iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature is Still Not Available

[jimscard]

iOS 26 will be widely released tomorrow, but the new feature that lets you add a digital version of your U.S. passport to Apple's Wallet app is still not available.

The "Digital ID" feature is not functional in the iOS 26 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, despite being listed on the iOS 26 features page in the present tense. Hopefully, it is either enabled with a server-side update when iOS 26 is released tomorrow, or Apple provides an update on when it will be available.

Apple did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

After creating a Digital ID in the Wallet app, you will be able to present it in person at TSA checkpoints in select U.S. airports for identity verification purposes during domestic travel. However, Apple says it is not a replacement for a physical passport, and it cannot be used for international travel and border crossing purposes.

Apple says the Digital ID feature is secure, private, and compliant with REAL ID.

The passport-based Digital ID can also be used for age and identity verification in apps, online, and in stores, according to Apple.

Apple said the feature would also be available on the Apple Watch, starting with watchOS 26.

Article Link: iOS 26's New U.S. Passport Feature is Still Not Available

Wouldn’t expect it to be available yet. Can’t get the necessary security approvals on a pre-release product.

 

[jimscard]

iOS 26 will be released tomorrow, and the feature is "still not available", the day before... . Am I missing something? lol

Are you guys new to this? Many new iOS features have switches that don't get flipped until the Public Release is out for everyone. I guess you can repost this tomorrow afternoon if you need to.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t appear for a few more weeks, since the TSA did say “fall” which doesn’t start for another week, and it’s as dependent on their systems being upgraded - maybe more.

I already get through security without showing my ID because of the biometric verification at the Clear booth.

 

[bn-7bc]

I hope they come up with a better "card" design than what was shown. Yawn.
I'm also curious who designs the digital IDs based on driver's licenses. Each platform seems to have its own design.

look at least show the photo and the birthdate, otherwise it's completely useless as an id for anything. Plese note: since i Don't have a us passport I have to go y the screenshot in the article, maby the digital passport has mutiple pages with the photo etc being onn another page, but that would sill meke an id check slower than needed, ideally moset needed info should be presented on 1 screen/age just like physical passpotrts/id cards

 

[HQuest]

In the day and age of ICE asking anyone randomly for a few questions, I don’t mind having another form to tell them “here is another approved copy of the physical card and passport I have securely stored at home”. If they buy it, that is a different story but I can at least show them the multiple digital copies and let them validate against the USCIS systems - and hope they haven’t issued me a dud.

 

[jole]

No one is saying you can go without a physical ID card. It’s not useless because sometimes it can be used; however since the tech is new it still has times when the readers aren’t working, or the TSA agents don’t know the system, or whatever.

When I do have the physical ID with me, presenting that get me through every time. If I do present digital ID instead, the process is either a bit slower compared to digital ID, OR the digital ID is not accepted and I need to present physical ID. In every case, the process is worse with digital ID than it is with physical ID.

The value of digital ID comes from always having it with you — no need to carry anything extra.

When — someday — the digital ID is as ubiquitous as Apple Pay, we can leave physical ID at home. Then it will add value. Today that is not the case.

 

[jole]

Just say NO.

I would never use my phone in this manner. I do not willingly hand over my phone to a law enforcement official.

At TSA checkpoint you do not need to hand over you phone. Instead you show the phone to a scanner yourself.

 

[jaytv111]

When I do have the physical ID with me, presenting that get me through every time. If I do present digital ID instead, the process is either a bit slower compared to digital ID, OR the digital ID is not accepted and I need to present physical ID. In every case, the process is worse with digital ID than it is with physical ID.

The value of digital ID comes from always having it with you — no need to carry anything extra.

When — someday — the digital ID is as ubiquitous as Apple Pay, we can leave physical ID at home. Then it will add value. Today that is not the case.

There were times Apple Pay was slower too. Sometimes it wouldn’t work. Sometimes it still doesn’t work. The technology is still new and it has its quirks and features.

If you don’t want to use it don’t use it. I think the “value” (which you’re not paying for it so I wouldn’t say it has value like other things have value when you pay for them) is when you have your phone out for electronic boarding pass and if it works you don’t need to pull your ID from your wallet.

 

[jole]

There were times Apple Pay was slower too. Sometimes it wouldn’t work. Sometimes it still doesn’t work. The technology is still new and it has its quirks and features.

If you don’t want to use it don’t use it. I think the “value” (which you’re not paying for it so I wouldn’t say it has value like other things have value when you pay for them) is when you have your phone out for electronic boarding pass and if it works you don’t need to pull your ID from your wallet.

I have stopped using digital IDs due to them offering negative value today. But I am hopeful that some day they will be supported widely enough to be useful.

Related thought: Physical IDs are inherently insecure. Their use should be stopped to force move to digital. Government should offer biometric IDs both as RFID and on mobile platforms, but stop printing photos and names on them. Police, TSA, ... are too used to just eyeballing those pictures and trusting the inherently insecure physical ID.

 

[nateo200]

I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t appear for a few more weeks, since the TSA did say “fall” which doesn’t start for another week, and it’s as dependent on their systems being upgraded - maybe more.

I already get through security without showing my ID because of the biometric verification at the Clear booth.

I get it but I still want to get a head start. Also it has uses beyond TSA. Kind of disapointing. I really was looking forward to testing it out and installed iOS 26 right when it was available. I don't have the option to add my drivers license into the Wallet App as my state elected to go with their own app so having the passport option is really nice. I wonder if that is why Apple went that route as its easier to work with one government than 50 different ones. Is this just US or are there plans to expand it to other countries later on?