Understanding where and how Digital Credentials can be used is key to adoption. Support is growing rapidly across major operating systems and devices.
Which digital credential features are supported natively by each operating system.
Capability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Core Wallet Features Store, manage, and present digital credentials Android (Credential Manager) and iOS (Apple Wallet) have native wallet frameworks | Android 14+ | iOS 15+ | —* |
Secure Storage Hardware-backed secure storage for credentials | Yes | Yes (Secure Enclave) | Yes (TPM/Hello) |
Biometric Authentication Biometric unlock for wallet/credentials | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NFC Presentation Present credentials via NFC NFC for mDLs and similar credentials; not supported on Windows. | Yes | Yes | No |
QR Code Presentation Present credentials via QR codes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cross-Device Sync Sync credentials across devices | Yes (Google Account) | Yes (iCloud) | Yes (Microsoft Account) |
Third-Party Wallets Support for third-party wallet providers Many third-party wallets available on Play Store and App Store. | Yes | Yes | Limited |
* Windows currently has no built-in consumer wallet; users rely on web flows or third-party apps. Microsoft Entra Verified ID is an enterprise issuance/verification service, not a wallet.
Capability | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Standard/API | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Credential Storage Store and retrieve digital credentials Chrome/Edge & Safari Preview implement the emerging Digital Credentials API behind a flag; Firefox has no announced plans. | Experimental (flag ≥140) | No | Experimental (Safari TP) | Experimental (flag ≥140) | W3C Digital Credentials API |
Biometric Authentication Use biometrics for authentication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | WebAuthn |
QR Code Presentation Present credentials via QR codes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | OpenID4VP (via web flows) |
NFC Presentation Present credentials via NFC Browsers do not support direct NFC credential presentation. | No | No | No | No |
What real-world wallet products offer, including supported platforms and standards.
Wallet Name | Platforms | Standards Supported | Security Features | Backup/Portability | Notable Limitations | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EU Digital Identity Wallet | Android, iOS (planned) | eIDAS, EUDI, mDL, VC, SD-JWT | Biometric, Secure Element, TEE | Device/Cloud backup (varies by country) | Availability and features depend on country; not all EU states have launched yet | More Info |
Google Wallet | Android, Wear OS | mDL (ISO 18013-5), VC (planned) | Biometric, Secure Enclave/TEE | Google Account sync | Limited to Google ecosystem; iOS support is limited to payments, not credentials | More Info |
Apple Wallet | iOS, iPadOS, watchOS | mDL (ISO 18013-5), VC (planned) | Biometric, Secure Enclave | iCloud sync | Only available on Apple devices; credential support varies by country | More Info |
Microsoft Entra | Windows, Android, iOS | VC, OpenID4VC, SD-JWT | Biometric, TPM, Secure Enclave | Microsoft Account sync | Focused on enterprise/organization use; not a general-purpose wallet | More Info |
Some wallets are focused on specific ecosystems (e.g., government-issued IDs), while others are more general purpose. Consider your specific use case and requirements when selecting a wallet solution.
Hardware Considerations: For high-assurance credentials like mobile identity documents (mdocs), hardware security is crucial. Secure Elements (SE) and Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) provide hardware-level protection for cryptographic keys, while NFC and BLE enable secure offline data transfer between devices.
Discover how Digital Credentials can simplify and secure your authentication.