What you need before you start
You can add your driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on your iPhone, but only if your state has made this feature available and your phone meets the technical requirements. As of now, only certain states issue digital licenses through Apple Wallet — the list includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, and a few others, with more being added regularly. Your state may not yet support this feature, so the first step is to check whether yours does.
You will also need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or newer model. Older iPhones cannot store a digital driver's license, even if your state supports the program. If you have an older phone, you will need to carry your physical license.
Finally, you will need your physical driver's license or state ID card in hand when you add it to your phone. The process requires you to photograph both sides of the card and verify your identity, so have it nearby before you open the Wallet app.
Key Takeaways
- Only certain states currently allow digital driver's licenses in Apple Wallet, and you must have an iPhone 15 Pro or newer to use this feature.
- The process involves opening Wallet, selecting the plus icon, choosing "Driver's License or State ID," and photographing both sides of your physical license.
- You will be asked to verify your identity using Face ID or Touch ID, and in some states you may need to complete additional verification steps.
- Once added, your digital license appears in Wallet and can be shown to police or TSA agents at airports, though not all officers accept it yet.
- Your physical license remains valid and should be carried as backup until digital licenses are more widely accepted by law enforcement.
Step-by-step process to add your license
Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the plus sign in the upper right corner. Select "Driver's License or State ID" from the menu. The app will tell you when ready whether your state supports digital licenses; if it does not, you will see a message saying the feature is not yet available in your state.
If your state is supported, tap "Continue" and position your iPhone to photograph the front of your physical license. The camera will guide you to center the card and may support good lighting. Once the front is captured, you will be prompted to photograph the back. Take clear photos of both sides — blurry or partially cut-off images will cause the process to fail and you will have to start over.
After both photos are taken, the app will ask you to verify your identity using Face ID or Touch ID. Some states require an additional step: you may be asked to look at the camera while it records a short video of your face, or to answer security questions. This verification confirms that you are the person on the license and prevents someone else from adding your ID to their phone.
Once verification is complete, your digital license will appear in Wallet. You can view it by opening Wallet and tapping the license card. The card will display your photo, name, license number, and expiration date — the same information on your physical license.
How to show your digital license to police or TSA
When you need to show your license, open Wallet and tap your driver's license card. The full details will appear on your screen. You do not need to unlock your phone or use Face ID — the license displays without additional authentication once you have opened Wallet.
Hand your phone to the officer or TSA agent so they can view the license on your screen. Some police departments and TSA locations have been trained to accept digital licenses, but acceptance is not yet universal. Many officers are still unfamiliar with the feature, and some departments have not yet authorized their staff to accept it. If an officer declines to accept your digital license, you will need to show your physical license instead.
For this reason, you should continue to carry your physical driver's license even after adding it to your phone. The digital version is a convenience, not a replacement, until acceptance becomes standard across all law enforcement agencies and transportation security checkpoints.
What happens if your phone is lost or damaged
If your iPhone is lost, stolen, or damaged, your digital license is not lost with it. When you get a new iPhone and sign in with your Apple ID, your Wallet data — including your digital license — will restore automatically if you have iCloud Backup turned on. You can also manually re-add your license to a new phone by following the same process.
If you need to remove your digital license from your current phone — for example, if you are selling the phone — open Wallet, tap your license card, scroll down, and select "Remove." The license will be deleted from that phone but remains available on any other devices signed in to your Apple ID.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the camera cannot read your license, make sure you are in good lighting and that both the front and back of the card are fully visible in the frame. Glare from the card's surface can cause the camera to fail; try adjusting the angle slightly or moving to a different light source. If the photos are too blurry, delete them and retake them more slowly, keeping your phone steady.
If verification fails — for example, if Face ID does not recognize you or the video recording does not meet the state's requirements — you can try again. The app will let you know what went wrong. If you have a beard, glasses, or other facial features that have changed significantly since your license photo was taken, verification may take more attempts. Remove glasses if possible, and make sure your face is clearly lit and centered in the camera frame.
If your state is not yet supported and you want to check whether it has been added to the program, open Wallet, tap the plus sign, and select "Driver's License or State ID" again. The list of supported states is updated regularly, so checking periodically will tell you when your state becomes available.
Keeping your digital license find
Your digital license is protected by the same security features as the rest of your iPhone — Face ID, Touch ID, and your passcode. You do not need to take additional steps to find it. However, you should keep your iPhone's software up to date by installing iOS updates when they become available. Apple regularly releases security patches that protect Wallet data, so updating promptly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Do not share screenshots of your digital license with anyone, even if they claim to need it for official purposes. Real government agencies and law enforcement will ask to see your license in person, not via text or email. If someone requests a photo or screenshot of your license, it is a sign of a scam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my digital license if my phone battery is dead?
No. Your phone must be powered on and unlocked to display your digital license. If your battery dies, you will need to show your physical license instead. This is one reason to always carry your physical license as a backup.
Will my digital license work in other states or countries?
Your digital license is issued by your home state and is valid in that state. It may be accepted in other states, but acceptance depends on whether that state's law enforcement has been trained to recognize digital licenses. International travel requires your physical passport, not your driver's license, so the digital version does not help abroad.
What if I renew my license — do I have to add it to my phone again?
Yes. When you renew your physical license, you will need to remove the old digital license from Wallet and add the new one using the same process. The app will prompt you to do this when your license is close to expiration.
Can I add my license to my iPad or Apple Watch?
Driver's licenses can only be added to iPhones at this time. iPad and Apple Watch do not support digital driver's licenses, even if they are newer models.
Is my digital license the same as a REAL ID?
No. A REAL ID is a specific type of physical driver's license that meets federal security standards and is required for domestic air travel. Your digital license is a copy of your existing license stored in your phone. If your physical license is a REAL ID, your digital version reflects that, but you still need to carry the physical card for air travel until TSA fully transitions to accepting digital licenses at all airports.