Photo: FellowNeko (Shutterstock)
Why do I still carry a wallet? My iPhone does just about anything a traditional wallet can do. Most (if not all) of my purchases are via Apple Pay or QR code, my phone holds all of my pictures, and most of my receipts also go to my email. Basically the only I keep my wallet around is to carry my ID. Once my state starts supporting Apple’s digital ID feature, however, things will change between me and my wallet.
Since iOS 15.4, Apple has supported adding a driver’s license or other state ID to your iPhone’s digital wallet. That doesn’t mean you’ve been needlessly carrying your ID around since then—states have been slow to roll out the feature, and most haven’t yet signed on at all. As of this writing, only two states actively allow you to add your ID to your iPhone, while 10 more (plus Puerto Rico) have confirmed plans to offer the option eventually, on a loose timeline of “soon.”
Here’s the full list as it stands in 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, be warned: You can’t simply hand a cop your iPhone when you get pulled over. There are specific, limited use cases for this feature. Right now, that means identifying yourself at the airport. Apple worked with the TSA to make this happen, and it currently works at the following airports:
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)Soon, though, participating apps will be able to check your digital ID for age authentication, so you won’t need to worry about presenting your driver’s license the next time you order booze. Apple has confirmed Uber Eats and Turo as among the first apps to support the option, though the feature doesn’t seem to be live as of yet. Seeing as the feature is technically a part of iOS 16, however, it’s likely it will arrive in the near future.
How to add a digital ID to your iPhone
If you do live in a supported state, setting up the feature is simple. Open Wallet, then, tap the (+) in the top right, then choose “Driver’s License or State ID.” Choose your state, then choose whether to add the ID to your iPhone 8 or newer, as well as your Apple Watch Series 4 or newer. Either way, you’ll need to scan your ID with your iPhone’s camera, then scan your face to prove your identity. Once complete, send all information to your state to confirm.
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Screenshot: Jake Peterson
The next time you fly from a participating airport, you can unlock your iPhone and place it next to the ID scanner. You’ll see your digital ID appear, complete with all information you will be sharing with the TSA if you approve (name, date of birth, sex, ID number, state, issue and expiration dates, real ID status, and ID photo).
[MacRumors]
