You Can Use Your iPhone As an ID in These 12 States

Why do I still carry a wallet? My iPhone can handle just about anything you used to need a traditional wallet for. Most (if not all) of my purchases are made via Apple Pay or QR code, my phone holds all of my pictures, and most of my receipts go straight 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—provided that support ever comes.

Since iOS 15.4, Apple has allowed you to add 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 their own support for the feature, and most have yet to sign on at all.

When I first covered this feature in 2022, only two states actively allowed you to add your ID to your iPhone, while 10 more (plus Puerto Rico) had confirmed plans to offer the option eventually, on a loose timeline of “soon.” Fast forward three years, and just 9 states and one territory now officially allow you to add IDs to Wallet.

These states support digital ID now

Here’s the full list as it stands in June 2025:

• Arizona

• California

• Colorado

• Georgia

• Hawaii

• Iowa

• Maryland

• Montana

• New Mexico

• North Dakota

• Ohio

• Puerto Rico

• West Virginia

Support is still "coming soon" in these states

These states had originally pledged that support was "coming soon," but after nearly three years, still haven't committed:

• Connecticut

• Kentucky

• Mississippi

• Oklahoma

• Utah

Airports where you can use a digital ID in Apple Wallet

Now, 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, as well as at select businesses. Apple worked with the TSA to make this happen, and while it used to maintain an active list of supported airpots, it seems to have taken it down. This is the list as it was last updated:

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG)

• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

• Denver International Airport (DEN)

• Des Moines International Airport (DSM)

• Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)

• Los Angeles International (LAX)

• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)

• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

• San Jose Mineta International (SJC)

• Missoula International Airport (MSO)

• Great Falls International Airport (GTF)

• Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

• Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

• Lea County Regional Airport (HOB)

• Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)

This feature will also work with participating businesses to verify your age, including bars, restaurants, liquor stores, festivals, concerts, and certain age-restricted apps. However, there is no list of venues that support this feature.

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 and ID Cards.” 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. (There are caveats here: California requires an iPhone XS or later running iOS 17.5 or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 4 running at least watchOS 10. Puerto Rico requires an iPhone XS or later running iOS 18.1 or newer, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 11 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. If you live in North Dakota, you will need to pay a $5 fee to use this feature.

Credit: Lifehacker

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, issuing authority, and issue and expiration dates).

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