ALBANY, NY (January 22, 2026) — New York residents can now carry a digital version of their driver’s license, learner permit or non-driver ID on their smartphone through the free, optional Mobile ID (MiD) app.
Download the app from Google Play or the App Store
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles launched the MiD app, which provides a secure, contactless way to verify identity and age. It is available for download on iOS and Android devices.
“Everything is on your phone. Now, your ID is too!” the DMV states on its website.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OsVSJWZ5ai4&pp=0gcJCTMBo7VqN5tD
The MiD is a companion to the physical document and does not replace it. “Do Not Get Rid of Your Physical Document! MiD does not replace your physical license, permit, or non-driver ID. Not all businesses accept MiD, so you must continue to bring your physical driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card with you and use it wherever MiD is not accepted,” the DMV advises.
To enroll, users download the app from the App Store or Google Play, register their phone number, photograph the front and back of their most recently issued physical ID on a dark, flat surface, and take a selfie for verification against DMV records. The app checks the images and activates the MiD once verified.
Compatible devices include Android 7 or newer and iPhone 6 or newer, with no jailbreaking or rooting allowed. Users must enable Face ID or Touch ID and set the region to the United States.
The app displays a QR code with no personal data included. “There is no personal data in the QR code,” according to the DMV. Users control information shared, approving release before any data is provided, and do not need to hand over their phone. “You do not need to hand over your phone to present your MiD. You are always in control of releasing your information and can choose to accept or decline a request.”
The MiD works without Wi-Fi or cell coverage for presentation, using secure data transfer, and includes an encrypted key signature verifying issuance by the NYS DMV. Usage information is encrypted and stored only on the device, with no geolocation tagging; the DMV cannot see when or where it is presented.
It can be used to verify age or identity where accepted, including at select TSA airport terminals. Not all businesses, law enforcement agencies or locations accept it.
If a smartphone is lost or stolen, access requires Face ID, Touch ID or a 6-digit PIN. The app must periodically connect to Wi-Fi or cell coverage to update with current DMV records. Only one installation is allowed per device; enrolling on a new device deactivates the old one.
Support for MiD issues comes from IDEMIA, the vendor, not DMV representatives.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
Discover more from Talk of the Sound
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.