Google Wallet has taken another step closer to replacing any need for a physical wallet

Forgetting your physical wallet at home could soon stop being a problem altogether thanks to Google wallet.

Google has taken another step towards being any world traveler’s best companion.

The new Google wallet feature lets eligible passengers move through airport security without pulling out a physical ID.

It is another sign that smartphones are steadily taking over more of the everyday items we used to carry in our pockets.

Google Wallet is making airport security even faster

Google Wallet tech has already evolved into much more than a place to store payment cards.

Users can keep everything from boarding passes and loyalty cards to digital car keys and government-issued IDs in one app, making it increasingly useful for day-to-day life.

Now, Google has rolled out support for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, allowing eligible travelers to verify their identity using facial recognition rather than presenting a physical ID at airport security.

The feature is being released widely after previously being more limited.

To use it, travelers need to be enrolled in TSA PreCheck, have a valid US passport stored as an ID pass in Google Wallet, and add their boarding pass before opting into the service.

This is already a feature for Apple phones.

Once everything is set up, participating airport checkpoints can verify a passenger’s identity using facial comparison technology instead of a driver’s license or passport.

Google says the system is available at more than 65 airports and works with over 100 participating airlines.

The tech is coming for the wallet in your pocket

While the feature is currently limited to eligible TSA PreCheck travelers in the US, it is another major step towards carrying everything digitally.

Google Wallet already lets users pay in stores, unlock compatible cars, store tickets, transit passes and loyalty cards, with digital IDs becoming increasingly common across several US states.

Airport security has traditionally been one of the last places where travelers still needed to pull out a physical document.

Now, for many Android users, even that requirement is beginning to disappear.

It’s another sign that the days of carrying a bulky physical wallet may eventually become a thing of the past, even if most travelers will probably still keep their passport or driver’s license close by for peace of mind.