Smart Card Utility Beta for Apple Vision Pro

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byTimothy Perfitt
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To set up smart card authentication in visionOS with the Smart Card Utility Wireless Mobile Reader, the firmware on the mobile reader needs to be updated, and the latest version of Smart Card Utility for iOS must be installed on the iOS device and Apple Vision Pro. VisionOS 1 and visionOS 2 do not allow PIN pairing so the latest version of Smart Card Utility for iOS and the updated firmware for the Wireless Mobile Reader provide a mode for PIN-less pairing.

Requirements

  1. Twocanoes Wireless Mobile Reader.
  2. Apple Vision Pro
  3. Smart Card Utility (version 4.7 build 6419 or later) is available in the Apple App Store.
  4. iPhone or iPad with iOS 17 or later
  5. Updated Firmware.

Install Custom Firmware on Wireless Mobile Reader

The Wireless Mobile Reader requires a Bluetooth pairing PIN to be entered when pairing with Bluetooth. This is not currently supported by visionOS, and we have custom firmware that allows you to switch between requiring a PIN with the power button. The Smart Card Utility app allows the custom firmware to be installed on the reader.

Download the Custom Firmware

  1. Download the updated firmware to your iPhone or iPad and save it to iCloud Drive.
  1. Install Smart Card Utility for iOS (version 4.7 build 6419 or later) from the Apple App Store on the iPhone or iPad.
  2. Open the Smart Card Utility app on the iPhone or iPad and tap on the settings icon in the lower right corner.
  3. Press and HOLD the Update Firmware button until a sheet appears to select a file.
  1. A sheet will appear to select the firmware file from the iCloud drive. Select the file and the sheet will close.
  1. A sheet will appear to select the reader. Make sure the reader is turned on and select it from the list. The firmware will then begin updating.
  1. Put the reader in the mode to no longer require PIN pairing and reset the reader. To do this:
    • Turn the reader off by pressing and holding the power button until the lights turn off.
    • Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds until you see all 4 lights start flashing.
      • Note that after 10 seconds, all four lights turn on. This means the device has been reset but will still use a PIN. Keep holding the power button until you see all 4 lights flashing.
    • Once you release the power button, the reader is reset and will no longer require a PIN. It is now ready to pair with your Vision Pro.
  2. IMPORTANT: Before connecting the reader to iPhone and iPad again you need to delete the related Bluetooth pairing on the iPhone or iPad. To do this, open Settings->Bluetooth on the iPhone or iPad and remove the reader from the list. To reset the reader for PIN pairing, press and hold the power button from the off position for 10 seconds until all four lights turn on. To reset the reader for PIN-less pairing, press and hold the power button from the off position for 20 seconds until the four lights begin to flash.

Using Smart Card Utility on the Apple Vision Pro

  1. Install Smart Card Utility (4.7 build 6419 or later) from the Apple App Store.
  2. Once the app has been installed, open Smart Card Utility and select Add Bluetooth or other reader. Make sure the reader is on, and a card is inserted.
  1. Select the reader from the list in Smart Card Utility and you will be prompted to pair. Select Pair to pair the reader with the Apple Vision Pro.
  1. The certificates should now be read in. Select Insert next to the certificate to use for authentication (most likely the PIV authentication certificate).
  1. Then select the back arrow in the upper left to go back to the main screen and tap Test in the bottom middle of the main screen.
  1. Safari will open. Tap the “Twocanoes Test Site” and you should be prompted for your card PIN.

Reverting Firmware to Prior Version

If you are having issues with the updated firmware and want to revert the firmware back to the prior firmware, follow the instructions below.

  1. Open Smart Card Utility on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap the Settings icon in the lower right corner of the main screen.
  3. Tap Update Firmware.
  4. The firmware will be updated to the current release version.
  5. IMPORTANT: Once the firmware is updated, you need to delete the Bluetooth pairing on the iPhone and the reader for the phone to continue working with the reader. To do this, open Settings->Bluetooth on the iPhone or iPad and remove the reader from the list. Reset the pairing on the reader by turning it off and holding the power button for 10 seconds until all 4 LEDs light up for PIN pairing reset, or hold for 20 seconds until the lights begin to flash for PIN-less pairing reset. You can then use Smart Card Utility to pair and read in certificates.

Troubleshooting

Most issues can be resolved by deleting the Bluetooth pairing on all devices and restarting them. For iPhone and iPad, open Settings->Bluetooth and remove the pairing for the reader. For the Wireless Mobile Reader, reset the pairing on the reader by turning it off, and then holding the power button for 10 seconds until all 4 LEDs light up to reset with PIN pairing, or hold for 20 seconds until all 4 LEDs start flashing for PIN-less pairing.

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