Racing through O’Hare with a dead phone battery used to mean digging through your bag for that crumpled driver’s license. As of November 19, Illinois iPhone users can skip that panic entirely—their digital IDs live in Apple Wallet now, ready at TSA checkpoints with just a double-tap and Face ID scan.
Illinois becomes the 13th state to support Apple’s digital ID feature, joining a growing club that includes recent additions like Montana and West Virginia. This partnership with the Illinois Secretary of State means your driver’s license or state ID can live alongside your Starbucks card and boarding passes, protected by the same security that guards your credit cards.
Setup Takes Minutes, Security Runs Deep
Adding your Illinois ID requires scanning your physical license, taking a selfie, and completing Face ID verification.
Getting started involves opening Apple Wallet, tapping the plus sign, and selecting “Driver’s License or State ID.” You’ll scan your physical license, snap a selfie, and move your head in a circle like you’re auditioning for a very boring TikTok. The whole process mirrors the Face ID setup you already know, but with extra verification layers to prevent spoofing.
Your ID data gets encrypted and stored exclusively on your device. Apple can’t see when, where, or with whom you share your digital credentials—a stark contrast to the data-hungry apps dominating your screen time. Each presentation requires explicit biometric consent, meaning no accidental flashing of personal information.
TSA Lines Get Smoother, Business Adoption Lags
Digital IDs work at over 250 airports including O’Hare and Midway, but retail acceptance remains limited.
The real convenience hits at security checkpoints. TSA readers at major airports—including Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway, plus Lambert in St. Louis—recognize Apple’s digital IDs instantly. You hold your phone near the reader, authenticate with Face ID, and choose exactly which information to share.
Business acceptance tells a different story. While Apple promises expanding retail support, the company doesn’t maintain a public list of participating venues beyond airports.
Physical Wallets Face Slow Extinction
Apple’s Jennifer Bailey envisions “replacing the physical wallet” entirely, but state-by-state rollouts suggest a gradual transition.
Apple also launched a separate passport-based Digital ID feature, meaning frequent travelers can store multiple government credentials digitally. According to Apple VP Jennifer Bailey, this represents progress toward “replacing the physical wallet with an easy, secure, and private digital wallet.”
That future arrives incrementally. Thirteen states plus Puerto Rico hardly covers most Americans’ travel patterns, and international acceptance remains non-existent. Your iPhone might replace your wallet at O’Hare, but you’ll still need physical documents for that European vacation.
Digital convenience wins when it actually works everywhere you need it.
