I’m Kayla, and I live in Phoenix. I’ve used the Arizona Digital ID on my iPhone for a few months—both the Apple Wallet version and the Arizona Mobile ID app. I still carry my plastic card. But I wanted to see if this thing could make life easier. Spoiler: sometimes yes. Sometimes… meh. If you want an even deeper, step-by-step diary of the process, you can read the full breakdown of my Arizona Digital ID trial.
Setup: quick when it works, fussy when it doesn’t
I added my license in Apple Wallet on my iPhone 14. It asked me to scan the front and back of my card, then do a selfie with head turns. Kind of like a mini dance. I had to try the selfie twice because the kitchen light gave glare. I moved near a window. Boom—approved in about 15 minutes.
Then I tried the Arizona Mobile ID app too. It also used a scan and a selfie, with a PIN at the end. I liked the little “share only what you need” toggle. But it logged me out once after an update, and that was annoying in a checkout line. (For contrast, here’s what happened when I spent a year trying out ASUS’s take on a digital ID—the setup quirks were surprisingly similar.)
Tip: do the selfie in bright, even light and clean your camera lens. It helps a lot.
Real-life tests
Here’s where it either shines or falls flat.
- TSA at Phoenix Sky Harbor (Terminal 4, PreCheck): I held my phone near the reader, tapped “approve,” and looked at a camera. No handing over my phone. It took maybe 10 seconds. Honestly, that felt slick. If you’re still carrying the older license, the state explains the benefits of upgrading to the Arizona Travel ID for smoother airport checks.
- Beer run at a Fry’s: The cashier said, “Physical ID only.” No drama. I pulled out the plastic card.
- Bar on Mill Ave in Tempe: I tried the Mobile ID “age only” screen. The bouncer squinted and said, “We need the card.” Not mad about it. Just a no.
- Gas station stop in Chandler: The clerk had never seen the app. Waved me off. Again, plastic card time.
- Picked up a rental at the airport: They took the physical license without a second look. The digital ID didn’t help or hurt.
- Traffic stop for a brake light (yep, my bad): I asked the officer if digital was okay. He said, “We need your physical license.” So yeah—keep that card.
The policy shift that lets TSA agents scan an Arizona mobile driver’s license at Sky Harbor is pretty new—there’s a good recap in this Airport Improvement article if you want the back-story.
You know what? The only place it saved me time, every time, was TSA. That alone might be worth it if you fly a lot.
Daily feel: nice backup, not a replacement
The Apple Wallet ID is slick. It feels safe, too. You approve what gets shared, and it uses Face ID. If my phone battery dies, though, it’s game over. So I still keep my physical ID in my bag.
The Mobile ID app has a cool “share only age” feature. In theory, that’s great for privacy. In practice, most cashiers and bouncers aren’t trained for it yet. That’s not the app’s fault, but it matters.
Where it already shines, though, is online spaces that must confirm you’re over 18—say, a local dating chat site such as sextlocal.com where your verified age can let you jump straight into conversations with nearby singles instead of waiting for manual checks. Another real-world example: if you ever browse regional escort directories, knowing the poster has been recently ID-verified matters. The Stamford section of Listcrawler—Listcrawler Stamford—highlights providers with fresh photos and verification cues so you can quickly filter genuine ads and skip the stale or sketchy ones.
Little wins and little headaches
What I liked:
- TSA check was faster than usual
- No handing my phone to strangers
- Face ID adds a nice safety layer
- The “age only” view feels smart
What bugged me:
- Many places still want the plastic card
- Selfie verification can be picky in low light
- One app update logged me out at a store
- A dead battery means you’re stuck
How I actually use it now
I keep both:
- Apple Wallet ID for the airport and as a backup
- Physical card for bars, stores, road stops, and most everything else
If I know I’m flying, I charge my phone and keep Wallet ready. If I’m going out at night, I don’t even try to use the app anymore. Too many “nope” moments.
Privacy and safety, in plain words
I like that Wallet asks before it shares details. It shows what gets sent. The Mobile ID app also lets me show less, like only “21+.” That’s good design. Still, I treat my phone like a wallet: screen lock on, Face ID on, and no screenshots of my ID just sitting in Photos.
If you want to understand the broader standards behind digital IDs and how they protect your data, check out the approachable overview at OpenID Book. For even more perspective, here’s an honest look at the Illinois’s iLogin Digital ID rollout.
Who should try it
- Frequent flyers? Yes, this helps. TSA is where it shines.
- Folks who hate extra cards? Maybe. But don’t trash the plastic one.
- Bar hoppers or college students? Not yet. Most places want the physical card.
Quick tips from my mess-ups
- Use bright, even light during setup
- Update iOS before you add your ID
- Bring the plastic license, always
- Carry a small battery pack when you travel
- Practice the “approve” tap so you’re not fumbling at TSA
My take, after months of use
The Arizona Digital ID feels like the future, but the present is still catching up. It worked great at TSA and felt safe to use. In stores and bars? Not so much. I’ll keep using it, but as a helper—not a full swap.
Would I recommend it? Yes, with a big asterisk. It’s handy, not magic. Keep your card. Use the digital ID when it actually helps. And don’t sweat it when a cashier says no. I just smile, pull out the plastic, and move on.