Apple added the ability to add digital state IDs or driver’s licenses to Apple Wallet years ago, with the very first supported states being announced in 2021. It’s an approach based on standards (ISO 18013-5) which is intended to be more secure and private. than physical identification, and finally closing one of the last loopholes that prevent people from leaving the house without their wallet.
There are currently seven states/territories in the United States that support this capability, and 11 more have announced support in the future. Here’s how to add your ID to Wallet and why you might want to.
How to add your state ID or driver’s license to Wallet
Adding your ID to Apple Wallet is easy.
- Open wallet
- Tap the “Add” (+) button in the upper right corner.
- Faucet Driver’s license or state ID and select your state.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
You will be asked if you want to add your ID only to your iPhone or to your Apple Watch if you have a paired Apple Watch. You will be asked to take photos of your current ID, likely the front and back, as well as corresponding images of yourself.
The phone will ask you to stand in a well-lit area with a plain, dark background and put your head in the frame. Then you will turn your head or make facial expressions (close your eyes, open your mouth) as instructed by your phone. This information will be used to help you match your appearance to your state-registered photo. Think of it like a human and make sure you look like the photo on your ID.
List of supporting states/territories
The seven states that currently support digital IDs in Apple Wallet are:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Ohio
States and territories that have pledged future support are:
- Connecticut
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Puerto Rico
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Where can you use it and why you might want to
Your ID in Apple Wallet is more secure than carrying a physical card that could be lost or could reveal personal information to someone you might not want to have.
Digital IDs in Apple Wallet don’t display any personal information other than your name. If you press the (i) button to get more information, then press Driving license informationYour iPhone requires a Face ID or Touch ID login to see things like your address, date of birth, height, eye color, ID number, and more.
Information is ONLY transferred via NFC (which starts a secure Bluetooth LE data connection), not via a barcode or anything else that can be easily copied. So you’ll never have to hand over your phone to a police officer, TSA agent, or anyone else, and even if you do, they won’t be able to get your personal information without your authentication.
Using your digital ID works a lot like Apple Pay. You hold your iPhone near the reader (which could be another iPhone) and a screen will appear showing exactly what information you are going to share. Double-tap the side button to approve it, just like approving a payment.
Currently, police departments do not accept digital IDs as a driver’s license, so you will need to carry your physical card with you when driving. But the TSA has implemented readers at checkpoints at some airports (see a map here), and some age-restricted locations have implemented readers as well. Additionally, apps that require age identification (such as renting a car or ordering alcohol) can use information stored in Wallet to provide proof of age.
The good thing about digital IDs is that they can transfer only the necessary information, and nothing more. A bouncer who wants to check your identity upon entering a venue will have a reader that shows your photo ID and simply confirms whether you are over 21, for example – he won’t get your actual date of birth, your identification number, your address. , or any other information they don’t need. The same goes for apps requiring age verification. With Apple Wallet’s implementation, nothing is transferred without your authentication, so not only do you not have to trust your phone to anyone else, but it wouldn’t even be useful.
