The Illinois digital ID is a free, voluntary version of your driver’s license or state ID that lives in Apple Wallet on an iPhone or Apple Watch. It launched on November 19, 2025, and works at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports along with a growing list of businesses that have installed compliant readers.1Illinois Secretary of State. Its Here – Giannoulias Launches Mobile ID, Add Yours Today It does not replace your physical card, and you should keep carrying the plastic one.
A Companion to Your Physical Card, Not a Replacement
The Secretary of State’s office describes the Mobile ID as a companion credential, and state law reinforces that distinction: the Mobile ID is issued “in addition to, and not instead of” your physical card.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 15 ILCS 335 – Illinois Identification Card Act There is no fee to add it.
Right now the program only works with Apple devices. The Secretary of State’s office has announced that expansion to Google and Samsung Wallets is coming, but no date has been set.1Illinois Secretary of State. Its Here – Giannoulias Launches Mobile ID, Add Yours Today Android users will have to wait.
How to Add Your ID to Apple Wallet
You need a valid, unexpired Illinois driver’s license or state ID and either an iPhone 8 or later or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later, running the latest version of iOS or watchOS.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Have the physical card in hand before you start.
Open Apple Wallet, tap the plus sign in the upper-right corner, and select “Driver’s License or State ID.” The app will prompt you to scan the front and back of your card with your phone’s camera, and it checks what it reads against the Secretary of State’s records.4Illinois Secretary of State. ID in Apple Wallet
Then comes the selfie. You’ll take a photo and complete a series of facial and head movements that confirm you are the person on the card. The Secretary of State’s office recommends a brightly lit room with a plain background, with sunglasses, hats, and masks removed.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Once the selfie matches, you’ll see a confirmation and the digital ID appears in Wallet.
If Setup Won’t Go Through
Enrollment usually fails for one of two reasons: a bad card scan or a bad selfie. For the scan, place the card on a dark, flat surface in a well-lit room. Scratches, peeling laminate, or faded text can keep the camera from reading the barcode and document number, and a badly worn card may need to be replaced before the app will accept it.
For the selfie, avoid strong backlight from a window. Hold the phone about 16 inches away at eye level and move your head slowly when prompted. If it keeps failing, try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, or restart the setup from the beginning.
Where You Can Use It
The airport is the most immediately useful place. TSA accepts the Illinois Mobile ID at checkpoints in more than 250 airports, including O’Hare, Midway, and Lambert.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions You scan a QR code or tap your phone on the digital ID reader, and a biometric camera compares your face to the photo in your credential.5Transportation Security Administration. Digital Identity and Facial Comparison Technology
Away from the airport, the Secretary of State’s office has released a free Mobile ID Verifier app for businesses, aimed primarily at age-restricted sales like alcohol.1Illinois Secretary of State. Its Here – Giannoulias Launches Mobile ID, Add Yours Today Participating venues include stadiums, restaurants, bars, and other businesses with compliant readers, and the list is still growing.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Don’t be surprised if a given retailer hasn’t adopted it yet. You can also present the Mobile ID in certain apps and websites for online identity verification.4Illinois Secretary of State. ID in Apple Wallet
When You Still Need the Plastic Card
The Illinois Vehicle Code was updated so that a mobile driver’s license satisfies the requirement to hold a valid license while driving.6Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 625 ILCS 5/6-101 – Drivers Must Have Licenses or Permits A separate provision in the Illinois Identification Card Act still requires you to carry your physical credential on your person for all purposes where an ID is required.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 15 ILCS 335 – Illinois Identification Card Act
The practical rule is the same either way: keep the physical card with you. The Secretary of State’s office states that the Mobile ID is not a replacement and that you still need the physical card when interacting with law enforcement or driving.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Treat the digital version as a convenience for airport security and retail, not a reason to leave your wallet at home.
REAL ID and Air Travel
TSA will accept a mobile driver’s license at the checkpoint only if the underlying physical license is REAL ID-compliant or an Enhanced Driver’s License.7Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Drivers Licenses If your physical card is not REAL ID-compliant, the digital version won’t satisfy REAL ID either.
TSA also encourages mobile ID holders to carry a physical form of acceptable identification when flying.7Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Mobile Drivers Licenses Travelers with a non-compliant ID may face additional screening and delays.5Transportation Security Administration. Digital Identity and Facial Comparison Technology Check your physical license for the gold star before counting on the digital credential at the airport.
What a Verifier Can See About You
The Mobile ID supports selective disclosure. When a bar scans it to confirm you’re over 21, you can share only that answer without revealing your home address, full date of birth, or other personal details on the card.
Illinois law limits what a business can do with the data it collects. A verifier can request only the information needed for that specific transaction, and anything obtained may be used only for that purpose.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 15 ILCS 335 – Illinois Identification Card Act If a business misuses your credential data, you have a private right of action.8Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code Title 92 Section 1030.9 – Mobile Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards
The Secretary of State’s office does not track when or where you use the Mobile ID. No usage data is shared with or stored by the state, the wallet provider, or the verifying business, and a transaction log exists only on your own device.8Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Administrative Code Title 92 Section 1030.9 – Mobile Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards The credential data is encrypted on the phone.
If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen
The Mobile ID is protected behind Face ID or Touch ID, so a thief would need your biometrics to access anything in Apple Wallet. If your phone goes missing, use the Find My app on another Apple device or sign into iCloud.com from any browser to remotely lock or erase the device. You can also pause the Mobile ID and reactivate it once you recover the phone.3Illinois Secretary of State. Illinois Mobile ID Frequently Asked Questions Your physical card keeps working everywhere in the meantime.