Which of These Nine States is your home? Now You Can Use Your phone to Get a Digital Driver’s Certificate.

Traveling is difficult, whether you’re flying for the first time&nbsp or you’re expert at the TSA security checkpoint. Apple is aiming to improve things by giving you a online solution for your pilot’s license. With Apple Wallet, you can add your position Identification to your phone or Apple Watch to make it simple to pass through airport security checkpoints. &nbsp,

Living in California, I was interested in giving it a chance to see if it was as easy as it looks to get. As long as you have the appropriate phone and operating system, it is. Depending on the state you live in, older smartphones might have some issues. &nbsp, Apple says computerized driver’s licenses may operate on phone 8 and afterwards, but it’s a little more difficult than that. &nbsp,

Digital IDs are currently only used to travel internally through TSA gates, but that will probably shift. Want to use your electronic Card at your preferred bar or nightclub? We’re certainly already there. &nbsp,

Below, I describe my knowledge, the difficulties I encountered on the way and things that you should realize if you plan on adding your pilot’s license to Apple Wallet. I’ll also explain step-by-step how to increase your Card to your phone. &nbsp,

For more, don’t overlook these low-key iphone 26 functions we’re excited for.

These states currently allow electronic IDs on smartphones.

Only a select few claims allow digital IDs to be used with Apple Wallet. One important factor is how each position implements its Mobile Driver’s License program. For instance, Virginia, New York, Utah, and Louisiana all have wireless driver’s licenses, but they each require separate programs for online IDs. &nbsp,

State and parts that help online Authentication in Apple Wallet:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Maryland
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Puerto Rico

Some states&nbsp, previously announced to help Apple’s online ID haven’t quite gotten there still. &nbsp,

About half of the claims that Apple Wallet supports is currently permitted by the TSA. Collectively, it accepts online IDs across Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet and state-based wireless applications in 15 states.

What qualifications must you meet for an iPhone before you can put your driver’s license to Apple Wallet?

Just the beginning, where you live. You even have to have the proper phone model and the appropriate program setup. &nbsp,

&nbsp, and here are the minimum specifications Apple names:

• An iPhone 8 or afterwards with the latest version of iOS&nbsp,
• Have your system enabled Face or Touch ID?
• Have your Apple accounts two-factor identification enabled?
• A passport or Passport from a participating state or territory
• The United States is the area that your device is located in.

I’ll get more information about the iPhone 8 and iphone requirements and a find I ran into later.

My knowledge adding my Passport to my phone was simple

I used the phone 16E for testing reasons.

The procedure for adding an ID was straightforward. I scanned the front and the back of my Card and the next step was to check my personality. This wasn’t almost as difficult as I anticipated it would be. Rather, it captured a exist video of my mouth for 2.5 hours. &nbsp,

After that, more identification was necessary. In a series of various pictures, I was asked to close my eyes, open my mouth, teeth, and idea my head down as a result. This confirmation process took about three hours. ( Or longer in my case, because I was distracted while taking notes about the procedure and realized I had to restart it entirely. ) &nbsp,

Finally, after I submitted those pictures, there was another validation step, apparently with the pictures relayed to the California DMV. I was informed by a panel information that I would be notified when there was an update. I had anticipated this to take a while, but not even ten minutes later a warning that my ID was willing to use appeared. That was easy. &nbsp,

What about older smartphones?

But, not every smartphone you think may work will really do so. I used an phone 8 Plus for the first time I tested adding my ID. However, when I reached the Apple Wallet installation site, I was given eight says to choose from among which California didn’t.

That surprised me. I was pleasantly surprised to find a good Apple aid article that explained the requirements for adding a state-issued ID or driver’s license to Apple Wallet. &nbsp,

At first, I thought the barrier was that I hadn’t set up Touch ID already. California was also missing from my list of eight state, though. ( Unfortunately, a coworker of mine tried this with an iPhone 8 and only listed four states in Apple Wallet. )

I went back to the Apple support content and looked for good display, and sure enough, there it was. Because California has a smart driver’s license program in place for a while, I had to ignore the underscore in the needs.

