Archive
Google Calendar Privacy Proxy
https://github.com/infiniteloopltd/Google-Calendar-Redactor-Proxy/
A lightweight Google Cloud Run service that creates privacy-protected calendar feeds from Google Calendar. Share your availability with colleagues without exposing personal appointment details.
The Problem
You want to share your calendar availability with work colleagues, but:
- You have multiple calendars (work, personal, family) that you need to consolidate
- Google Calendar’s subscribed calendars (ICS feeds) don’t count toward your Outlook free/busy status
- You don’t want to expose personal appointment details to work contacts
- Outlook’s native calendar sharing only works with Exchange/Microsoft 365 calendars, not external ICS subscriptions
This service solves that problem by creating a privacy-filtered calendar feed that Outlook can subscribe to, showing you as “Busy” during your appointments without revealing what those appointments are.
How It Works
Google Calendar → This Service → Privacy-Protected ICS Feed → Outlook
(full details) (redaction) (busy blocks only) (subscription)
The service:
- Fetches your Google Calendar ICS feed using the private URL
- Strips out all identifying information (titles, descriptions, locations, attendees)
- Replaces event summaries with “Busy”
- Preserves all timing information (when you’re busy/free)
- Returns a sanitized ICS feed that Outlook can subscribe to
Use Cases
- Multiple calendar consolidation: Combine work, personal, and family calendars into one availability view
- Privacy-protected sharing: Share when you’re busy without sharing what you’re doing
- Cross-platform calendaring: Bridge Google Calendar into Outlook environments
- Professional boundaries: Keep personal life private while showing accurate availability
Quick Start
1. Get Your Google Calendar Private URL
- Open Google Calendar
- Click the ⚙️ Settings icon → Settings
- Select your calendar from the left sidebar
- Scroll to “Integrate calendar”
- Copy the “Secret address in iCal format” URL
Your URL will look like:
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/info%40infiniteloop.ie/private-xxxxxxx/basic.ics
2. Deploy the Service
# Edit deploy.bat and set your PROJECT_ID deploy.bat # Or deploy manually gcloud run deploy calendar-proxy --source . --platform managed --region europe-west1 --allow-unauthenticated
You’ll get a service URL like: https://calendar-proxy-xxxxxxxxxx-ew.a.run.app
3. Construct Your Privacy-Protected Feed URL
From your Google Calendar URL:
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/info%xxxxx.xxx/private-xxxxxxx/basic.ics
Extract:
- calendarId:
info@infiniteloop.ie(URL decoded) - privateKey:
xxxxxxxxxx(just the key, without “private-” prefix)
Build your proxy URL:
https://calendar-proxy-xxxxxxxxxx-ew.a.run.app/calendar?calendarId=info@infiniteloop.ie&privateKey=xxxxxxx
4. Subscribe in Outlook
Outlook Desktop / Web
- Open Outlook
- Go to Calendar
- Click Add Calendar → Subscribe from web
- Paste your proxy URL
- Give it a name (e.g., “My Availability”)
- Click Import
Outlook will now show:
- ✅ Blocked time during your appointments
- ✅ “Busy” status for those times
- ❌ No details about what the appointments are
What Gets Redacted
The service removes all identifying information:
| Original ICS Property | Result |
|---|---|
SUMMARY: (event title) | → "Busy" |
DESCRIPTION: (event details) | → Removed |
LOCATION: (where) | → Removed |
ORGANIZER: (who created it) | → Removed |
ATTENDEE: (participants) | → Removed |
URL: (meeting links) | → Removed |
ATTACH: (attachments) | → Removed |
CLASS: (privacy) | → Set to PRIVATE |
What Gets Preserved
All timing and scheduling information remains intact:
- ✅ Event start times (
DTSTART) - ✅ Event end times (
DTEND) - ✅ Event duration
- ✅ Recurring events (
RRULE) - ✅ Exception dates (
EXDATE) - ✅ Event status (confirmed, tentative, cancelled)
- ✅ Time zones
- ✅ All-day events
- ✅ Unique identifiers (
UID)
Technical Details
Stack: .NET 8 / ASP.NET Core Minimal API
Hosting: Google Cloud Run (serverless)
Cost: Virtually free for personal use (Cloud Run free tier: 2M requests/month)
Latency: ~200-500ms per request (fetches from Google, processes, returns)
API Endpoint
GET /calendar?calendarId={id}&privateKey={key}
Parameters:
calendarId(required): Your Google Calendar ID (usually your email)privateKey(required): The private key from your Google Calendar ICS URL
Response:
- Content-Type:
text/calendar; charset=utf-8 - Body: Privacy-redacted ICS feed
Local Development
# Run locally dotnet run # Test curl "http://localhost:8080/calendar?calendarId=test@example.com&privateKey=abc123"
Deployment
Prerequisites
- Google Cloud SDK installed
- .NET 8 SDK installed
- GCP project with Cloud Run API enabled
- Billing enabled on your GCP project
Deploy
# Option 1: Use the batch file deploy.bat # Option 2: Manual deployment gcloud run deploy calendar-proxy ^ --source . ^ --platform managed ^ --region europe-west1 ^ --allow-unauthenticated ^ --memory 512Mi
The --allow-unauthenticated flag is required so that Outlook can fetch your calendar without authentication. Your calendar data is still protected by the private key in the URL.
Security & Privacy
Is This Secure?
Yes, with caveats:
✅ Your calendar data is already protected by Google’s private key mechanism
✅ No data is stored – the service is stateless and doesn’t log calendar contents
✅ HTTPS encrypted – All traffic is encrypted in transit
✅ Minimal attack surface – Simple pass-through service with redaction
⚠️ Considerations:
- Your private key is in the URL you share (same as Google’s original ICS URL)
- Anyone with your proxy URL can see your busy/free times (but not details)
- The service runs as
--allow-unauthenticatedso Outlook can fetch it - If you need stricter access control, consider adding authentication
Privacy Features
- Strips all personally identifying information
- Marks all events as
CLASS:PRIVATE - No logging of calendar contents
- No data persistence
- Stateless operation
Recommendations
- Don’t share your proxy URL publicly
- Treat it like a password – it grants access to your availability
- Regenerate your Google Calendar private key if compromised
- Monitor your Cloud Run logs for unexpected access patterns
Cost Estimation
Google Cloud Run pricing (as of 2025):
- Free tier: 2M requests/month, 360,000 GB-seconds/month
- Typical calendar: Refreshes every 30-60 minutes
- Monthly cost: $0 for personal use (well within free tier)
Even with 10 people subscribing to your calendar refreshing every 30 minutes:
- ~14,400 requests/month
- ~$0.00 cost
Troubleshooting
“404 Not Found” when subscribing in Outlook
- Verify your service is deployed:
gcloud run services list - Check your URL is correctly formatted
- Ensure
--allow-unauthenticatedis set
“Invalid calendar” error
- Verify your Google Calendar private key is correct
- Test the URL directly in a browser first
- Check that your calendarId doesn’t have URL encoding issues
Events not showing up
- Google Calendar ICS feeds can take 12-24 hours to reflect changes
- Try re-subscribing to the calendar in Outlook
- Verify the original Google Calendar ICS URL works
Deployment fails
# Ensure you're authenticated gcloud auth login # Set your project gcloud config set project YOUR_PROJECT_ID # Enable required APIs gcloud services enable run.googleapis.com gcloud services enable cloudbuild.googleapis.com
Limitations
- Refresh rate: Calendar clients typically refresh ICS feeds every 30-60 minutes (not real-time)
- Google’s ICS feed: Updates can take up to 24 hours to reflect in the ICS feed
- Authentication: No built-in authentication (relies on URL secrecy)
- Multi-calendar: Requires one proxy URL per Google Calendar
Alternatives Considered
| Solution | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Native Outlook calendar sharing | Built-in, real-time | Only works with Exchange calendars |
| Calendly/Bookings | Professional, feature-rich | Monthly cost, overkill for simple availability |
| Manual sync (Zapier/Power Automate) | Works | Complex setup, ongoing maintenance |
| This solution | Simple, free, privacy-focused | Relies on ICS feed delays |
Contributing
Contributions welcome! Areas for enhancement:
- Add basic authentication support
- Support multiple calendars in one feed
- Caching layer to reduce Google Calendar API calls
- Health check endpoint
- Metrics/monitoring
- Custom “Busy” text per calendar
License
MIT License – free to use, modify, and distribute.
Author
Created by Infinite Loop Development Ltd to solve a real business need for calendar privacy across platforms. https://github.com/infiniteloopltd/Google-Calendar-Redactor-Proxy/
Controlling Remote Chrome Instances with C# and the Chrome DevTools Protocol
If you’ve ever needed to programmatically interact with a Chrome browser running on a remote server—whether for web scraping, automated testing, or debugging—you’ve probably discovered that it’s not as straightforward as it might seem. In this post, I’ll walk you through how to connect to a remote Chrome instance using C# and the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP), with a practical example of retrieving all cookies, including those pesky HttpOnly cookies that JavaScript can’t touch.
Why Remote Chrome Control?
