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Who Can Accept the Colorado Digital ID™?
Who Can Accept the Colorado Digital ID™?
If you own a Colorado business or work at a state agency, you can! On Oct. 30, 2019, Governor Jared Polis issued an Executive Order stating that the Colorado Digital ID™ may be accepted as a legal form of personal identification for use in Colorado. Colorado businesses are encouraged to accept the Digital ID, and all executive branch agencies may accept the Digital ID as a method to prove a person's identity.
Colorado State Patrol began accepting Digital ID on Nov. 30, 2020. Local law enforcement agencies across the state are beginning to accept it, too. Not all law enforcement agencies accept Colorado Digital ID at this time and may continue to require a physical driver license or state-issued ID card. For this reason, Coloradans still need to carry their physical ID.
How to Verify a Colorado Digital ID™
How to Verify a Colorado Digital ID™
The Colorado Digital ID™ has a few built-in features that help you confirm it's legitimate. Here’s how to quickly verify that someone’s Digital ID is authentic, no tech expertise required.
Step 1: Give the ID a Quick Visual Check
Here are a few simple ways to visually confirm you're looking at a valid Digital ID:
Rotate the phone and watch for the floating flower hologram to move. If it doesn’t move, it might just be a screenshot or photo instead of a live view in the app.
Note for iPhone users: This only works if “Reduce Motion” is turned off. (Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and make sure it's greyed out.)
Tap and hold on the ID itself (not elsewhere on the screen). If it’s legit, the date of birth and license number will temporarily enlarge, and if applicable, so will the 21+ indicator.
Ask them to close and reopen the app. This helps confirm it’s not just a saved image.
Look for familiar features from a physical ID, like:
The “Exec. Dir. Dept. Rev.” signature on the left.
The birthdate printed over the mini-portrait in the bottom right.
The Digital ID has built-in security features
Swipe left to show the Digital ID barcode
Step 2: Scan the Barcode
Swipe left on the Digital ID to reveal the barcode. If it’s genuine, only the ID will move. The rest of the screen will stay still.
Step 3: Double-Check the App
You can also verify the person is using the real myColorado app:
Ask the holder to close and reopen the myColorado app to show their Digital ID. You can also ask the user to sign out and sign back into the app with their username and password.
Want to go one step further? Ask the user to explore other parts of the app like Services, Search, or More using the bottom navigation bar.
Additional check on Android Devices
Long-press the myColorado app icon and tap the ⓘ icon. Scroll to the bottom of the App Info screen. It should say “App downloaded from Google Play Store.” If it says anything else, it’s not the real deal.
Protecting Privacy
Protecting Privacy
myColorado users can hide information within the Colorado Digital ID that is not relevant for a particular transaction. For example, if age verification is required to purchase alcohol, users can choose to hide their address - or even their birthdate - as a privacy measure. An indicator located on the Digital ID confirms whether or not customers are over 21.
If there is suspicion that a Colorado Digital ID is fraudulent, the phone cannot be confiscated. However, merchants may ask to see the physical driver license or state ID card.
Digital ID Training for Employees
Digital ID Training for Employees
It's important for cashiers, bartenders, food servers, pharmacy staff, and other employees who regularly accept identification to be familiar with the Digital ID.
Click here to download the one-page training document and learn how to easily verify that a person’s Digital ID is genuine.
Click here to download the learning module (PowerPoint file) that can be integrated into your employee training process for checking ID. If you have questions or would like additional training content, send an email to myColorado@state.co.us. We’ll be happy to work with your training team to help your employees quickly and easily check the Digital ID.
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