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ID Cards in Wallet

N

NAStarr

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 11, 2016
12
4
Is anyone else wondering when Apple will release ID Cards in the wallet app. I thought it was going to land in iOS15.4… but that clearly didn’t happen.. there is also strongly little coverage for the feature and not very much time between now and WWDC when they announce iOS 16…

Thoughts?
 
Well it could arrive in a late point update to iOS 15. Remember digital car keys got released with iOS 13.6 in July 2020, after WWDC
 
NAStarr said:
Is anyone else wondering when Apple will release ID Cards in the wallet app. I thought it was going to land in iOS15.4… but that clearly didn’t happen.. there is also strongly little coverage for the feature and not very much time between now and WWDC when they announce iOS 16…

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I was wondering the same thing. The fact that 15.5 Beta 1 wasn't released immediately after 15.4 may give an indication that it's delayed. Unless it's already included in 15.4 and it's just a matter of them remotely activating it when the two first states, AZ and GA are ready to deploy and/or with the TSA.
 
LivingMyBeachLife said:
I was wondering the same thing. The fact that 15.5 Beta 1 wasn't released immediately after 15.4 may give an indication that it's delayed. Unless it's already included in 15.4 and it's just a matter of them remotely activating it when the two first states, AZ and GA are ready to deploy and/or with the TSA.
Click to expand...
I think the delay is going to be more of an issue with what state or country you're in rather than when Apple releases the capability. In the USA we're going to have 50 states going at the speed of the DMV....

Also my question is would the ID display on the lock screen or would you have to hand over your iPhone unlocked to someone from the government or maybe a bank teller?
 
russell_314 said:
I think the delay is going to be more of an issue with what state or country you're in rather than when Apple releases the capability. In the USA we're going to have 50 states going at the speed of the DMV....

Also my question is would the ID display on the lock screen or would you have to hand over your iPhone unlocked to someone from the government or maybe a bank teller?
Click to expand...
I think they've mentioned this in some articles, but it is in your wallet app, so you would double click the side just to bring that up without unlocking our phone....also, the officer doesn't really hold your phone or look at it other than to scan the code so it brings up the info on their device/screen.

It is basically your picture, name? and a QR code for them to scan...no personal information like a typical i.d.
 
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MozMan68 said:
I think they've mentioned this in some articles, but it is in your wallet app, so you would double click the side just to bring that up without unlocking our phone....also, the officer doesn't really hold your phone or look at it other than to scan the code so it brings up the info on their device/screen.

It is basically your picture, name? and a QR code for them to scan...no personal information like a typical i.d.
Click to expand...
That sounds promising. Of course for us in the USA to implement this it would require passing legislation to make it into law, getting bids and allocating funds for the equipment, training for the people who would need it and a bunch more red tape. This has to happen for each state. I'd say if some politician puts it as his pet project from the time the light bulb goes off in his head till it's adopted would maybe be three years or so.

The problem is unless someone "lobbies" these politicians to do it there's really no reason for them to make it a priority over their other pet projects. Apple really doesn't have a reason to spend money on politicians when it comes to this but maybe the company selling the scanning equipment.

I just wouldn't expect it anytime soon in the US with the exceptions of maybe a few states
 
I really don't see the purpose for the digital ID.. Arizona DMV explicitly states on their site the digital ID doesn't replace your Drivers license/ID. You have to carry your real license/ID with you anyway.. If I have to carry my license I might as well use it
 
It's already happening and possible in most states.

Nearly every state utilizes the license simply to scan the magnetic strip or QR code like strip on the back of your license....they don't type it in. The "reader" simply scans your phone at your car and transfers it to the police car computer. Not really that complicated.

The law change is really just to allow a user to actually have a digital representation of their license. You may still need your physical license, but I typically don't have that ready to pull out of my wallet at a moment's notice while my phone is always right there and available.
 
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Looks like it's already landed, I was able to add my Driver License to my Wallet on my iPhone 12 Pro Max today. The delay from adding it in, and doing the requested photos/aspects, to my DMV approving it to be inside of my Wallet digitally only took about 10 minutes total.

I'll be curious how long it takes other states to catch up, since as of right now, only Arizona has this open.
 