There are several scenarios where controlling a remote Chrome instance becomes invaluable:
- Server-side web scraping where you need JavaScript rendering but want to keep your scraping infrastructure separate from your application servers
- Cross-platform testing where you’re developing on Windows but testing on Linux environments
- Distributed automation where multiple test runners need to interact with centralized browser instances
- Debugging production issues where you need to inspect cookies, local storage, or network traffic on a live system
The Chrome DevTools Protocol gives us low-level access to everything Chrome can do—and I mean everything. Unlike browser automation tools that work through the DOM, CDP operates at the browser level, giving you access to cookies (including HttpOnly), network traffic, performance metrics, and much more.
The Challenge: Making Chrome Accessible Remotely
Chrome’s remote debugging feature is powerful, but getting it to work remotely involves some Linux networking quirks that aren’t immediately obvious. Let me break down the problem and solution.
The Problem
When you launch Chrome with the --remote-debugging-port flag, even if you specify --remote-debugging-address=0.0.0.0, Chrome often binds only to 127.0.0.1 (localhost). This means you can’t connect to it from another machine.
You can verify this by checking what Chrome is actually listening on:
netstat -tlnp | grep 9222
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:9222 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 1891/chrome
See that 127.0.0.1? That’s the problem. It should be 0.0.0.0 to accept connections from any interface.
The Solution: socat to the Rescue
The elegant solution is to use socat (SOcket CAT) to proxy connections. We run Chrome on one port (localhost only), and use socat to forward a public-facing port to Chrome’s localhost port.
Here’s the setup on your Linux server:
# Start Chrome on localhost:9223
google-chrome \
--headless=new \
--no-sandbox \
--disable-gpu \
--remote-debugging-port=9223 \
--user-data-dir=/tmp/chrome-remote-debug &
# Use socat to proxy external 9222 to internal 9223
socat TCP-LISTEN:9222,fork,bind=0.0.0.0,reuseaddr TCP:127.0.0.1:9223 &
Now verify it’s working:
netstat -tlnp | grep 9222
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:9222 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 2103/socat
netstat -tlnp | grep 9223
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:9223 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 2098/chrome
Perfect! Chrome is safely listening on localhost only, while socat provides the public interface. This is actually more secure than having Chrome directly exposed.
Understanding the Chrome DevTools Protocol
Before we dive into code, let’s understand how CDP works. When Chrome runs with remote debugging enabled, it exposes two types of endpoints:
1. HTTP Endpoints (for discovery)
# Get browser version and WebSocket URL
curl http://your-server:9222/json/version
# Get list of all open pages/targets
curl http://your-server:9222/json
The /json/version endpoint returns something like:
{
"Browser": "Chrome/143.0.7499.169",
"Protocol-Version": "1.3",
"User-Agent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36...",
"V8-Version": "14.3.127.17",
"WebKit-Version": "537.36...",
"webSocketDebuggerUrl": "ws://your-server:9222/devtools/browser/14706e92-5202-4651-aa97-a72d683bf88e"
}
2. WebSocket Endpoint (for control)
The webSocketDebuggerUrl is what we use to actually control Chrome. All CDP commands flow through this WebSocket connection using a JSON-RPC-like protocol.
Enter PuppeteerSharp
While you could manually handle WebSocket connections and craft CDP commands by hand (and I’ve done that with libraries like MasterDevs.ChromeDevTools), there’s an easier way: PuppeteerSharp.
PuppeteerSharp is a .NET port of Google’s Puppeteer library, providing a high-level API over CDP. The beauty is that it handles all the WebSocket plumbing, message routing, and protocol intricacies for you.
Here’s our complete C# application:
using System;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Text.Json;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using PuppeteerSharp;
namespace ChromeRemoteDebugDemo
{
class Program
{
static async Task Main(string[] args)
{
// Configuration
string remoteDebugHost = "xxxx.xxx.xxx.xxx";
int remoteDebugPort = 9222;
Console.WriteLine("=== Chrome Remote Debug - Cookie Retrieval Demo ===\n");
try
{
// Step 1: Get the WebSocket URL from Chrome
Console.WriteLine($"Connecting to http://{remoteDebugHost}:{remoteDebugPort}/json/version");
using var httpClient = new HttpClient();
string versionUrl = $"http://{remoteDebugHost}:{remoteDebugPort}/json/version";
string jsonResponse = await httpClient.GetStringAsync(versionUrl);
// Parse JSON to get webSocketDebuggerUrl
using JsonDocument doc = JsonDocument.Parse(jsonResponse);
JsonElement root = doc.RootElement;
string webSocketUrl = root.GetProperty("webSocketDebuggerUrl").GetString();
Console.WriteLine($"WebSocket URL: {webSocketUrl}\n");
// Step 2: Connect to Chrome using PuppeteerSharp
Console.WriteLine("Connecting to Chrome via WebSocket...");
var connectOptions = new ConnectOptions
{
BrowserWSEndpoint = webSocketUrl
};
var browser = await Puppeteer.ConnectAsync(connectOptions);
Console.WriteLine("Successfully connected!\n");
// Step 3: Get or create a page
var pages = await browser.PagesAsync();
IPage page;
if (pages.Length > 0)
{
page = pages[0];
Console.WriteLine($"Using existing page: {page.Url}");
}
else
{
page = await browser.NewPageAsync();
await page.GoToAsync("https://example.com");
}
// Step 4: Get ALL cookies (including HttpOnly!)
Console.WriteLine("\nRetrieving all cookies...\n");
var cookies = await page.GetCookiesAsync();
Console.WriteLine($"Found {cookies.Length} cookie(s):\n");
foreach (var cookie in cookies)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Name: {cookie.Name}");
Console.WriteLine($"Value: {cookie.Value}");
Console.WriteLine($"Domain: {cookie.Domain}");
Console.WriteLine($"Path: {cookie.Path}");
Console.WriteLine($"Secure: {cookie.Secure}");
Console.WriteLine($"HttpOnly: {cookie.HttpOnly}"); // ← This is the magic!
Console.WriteLine($"SameSite: {cookie.SameSite}");
Console.WriteLine($"Expires: {(cookie.Expires == -1 ? "Session" : DateTimeOffset.FromUnixTimeSeconds((long)cookie.Expires).ToString())}");
Console.WriteLine(new string('-', 80));
}
await browser.DisconnectAsync();
Console.WriteLine("\nDisconnected successfully.");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"\n❌ ERROR: {ex.Message}");
}
}
}
}
The Key Insight: HttpOnly Cookies
Here’s what makes this approach powerful: page.GetCookiesAsync() returns ALL cookies, including HttpOnly ones.
In a normal web page, JavaScript cannot access HttpOnly cookies—that’s the whole point of the HttpOnly flag. It’s a security feature that prevents XSS attacks from stealing session tokens. But when you’re operating at the CDP level, you’re not bound by JavaScript’s restrictions. You’re talking directly to Chrome’s internals.
This is incredibly useful for:
- Session management in automation: You can extract session cookies from one browser session and inject them into another
- Security testing: Verify that sensitive cookies are properly marked HttpOnly
- Debugging authentication issues: See exactly what cookies are being set by your backend
- Web scraping: Maintain authenticated sessions across multiple scraper instances
Setting Up the Project
Create a new console application:
dotnet new console -n ChromeRemoteDebugDemo
cd ChromeRemoteDebugDemo
Add PuppeteerSharp:
dotnet add package PuppeteerSharp
Your .csproj should look like:
<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
<PropertyGroup>
<OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
<TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
</PropertyGroup>
<ItemGroup>
<PackageReference Include="PuppeteerSharp" Version="20.2.4" />
</ItemGroup>
</Project>
Running the Demo
On your Linux server:
# Install socat if needed
apt-get install socat -y
# Start Chrome on internal port 9223
google-chrome \
--headless=new \
--no-sandbox \
--disable-gpu \
--remote-debugging-port=9223 \
--user-data-dir=/tmp/chrome-remote-debug &
# Proxy external 9222 to internal 9223
socat TCP-LISTEN:9222,fork,bind=0.0.0.0,reuseaddr TCP:127.0.0.1:9223 &
On your Windows development machine:
dotnet run
You should see output like:
=== Chrome Remote Debug - Cookie Retrieval Demo ===
Connecting to http://xxxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:9222/json/version
WebSocket URL: ws://xxxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:9222/devtools/browser/14706e92-5202-4651-aa97-a72d683bf88e
Connecting to Chrome via WebSocket...
Successfully connected!
Using existing page: https://example.com
Retrieving all cookies...
Found 2 cookie(s):
Name: _ga
Value: GA1.2.123456789.1234567890
Domain: .example.com
Path: /
Secure: True
HttpOnly: False
SameSite: Lax
Expires: 2026-12-27 10:30:45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: session_id
Value: abc123xyz456
Domain: example.com
Path: /
Secure: True
HttpOnly: True ← Notice this!
SameSite: Strict
Expires: Session
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disconnected successfully.
