iPhone customers in California can now add their digital driver’s licenses and IDs within the Apple Pockets app on iPhone and Apple Watch, with California increasing an ongoing take a look at of the digital license characteristic.
A number of MacRumors readers have reported seeing the California license as an possibility within the Pockets app, beneath the label “California mDL Pilot.” Before now, solely a restricted variety of folks had been seeing the choice.
Pockets app integration is a part of California’s cell driver’s license effort, which kicked off a 12 months in the past. Greater than 500,000 folks have already added a driver’s license or ID to the California DMV Pockets app, the place California examined the choice earlier than beginning to roll it out to the Pockets app.
Apple introduced California’s Pockets license plans again in August, and mentioned that it was working with California to deliver IDs to Apple Pockets.
“We’re excited to be working with the state of California to bring IDs in Apple Wallet to Apple’s home state soon, and provide residents with an easy, secure, and private way to present their California driver’s license and state ID in person and in app using Apple Wallet,” mentioned Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice chairman of Apple Pay and Apple Pockets. “Whether using IDs in Apple Wallet to breeze through travel, or to securely verify age or identity at businesses, California driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet make ID presentment seamless – all with the security built into iPhone and Apple Watch.”
IDs and licenses saved within the Pockets app on iPhone or iPad can be utilized for TSA screenings at choose airports (together with SFO, LAX, and SJC) and for age verification at choose shops. Proper now, California’s cell pockets assist continues to be in an early stage, and only one.5 million members are in a position to enroll.
California requires folks to proceed to hold a bodily license or ID card as a result of the digital license is just not accepted by legislation enforcement, state authorities companies, and most companies.
Apple introduced a brand new Pockets app that supported digital IDs again in 2022, however states have been gradual to undertake the characteristic. Thus far, solely Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Hawaii, and Ohio have applied assist. Apple mentioned in 2022 that Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Utah are engaged on assist, and at this time added that Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia additionally plan to undertake the performance.