Gadgetwise Blog: Fixing the Passbook Connection in iOS 6

Many people saw this alert when trying to use Passbook in iOS 6.

The new Apple software upgrades have resulted in some strange glitches – in my case many of my mail settings spontaneously changed so I couldn’t get or send e-mail.

But a problem that seems more common appears when trying to start Passbook, the new iOS 6 rewards card and ticket management program. Here is how to fix it.

Passbook, if you are unfamiliar, is intended store compatible rewards cards and tickets, so when you go to an airport, your boarding pass appears as a scanable bar code on your phone, or when you make a purchase at an allied store, your discount card bar code automatically shows on the screen for scanning.

For it to work, you need to download the compatible apps, from companies like Starbucks, Walgreens and American Airlines. When you first open Passbook, there is a button that will take you to a special app store for Passbook compatible apps.

The problem for many people is they get a message that reads “Cannot connect to the iTunes Store.”

I thought I was blocked by heavy traffic, but no, there is a glitch. Here is the fix:

Go to settings, and tap on “General,” scroll down and tap on “Date & Time.”

If it is on “Set Automatically,” turn that off. When “Set Date & Time” appears below, tap it. Set the date ahead one year, to 2013.

Then double tap the home button on the face of the phone and open Passbook again. Press the apps button and it should work.

Then go back into settings, find your way back to “Date & Time,” and return the setting to automatic.

I don’t know why it works, but it does.

A reader made an important suggestion in the Comments section:

Make sure you switch on iMessages back again after this. iMessage turns off if you move the clock ahead.