Security Considerations
Before you deploy this in production, consider these security implications:
1. Firewall Configuration
Only expose port 9222 to trusted networks. If you’re running this on a cloud server:
# Allow only your specific IP
sudo ufw allow from YOUR.IP.ADDRESS to any port 9222
Or better yet, use an SSH tunnel and don’t expose the port at all:
# On Windows, create a tunnel
ssh -N -L 9222:localhost:9222 user@remote-server
# Then connect to localhost:9222 in your code
2. Authentication
The Chrome DevTools Protocol has no built-in authentication. Anyone who can connect to the debugging port has complete control over Chrome. This includes:
- Reading all page content
- Executing arbitrary JavaScript
- Accessing all cookies (as we’ve demonstrated)
- Intercepting and modifying network requests
In production, you should:
- Use SSH tunnels instead of exposing the port
- Run Chrome in a sandboxed environment
- Use short-lived debugging sessions
- Monitor for unauthorized connections
3. Resource Limits
A runaway Chrome instance can consume significant resources. Consider:
# Limit Chrome's memory usage
google-chrome --headless=new \
--max-old-space-size=512 \
--remote-debugging-port=9223 \
--user-data-dir=/tmp/chrome-remote-debug
Beyond Cookies: What Else Can You Do?
The Chrome DevTools Protocol is incredibly powerful. Here are some other things you can do with this same setup:
Take Screenshots
await page.ScreenshotAsync("/path/to/screenshot.png");
Monitor Network Traffic
await page.SetRequestInterceptionAsync(true);
page.Request += (sender, e) =>
{
Console.WriteLine($"Request: {e.Request.Url}");
e.Request.ContinueAsync();
};
Execute JavaScript
var title = await page.EvaluateExpressionAsync<string>("document.title");
Modify Cookies
await page.SetCookieAsync(new CookieParam
{
Name = "test",
Value = "123",
Domain = "example.com",
HttpOnly = true, // Can set HttpOnly from CDP!
Secure = true
});
Emulate Mobile Devices
await page.EmulateAsync(new DeviceDescriptorOptions
{
Viewport = new ViewPortOptions { Width = 375, Height = 667 },
UserAgent = "Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 14_0 like Mac OS X)"
});
Comparing Approaches
You might be wondering how this compares to other approaches:
PuppeteerSharp vs. Selenium
Selenium uses the WebDriver protocol, which is a W3C standard but higher-level and more abstracted. PuppeteerSharp/CDP gives you lower-level access to Chrome specifically.
- Selenium: Better for cross-browser testing, more stable API
- PuppeteerSharp: More powerful Chrome-specific features, faster, lighter weight
PuppeteerSharp vs. Raw CDP Libraries
You could use libraries like MasterDevs.ChromeDevTools or ChromeProtocol for more direct CDP access:
// With MasterDevs.ChromeDevTools
var session = new ChromeSession(webSocketUrl);
var cookies = await session.SendAsync(new GetCookiesCommand());
Low-level CDP libraries:
- Pros: More control, can use experimental CDP features
- Cons: More verbose, have to handle protocol details
PuppeteerSharp:
- Pros: High-level API, actively maintained, comprehensive documentation
- Cons: Abstracts away some CDP features
For most use cases, PuppeteerSharp hits the sweet spot between power and ease of use.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
“Could not connect to Chrome debugging endpoint”
Check firewall:
sudo ufw status
sudo iptables -L -n | grep 9222
Verify Chrome is running:
ps aux | grep chrome
netstat -tlnp | grep 9222
Test locally first:
curl http://localhost:9222/json/version
“No cookies found”
This is normal if the page hasn’t set any cookies. Navigate to a site that does:
await page.GoToAsync("https://github.com");
var cookies = await page.GetCookiesAsync();
Chrome crashes or hangs
Add more stability flags:
google-chrome \
--headless=new \
--no-sandbox \
--disable-gpu \
--disable-dev-shm-usage \
--disable-setuid-sandbox \
--remote-debugging-port=9223 \
--user-data-dir=/tmp/chrome-remote-debug
Real-World Use Case: Session Management
Here’s a practical example of how I’ve used this in production—managing authenticated sessions for web scraping:
public class SessionManager
{
private readonly string _remoteChrome;
public async Task<CookieParam[]> LoginAndGetSession(string username, string password)
{
var browser = await ConnectToRemoteChrome();
var page = await browser.NewPageAsync();
// Perform login
await page.GoToAsync("https://example.com/login");
await page.TypeAsync("#username", username);
await page.TypeAsync("#password", password);
await page.ClickAsync("#login-button");
await page.WaitForNavigationAsync();
// Extract all cookies (including HttpOnly session tokens!)
var cookies = await page.GetCookiesAsync();
await browser.DisconnectAsync();
// Store these cookies for later use
return cookies;
}
public async Task ReuseSession(CookieParam[] cookies)
{
var browser = await ConnectToRemoteChrome();
var page = await browser.NewPageAsync();
// Inject the saved cookies
await page.SetCookieAsync(cookies);
// Now you're authenticated!
await page.GoToAsync("https://example.com/dashboard");
// Do your work...
}
}
This allows you to:
- Log in once in a “master” browser
- Extract the session cookies (including HttpOnly auth tokens)
- Distribute those cookies to multiple scraper instances
- All scrapers are now authenticated without re-logging in
Conclusion
The Chrome DevTools Protocol opens up a world of possibilities for browser automation and debugging. By combining it with PuppeteerSharp and a bit of Linux networking knowledge, you can:
- Control Chrome instances running anywhere on your network
- Access all browser data, including HttpOnly cookies
- Build powerful automation and testing tools
- Debug production issues remotely
The key takeaways:
- Use socat to proxy Chrome’s localhost debugging port to external interfaces
- PuppeteerSharp provides the easiest way to interact with CDP from C#
- CDP gives you superpowers that normal JavaScript can’t access
- Security matters—only expose debugging ports to trusted networks
The complete code from this post is available on GitHub (replace with your actual link). If you found this useful, consider giving it a star!
Have you used the Chrome DevTools Protocol in your projects? What creative uses have you found for it? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your experiences!
Further Reading
- Chrome DevTools Protocol Documentation
- PuppeteerSharp Documentation
- Puppeteer (Node.js) Guide
- socat Man Page
Tags: C#, Chrome, DevTools Protocol, PuppeteerSharp, Web Automation, Browser Automation, Linux, socat
How to Set Up Your Own Custom Disposable Email Domain with Mailnesia
Disposable email addresses are incredibly useful for maintaining privacy online, avoiding spam, and testing applications. While services like Mailnesia offer free disposable emails, there’s an even more powerful approach: using your own custom domain with Mailnesia’s infrastructure.
Why Use Your Own Domain?
When you use a standard disposable email service, the domain (like @mailnesia.com) is publicly known. This means:
- Websites can easily block known disposable email domains
- There’s no real uniqueness to your addresses
- You’re sharing the domain with potentially millions of other users
By pointing your own domain to Mailnesia, you get:
- Higher anonymity – Your domain isn’t in any public disposable email database
- Unlimited addresses – Create any email address on your domain instantly
- Professional appearance – Use a legitimate-looking domain for sign-ups
- Better deliverability – Less likely to be flagged as a disposable email
What You’ll Need
- A domain name you own (can be purchased for as little as $10/year)
- Access to your domain’s DNS settings
- That’s it!
Step-by-Step Setup
1. Access Your DNS Settings
Log into your domain registrar or DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy) and navigate to the DNS management section for your domain.
2. Add the MX Record
Create a new MX (Mail Exchange) record with these values:
Type: MX
Name: @ (or leave blank for root domain)
Mail Server: mailnesia.com
Priority/Preference: 10
TTL: 3600 (or default)
Important: Make sure to include the trailing dot if your DNS provider requires it: mailnesia.com.
3. Wait for DNS Propagation
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to fully propagate, though it’s usually quick (under an hour). You can check if your MX record is live using a DNS lookup tool.
4. Start Using Your Custom Disposable Emails
Once the DNS has propagated, any email sent to any address at your domain will be received by Mailnesia. Access your emails by going to:
https://mailnesia.com/mailbox/USERNAME
Where USERNAME is the part before the @ in your email address.
For example:
- Email sent to:
testing123@yourdomain.com - Access inbox at:
https://mailnesia.com/mailbox/testing123
Use Cases
This setup is perfect for:
- Service sign-ups – Use a unique email for each service (e.g.,
netflix@yourdomain.com,github@yourdomain.com) - Testing – Developers can test email functionality without setting up mail servers
- Privacy protection – Keep your real email address private
- Spam prevention – If an address gets compromised, simply stop using it
- Tracking – See which services sell or leak your email by using unique addresses per service
Important Considerations
Security and Privacy
- No authentication required – Anyone who guesses or knows your username can access that mailbox. Don’t use this for sensitive communications.
- Temporary storage – Mailnesia emails are not stored permanently. They’re meant to be disposable.
- No sending capability – This setup only receives emails; you cannot send from these addresses through Mailnesia.
Best Practices
- Use random usernames – Instead of
newsletter@yourdomain.com, use something likej8dk3h@yourdomain.comfor better privacy - Subdomain option – Consider using a subdomain like
disposable.yourdomain.comto keep it separate from your main domain - Don’t use for important accounts – Reserve this for non-critical services only
- Monitor your usage – Keep track of which addresses you’ve used where
Technical Notes
- You can still use your domain for regular email by setting up additional MX records with different priorities
- Some providers may allow you to set up email forwarding in addition to this setup
- Check Mailnesia’s terms of service for any usage restrictions
Verifying Your Setup
To test if everything is working:
- Send a test email to a random address at your domain (e.g.,
test12345@yourdomain.com) - Visit
https://mailnesia.com/mailbox/test12345 - Your email should appear within a few seconds
Troubleshooting
Emails not appearing?
