Digital ID Compatible Phones and Devices

What determines digital ID compatibility?

Digital ID support is credential-specific. A phone may meet the requirements for one form of digital identification but not another. For example, Apple’s U.S. passport-based Digital ID has a newer hardware and operating-system minimum than many driver’s licenses and state IDs stored in Apple Wallet.¹

The same distinction exists on Android. Google lists Android 9 or later as the operating-system minimum for U.S. driver’s licenses and state IDs in Google Wallet. Its ID Pass feature also requires Android 9 or later, but specifically requires a phone with near-field communication (NFC).²³

Apple Wallet device requirements

Apple lists an iPhone 8 or later and Apple Watch Series 4 or later as the general hardware baseline for participating U.S. driver’s licenses and state IDs. The general software minimum is iOS 16.5 or later for iPhone and watchOS 9.5 or later for Apple Watch.⁴

Those minimums are not universal. Apple documents higher requirements for some issuing jurisdictions. Depending on the credential, an iPhone XS or later may be required instead of an iPhone 8, and Apple Watch support can require a Series 6 or later rather than a Series 4. Required iOS and watchOS versions can also vary.

Apple’s passport-based Digital ID uses a newer minimum: iPhone 11 or later with iOS 26.1 or later. Apple Watch support requires Apple Watch Series 6 or later with watchOS 26.1 or later. Apple also requires Face ID or Touch ID, Bluetooth, an Apple Account with two-factor authentication, a network connection, and the device region set to the United States.⁵

An iPad or Mac should not be treated as a substitute for the required iPhone. Apple allows certain online identity requests started on an iPad or Mac to be completed using a nearby compatible iPhone signed in to the same Apple Account, but the Digital ID itself is created on the supported iPhone and can also be added to an eligible Apple Watch.⁶

Google Wallet compatibility on Android phones

Google’s U.S. driver’s license and state ID feature requires a phone running Android 9 or later. Bluetooth and Nearby devices must be enabled, and the phone must have a screen lock.⁷

Google does not restrict this feature to Pixel phones in its published requirements. An Android phone from another manufacturer can meet the basic device conditions if it can run the required Google Wallet software and satisfies the applicable security and credential requirements. Availability of the ID itself still depends on the issuing authority and the feature being offered through Google Wallet.

NFC deserves separate attention. Google’s requirements for a U.S. driver’s license or state ID do not list NFC as a universal prerequisite for adding the credential, and Google supports both NFC and QR-based presentation methods. By contrast, Google specifically requires an NFC-capable Android 9 or later phone for ID Pass because the phone must read the electronic chip in the supported passport during enrollment.⁸

Google describes these digital-ID features as phone features rather than Wear OS watch features. Having Google Wallet on a smartwatch therefore does not by itself mean that the watch can hold the same digital ID stored on the phone.

Samsung Wallet compatibility on Galaxy devices

Samsung applies a narrower model list to mobile driver’s licenses and state IDs than it does to Samsung Wallet as a whole. Its current U.S. documentation lists eligible devices from the Galaxy S20 generation or later, supported Galaxy Z models beginning around the early 5G/Fold2 generation, and the Galaxy A53 and A54. The mobile driver’s license or state ID feature requires Android 12 or later.⁹

Samsung also supports mobile IDs on certain watches. Its current requirements list the Galaxy Watch6 series or later, paired with an eligible Samsung phone. Samsung specifies Android 15 or later on the paired mobile device for this watch-based mobile-ID feature.¹⁰

Samsung also offers other forms of digital identification with their own device rules. Compatibility for one Samsung Wallet ID product should not be used to assume compatibility with every other ID type.

Why a compatible phone can still fail eligibility

Meeting the advertised model and operating-system minimum is only the first test. Digital identity features can depend on device configuration and security state as well.

• The operating system may be too old. A supported phone model can remain incompatible until it is updated to the required iOS, watchOS, or Android version.
• The wallet app may be outdated. Google specifically recommends keeping Google Wallet updated when an ID cannot be added.
• Required wireless hardware may be unavailable or disabled. Bluetooth, Nearby devices, or NFC can be required depending on the credential.
• A secure device lock may be required. Google requires a screen lock for its U.S. ID features, while Apple uses Face ID, Touch ID, or supported accessibility alternatives.
• The device region or account configuration can matter. Apple requires the device region to be set to the United States for its U.S. Wallet IDs.
• The exact credential may have a higher minimum than the wallet itself. This is especially relevant to older iPhones, Apple Watches, and Galaxy devices.

On Android, modified software can also interfere with wallet availability. Google states that the Google Wallet app does not work on rooted devices and does not support work profiles for Wallet use; users with a work profile must use their personal profile.¹¹

How to check your device before you start

You can narrow down most compatibility problems before attempting enrollment. Check the exact device model and operating-system version first, then compare them with the requirements for the specific credential rather than the wallet app alone.

1. Identify the credential. A state-issued mobile ID and a passport-derived digital ID can have different minimums even inside the same wallet.
2. Check the phone model. On iPhone, confirm the exact iPhone generation. On Samsung, verify the full Galaxy model rather than assuming every phone in a series qualifies.
3. Check the operating-system version. Compare the installed iOS, watchOS, or Android version with the minimum for that credential.
4. Confirm required hardware. Check NFC, Bluetooth and other required connectivity features when they apply.
5. Confirm device security settings. Screen lock, Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint authentication or a wallet PIN may be required.
6. Update the wallet app and operating system. A supported device running outdated software can fail the compatibility check.