Google has turned on a new feature in Chrome 155 that lets websites send digital IDs, student cards, and official passes straight to the wallet app on your Android phone. Back in June, we covered how Chrome started pulling passport and license numbers from Google Wallet to fill out online forms, and now it is handling the reverse trip by helping you save new cards to your phone first.

Getting an official pass from a college, bank, or government website used to be a hassle. Each site had to build a custom connection for specific apps, which often meant you were stuck with the wallet it partnered with instead of the one you preferred.

In its official developer post, Google says Chrome now acts as a bridge that “lets websites connect to wallet apps installed on the user’s mobile device” so “issuers can add new credentials (such as digital IDs) directly into a user’s wallet app” without the cumbersome experience.

When you tap to save an ID on Android, Chrome passes the request to your phone’s built-in credential system. Your screen then pops up a list of your installed wallet apps so you can pick your favorite one and confirm.

If you are logged into a site on your computer instead, Chrome puts a QR code on your monitor to scan with your Android phone. Chrome requires both devices to have Bluetooth turned on during that handoff to “confirm that they are close to each other” so nobody can remotely hijack your ID.

Everything works out of the box once you install the Chrome 155 update on desktop and Android, with no hidden flags required. Google pointed out that German banking group Sparkasse is already using this exact setup so customers can save verified age cards to Google Wallet and prove their age online or in person.

 
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PiunikaWeb’s Take

For the most part, digital wallets have felt half-baked outside of tap-to-pay cards because getting your actual IDs into them is still way too annoying. Between this wallet bridge and practical upgrades, such as the upcoming native tool for copying tab group links, Google is clearly trying to eliminate clunky browser workarounds.

A standard way for websites to hand off IDs, while letting people choose their wallet app, will make digital IDs practical. If a QR code transfer fails, turn on your computer’s Bluetooth.

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Dwayne Cubbins
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I cover fast-moving stories across apps, online platforms, and everyday tech — phones, wearables, consoles, and whatever else people are fighting with this week. Bugs, rollouts, scams, policy enforcement, and the occasional internet-culture rabbit hole are all fair game. My goal is simple — make confusing tech news readable. When I'm not working, I'm working out or chilling with my dog. Got a tip? You can find me on X @dcubbins.