- Verify your MX record is correctly set up using an MX lookup tool
- Ensure DNS has fully propagated (can take up to 48 hours)
- Check that you’re using the correct mailbox URL format
Getting bounced emails?
- Make sure the priority is set to 10 or lower
- Verify there are no conflicting MX records
Conclusion
Setting up your own custom disposable email domain with Mailnesia is surprisingly simple and provides a powerful privacy tool. With just a single DNS record change, you gain access to unlimited disposable email addresses on your own domain, giving you greater control over your online privacy and reducing spam in your primary inbox.
The enhanced anonymity of using your own domain, combined with the zero-configuration convenience of Mailnesia’s infrastructure, makes this an ideal solution for anyone who values their privacy online.
Remember: This setup is for non-sensitive communications only. For important accounts, always use a proper email service with security features like two-factor authentication.
How to Check All AWS Regions for Deprecated Python 3.9 Lambda Functions (PowerShell Guide)

If you’ve received an email from AWS notifying you that Python 3.9 is being deprecated for AWS Lambda, you’re not alone. As runtimes reach End-Of-Life, AWS sends warnings so you can update your Lambda functions before support officially ends.
The key question is:
How do you quickly check every AWS region to see where you’re still using Python 3.9?
AWS only gives you a single-region example in their email, but many teams have functions deployed globally. Fortunately, you can automate a full multi-region check using a simple PowerShell script.
This post shows you exactly how to do that.
🚨 Why You Received the Email
AWS is ending support for Python 3.9 in AWS Lambda.
After the deprecation dates:
- No more security patches
- No AWS technical support
- You won’t be able to create/update functions using Python 3.9
- Your functions will still run, but on an unsupported runtime
To avoid risk, you should upgrade these functions to Python 3.10, 3.11, or 3.12.
But first, you need to find all the functions using Python 3.9 — across all regions.
✔️ Prerequisites
Make sure you have:
- AWS CLI installed
- AWS credentials configured (via
aws configure) - Permissions to run:
lambda:ListFunctionsec2:DescribeRegions
🧪 Step 1 — Verify AWS CLI Access
Run this to confirm your CLI is working:
aws sts get-caller-identity --region eu-west-1
If it returns your AWS ARN, you’re good to go.
If you see “You must specify a region”, set a default region:
aws configure set region eu-west-1
📝 Step 2 — PowerShell Script to Check Python 3.9 in All Regions
Save this as aws-lambda-python39-check.ps1 (or any name you prefer):
# Get all AWS regions (forcing region so the call always works)
$regions = (aws ec2 describe-regions --region us-east-1 --query "Regions[].RegionName" --output text) -split "\s+"
foreach ($region in $regions) {
Write-Host "Checking region: $region ..."
$functions = aws lambda list-functions `
--region $region `
--query "Functions[?Runtime=='python3.9'].FunctionArn" `
--output text
if ($functions) {
Write-Host " → Found Python 3.9 functions:"
Write-Host " $functions"
} else {
Write-Host " → No Python 3.9 functions found."
}
}
This script does three things:
- Retrieves all AWS regions
- Loops through each region
- Prints any Lambda functions that still use Python 3.9
It handles the common AWS CLI error:
You must specify a region
by explicitly using --region us-east-1 when retrieving the region list.
▶️ Step 3 — Run the Script
Open PowerShell in the folder where your script is saved:
.\aws-lambda-python39-check.ps1
You’ll see output like:
Checking region: eu-west-1 ...
→ Found Python 3.9 functions:
arn:aws:lambda:eu-west-1:123456789012:function:my-old-function
Checking region: us-east-1 ...
→ No Python 3.9 functions found.
If no functions appear, you’re fully compliant.
🛠️ What to Do Next
For each function identified, update the runtime:
aws lambda update-function-configuration `
--function-name MyFunction `
--runtime python3.12
If you package dependencies manually (ZIP deployments), ensure you rebuild them using the new Python version.
🎉 Summary
AWS’s deprecation emails can be slightly alarming, but the fix is simple:
- Scan all regions
- Identify Python 3.9 Lambda functions
- Upgrade them in advance of the cutoff date
With the PowerShell script above, you can audit your entire AWS account in seconds.
How to Integrate the RegCheck Vehicle Lookup #API with #OpenAI Actions
In today’s AI-driven world, connecting specialized APIs to large language models opens up powerful possibilities. One particularly useful integration is connecting vehicle registration lookup services to OpenAI’s custom GPTs through Actions. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through how to integrate the RegCheck API with OpenAI Actions, enabling your custom GPT to look up vehicle information from over 30 countries.
What is RegCheck?
RegCheck is a comprehensive vehicle data API that provides detailed information about vehicles based on their registration numbers (license plates). With support for countries including the UK, USA, Australia, and most of Europe, it’s an invaluable tool for automotive businesses, insurance companies, and vehicle marketplace platforms.
Why Integrate with OpenAI Actions?
OpenAI Actions allow custom GPTs to interact with external APIs, extending their capabilities beyond text generation. By integrating RegCheck, you can create a GPT assistant that:
- Instantly looks up vehicle specifications for customers
- Provides insurance quotes based on real vehicle data
- Assists with vehicle valuations and sales listings
- Answers detailed questions about specific vehicles
Prerequisites
Before you begin, you’ll need:
- An OpenAI Plus subscription (for creating custom GPTs)
- A RegCheck API account with credentials
- Basic familiarity with OpenAPI specifications
Step-by-Step Integration Guide
Step 1: Create Your Custom GPT
Navigate to OpenAI’s platform and create a new custom GPT. Give it a name like “Vehicle Lookup Assistant” and configure its instructions to handle vehicle-related queries.
Step 2: Add the OpenAPI Schema
In your GPT configuration, navigate to the “Actions” section and add the following OpenAPI specification:
yaml
openapi: 3.0.0
info:
title: RegCheck Vehicle Lookup API
version: 1.0.0
description: API for looking up vehicle registration information across multiple countries
servers:
- url: https://www.regcheck.org.uk/api/json.aspx
paths:
/Check/{registration}:
get:
operationId: checkUKVehicle
summary: Get details for a vehicle in the UK
parameters:
- name: registration
in: path
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: UK vehicle registration number
responses:
'200':
description: Successful response
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
/CheckSpain/{registration}:
get:
operationId: checkSpainVehicle
summary: Get details for a vehicle in Spain
parameters:
- name: registration
in: path
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: Spanish vehicle registration number
responses:
'200':
description: Successful response
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
/CheckFrance/{registration}:
get:
operationId: checkFranceVehicle
summary: Get details for a vehicle in France
parameters:
- name: registration
in: path
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: French vehicle registration number
responses:
'200':
description: Successful response
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
/VinCheck/{vin}:
get:
operationId: checkVehicleByVin
summary: Get details for a vehicle by VIN number
parameters:
- name: vin
in: path
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: Vehicle Identification Number
responses:
'200':
description: Successful response
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
Note: You can expand this schema to include additional endpoints for other countries as needed. The RegCheck API supports over 30 countries.
Step 3: Configure Authentication
- In the Authentication section, select Basic authentication
- Enter your RegCheck API username
- Enter your RegCheck API password
- OpenAI will securely encrypt and store these credentials
The authentication header will be automatically included in all API requests made by your GPT.
Step 4: Test Your Integration
Use the built-in test feature in the Actions panel to verify the connection:
- Select the
checkUKVehicleoperation - Enter a test registration like
YYO7XHH - Click “Test” to see the response
You should receive a JSON response with vehicle details including make, model, year, engine size, and more.
Step 5: Configure GPT Instructions
Update your GPT’s instructions to effectively use the new Actions:
You are a vehicle information assistant. When users provide a vehicle
registration number, use the appropriate CheckVehicle action based on
the country. Present the information in a clear, user-friendly format.
Always ask which country the registration is from if not specified.
Provide helpful context about the vehicle data returned.
Example Use Cases
Once integrated, your GPT can handle queries like:
User: “What can you tell me about UK registration YYO7XHH?”
GPT: [Calls checkUKVehicle action] “This is a 2007 Peugeot 307 X-line with a 1.4L petrol engine. It’s a 5-door manual transmission vehicle with right-hand drive…”
User: “Look up Spanish plate 0075LTJ”
GPT: [Calls checkSpainVehicle action] “Here’s the information for that Spanish vehicle…”
Best Practices and Considerations
API Limitations
- The RegCheck API is currently in BETA and may change without notice
- Consider implementing error handling in your GPT instructions
- Be aware of rate limits on your API account
Privacy and Security
- Never expose API credentials in your GPT’s instructions or responses
- Inform users that vehicle lookups are being performed
- Comply with data protection regulations in your jurisdiction
Optimizing Performance
- Cache frequently requested vehicle information where appropriate
- Use the most specific endpoint (e.g., CheckSpain vs. generic Check)
- Consider implementing fallback behavior for failed API calls
Expanding the Integration
The RegCheck API offers many more endpoints you can integrate:
- UKMOT: Access MOT test history for UK vehicles
- WheelSize: Get wheel and tire specifications
- CarSpecifications: Retrieve detailed specs by make/model/year
- Country-specific checks: Add support for Australia, USA, and 25+ other countries
Simply add these endpoints to your OpenAPI schema following the same pattern.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Authentication Errors: Double-check your username and password are correct in the Authentication settings.