The fine print at the bottom of the page reads,” For California, ID in Apple Wallet requires iphone 17.5 or afterwards with phone Android or later.” ( For Puerto Rico, if you want to put your driver’s license or ID to Apple Wallet, you’ll need to have an iPhone XS or afterwards with iphone 18.1.) &nbsp,

So if you live in California and still have an iPhone 8 or iPhone X, you won’t be able to increase your pilot’s license because of the absence of application support. iphone 16 is the last supported version of the operating system for phone 8 and X designs.

How to increase your ID or pilot’s license to Apple Wallet

It’s simple to add one to Apple Wallet if you reside in a condition that supports online IDs. After it’s added, you’ll need to verify your identity, which can take a much longer but it’s still a simple process.

Start your Apple Wallet.
• Click the Increase option.
• Click Driver’s License or ID and find your site.
• Decide whether you want to put your ID to your iPhone and Apple Watch or just your phone. &nbsp,
• Follow the steps to check your certificate or ID.

( Make sure your ID is in focus while being scanned in a brightly lit room. )

You’ll be asked to provide a photo picture to confirm your identity once it has been scanned. According to Apple, you may be asked to complete a number of physical or brain movements for verification functions. &nbsp,

Apple suggests that you: Apple: To assure an easier identification approach:

• Walk in front of a plain background with negative, light color.
• Get in a darkened area, essentially indoors.
• Remove any glasses, faces, hats, or other items that could obscure your vision.
• Keep your iPhone stable.

When you’re finished, confirm your data using Touch or Face ID. Only you can use the ID because your biometric may be linked to it. &nbsp,

How to move your online Identification between iPhones

You’ll need to move your ID or pilot’s license if you improve your iPhone. &nbsp,

Touch Wallet during the initial setup process.
• Find your identification card.
• Follow the steps.
• Click to validate that your ID or driver’s license are moving to the new device.

What then, then?

Your online ID isn’t only a picture of your ID that you can move up within Apple Wallet. You can’t even see the full text of your actual ID. You’ll need to tap on your ID” card” in Apple Wallet, tap the “i” at the top-right of the screen, and then tap State ID info or Card Information ( the wording may vary depending on the iOS version your iPhone is running ). From there, it will display your Card photo as well as important pieces of information from your actual ID. &nbsp,

TSA checkpoints that accept online IDs require a committed scanner, but the procedure might not always seem as quick as presenting your real ID to the broker. &nbsp,

The Maryland Department of Transportation has provided a picture of the procedure:

Although having a digital ID is a good idea, it likely won’t save you much time nevertheless. Couple that fact with its very limited use cases best now and the fact that merchant or event adoption may require investment in appropriate hardware and it’s very easy to see just how far off we are from ditching real IDs. &nbsp,

Selling or trading your phone? Would this primary.

When you switch to a phone with your Identification on it, you’ll want to delete it like you would with different sympathetic data like credit or debit cards and credentials. &nbsp,

But before you wipe your iPhone to market or industry it in, you should personally replace your ID first. Here’s how to do it.

Plug your Card in the list to go to Apple Wallet.
• Plug the “i“ box at the top right of the screen
• Click Reduce Driver’s License or State ID.
• Learn the warning that appears and click Remove.

Digital documents are coming to Apple Wallet with iphone 26

While claims are taking time to implement online Card systems, Apple announced a function coming in iOS 26 this time: You can add a modern card to Apple Wallet.

When that feature is available, ipod users will be able to check their documents to create a modern version for identity verification when traveling domestically. You won’t be able to use it for foreign travel, and it won’t work as a complete replacement for a physical card ( so carry your natural one with you ), but it should function at the 250+ TSA gates. &nbsp,

Apple stated during its WWDC keynote in June that the digital ID generated from your passport can also be used “in apps and in person,” but it provided no specifics. &nbsp,

This is essentially what can be done on Android through Google Wallet. &nbsp,

Verify using Wallet ID verification could make alcohol ordering simpler.

Also headed to iPhones this fall is an easier way for you to prove your age using your digital ID. Say you want to receive a bottle of wine via Uber Eats. When the driver arrives, you’ll typically need to present your ID and have it scanned to complete the transaction, but with the new Verify with Wallet, your stored digital ID will be used to determine your age. ( I do wonder if things might get more complicated when the delivery arrives if you’re not the one receiving it. )

Chime, Turo, Uber Eats, and U.S. Bank will support Verify with Wallet. &nbsp,

For more, don’t miss what you should know about flying domestically without a Real ID in 2025.