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KnownSyntax said:
Looks like it's already landed, I was able to add my Driver License to my Wallet on my iPhone 12 Pro Max today. The delay from adding it in, and doing the requested photos/aspects, to my DMV approving it to be inside of my Wallet digitally only took about 10 minutes total.

I'll be curious how long it takes other states to catch up, since as of right now, only Arizona has this open.
Click to expand...
Are you in AZ? They rolled it out today but Wallet doesn’t give me an option to add license. I live in Chandler AZ. I’ve restarted the phone (11 Pro Max, OS 15.4) and still no option. I do not want to uninstall and reinstall Wallet. Too many cards to get authorized again. Some I have to call the financial institute to get authorized. and do the same for my watch. Major PIA to go through that again
 
Fatyank said:
Are you in AZ? They rolled it out today but Wallet doesn’t give me an option to add license. I live in Chandler AZ. I’ve restarted the phone (11 Pro Max, OS 15.4) and still no option. I do not want to uninstall and reinstall Wallet. Too many cards to get authorized again. Some I have to call the financial institute to get authorized. and do the same for my watch. Major PIA to go through that again
Click to expand...

It should offer it to anyone…even if you don’t live in AZ, it still comes up as an option.
 
Fatyank said:
Are you in AZ? They rolled it out today but Wallet doesn’t give me an option to add license. I live in Chandler AZ. I’ve restarted the phone (11 Pro Max, OS 15.4) and still no option. I do not want to uninstall and reinstall Wallet. Too many cards to get authorized again. Some I have to call the financial institute to get authorized. and do the same for my watch. Major PIA to go through that again
Click to expand...
Go into the actual wallet app (not in settings) and tap the + tab at top right of screen. You should see drivers license/ ID card as an option to add to the wallet...
 
MozMan68 said:
It should offer it to anyone…even if you don’t live in AZ, it still comes up as an option.
Click to expand...
Will it? I know Arizona is the first state to add the implementation, so not sure if someone in an unsupported state tries (will it just not work, or stop validating once it notices you aren't entering in a AZ driver's license).
 
KnownSyntax said:
Will it? I know Arizona is the first state to add the implementation, so not sure if someone in an unsupported state tries (will it just not work, or stop validating once it notices you aren't entering in a AZ driver's license).
Click to expand...
It asks you to scan an "Arizona" drivers license. I tried scanning my NC license. It accepted the front. After the second attempt to scan the back, it asked if I was sure I was scanning an Arizona license. Doesn't really matter to me as a "digital" or photo copy of a NC drivers license is not an accepted form under NC State law. NC as will many other states need to change their laws to allow it to be a valid form of license, even if Apple lets it be scanned.
 
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I just want to add my 2 cents. As an LEO in NY, I come across plenty of car stops where the motorist states, “Sorry, I left my wallet at home.” This is very frustrating…

The proper procedure is to bring them back to the station house to verify their identification. Furthermore, a traffic summons cannot be issued unless the motorist is properly identified with a photo ID at the least. I can then enter their name and get their driver’s license info from the DMV database but without a photo ID, I can’t take someone’s word for it. Also, I don’t necessarily feel comfortable letting someone go with no ID who was just driving at a triple digit speed.

I can assure you nobody wants to go through the process of bringing someone in, towing their car (if on the highway and if they’re the sole occupant or nobody else is licensed), wasting everyone’s time, etc.

However, I am very satisfied if the motorist has a picture of their license. I can positively identify them that way. This is the case in 99% of the stops where the motorist left their wallet at home. I take a picture of a picture and settle back into my patrol car to do my business with that.

The issue with the picture of their license though is that some of the time, it’s a bad or dark picture and most of the time, it takes forever for them to locate the photo of their license buried within the thousands of other photos they have. Sucks when I’m standing outside their car and it’s 10* out lol.

With that said, I still think Apple should allow you to scan your license in the wallet app, even if it can’t be officially used in that particular state. It’s a nice bright and legible scan every time. Sure you may forget your wallet at home but rarely does some forget their phone at home. My Department just doesn’t have the equipment currently to make it official and I am not taking someone’s phone with me into my car. I have no business with it. I don’t even take it to take the picture. I kindly ask them to expand it and hold it out the window.
 
