According to MacRumors, Apple is planning to expand its Apple Wallet driver’s license and state ID feature to at least seven more U.S. states, though no specific launch timeframes were given. The feature is already available to residents in 13 states and Puerto Rico. Users can add their ID by opening the Wallet app, tapping the plus sign, and selecting “Driver’s License and ID Cards.” The digital IDs are currently accepted for identity verification at TSA checkpoints in over 250 airports across the United States for domestic travel. However, Apple explicitly notes that these Wallet IDs are not accepted by law enforcement and lack many other common use cases, meaning carrying a physical ID is still necessary.
The Slow Rollout Reality
So, Apple‘s digital ID initiative is growing, but let’s be real—it’s moving at a glacial pace. Adding seven more states sounds good on a press release, but without any disclosed timelines, it’s basically a promise of “someday.” The real story here is the massive gap between the hype of a “digital wallet” and the practical, everyday utility. You can use it at an airport TSA line… and that’s about it for most people. For a feature that’s been in development for years, that’s a pretty limited return on investment for both Apple and the state DMVs involved. Why has adoption been so slow? Bureaucracy, security concerns, and a lack of universal standards are probably the main culprits.
User Impact: Convenience With a Caveat
For users in the supported states, it’s a nifty trick for airport travel. No more fumbling for your wallet at the security bin. That’s a genuine, if niche, convenience. But here’s the thing: the moment you step out of the airport, the digital ID’s usefulness plummets. Try using it at a bar, during a traffic stop, or to rent a car. You can’t. The requirement to still carry your physical ID completely undercuts the “all-digital” fantasy. It becomes just another thing to set up and manage, rather than a true replacement. For now, it feels less like an essential feature and more like a proof-of-concept that’s waiting for the rest of the world to catch up.
The Bigger Picture and Adoption Hurdles
This slow burn highlights the immense difficulty of modernizing legacy identity systems. Apple is essentially trying to build a new, trusted platform on top of 50 different state bureaucracies, each with its own rules and tech infrastructure. And while the TSA partnership is a smart beachhead, real adoption requires buy-in from a vast ecosystem of businesses and government agencies. Until your local liquor store or police department has a scanner and a mandate to accept it, the digital ID remains a novelty. Look, the vision is clear—a secure, phone-based identity standard. But the path to get there is fraught with fragmentation. It’s a classic tech problem: the solution is technically elegant, but the rollout depends on a thousand non-tech decisions.
