Apple Extends Digital IDs to the Web with iOS 26
iOS 26 marks a significant evolution in Apple’s identity management ambitions with the introduction of “Verify with Wallet on the Web.” According to details announced at WWDC 2025 (via MacRumors), this feature brings digital identification out of app silos and into mainstream web browsing—an expansion likely to resonate with Apple users invested in privacy and security.
Why This Matters for the Apple Ecosystem
Previously, Apple Wallet users could present state-issued digital IDs and licenses only within compatible iOS apps. By extending the same capacity to web browsers, Apple streamlines processes that typically require users to upload images of physical IDs for transactions such as alcohol purchases or car rentals. This move not only trims friction from online identity verification but also enhances user privacy—an area where Apple has steadily differentiated itself from competitors, as demonstrated by its prior rollout of App Tracking Transparency.
Technical Underpinnings: Interoperability and Security
iOS 26’s web-based ID verification leverages two widely-adopted industry standards: the W3C Digital Credentials API and the FIDO CTAP protocol. By relying on these, Apple ensures compatibility beyond Safari and iOS, potentially reaching any browser or operating system that implements the protocols. Users can scan QR codes from any browser on any device and confirm their identity via Face ID, underscoring Apple’s intent for seamless, cross-platform operability.
Apple emphasizes that the process is end-to-end encrypted and employs cryptographically signed IDs, making intercepting or forging credentials functionally infeasible. The company asserts that neither Apple nor third-party browsers gain access to underlying identity data—underscoring the privacy guarantees that have become core to Apple’s brand.
Flexible Options: Third-Party Apps and State Support
One notable aspect of Apple’s approach is its support for digital ID and license apps maintained by state governments, even when those states have not directly partnered with Apple. As reported by MacRumors, users can initiate identity verification from either the Wallet app or select third-party ID apps, broadening access even in states whose digital credentials remain outside Apple's ecosystem.
States including Arizona, Georgia, and Maryland are among the first to integrate directly with Apple’s verification pipeline. More states are expected to follow, reflecting a broader trend identified by 9to5Mac in which digital credentials are gradually gaining support across both Apple and Google Wallet platforms.
Early Partners and Industry Impact
Initial launch partners—Chime, Turo, Uber Eats, and U.S. Bank—represent a cross-section of finance, car rental, and food delivery sectors. Their early adoption signals how digital IDs may soon become the norm for online age and identity verification—a trend analyst forecasts previously linked to the U.S. REAL ID initiative.
Apple’s Broader Strategy: From Apps to the Web
This push into browser-based verification underscores Apple’s intent to make Wallet a truly universal container for identity. It also parallels broader industry efforts to standardize digital credentials and minimize personal data exposure online.
As digital identity verification becomes integral to both physical and online interactions, iOS 26’s enhancements position Apple to play a central role in shaping the next era of digital trust—focusing not only on convenience but delivering verifiable privacy and cross-platform inclusivity.