404 Not Found: Verify the registration format matches the country’s standard format.
Empty Responses: Some vehicles may not have complete data in the RegCheck database.
Conclusion
Integrating the RegCheck API with OpenAI Actions transforms a standard GPT into a powerful vehicle information assistant. Whether you’re building tools for automotive dealerships, insurance platforms, or customer service applications, this integration provides instant access to comprehensive vehicle data from around the world.
The combination of AI’s natural language understanding with RegCheck’s extensive vehicle database creates a seamless user experience that would have required significant custom development just a few years ago.
Ready to get started? Create your RegCheck account, set up your custom GPT, and start building your vehicle lookup assistant today!
Fixing .NET 8 HttpClient Permission Denied Errors on Google Cloud Run
If you’re deploying a .NET 8 application to Google Cloud Run and encountering a mysterious NetworkInformationException (13): Permission denied error when making HTTP requests, you’re not alone. This is a known issue that stems from how .NET’s HttpClient interacts with Cloud Run’s restricted container environment.
The Problem
When your .NET application makes HTTP requests using HttpClient, you might see an error like this:
System.Net.NetworkInformation.NetworkInformationException (13): Permission denied
at System.Net.NetworkInformation.NetworkChange.CreateSocket()
at System.Net.NetworkInformation.NetworkChange.add_NetworkAddressChanged(NetworkAddressChangedEventHandler value)
at System.Net.Http.HttpConnectionPoolManager.StartMonitoringNetworkChanges()
This error occurs because .NET’s HttpClient attempts to monitor network changes and handle advanced HTTP features like HTTP/3 and Alt-Svc (Alternative Services). To do this, it tries to create network monitoring sockets, which requires permissions that Cloud Run containers don’t have by default.
Cloud Run’s security model intentionally restricts certain system-level operations to maintain isolation and security. While this is great for security, it conflicts with .NET’s network monitoring behavior.
Why Does This Happen?
The .NET runtime includes sophisticated connection pooling and HTTP version negotiation features. When a server responds with an Alt-Svc header (suggesting alternative protocols or endpoints), .NET tries to:
- Monitor network interface changes
- Adapt connection strategies based on network conditions
- Support HTTP/3 where available
These features require low-level network access that Cloud Run’s sandboxed environment doesn’t permit.
The Solution
Fortunately, there’s a straightforward fix. You need to disable the features that require elevated network permissions by setting two environment variables:
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_DISABLEIPV6", "1");
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_HTTP_SOCKETSHTTPHANDLER_HTTP3SUPPORT", "false");
Place these lines at the very top of your Program.cs file, before any HTTP client initialization or web application builder creation.
What These Variables Do
- DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_DISABLEIPV6: Disables IPv6 support, which also disables the network change monitoring that requires socket creation.
- DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_HTTP_SOCKETSHTTPHANDLER_HTTP3SUPPORT: Explicitly disables HTTP/3 support, preventing .NET from trying to negotiate HTTP/3 connections.
Alternative Approaches
Option 1: Set in Dockerfile
You can bake these settings into your container image:
FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/aspnet:8.0
WORKDIR /app
# Disable network monitoring features
ENV DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_DISABLEIPV6=1
ENV DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_HTTP_SOCKETSHTTPHANDLER_HTTP3SUPPORT=false
COPY publish/ .
ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "YourApp.dll"]
Option 2: Set via Cloud Run Configuration
You can configure these as environment variables in your Cloud Run deployment:
gcloud run deploy your-service \
--image gcr.io/your-project/your-image \
--set-env-vars DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_DISABLEIPV6=1,DOTNET_SYSTEM_NET_HTTP_SOCKETSHTTPHANDLER_HTTP3SUPPORT=false
Or through the Cloud Console when configuring your service’s environment variables.
Performance Impact
You might wonder if disabling these features affects performance. In practice:
- HTTP/3 isn’t widely used yet, and most services work perfectly fine with HTTP/2 or HTTP/1.1
- Network change monitoring is primarily useful for long-running desktop applications that move between networks (like a laptop switching from WiFi to cellular)
- In a Cloud Run container with a stable network environment, these features provide minimal benefit
The performance impact is negligible, and the tradeoff is well worth it for a working application.
Why It Works Locally But Fails in Cloud Run
This issue often surprises developers because their code works perfectly on their development machine. That’s because:
- Local development environments typically run with full system permissions
- Your local machine isn’t running in a restricted container
- Cloud Run’s security sandbox is much more restrictive than a typical development environment
This is a classic example of environment-specific behavior where security constraints in production expose issues that don’t appear during development.
Conclusion
The Permission denied error when using HttpClient in .NET 8 on Google Cloud Run is caused by the runtime’s attempt to use network monitoring features that aren’t available in Cloud Run’s restricted environment. The fix is simple: disable these features using environment variables.
This solution is officially recognized by the .NET team as the recommended workaround for containerized environments with restricted permissions, so you can use it with confidence in production.
Related Resources
Have you encountered other .NET deployment issues on Cloud Run? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.
Enhanced Italian Vehicle #API: VIN Numbers Now Available for Motorcycles
We’re excited to announce a significant enhancement to the Italian vehicle data API available through Targa.co.it. Starting today, our API responses now include Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) for motorcycle lookups, providing developers and businesses with more comprehensive vehicle data than ever before.
What’s New
The Italian vehicle API has been upgraded to return VIN numbers alongside existing motorcycle data. This enhancement brings motorcycle data parity with our car lookup service, ensuring consistent and complete vehicle information across all vehicle types.
Sample Response Structure
Here’s what you can expect from the enhanced API response for a motorcycle lookup:
json
{
"Description": "Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré",
"RegistrationYear": "2016",
"CarMake": {
"CurrentTextValue": "Yamaha"
},
"CarModel": {
"CurrentTextValue": "XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré"
},
"EngineSize": {
"CurrentTextValue": "1199"
},
"FuelType": {
"CurrentTextValue": ""
},
"MakeDescription": {
"CurrentTextValue": "Yamaha"
},
"ModelDescription": {
"CurrentTextValue": "XT 1200 Z Super Ténéré"
},
"Immobiliser": {
"CurrentTextValue": ""
},
"Version": "ABS (2014-2016) 1199cc",
"ABS": "",
"AirBag": "",
"Vin": "JYADP041000002470",
"KType": "",
"PowerCV": "",
"PowerKW": "",
"PowerFiscal": "",
"ImageUrl": "http://www.targa.co.it/image.aspx/@WWFtYWhhIFhUIDEyMDAgWiBTdXBlciBUw6luw6lyw6l8bW90b3JjeWNsZQ=="
}
Why VIN Numbers Matter
Vehicle Identification Numbers serve as unique fingerprints for every vehicle, providing several key benefits:
Enhanced Vehicle Verification: VINs offer the most reliable method to verify a vehicle’s authenticity and specifications, reducing fraud in motorcycle transactions.
Complete Vehicle History: Access to VIN enables comprehensive history checks, insurance verification, and recall information lookup.
Improved Business Applications: Insurance companies, dealerships, and fleet management services can now build more robust motorcycle-focused applications with complete vehicle identification.
Regulatory Compliance: Many automotive business processes require VIN verification for legal and regulatory compliance.
Technical Implementation
The VIN field has been seamlessly integrated into existing API responses without breaking changes. The new "Vin" field appears alongside existing motorcycle data, maintaining backward compatibility while extending functionality.
Key Features:
- No Breaking Changes: Existing integrations continue to work unchanged
- Consistent Data Structure: Same JSON structure across all vehicle types
- Comprehensive Coverage: VIN data available for motorcycles registered in the Italian vehicle database
- Real-time Updates: VIN information reflects the most current data from official Italian vehicle registries
Getting Started
Developers can immediately begin utilizing VIN data in their applications. The API endpoint remains unchanged, and VIN information is automatically included in all motorcycle lookup responses where available.
For businesses already integrated with our Italian vehicle API, this enhancement provides immediate additional value without requiring any code changes. New integrations can take full advantage of complete motorcycle identification data from day one.
Use Cases
This enhancement opens up new possibilities for motorcycle-focused applications:
- Insurance Platforms: Accurate risk assessment and policy management
- Marketplace Applications: Enhanced listing verification and buyer confidence
- Fleet Management: Complete motorcycle inventory tracking
- Service Centers: Precise parts identification and service history management
- Regulatory Reporting: Compliance with Italian vehicle registration requirements
Looking Forward
This VIN integration for motorcycles represents our continued commitment to providing comprehensive Italian vehicle data. We’re constantly working to enhance our API capabilities and expand data coverage to better serve the automotive technology ecosystem.
The addition of VIN numbers to motorcycle data brings our Italian API to feature parity with leading international vehicle data providers, while maintaining the accuracy and reliability that Italian businesses have come to expect from Targa.co.it.
Ready to integrate enhanced motorcycle data into your application? Visit Targa.co.it to explore our Italian vehicle API documentation and get started with VIN-enabled motorcycle lookups today.
How to Check Polish Vehicle History Using Python and RapidAPI
When buying a used car in Poland, one of the most important steps is verifying the vehicle’s history. Thanks to modern APIs, you can now programmatically access official vehicle registration data from the CEPiK (Central Register of Vehicles and Drivers) system. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use Python to check a vehicle’s complete history using the Polish Vehicle History API on RapidAPI.