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Itinj24 said:
I just want to add my 2 cents. As an LEO in NY, I come across plenty of car stops where the motorist states, “Sorry, I left my wallet at home.” This is very frustrating…

The proper procedure is to bring them back to the station house to verify their identification. Furthermore, a traffic summons cannot be issued unless the motorist is properly identified with a photo ID at the least. I can then enter their name and get their driver’s license info from the DMV database but without a photo ID, I can’t take someone’s word for it. Also, I don’t necessarily feel comfortable letting someone go with no ID who was just driving at a triple digit speed.

I can assure you nobody wants to go through the process of bringing someone in, towing their car (if on the highway and if they’re the sole occupant or nobody else is licensed), wasting everyone’s time, etc.

However, I am very satisfied if the motorist has a picture of their license. I can positively identify them that way. This is the case in 99% of the stops where the motorist left their wallet at home. I take a picture of a picture and settle back into my patrol car to do my business with that.

The issue with the picture of their license though is that some of the time, it’s a bad or dark picture and most of the time, it takes forever for them to locate the photo of their license buried within the thousands of other photos they have. Sucks when I’m standing outside their car and it’s 10* out lol.

With that said, I still think Apple should allow you to scan your license in the wallet app, even if it can’t be officially used in that particular state. It’s a nice bright and legible scan every time. Sure you may forget your wallet at home but rarely does some forget their phone at home. My Department just doesn’t have the equipment currently to make it official and I am not taking someone’s phone with me into my car. I have no business with it. I don’t even take it to take the picture. I kindly ask them to expand it and hold it out the window.
Click to expand...

I use the Notes app for that. It is perfect for scanning documents or taking pics, cropping them, and then you can pin the scan to the top for quick access.
 
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MozMan68 said:
I use the Notes app for that. It is perfect for scanning documents or taking pics, cropping them, and then you can pin the scan to the top for quick access.
Click to expand...
Yeah I get it but I don’t think the masses even know that the Notes app has a scanning feature and then also being able to pin it. The wallet app would be perfect for that to go along with the rest of your cards, wallet type stuff. More people are familiar with Apple Pay and the wallet since Apple advertises it well enough.

The other day, I came across a motorist that had his insurance card in the wallet app. Thought that was awesome and didn’t know certain companies offer that functionality. I was super jealous when I saw it and bummed that my insurance company doesn’t offer it lol.
 
Itinj24 said:
Yeah I get it but I don’t think the masses even know that the Notes app has a scanning feature and then also being able to pin it. The wallet app would be perfect for that to go along with the rest of your cards, wallet type stuff. More people are familiar with Apple Pay and the wallet since Apple advertises it well enough.

The other day, I came across a motorist that had his insurance card in the wallet app. Thought that was awesome and didn’t know certain companies offer that functionality. I was super jealous when I saw it and bummed that my insurance company doesn’t offer it lol.
Click to expand...

Progressive does and MI allows it as well…and is also supposed to be one of the first states to allow digital licenses.

But the Wallet app is very “official”…people shouldn’t be allowed to just scan or drop anything in there IMHO.
 
MozMan68 said:
Progressive does and MI allows it as well…and is also supposed to be one of the first states to allow digital licenses.

But the Wallet app is very “official”…people shouldn’t be allowed to just scan or drop anything in there IMHO.
Click to expand...
I get what you’re saying but I don’t see the issue with scanning an actual official government ID in there. It’s not just anything, it’s an official driver license. If the TSA, a federal agency, is going to start implementing it, then every state should allow you to add it anyway. Also, there are third party apps that let you add gift cards to wallet so it’s not that locked down.
 
Itinj24 said:
I get what you’re saying but I don’t see the issue with scanning an actual official government ID in there. It’s not just anything, it’s an official driver license. If the TSA, a federal agency, is going to start implementing it, then every state should allow you to add it anyway. Also, there are third party apps that let you add gift cards to wallet so it’s not that locked down.
Click to expand...

The issue is Apple…every card, ticket, pass, etc. in Wallet is from an official app approved by them. There are dozens of other apps including Notes and Photos that allow what you want and are just as easy to access.

I actually have a photo album in Photos for all my family’s licenses and other cards I might need just in case.
 
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