What ID.me is and why you might need one

ID.me is a digital identity service that verifies who you are online. It does not store your money or give you benefits directly. Instead, it acts as a middleman between you and government agencies or companies that need to confirm your identity before letting you access an account or service.

You might encounter ID.me when you are trying to set up an account with a government program — unemployment benefits, tax refunds, student aid, or housing information. Some private companies use it too. Rather than each agency asking you for the same documents over and over, ID.me verifies you once, and then you can use that verified identity across multiple services.

The process involves uploading a photo ID and sometimes taking a selfie so ID.me can confirm the person in your ID is actually you. Once verified, you get a digital identity you can reuse without repeating the whole verification process each time.

Key Takeaways

  • You create an ID.me account by visiting id.me, entering your email address, and setting a password — this takes about two minutes.
  • After creating your account, you will need to verify your identity by uploading a photo ID and taking a selfie, which usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
  • ID.me verification can happen when ready or take up to 24 hours depending on whether a human reviewer needs to check your documents.
  • You will receive a confirmation email at each step, so check your inbox and spam folder if you do not see messages right away.
  • Once verified, you use the same ID.me login across multiple government and private services without repeating the verification process.

Creating your account: the first step

Go to id.me in your web browser. You will see a button that says "Sign Up" or "Create Account" — click it. You will be asked for an email address and a password.

Use an email address you check regularly. ID.me will send you a confirmation link to that email, and you will need to click it to set up your account. If you do not see the email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes confirmation emails get filtered there by mistake.

Your password should be something only you know. ID.me recommends at least 8 characters, mixing uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols (like ! or @). Write it down somewhere safe, or use a password manager if you have one. You will need this password every time you log in.

Once you have entered your email and password, click the button to create your account. ID.me will send you a confirmation email. Open that email and click the link inside it. This confirms that the email address is actually yours and that you can receive messages there.

Verifying your identity with a photo ID

After you confirm your email, ID.me will ask you to verify your identity. This is the step that actually proves you are who you say you are. You will need a government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID all work. Tribal IDs are also accepted.

ID.me will ask you to take a photo of the front and back of your ID using your phone or computer camera. Make sure the ID is clearly visible, well-lit, and not blurry. If you are using a phone, hold it steady and take the photo straight-on rather than at an angle. If you are using a computer with a webcam, position your ID in front of the camera and take the photo the same way.

After you upload photos of your ID, ID.me will ask you to take a selfie — a photo of your face. This is how they confirm that the person in your ID is actually you. Look directly at the camera, make sure your face is clearly visible, and avoid wearing sunglasses or hats that cover your face. The photo does not need to be perfect, but it needs to be clear enough that someone could match it to your ID photo.

How long verification takes

ID.me uses automated software to check your ID and selfie against each other. If everything matches and the ID is valid, you can be verified when ready — sometimes within seconds of uploading your photos. You will see a message on the screen saying your identity has been verified, and you can start using your ID.me account right away.

If the software cannot read your ID clearly or if something does not match, a human reviewer will look at your documents. This usually happens within a few hours, but can take up to 24 hours. ID.me will send you an email when the review is complete and let you know whether you have been verified or whether they need more information from you.

If ID.me asks for more information, they will explain what they need. Common reasons include a blurry photo, an ID that is partially cut off, or a selfie that does not clearly show your face. You can resubmit photos or provide additional documents — ID.me will tell you exactly what to do.

What happens after you are verified

Once your identity is verified, you have a working ID.me account. You can now use it to log into services that accept ID.me. When you encounter a service that asks you to verify with ID.me, you will log in using your email and password. The service will ask for permission to see your verified identity information, and you will click yes. That is it — no need to upload your ID again.

Your verified identity stays in your ID.me account. You can use it as many times as you need across different services and government agencies. The verification does not expire, though some services may ask you to re-verify after a certain amount of time for security reasons.

If you ever need to update your information — for example, if you got a new ID or changed your name — you can log into your ID.me account and update your profile. You may need to re-verify your identity depending on what changed.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you do not receive the confirmation email after creating your account, wait a few minutes and check your spam folder. If it is still not there, go back to id.me and look for a link that says "Resend Confirmation Email" or "Did not receive your email?" Click that and ID.me will send another copy.

If your ID photos are rejected, make sure they are clear, well-lit, and show the entire ID. Avoid shadows, glare, and blurry images. If your selfie is rejected, make sure your face is clearly visible and matches the photo on your ID. Remove sunglasses and hats if you are wearing them, and take the photo in good lighting.

If you forget your password, go to id.me and click "Forgot Password?" Enter your email address, and ID.me will send you a link to reset it. Click the link in the email and create a new password. This usually takes a few minutes.

If you have a problem that the ID.me website does not solve, you can contact their support team. Look for a "Help" or "Contact Us" link on the ID.me website. They have phone support, email support, and a chat option depending on what you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use ID.me, or can I verify my identity a different way?

It depends on the service. Some government agencies and companies only accept ID.me. Others let you choose between ID.me and other verification methods. When you are asked to verify your identity, the service will tell you what options are available. If ID.me is the only option and you cannot use it, contact the service directly to ask about alternatives.

Is my information safe on ID.me?

ID.me uses encryption and security measures to protect your information. However, no system is completely risk-free. ID.me does not sell your personal information to advertisers or third parties. Your data is only shared with services you explicitly give permission to access it. Read ID.me's privacy policy on their website if you want details about how they handle your information.

What if my ID is expired?

An expired ID can sometimes still be verified, especially if it expired recently and the photo is still clearly recognizable as you. ID.me will let you know during the verification process if your expired ID is a problem. If it is, you will need to use a different form of ID — a passport, military ID, or state ID card if you have one.

Can I create an ID.me account on my phone?

Yes. ID.me works on phones and computers. You can create your account and verify your identity using your phone's camera. Just make sure you have good lighting and a steady hand when taking photos of your ID and selfie.

What if I already have an ID.me account but forgot I created it?

Go to id.me and click "Sign In." Enter your email address and click "Forgot Password?" to reset your password. If you do not remember which email you used, try the email addresses you use most often. If none of them work, contact ID.me support and they can help you find your account.