What Information Can You Get?
The Polish Vehicle History API provides comprehensive data about any registered vehicle in Poland:
Technical Specifications
- Make, model, year of manufacture
- Engine capacity and power
- Fuel type and emission standards
- Weight specifications and seating capacity
Ownership History
- Complete ownership timeline
- Number of previous owners
- Registration provinces
- Corporate vs. private ownership
Technical Inspections
- All periodic technical inspections with dates and results
- Odometer readings at each inspection
- Detection of rolled-back odometers
Legal Status
- Current registration status
- Valid insurance information
- Stolen or withdrawn vehicle alerts
Risk Assessment
- Accident history indicators
- Damage reports
- Taxi usage history
- Odometer tampering detection
Getting Started
Prerequisites
First, install the required Python library:
pip install requests
Basic Implementation
Here’s a simple example to get you started:
import requests
# API configuration
url = "https://historia-pojazdow-polskich.p.rapidapi.com/EL6574U/YS3DD55C622039715/2002-06-04"
headers = {
"x-rapidapi-host": "historia-pojazdow-polskich.p.rapidapi.com",
"x-rapidapi-key": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
}
# Make the request
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
# Check if request was successful
if response.status_code == 200:
data = response.json()
print("Data retrieved successfully!")
print(data)
else:
print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")
print(response.text)
Advanced Implementation with Error Handling
For production use, you’ll want a more robust implementation:
import requests
import json
from typing import Optional, Dict, Any
class PolishVehicleHistoryAPI:
def __init__(self, api_key: str):
self.base_url = "https://historia-pojazdow-polskich.p.rapidapi.com"
self.headers = {
"x-rapidapi-host": "historia-pojazdow-polskich.p.rapidapi.com",
"x-rapidapi-key": api_key
}
def check_vehicle(self, license_plate: str, vin: str, first_registration_date: str) -> Optional[Dict[Any, Any]]:
"""
Check vehicle history
Args:
license_plate: License plate number (e.g., "EL6574U")
vin: Vehicle identification number
first_registration_date: Date in YYYY-MM-DD format
Returns:
Dictionary with vehicle data or None on error
"""
url = f"{self.base_url}/{license_plate}/{vin}/{first_registration_date}"
try:
response = requests.get(url, headers=self.headers, timeout=10)
if response.status_code == 200:
return response.json()
elif response.status_code == 404:
print("Vehicle not found with provided parameters")
return None
elif response.status_code == 429:
print("API rate limit exceeded")
return None
else:
print(f"API error: {response.status_code} - {response.text}")
return None
except requests.exceptions.Timeout:
print("Timeout - API not responding")
return None
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
print(f"Connection error: {e}")
return None
def main():
# IMPORTANT: Insert your RapidAPI key here
API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
# Create API instance
api = PolishVehicleHistoryAPI(API_KEY)
# Vehicle parameters
license_plate = "EL6574U"
vin = "YS3DD55C622039715"
registration_date = "2002-06-04"
print(f"Checking vehicle: {license_plate}")
# Retrieve data
data = api.check_vehicle(license_plate, vin, registration_date)
if data:
print("\n=== VEHICLE HISTORY RESULTS ===")
# Display basic information
if len(data) > 0 and "technicalData" in data[0]:
basic_data = data[0]["technicalData"]["basicData"]
print(f"Make: {basic_data.get('make')}")
print(f"Model: {basic_data.get('model')}")
print(f"Year: {basic_data.get('yearOfManufacture')}")
print(f"Registration status: {basic_data.get('registrationStatus')}")
# Odometer reading
if basic_data.get('odometerReadings'):
reading = basic_data['odometerReadings'][0]
rolled_back = " (ODOMETER ROLLED BACK!)" if reading.get('rolledBack') else ""
print(f"Mileage: {reading.get('value')} {reading.get('unit')}{rolled_back}")
# Risk analysis (if available)
if len(data) > 2 and "carfaxData" in data[2]:
risk = data[2]["carfaxData"]["risk"]
print("\n=== RISK ANALYSIS ===")
print(f"Stolen: {'YES' if risk.get('stolen') else 'NO'}")
print(f"Post-accident: {'YES' if risk.get('postAccident') else 'NO'}")
print(f"Odometer tampering: {'YES' if risk.get('odometerTampering') else 'NO'}")
print(f"Taxi: {'YES' if risk.get('taxi') else 'NO'}")
# Save complete data to file
with open(f"vehicle_history_{license_plate}.json", "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
json.dump(data, f, ensure_ascii=False, indent=2)
print(f"\nComplete data saved to: vehicle_history_{license_plate}.json")
else:
print("Failed to retrieve vehicle data")
if __name__ == "__main__":
main()
Understanding the API Response
The API returns data in three main sections:
1. Technical Data
Contains all technical specifications and current vehicle status:
technical_data = data[0]["technicalData"]["basicData"]
print(f"Make: {technical_data['make']}")
print(f"Model: {technical_data['model']}")
print(f"Engine capacity: {technical_data['engineCapacity']} cc")
2. Timeline Data
Provides complete ownership and inspection history:
timeline = data[1]["timelineData"]
print(f"Total owners: {timeline['totalOwners']}")
print(f"Current registration province: {timeline['registrationProvince']}")
# Loop through all events
for event in timeline["events"]:
print(f"{event['eventDate']}: {event['eventName']}")
3. Risk Assessment
Carfax-style risk indicators:
risk_data = data[2]["carfaxData"]["risk"]
if risk_data["odometerTampering"]:
print("⚠️ Warning: Possible odometer tampering detected!")
Real-World Use Cases
1. Used Car Marketplace Integration
def evaluate_vehicle_for_listing(license_plate, vin, registration_date):
api = PolishVehicleHistoryAPI("YOUR_API_KEY")
data = api.check_vehicle(license_plate, vin, registration_date)
if not data:
return {"status": "error", "message": "Cannot verify vehicle"}
# Extract risk factors
risk = data[2]["carfaxData"]["risk"] if len(data) > 2 else {}
risk_score = sum([
risk.get("stolen", False),
risk.get("postAccident", False),
risk.get("odometerTampering", False),
risk.get("taxi", False)
])
return {
"status": "success",
"risk_level": "high" if risk_score > 1 else "low",
"owners_count": data[1]["timelineData"]["totalOwners"],
"mileage_verified": not data[0]["technicalData"]["basicData"]["odometerReadings"][0]["rolledBack"]
}
2. Insurance Risk Assessment
def calculate_insurance_risk(vehicle_data):
if not vehicle_data:
return "unknown"
timeline = vehicle_data[1]["timelineData"]
risk_data = vehicle_data[2]["carfaxData"]["risk"]
# High risk indicators
if (timeline["totalOwners"] > 5 or
risk_data.get("postAccident") or
risk_data.get("taxi")):
return "high_risk"
return "standard_risk"
Getting Your API Key
- Sign up at RapidAPI.com
- Search for “Polish Vehicle History” or “Historia Pojazdów Polskich”
- Subscribe to an appropriate plan
- Copy your API key from the “Headers” section
- Replace
"YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"with your actual key
API Parameters Explained
The API endpoint requires three parameters:
- license_plate: The Polish license plate number (e.g., “EL6574U”)
- vin: The 17-character Vehicle Identification Number
- first_registration_date: Date when the vehicle was first registered in Poland (YYYY-MM-DD format)
Best Practices and Security
1. Secure API Key Management
Never hardcode your API key. Use environment variables instead:
import os
API_KEY = os.environ.get('RAPIDAPI_KEY')
if not API_KEY:
raise ValueError("Please set RAPIDAPI_KEY environment variable")
2. Rate Limiting and Caching
Implement proper rate limiting to avoid exceeding API quotas:
import time
from functools import wraps
def rate_limit(max_calls_per_minute=60):
min_interval = 60.0 / max_calls_per_minute
last_called = [0.0]
def decorator(func):
@wraps(func)
def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
elapsed = time.time() - last_called[0]
left_to_wait = min_interval - elapsed
if left_to_wait > 0:
time.sleep(left_to_wait)
ret = func(*args, **kwargs)
last_called[0] = time.time()
return ret
return wrapper
return decorator
@rate_limit(max_calls_per_minute=50)
def check_vehicle_with_rate_limit(api, license_plate, vin, date):
return api.check_vehicle(license_plate, vin, date)
3. Error Handling and Retries
Implement exponential backoff for transient errors:
import time
import random
def check_vehicle_with_retry(api, license_plate, vin, date, max_retries=3):
for attempt in range(max_retries):
try:
result = api.check_vehicle(license_plate, vin, date)
if result is not None:
return result
except requests.exceptions.RequestException:
if attempt < max_retries - 1:
wait_time = (2 ** attempt) + random.random()
time.sleep(wait_time)
else:
raise
return None
Conclusion
The Polish Vehicle History API provides a powerful way to programmatically access comprehensive vehicle data directly from official government sources. Whether you’re building a used car marketplace, developing an insurance application, or creating tools for automotive professionals, this API offers reliable and up-to-date information about any vehicle registered in Poland.
The examples in this guide provide a solid foundation for integrating vehicle history checks into your Python applications. Remember to handle errors gracefully, respect rate limits, and keep your API credentials secure.
