Iowans can now skip fumbling for a plastic card at airport security, because Iowa is one of 22 states and territories that let residents store a digital driver's license on their phone for use at TSA checkpoints, according to a recent guide from PCMag Australia. The option, available through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, and Iowa's own Mobile ID app, works at more than 250 supported TSA checkpoints nationwide.
The feature does not replace a physical license or a Real ID, which is now required to board domestic flights in the United States. Travelers are still expected to carry their physical documents.
How Iowa's Digital Driver's License Works
Iowa appears on every major platform list. According to PCMag Australia's October 2026 guide, the Hawkeye State supports digital IDs in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet, and also offers a state-developed app called Mobile ID. That gives Iowans four separate ways to load their credentials onto a phone.
The state joined a growing list that includes Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio. Some of the country's most populous states, including Texas, Florida, and Michigan, still do not support any digital ID option.
Step by Step: Adding Your Iowa License to Your Phone
The setup process is similar across platforms, though the exact taps differ.
- Apple Wallet: Tap the plus button, select Driver's License or ID Cards, then choose Driver's License. You can also add the ID to a paired Apple Watch.
- Google Wallet: Tap Add to Wallet, then ID, then Driver's license or state ID. Google also lets travelers enroll in TSA PreCheck Touchless ID.
- Samsung Wallet: Open the Quick access tab, tap the plus sign, and choose Digital IDs.
After selecting your ID, you scan the front and back of your physical card and then complete a facial verification process by taking a series of photos or videos of your face. Approval is not instant. The ID issuer sends a notification once your application clears, and rejected applications can be resubmitted.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles offers practical tips that apply anywhere: use a plain background, keep the lighting consistent, and make sure your phone is not in low power mode during verification.
Which Phones Support Digital IDs?
Device requirements are modest for licenses and stricter for passports. For a state ID on an iPhone, you need an iPhone 8 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later. Saving a passport requires an iPhone 11 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later.
Android users need Android 9 or higher. Samsung specifically lists the S20 and newer, Z Flip and Z Fold 5G and newer, and the A53 or A54. Samsung's passport feature, Samsung ID with CLEAR, requires Android 14 or higher and works on the S21 and newer, plus the Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3 and newer. The Galaxy Watch is not supported for passports.
Is a Digital Driver's License Safe?
Privacy is the question most readers ask, and the answer depends on which system you trust. Apple, Google, and Samsung all state that digital IDs are not tracked by the companies and that no data leaves your device without your consent. Neither the tech company nor local government can see when or where you share your information, according to the manufacturers.
Travelers tap or scan their own phones at TSA checkpoints and do not hand the device to an officer. Users must also secure their phones with Face ID, Touch ID, or at minimum a PIN before adding an ID.
Not every system has a clean record, however. Business Traveller reported this month that a Department of Homeland Security inspector general audit found in September that a contractor could extract driver's license and passport images during maintenance without TSA's knowledge, a weakness exposed through a separate CAT-2 audit. The outlet also noted that deletion rules for biometric data depend on the systems and contractors enforcing them.
Iowans who prefer paper can simply keep presenting their physical license at security. The digital option is a convenience, not a mandate.
What About Digital Passports?
Passport support is newer and more limited. Apple, Google, and Samsung all let users add a digital passport, and Google Wallet lists support for a handful of regions outside the United States, including Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, and the UK. Travelers returning from abroad can also use the Mobile Passport Control app, which allows U.S. and Canadian citizens to upload passport data and a selfie to speed through customs at many major airports,