You Can Use Your IPhone As an ID in These States
Why do I still carry a wallet ? My iPhone does almost everything a traditional wallet can do. I make most (if not all) of my purchases through Apple Pay or a QR code, all my photos are stored on my phone, and most of my receipts are also sent to my email. In fact, the only thing I carry with me is an ID card. However, once my state starts supporting the Apple Digital ID feature, the relationship between me and my wallet will change.
Starting with iOS 15.4 , Apple supports adding a driver’s license or other state ID to your iPhone’s digital wallet. This doesn’t mean you’ve been needlessly carrying your ID around with you ever since – states have been slow to roll out the feature, and most haven’t logged in yet. At the time of this writing, only two states are actively allowing you to add your ID to your iPhone , while 10 more (plus Puerto Rico) have confirmed plans to offer the option eventually, in a free “soon” schedule.
Here is the full list for October 2022:
- Arizona (March 2022)
- Maryland (May 2022)
- Colorado (coming soon)
- Connecticut (coming soon)
- Georgia (coming soon)
- Hawaii (coming soon)
- Iowa (coming soon)
- Kentucky (coming soon)
- Mississippi (coming soon)
- Ohio (coming soon)
- Oklahoma (coming soon)
- Puerto Rico (coming soon)
- Utah (coming soon)
If you live in Arizona and Maryland, keep in mind that you can’t just hand over your iPhone to the police when you get pulled over. There are specific limited use cases for this feature. Right now, that means you have to identify yourself at the airport. Apple worked with TSA to make this happen, and it currently operates at the following airports:
- Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Soon, though, participating apps will be able to verify your digital ID for age authentication, so you won’t have to worry about showing your driver’s license the next time you order a drink. Apple has confirmed that Uber Eats and Turo are among the first apps to support this option, although the feature is not yet operational. However, given that this feature is technically part of iOS 16, it’s likely that it will arrive in the near future.
How to add a digital ID to your iPhone
If you live in a supported state, setting up this feature is simple. Open Wallet, then tap (+) at the top right, then select Driver’s License or State ID. Select your state, then choose whether to add an ID on iPhone 8 or later and Apple Watch Series 4 or later. Either way, you will need to scan your ID with your iPhone’s camera and then scan your face to verify your identity. Once completed, send all information to your state for confirmation.
The next time you fly from a participating airport, you can unlock your iPhone and place it next to the document scanner. You will see your digital ID with all the information you will share with TSA if you approve (name, date of birth, gender, ID number, state, date of issue and expiration, real ID status and ID photo).
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