Illinois’ Digital Licenses And IDs: When Does Android Get Them?

Remember when Illinois introduced digital driver's licenses and state IDs last November? It was supposed to be a convenient new way to carry your identification, right there on your smartphone.

There was just one little catch: If you owned an Apple iPhone, you could participate. If you owned an Android phone, you were going to have to wait.

And here we are in September 2026, with Android users still waiting for their turn.

black android smartphone displaying qr code

It's Been Almost A Year, So Where Are We On This?

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced the state's Mobile ID program in November 2025, allowing residents to add their driver's licenses or state identification cards to Apple Wallet. The announcement also promised that Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet support would be coming.

So, what's the latest?

Well, according to the Illinois Secretary of State's website, Google and Samsung Wallet support is still listed as "coming soon." The office has also said it's working on making its Mobile ID verification app available on Android devices.

In other words, there's still no confirmed public launch date for Android users.

a picture of an apple and a paper cut out of it

This Is Quite A Wait For Something Touted As A Modernization Of Government Services

And if you're among the many Illinois residents who use an Android phone, you might reasonably be wondering when you'll finally be able to leave your physical driver's license in your wallet and use your phone instead.

Of course, even iPhone users need to remember that Mobile ID is optional and doesn't replace the requirement to carry your physical driver's license or state ID. Businesses aren't required to accept it, either.

The digital ID program is designed to make identification more convenient while allowing users to share only the information necessary for a particular transaction.

That's a useful feature, regardless of which smartphone you own, but until Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet support actually arrives, Android users are left watching from the sidelines.

We'll keep an eye on the Secretary of State's office for an official launch announcement. Because if you're an Android user, "coming soon" has been coming for quite a while now.