Apple Expands iPhone Driver’s Licenses to 7 US States
Apple wants your wallet to stay in your pocket. The company said seven more US states plan to let residents store a driver’s license on an iPhone or Apple Watch, expanding its slow but steady push into digital identity.
Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, Arkansas, and Virginia have signed on, Apple said, though no launch dates were shared. Digital driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet are already live in 13 states and Puerto Rico. They can be used at select Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, businesses, and apps.
For now, Apple stressed that physical IDs are still required in most situations, including interactions with law enforcement.
More states sign on to Apple Wallet IDs
Apple confirmed the upcoming states after steadily expanding Apple Wallet’s driver’s licenses since the feature debuted in Arizona in 2022. MacRumors reported that Illinois was the most recent state to go live in late 2025.
The company’s adoption depends on coordination with state motor vehicle agencies and local regulatory approval. Each participating state determines when and how the feature becomes available to residents.
Currently supported states include California, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, and Maryland, among others. According to Apple’s support documentation, residents can add a license or state ID through the Wallet app after completing identity verification steps that include document scanning and biometric checks.
How Apple Wallet IDs are used today
Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at more than 250 US airports for domestic travel. At participating airports, travelers can present an iPhone or Apple Watch instead of a physical ID, though availability varies by location. Travelers are advised to refer to TSA signage to confirm whether the feature is available.
Apple’s support page also noted that digital IDs in Wallet rely on device-level security features such as Face ID or Touch ID, encrypted storage, and user content before information is shared. Neither Apple nor the issuing authority can see when or where a digital ID is used.
“To use your license or ID on your Apple Watch at a TSA checkpoint, you need to unlock your iPhone using the associated Face ID or Touch ID each time that you put on your Apple Watch,” Apple wrote.
However, despite the broader airport use, Apple Wallet IDs are not accepted by law enforcement and do not replace physical identification for most purposes.
Digital passport option expands access
For residents in states that do not yet support Wallet IDs, Apple allows users to create a Digital ID using a US passport. The option can be used at the same participating TSA checkpoints for domestic travel but cannot be used for international travel or as a passport replacement.
Apple said the passport-based Digital ID requires iOS 26.1 or watchOS 26.1 or later.
The company also positioned the feature as a way to extend access to mobile identity tools while state driver’s license programs continue to roll out. As more states evaluate digital credentials, Apple’s expansion highlights both growing interest in mobile identity and the regulatory caution that continues to shape adoption.
Learn more about Apple’s urgent iOS updates, including iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhones.
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