With this integration, you can help users make informed decisions when buying used cars, reduce fraud in automotive transactions, and build more trustworthy platforms for the Polish automotive market.
https://www.tablicarejestracyjnaapi.pl/
Romanian Vehicle Registration #API: Complete Guide to Vehicle Data Lookup in #Romania

TLDR: https://www.inmatriculareapi.ro/
Romania, as a member of the European Union since 2007, maintains a modern vehicle registration system that provides comprehensive vehicle information through digital databases. The Romanian Vehicle Registration API offers developers and businesses access to detailed vehicle specifications, ownership documents, and technical data for vehicles registered throughout Romania’s 42 counties.
Overview of Romanian Vehicle Registration System
Romania’s vehicle registration system is centralized under the Romanian National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) and the Romanian Automobile Registry (RAR). The system covers all Romanian counties from Bucharest (București) to the smallest rural regions, providing standardized vehicle identification and technical specifications.
The Romanian license plate format typically consists of:
- County Code – 1-2 letters identifying the county of registration
- Numbers – Sequential numerical identifier
- Letters – Additional letter combinations
Romanian Vehicle API Features
The Romania endpoint provides comprehensive vehicle information including:
Available Data
When querying Romanian vehicle registrations, you can retrieve:
- Make and Model – Complete manufacturer and vehicle model information
- Registration Year – Year when the vehicle was first registered
- Engine Specifications – Engine size in cubic centimeters and power in kilowatts
- Fuel Type – Fuel classification (benzina/petrol, motorina/diesel, GPL/LPG, electric)
- VIN Number – Complete 17-character Vehicle Identification Number
- CIV Document – Vehicle Identity Document (Cartea de Identitate a Vehiculului)
- Vehicle Type – Classification (Autoturism/passenger car, Autoutilitară/utility vehicle, etc.)
- Technical Specifications – Weight, number of seats, variant information
- Registration Region – County or city where the vehicle is registered
- Representative Image – Visual identification of the vehicle type
Sample Response Format
{
"Description": "Renault Clio",
"RegistrationYear": "1999",
"CarMake": {
"CurrentTextValue": "Renault"
},
"CarModel": {
"CurrentTextValue": "Clio"
},
"MakeDescription": {
"CurrentTextValue": "Renault"
},
"ModelDescription": {
"CurrentTextValue": "Clio"
},
"Type": "Autoturism",
"VIN": "VF1CB0A0F20507251",
"CIV": "J350228",
"Variant": "",
"Weight": "955",
"FuelType": "benzina",
"NumberOfSeats": "5",
"Power": "43",
"EngineSize": "1149",
"Region": "București",
"ImageUrl": "http://www.inmatriculareapi.ro/image.aspx/@UmVuYXVsdCBDbGlv"
}
API Implementation
Endpoint Usage
The Romanian Vehicle API uses the /CheckRomania endpoint and requires two parameters:
- Registration Number – The complete Romanian license plate number
- Username – Your API authentication credentials
Basic Implementation Example
// JavaScript example for Romanian vehicle lookup
async function lookupRomanianVehicle(registrationNumber, username) {
const apiUrl = `https://www.inmatriculareapi.ro/api/reg.asmx/CheckRomania?RegistrationNumber=${registrationNumber}&username=${username}`;
try {
const response = await fetch(apiUrl);
const xmlText = await response.text();
// Parse XML response
const parser = new DOMParser();
const xmlDoc = parser.parseFromString(xmlText, "text/xml");
const jsonData = xmlDoc.getElementsByTagName("vehicleJson")[0].textContent;
const vehicleInfo = JSON.parse(jsonData);
return {
make: vehicleInfo.MakeDescription.CurrentTextValue,
model: vehicleInfo.ModelDescription.CurrentTextValue,
year: vehicleInfo.RegistrationYear,
engineSize: vehicleInfo.EngineSize,
power: vehicleInfo.Power,
fuel: vehicleInfo.FuelType,
vin: vehicleInfo.VIN,
civ: vehicleInfo.CIV,
region: vehicleInfo.Region,
weight: vehicleInfo.Weight,
seats: vehicleInfo.NumberOfSeats,
type: vehicleInfo.Type
};
} catch (error) {
console.error('Romanian vehicle lookup failed:', error);
return null;
}
}
// Usage example
lookupRomanianVehicle("B123ABC", "your_username")
.then(data => {
if (data) {
console.log(`Vehicle: ${data.make} ${data.model} (${data.year})`);
console.log(`Engine: ${data.engineSize}cc, ${data.power}kW`);
console.log(`Fuel: ${data.fuel}`);
console.log(`CIV: ${data.civ}`);
console.log(`Region: ${data.region}`);
}
});
Python Implementation
import requests
import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
import json
class RomanianVehicleAPI:
def __init__(self, username):
self.username = username
self.base_url = "https://www.inmatriculareapi.ro/api/reg.asmx/CheckRomania"
def validate_registration_format(self, registration):
"""Validate Romanian registration number format"""
if not registration or len(registration.strip()) < 6:
return False, "Registration number too short"
# Remove spaces and convert to uppercase
reg = registration.replace(" ", "").upper()
# Basic format validation (letters + numbers + letters)
if not any(c.isalpha() for c in reg) or not any(c.isdigit() for c in reg):
return False, "Invalid format - must contain both letters and numbers"
return True, reg
def lookup(self, registration_number):
"""Lookup Romanian vehicle with comprehensive error handling"""
# Validate registration format
is_valid, processed_reg = self.validate_registration_format(registration_number)
if not is_valid:
return {"error": processed_reg}
try:
params = {
'RegistrationNumber': processed_reg,
'username': self.username
}
response = requests.get(self.base_url, params=params, timeout=15)
response.raise_for_status()
# Parse XML response
root = ET.fromstring(response.content)
json_element = root.find('.//vehicleJson')
if json_element is None or not json_element.text:
return {"error": "No vehicle data found for this registration number"}
vehicle_data = json.loads(json_element.text)
# Process and structure the response
return {
'success': True,
'description': vehicle_data.get('Description'),
'make': vehicle_data.get('MakeDescription', {}).get('CurrentTextValue'),
'model': vehicle_data.get('ModelDescription', {}).get('CurrentTextValue'),
'registration_year': vehicle_data.get('RegistrationYear'),
'vehicle_type': vehicle_data.get('Type'),
'vin': vehicle_data.get('VIN'),
'civ': vehicle_data.get('CIV'),
'engine_size': vehicle_data.get('EngineSize'),
'power_kw': vehicle_data.get('Power'),
'fuel_type': vehicle_data.get('FuelType'),
'weight_kg': vehicle_data.get('Weight'),
'number_of_seats': vehicle_data.get('NumberOfSeats'),
'region': vehicle_data.get('Region'),
'variant': vehicle_data.get('Variant'),
'image_url': vehicle_data.get('ImageUrl'),
'raw_data': vehicle_data
}
except requests.Timeout:
return {"error": "Request timed out - please try again"}
except requests.RequestException as e:
return {"error": f"Network error: {str(e)}"}
except ET.ParseError:
return {"error": "Invalid response format from API"}
except json.JSONDecodeError:
return {"error": "Could not parse vehicle data"}
except Exception as e:
return {"error": f"Unexpected error: {str(e)}"}
# Usage example
api = RomanianVehicleAPI("your_username")
result = api.lookup("B123ABC")
if result.get('success'):
print(f"Vehicle: {result['make']} {result['model']}")
print(f"Year: {result['registration_year']}")
print(f"Engine: {result['engine_size']}cc, {result['power_kw']}kW")
print(f"Fuel: {result['fuel_type']}")
print(f"VIN: {result['vin']}")
print(f"CIV: {result['civ']}")
print(f"Region: {result['region']}")
print(f"Weight: {result['weight_kg']}kg")
print(f"Seats: {result['number_of_seats']}")
else:
print(f"Error: {result['error']}")
Romanian Vehicle Registration Format
County Codes
Romanian license plates begin with county codes that identify the registration location:
Major Cities and Counties:
- B – București (Bucharest) – Capital city
- AB – Alba – Alba Iulia
- AG – Argeș – Pitești
- AR – Arad – Arad
- BC – Bacău – Bacău
- BH – Bihor – Oradea
- BN – Bistrița-Năsăud – Bistrița
- BR – Brăila – Brăila
- BT – Botoșani – Botoșani
- BV – Brașov – Brașov
- BZ – Buzău – Buzău
- CJ – Cluj – Cluj-Napoca
- CL – Călărași – Călărași
- CS – Caraș-Severin – Reșița
- CT – Constanța – Constanța
- CV – Covasna – Sfântu Gheorghe
- DB – Dâmbovița – Târgoviște
- DJ – Dolj – Craiova
- GJ – Gorj – Târgu Jiu
- GL – Galați – Galați
- GR – Giurgiu – Giurgiu
- HD – Hunedoara – Deva
- HR – Harghita – Miercurea Ciuc
- IF – Ilfov – Buftea
- IL – Ialomița – Slobozia
- IS – Iași – Iași
- MH – Mehedinți – Drobeta-Turnu Severin
- MM – Maramureș – Baia Mare
- MS – Mureș – Târgu Mureș
- NT – Neamț – Piatra Neamț
- OT – Olt – Slatina
- PH – Prahova – Ploiești
- SB – Sibiu – Sibiu
- SJ – Sălaj – Zalău
- SM – Satu Mare – Satu Mare
- SV – Suceava – Suceava
- TL – Tulcea – Tulcea
- TM – Timiș – Timișoara
- TR – Teleorman – Alexandria
- VL – Vâlcea – Râmnicu Vâlcea
- VN – Vrancea – Focșani
- VS – Vaslui – Vaslui
Understanding Romanian Vehicle Data
Vehicle Types (Tip Vehicul)
- Autoturism – Passenger car
- Autoutilitară – Utility vehicle/van
- Autocamion – Truck
- Autobus/Autobuz – Bus
- Motocicletă – Motorcycle
- Moped – Moped
- Remorcă – Trailer
Fuel Types (Tip Combustibil)
- Benzină – Petrol/Gasoline
- Motorină – Diesel
- GPL – Liquefied Petroleum Gas
- Electric – Electric vehicle
- Hibrid – Hybrid (petrol/electric or diesel/electric)
CIV Document
The CIV (Cartea de Identitate a Vehiculului) is Romania’s vehicle identity document, similar to a vehicle registration certificate. It contains:
- Vehicle technical specifications
- Ownership history
- Registration details
- Environmental compliance information
Use Cases for Romanian Vehicle API
