The Illinois digital ID app isn’t actually a separate app. Illinois residents add a Mobile ID to the Apple Wallet that already comes installed on an iPhone, and the credential works at TSA checkpoints in over 250 airports, at participating businesses, and in select apps that verify age or identity.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions It does not replace your plastic card, and state law still requires you to carry the physical license when you drive.
Who Can Get It
Any Illinois resident with a current physical driver’s license or state ID card can enroll, at any age.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Driver’s permits are not eligible, and you can add either your driver’s license or your state ID to the wallet, but not both.
You do not need a REAL ID-compliant card for general use. You do need one if you plan to use the Mobile ID at a TSA checkpoint, because REAL ID enforcement at airports began on May 7, 2025.2Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
Device-wise, the program currently supports Apple only: an iPhone 8 or later running the latest iOS, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later on the latest watchOS.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet support has been announced but is not yet available.3Illinois Secretary of State. The Day is Finally Here: Giannoulias Launches Mobile ID If you’re on Android, you’ll have to wait.
How to Set It Up
Have your physical card in hand and find a well-lit spot with a plain background for photos. Then open Apple Wallet and work through the prompts:4Illinois Secretary of State. ID in Apple Wallet
- Tap the plus sign in the upper-right corner of Wallet. If you’re on cellular rather than Wi-Fi, enable cellular data for Wallet first.
- Select Driver’s License or State ID, then choose Illinois.
- Pick whether to add the ID to your iPhone alone or to both the iPhone and a paired Apple Watch.
- Photograph the front and back of your physical card when prompted.
- Complete a selfie so the system can compare your face to the photo the Secretary of State has on file.
Most enrollments are approved fairly quickly. If the system can’t confirm your identity on its own, the Secretary of State mails a verification PIN to the address on file, which can take up to 10 business days.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Once it arrives, open Wallet and enter the PIN to finish. If you use accessibility features like Voice Control or Switch Control, you can substitute your device passcode for Face ID or Touch ID during setup and everyday use. You’ll need a replacement physical card from the Secretary of State before enrolling if yours is lost or damaged.
Where You Can Actually Use It
At airports, the Mobile ID works at TSA checkpoints in over 250 locations nationwide, including O’Hare, Midway, and Lambert.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions You either scan a QR code or tap your device on a digital ID reader at the checkpoint, and TSA sees only the information needed to verify you.5Transportation Security Administration. Digital Identity and Facial Comparison Technology TSA still recommends bringing the physical card as a backup, since not every lane at every airport has the digital reader equipment.
Off-airport acceptance is handled through a free app the Secretary of State offers to businesses called Illinois Mobile ID Check.3Illinois Secretary of State. The Day is Finally Here: Giannoulias Launches Mobile ID Select apps and websites that verify age or identity can also read the Mobile ID.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions The network is still growing, so watch for signage or on-screen prompts indicating that a given business can accept the digital credential.
What the Mobile ID Shares
Handing over a plastic license exposes everything printed on it: full name, address, date of birth, license number. The Mobile ID shares only what a specific interaction requires, and you authorize what gets sent before anything is transmitted.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions
For an age-restricted purchase, a business running Illinois Mobile ID Check sees only your photo and confirmation that you’re over 21. Your name, address, and license number stay hidden. You also never hand over the phone itself; the exchange happens wirelessly or by scanning a code, so the device stays with you.
You Still Need the Physical Card When Driving
Illinois law has not caught up to the technology. Under the Illinois Vehicle Code, every licensed driver must have the physical license in their immediate possession when operating a motor vehicle, and the statute’s definition of “display” contemplates physically surrendering the card to the officer.6Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/6-112 – License and Permits to Be Carried and Exhibited on Demand A phone screen doesn’t satisfy that.
The Secretary of State says the same thing plainly: Mobile ID “is not a replacement for a physical ID, which may still be needed for certain situations (like interactions with law enforcement).”4Illinois Secretary of State. ID in Apple Wallet An officer who asks for your license during a traffic stop can cite you if all you have is the digital version. The statute does allow you to avoid conviction by later showing in court that you held a valid license at the time of the stop, but that’s a courtroom appearance you didn’t need to make.6Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/6-112 – License and Permits to Be Carried and Exhibited on Demand Keep the plastic card on you when you drive.
New Phone, Lost Phone
Your Mobile ID can live on one iPhone and one paired Apple Watch.1Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions If you’re switching phones, remove the ID from the old device through Wallet before adding it to the new one. If you no longer have the old phone, call the Secretary of State at 800-252-8980 for help.
If the phone is lost or stolen, use Find My from another Apple device or sign into iCloud.com to lock or erase it remotely. You can also pause the Mobile ID and turn it back on once the phone is recovered. Because Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode is required every time the credential is accessed, someone who picks up your phone can’t open Wallet and impersonate you.