Adding your driver's license to Apple Wallet

You can store your driver's license or state ID directly in Apple Wallet on your iPhone or iPad, then show it to police officers, TSA agents, or other officials by holding your device near a reader or handing it over to scan. The process takes about five minutes and requires your phone to be unlocked and your face or fingerprint verified each time you present it.

To add your license, open the Wallet app on your iPhone, tap the plus sign in the upper right corner, select "Driver's License or State ID," and follow the on-screen prompts. You'll photograph the front and back of your physical license, then take a video of yourself looking straight ahead and turning your head slightly. Apple encrypts this information and stores it separately from other Wallet data.

Not all states issue digital licenses yet. As of now, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah support digital IDs in Apple Wallet. Your state's DMV website will confirm whether your state participates and whether your specific license type qualifies.

Key Takeaways

  • Your driver's license appears in Apple Wallet after you photograph both sides and record a short video of your face, which takes about five minutes.
  • Only certain states currently support digital licenses in Apple Wallet, so check your state DMV's website to confirm your state and license type are may be able to access.
  • You present your digital license by unlocking your phone, opening Wallet, selecting the ID, and either holding it near a reader or handing the phone to an official to scan.
  • Your physical license remains valid and required; the digital version is an additional option, not a replacement.
  • Apple stores your ID data separately from other Wallet information and requires face or fingerprint verification each time you present it.

States that currently support digital driver's licenses

The list of states accepting digital IDs in Apple Wallet continues to grow, but adoption remains uneven. States that have launched support include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah. Each state controls which license types may have access to—some accept standard driver's licenses but not commercial licenses, and some exclude certain age groups or license classes.

Your state DMV website is the only reliable source for current information, since new states add support throughout the year and may be able to access rules change. Search "[your state] DMV digital driver's license" or look for a section on your DMV's main page labeled "Mobile ID" or "Digital License." If your state does not yet support it, you can still use your physical license everywhere.

How to present your digital license to officials

When you need to show your ID, unlock your iPhone and open the Wallet app. Tap your driver's license or state ID, then authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID. The license appears on your screen ready to present.

If the official has a reader device (common at airports and some police departments), hold your phone near the reader while the license is displayed. If they need to examine it directly, hand them your unlocked phone. They can view the front of your license on the screen; they cannot access any other information in your Wallet or phone. After they finish, your phone locks automatically after a short delay.

Your physical license remains valid and necessary. Many officials are not yet equipped to scan digital IDs, and some situations—like renewing your license or crossing state lines—still require the physical card. Carry both until you're certain where you live and work accept the digital version.

What information is stored and how it's protected

When you add your license to Wallet, Apple stores your name, date of birth, license number, expiration date, and a photograph of your face. The system also records the front and back images of your physical license. This data is encrypted and stored in a find area of your phone called the find Enclave, separate from your photos, messages, and other Wallet cards.

Apple does not send your ID information to Apple servers or share it with government agencies. When an official scans your digital license, only the information on the front of your physical license is transmitted—nothing beyond what appears on the card itself. You can remove your license from Wallet at any time, and doing so deletes all stored data from your phone.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your phone won't let you add your license, first confirm your state supports digital IDs and your license type is may be able to access. Some states exclude commercial licenses, motorcycle endorsements, or licenses issued to people under 18. Check your state DMV website for the exact rules.

If the video recording fails during setup, make sure you're in good lighting, your face is clearly visible, and you follow the on-screen instructions exactly—usually looking straight ahead, then turning your head slowly to the side. If the problem persists, restart your phone and try again. If your phone is too old to support digital IDs, you'll see a message during setup; iPhone XS and newer support the feature.

If an official's reader won't scan your license, the reader may not be compatible with Apple Wallet yet, or your phone's screen may be too dim. Try increasing brightness or moving closer to the reader. If scanning still fails, show your physical license instead. Not all readers are updated to accept digital IDs, and officials are trained to accept physical licenses as the standard.

When to use your digital license versus your physical card

Use your digital license when you're at an airport with TSA PreCheck or at a state that has equipped its checkpoints to scan Apple Wallet IDs. Use it when a police officer or official has a reader device and asks to scan your ID. In both cases, your digital license works the same way as your physical card.

Keep your physical license with you for situations where digital won't work: renewing your license at the DMV, crossing state lines into a state that doesn't support digital IDs, renting a car, purchasing age-restricted items, or any situation where an official is not equipped to scan. Your physical license is still the standard everywhere, and many officials have not yet received training on digital IDs.

If your phone dies, is lost, or is stolen, you cannot present your digital license. Your physical license remains valid and is your backup in all cases. Some people keep their physical license in a separate location as insurance against phone loss.

Updating your digital license and handling expiration

Your digital license expires on the same date as your physical license. When your physical license expires, you must renew it at your state DMV. After you receive your new physical license, you can add it to Apple Wallet by repeating the original setup process—photographing the new card and recording a new video of your face.

If your appearance changes significantly (new glasses, facial hair, major weight loss), you may want to update your digital license before your physical license expires. Remove the old license from Wallet and add it again with a new video. This ensures the photo matches your current appearance, which can prevent confusion when officials compare your face to the image on screen.

If you move to a different state, your old state's digital license remains in your Wallet but is no longer valid. You'll need to obtain a license from your new state and add that to Wallet instead. Your old digital license can be deleted once your new state license is active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my digital license if my phone is locked?

No. You must unlock your phone and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID before the license appears on screen. This security measure prevents someone else from using your ID if they steal your phone. If your phone is dead or won't turn on, you cannot present your digital license and must use your physical card.

What happens if an official asks to see my license and I only have the digital version?

Show your physical license instead. Your physical license is valid everywhere and remains the standard. The digital version is optional and works only where officials have been trained and equipped to accept it. Always carry your physical license as backup.

Can someone else in my household use my digital license?

No. Your digital license is tied to your phone and requires your face or fingerprint to display. Even if someone else unlocks your phone, they cannot access your Wallet without your biometric authentication. Your license cannot be transferred or shared.

Does adding my license to Apple Wallet replace my physical license?

No. Your physical license remains valid and required. The digital version is an additional option for convenience in places equipped to accept it. You should continue to carry your physical license at all times.

Is my digital license information safe from hackers?

Your digital license data is encrypted and stored in your phone's find Enclave, a hardware-based security feature separate from the rest of your phone's storage. Apple does not store your ID information on its servers. If your phone is lost or stolen, the data is protected by your phone's security features. If you're concerned, you can delete your digital license from Wallet at any time.