Insurance Industry
- Policy Underwriting – Access technical specifications for risk assessment
- Claims Processing – Verify vehicle details during accident claims
- Fraud Prevention – Cross-reference VIN and CIV data for authenticity
- Premium Calculation – Engine power and weight for insurance categories
Automotive Dealers
- Vehicle History – Verify registration and technical details
- Import/Export – VIN verification for cross-border transactions
- Inventory Management – Automated vehicle data population
- Trade Valuations – Technical specifications for pricing
Fleet Management
- Asset Tracking – Maintain detailed vehicle records
- Compliance Monitoring – Ensure registration validity across fleet
- Maintenance Planning – Engine specifications for service schedules
- Environmental Reporting – Fuel type and emissions data
Government and Law Enforcement
- Vehicle Identification – Quick lookups during traffic enforcement
- Registration Verification – Confirm vehicle legitimacy
- Import Control – VIN verification for customs procedures
- Investigation Support – Vehicle tracking and identification
Mobile Applications
- Car Shopping Apps – Instant vehicle specification lookup
- Insurance Apps – Quick vehicle verification for quotes
- Service Apps – Technical specifications for maintenance booking
- Parking Apps – Vehicle identification and validation
Error Handling Best Practices
function handleRomanianVehicleLookup(registration, username) {
// Validate input format
if (!registration || registration.length < 6) {
return Promise.reject(new Error("Invalid registration number format"));
}
// Clean registration number
const cleanReg = registration.replace(/\s+/g, '').toUpperCase();
return lookupRomanianVehicle(cleanReg, username)
.then(data => {
if (!data) {
throw new Error("No vehicle data returned");
}
// Validate essential fields
if (!data.make || !data.model) {
throw new Error("Incomplete vehicle data received");
}
return data;
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Romanian vehicle lookup error:', error);
// Return structured error response
return {
error: true,
message: error.message,
registration: registration,
timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
};
});
}
Data Privacy and Compliance
GDPR Compliance
As an EU member state, Romania follows strict data protection regulations:
- The API returns technical vehicle specifications, not personal owner data
- VIN and CIV numbers are vehicle identifiers, not personal information
- Consider data retention policies when caching API responses
- Implement proper access controls for vehicle data systems
Usage Limitations
- API is intended for legitimate business purposes
- Vehicle data should not be used for unauthorized tracking
- Respect rate limits and terms of service
- Implement proper error handling to avoid excessive requests
Getting Started
Account Setup
- Register for API access at the Romanian vehicle API portal
- Verify your email address and business credentials
- Test with sample registration numbers like “B123ABC”
- Purchase credits for production usage
Integration Testing
Test with various Romanian registration formats:
- Bucharest format: B123ABC, B456DEF
- County formats: CJ12ABC, TM34DEF, CT56GHI
- Different vehicle types to understand data variations
Production Considerations
- Implement robust error handling for network issues
- Cache responses appropriately to reduce API calls
- Monitor API usage and credit consumption
- Plan for data updates and system maintenance windows
Conclusion
The Romanian Vehicle Registration API provides comprehensive access to vehicle data across all Romanian counties and cities. With detailed technical specifications, official document references (CIV), and standardized data formats, the API supports diverse applications from insurance processing to fleet management.
Romania’s centralized registration system ensures consistent data quality while the API’s detailed response format provides all necessary vehicle information for professional applications. Understanding Romanian vehicle types, fuel classifications, and regional codes enhances the effectiveness of API integration.
The system’s compliance with EU data protection standards and focus on technical specifications rather than personal data makes it suitable for business applications requiring vehicle verification and specification lookup.
Start integrating Romanian vehicle data today by registering for API access and exploring the comprehensive database of Romanian vehicle registrations.
Please visit https://www.inmatriculareapi.ro/ to get started.
How to Open .pkpasses Files on Your iPhone: The Hidden Multi-Pass Secret #PKPASSES

If you’ve ever booked multiple tickets with airlines like EasyJet, you might have encountered a mysterious file type: .pkpasses. Unlike the familiar .pkpass files that open seamlessly in Apple Wallet, these multi-pass bundles can leave you scratching your head when they won’t open directly on your iPhone.
Don’t worry – there’s a simple workaround that airlines don’t always explain clearly. Here’s everything you need to know about .pkpasses files and how to get your boarding passes into Apple Wallet where they belong.
What Are .pkpasses Files?
A .pkpasses file is essentially a container that holds multiple .pkpass files bundled together. When you book multiple flights or tickets in a single transaction, airlines like EasyJet use this format to deliver all your passes at once, rather than sending separate emails for each boarding pass.
Think of it as a digital envelope containing multiple boarding passes – convenient for the airline’s system, but not immediately compatible with your iPhone’s Wallet app, which expects individual .pkpass files.
The Problem: Why Won’t My .pkpasses File Open?
When you try to open a .pkpasses file directly on your iPhone, you’ll likely encounter one of these frustrating scenarios:
- The file downloads but nothing happens when you tap it
- You get an error message saying the file can’t be opened
- The Wallet app doesn’t recognize or import the passes
This happens because Apple Wallet is designed to handle individual .pkpass files, not the bundled .pkpasses format.
The Solution: Extract Individual Passes
Here’s the step-by-step process to extract your individual boarding passes from a .pkpasses file:
Step 1: Rename the File Extension
The key insight is that .pkpasses files are actually ZIP archives in disguise. To access the individual passes inside:
- Save the
.pkpassesfile to your device (usually through email or download) - Rename the file extension from
.pkpassesto.zip - You can do this using the Files app on iOS, or more easily on a computer
Step 2: Unzip the Archive
Once renamed to .zip, you can extract the contents:
- On iPhone/iPad: Use the Files app to tap the ZIP file and it will automatically extract
- On Mac/PC: Double-click the ZIP file or use your preferred extraction tool
Step 3: Find Your Individual .pkpass Files
Inside the extracted folder, you’ll discover multiple .pkpass files – one for each boarding pass or ticket in your booking. These files will typically be named with flight numbers, dates, or passenger names.
Step 4: Email the Passes to Yourself
This is where the magic happens:
- Select each
.pkpassfile individually - Email them to yourself (or use AirDrop if working on a Mac)
- Open the email on your iPhone
- Tap each
.pkpassattachment - Each pass will now open properly in Apple Wallet
Why This Method Works
By extracting and emailing the individual .pkpass files, you’re essentially doing what the airline’s system should have done in the first place – delivering each pass in a format that Apple Wallet can recognize and import.
The email step is crucial because it triggers iOS to properly recognize the MIME type and offer to open the file in Wallet. Simply copying the extracted .pkpass files to your phone via other methods might not work as reliably.
Pro Tips for Managing Multiple Passes
- Organize by trip: Create separate emails for outbound and return flights
- Check all details: Verify that each extracted pass contains the correct passenger and flight information
- Keep the original: Save the original
.pkpassesfile as a backup - Test early: Don’t wait until you’re at the airport to discover pass issues
Alternative Solutions
If the manual extraction method seems too technical, consider these alternatives:
- Contact the airline: Many airlines can resend individual
.pkpassfiles if you explain the issue - Use airline apps: Download the airline’s official app, which often provides wallet-compatible passes
- Third-party tools: Some online services can convert
.pkpassesto individual passes, though be cautious about uploading sensitive travel documents
When You Might Encounter .pkpasses Files
This file format is most commonly used by:
- Budget airlines like EasyJet for multi-leg bookings
- Travel booking platforms managing multiple tickets
- Event organizers selling group or family ticket bundles
- Transit authorities for multi-ride passes
Conclusion
While .pkpasses files might seem like an unnecessary complication, understanding how to handle them ensures you’re never stuck without access to your boarding passes. The rename-to-ZIP trick is a simple but powerful solution that turns a frustrating file format issue into a minor inconvenience.
Next time you receive a .pkpasses file, you’ll know exactly what to do: rename it to .zip, extract the individual passes, and email them to yourself. Your future self at the airport will thank you for taking these few extra minutes to ensure your passes are properly loaded in Apple Wallet.
Remember, technology should make travel easier, not harder – and now you have the knowledge to make sure it does.