Since November 2025, Illinois has let you add your driver's license or state ID to Apple Wallet. It's free, takes a few minutes, and works at the TSA lines at O'Hare and Midway. It is also widely misunderstood: a Mobile ID does not replace your physical card, and Illinois law still requires you to carry the plastic one.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What phones work? | iPhone (Apple Wallet) now; Google and Samsung wallets announced as coming |
| Cost | Free |
| Replaces the physical card? | No. You must still carry it |
| Works at airport security? | Yes, at participating TSA checkpoints including O'Hare and Midway |
| Works as REAL ID? | It mirrors whatever card you have; keep the physical card for travel |
| Who sees your data? | Encrypted on your phone; the state can't see when or where you present it |
What you can actually use it for today
The practical list, as of August 2026:
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Airport security. TSA accepts mobile IDs at participating checkpoints in more than 250 airports, including both O'Hare and Midway. You tap or scan at the credential reader instead of handing over a card. TSA officers can still ask for the physical ID, so it goes in your bag anyway.
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Apple Stores. Order pickup and Genius Bar appointments accept it nationwide.
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A growing list of venues. The Secretary of State's office has been signing up stadiums, restaurants, and retailers; Soldier Field has worked on accepting it for age verification at concessions. Coverage is patchy and expanding, so treat any single venue as a maybe.
What it is not good for yet: traffic stops, bars that haven't installed readers, car rentals, banks, and any situation where someone needs to physically inspect a card. That covers most of daily life, which is why the state is explicit that the plastic card still rides along.
How to add it
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Open the Wallet app on iPhone and tap the plus button.
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Choose "Driver's License or State ID" and select Illinois.
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Scan the front and back of your physical card when prompted.
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Complete the face-verification step (the app has you move your head; this is matched against Secretary of State records).
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Wait for the state to verify. Approval usually comes back quickly, then the ID appears in Wallet.
You need a current, valid Illinois license or state ID to enroll. If your card is expired or your address is out of date, fix that first at ilsos.gov; the mobile version mirrors the physical record.
Local note: presenting the Mobile ID is a tap, like Apple Pay, and it shows the checker only the data fields they request. Nobody takes your phone, and you don't unlock it for them. That reader-controlled disclosure is the real privacy improvement over handing someone a card that shows everything.
Android users: the honest status
At launch the state said Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet support would follow. As of late summer 2026 the Secretary of State's Mobile ID pages remain the place to check for a live date. If you're on Android, there is nothing to set up yet; be wary of third-party "digital ID" apps claiming otherwise, since only the official wallet integrations connect to state records.
How this fits with REAL ID
These are separate systems that people constantly merge into one. REAL ID is about which physical card you hold (the gold-star card that federal enforcement, in effect since May 2025, requires for domestic flights if you're not using a passport). Mobile ID is a digital copy of whatever card you already have. Adding your license to your phone doesn't upgrade a standard card to a REAL ID, and a REAL ID in Apple Wallet doesn't remove the need to carry the card. If you're flying, the safe combination is the same as before: physical REAL ID or passport in your bag, Mobile ID as the convenient first option at the checkpoint.
Before you go
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Free, iPhone-only for now, added through Apple Wallet in about five minutes.
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Keep carrying the physical card; Illinois law treats the mobile version as an addition, not a replacement.
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Works today at O'Hare and Midway TSA lines and Apple Stores; venue coverage is growing but inconsistent.
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Android support was promised for 2026; check the Secretary of State's Mobile ID FAQ at ilsos.gov for the current status.
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Details verified August 2026 against Illinois Secretary of State announcements and the state's Mobile ID FAQ.
Quick answers
Can I leave my wallet at home now? No. Illinois law still requires carrying your physical license when driving, and most businesses can't read a mobile ID yet.
Does it cost anything? No. Adding an Illinois license or state ID to Apple Wallet is free.
Can police or the state track when I use it? The record lives encrypted on your phone, and the state has said it cannot see when or to whom you present it. Each presentation shares only the fields the reader requests.
Reviewed by the Illinois Community editorial team. Spotted an error? Send a correction. Read our editorial policy.
