardware version. Originally it was a limit of 8 cards, while the latest devices could manage up to 16. Attempts to provision more than that number would fail until a user removed one of the existing cards.

iOS 17 seems to have removed the hard cap in favor of a more dynamic limit, based on actual space used. Depending on the mix of applets in use, it looks like the new functional limit is substantially higher than it was previously.

[Here's](https://www.reddit.com/r/iOSBeta/comments/144idjq/ios17_db10...) a Reddit thread with a bit more discussion and some additional screenshots of the new UI, including in English.

Oh wow did not know this was something that was user facing. 40 cards do seem reasonable though?

That's impressive, honestly. I've never seen this UI before. Apple's categorization choices for showing storage size—Felica, Amex, Mastercard; when we're used to things like Photos and apps—are particularly interesting.

Does anyone have a translation of the post/picture?

The X translation seems to be failing.

Here's my translation, with notes in double brackets.

[[Post:]

Finally got the Apple Pay Secure Element screen on iOS 17… Seems like the upper limit is 39 cards (I collected and registered debit cards, prepaid cards, etc.)

Felica means Suica and PASMO, it seems? [[Suica and PASMO are two types of Japanese public transport fare cards that can also be used for other kinds of payments; FeliCa is the name of the technology used by both of them, and the screenshot shows "FeliCa" instead of the specific card types.]]

ICOCA [[another kind of fare card]] and overseas transport systems' smartcards still aren't issued. [["issued" is a literal translation but I think the author just means they haven't registered those cards yet. Or maybe they don't work with iOS yet?]]

[[Screenshot:]]

[[large text]] Card could not be added

iPhone's Secure Element is full.

Confirm your usage circumstances, and delete enough cards to obtain 2.3% free space.

[[whitespace]]

Secure Element

Used amount -- 98.0%

[[whitespace]]

Recommendation

Confirm usage circumstances -- 74.6%

To obtain 74.6% capacity, delete cards with low usage frequency.

[[whitespace]]

FeliCa -- 64.3%

Last usage time: unused

[[and so on for the other cards; the second screenshot is the same as the first but scrolled down.]]

IOS product manager: 39 cards should be enough for anyone. Right?

They were right. This tweet is from a guy who deliberately tried to push the limit. I doubt the same thing will ever happen to a normal user.

I have hundreds of virtual credit cards that are all merchant linked. So, now I know that I shouldn't be trying to store any of those in my Apple wallet.

They have like 2-3 dozen credit cards stored in there.

And a bunch of travel cards under Felica, like Suica, Pasmo... The Suica card also stores a quite long travel history.

I doubt travel history is stored in Secure Element. It's mostly about the number of different cards (supposedly 39).

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