Technologies
How to put your COVID-19 vaccine card on your smartphone
Your COVID-19 vaccination card is now required for many businesses and events. Learn how to put it on your phone so that it’s always available.

As the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus surges through the US, many states are requiring proof of vaccination for adults and kids as young as 5 to enter restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and just about any other public venue.
And if you’re traveling for the holidays, having your vaccine record close at hand is more important than ever. But you don’t have to keep the printed version in your wallet or purse: To prevent damage or loss, we recommend storing it in your phone instead.
Not sure how? We’ll show you ways you can store your vaccine card digitally — including the methods to use if you have an Android or iPhone — and help you find out whether or not your state has a specific app.
Which states are using vaccination record apps?
While some governors have signed orders banning so-called vaccine passports, many states have apps that allow residents to keep a digital version of their vaccine cards on their smartphones. Eleven — including California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York and Louisiana — offer SMART Health Cards that store vaccination records and COVID-19 test results.
Colorado residents, for example, can download the myColorado app: After you create an account, verify your identity and add a digital version of your driver’s license to your phone, you can then add your myVaccine record to the app. Louisiana’s LA Wallet app takes a similar approach, allowing you to add your driver’s license and proof of vaccination to your phone.
California requires residents to fill out a form to verify their identity, after which they’ll receive a text or email with a link to a QR code that can be saved to their phone. When scanned, the code will offer proof of vaccination. The link will also include a digital copy of your vaccination record.
Illinois residents can use VaxVerify, which uses Experian for identity verification.
MyIR Mobile is used by several health departments, including Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington state, West Virginia and Washington, DC.
Delaware, New Mexico and Michigan are also using web portals to let residents access their vaccination status online.
New Yorkers have two app options: The Excelsior Pass app and NYC Covid Safe.
We’ll continue to update this feature as more states offer apps and features to store your COVID-19 vaccine card online. And keep in mind if you get a booster dose, you’ll need to re-upload your vaccine card.
What if my state doesn’t have an app that lets me store my card?
If your state doesn’t have an iPhone or Android app that lets you store a copy of your vaccination record, there are other ways to keep it on your phone. What qualifies as valid proof, however, can vary by state, city, county or even business.
Some places may accept a photo of your physical vaccination card: For example, concert producer AEG Presents accepts a «physical copy of a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, a digital copy of such card or such other proof as is permitted locally.» But you definitely want to research first if your city, county or state does the same.
Along with public school mandates, hundreds of private colleges are also requiring students and employees to be vaccinated: Seattle University, which requires students to be vaccinated to attend in-person classes, offers an online form to upload photos of the front and back of your vaccination card.
When in doubt, look for information on the business’s website or call the local health department and ask for clarification. This is bound to save you time and the risk of being turned away at the door.
Can I store my car with Google Pay or Apple Wallet?
If you have an iPhone ($350 at Amazon), you can store your COVID-19 vaccination card on your Apple Wallet to present whenever you need to show you’re fully vaccinated. (You can keep a copy in the Health app, too.) The WatchOS 8.1 update allows you to keep your card handy on your Apple Watch.
If you have an Android, you can add your vaccine card to the Google Pay app and even add a shortcut icon to your home screen to find it quickly.
Samsung Pay can also store your vaccine record
Samsung now gives Galaxy phone owners the option to add proof of vaccination to Samsung Pay. You’ll need to download the CommonHealth app (Samsung’s partner) from the Google Play Store and follow the prompts in the app to verify your vaccination status.
Once the app confirms you’veindeed gotten the jabs, you’ll be prompted to download a Smart HealthCard to Samsung Pay which you can show to anyone requesting you show proof of vaccination. It beats having to fiddle around with photo albums and tapping through multiple screens before you’re able to show it to a bouncer or maître d’.
Will a picture of my vaccine card work?
The simplest way to have a digital record of your vaccine status is to snap a photograph of your vaccination card and keep it on your phone. Even the CDC recommends keeping a picture of your card as a backup copy.
You can make the photo a favorite to quickly locate it or store it in a notes app, a folder or somewhere easy to remember. Make sure you’re in a well-lit area and get close enough to the card that the dates and other details are legible. Put the card on a dark surface and try to eliminate shadows from your arms or the phone itself.
Here’s one way iPhone users can save their vaccination card as a new photo album: Open the Photos app, select the Albums tab and then tap the plus (+) sign in the top-left corner followed by New Album. Give the album a name and then tap Save. Next, select the photos of your card to add them to the album.
On an Android, it depends on which app you’re using, but the process should generally be the same. If you’re using the Google Photos app, open the app and then select the picture of your vaccination card. Tap the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner, followed by the Add to Album button. Select +New album and give it a name such as «Vaccination Card» and tap the checkmark button when you’re done.
What else can I use?
I’ve had a large number of readers reach out to me about this article, each one offering advice and guidance about storing a proof of vaccination card.
Some suggestions include well-known airport security service Clear. In fact, some concert and exhibition halls require that attendees use Clear to verify their vaccination status to attend a show. You can go to clearme.com/healthpass to download the app and get your card added.
VaxYes is another service that verifies your vaccination status and then adds your vaccination card to your Apple Wallet. I’ve read that you can add your card to the Google Pay app, but after signing up and going through the process myself, I don’t see the option on a Pixel 5 running Android 12.
If your local municipality or employer used the CDC’s Vaccine Administration Management System, then you can use the VAMS website to access your vaccination records. I had more than one reader reach out to me about using this system to show proof of vaccination, but without an account myself, I’m unable to go through the process of accessing a vaccination record.
Another suggestion I received from multiple readers is to use a scanner app on your phone and store a scanned copy of your vaccination card in something like your OneDrive personal vault or a password manager (almost all of them offer some sort of secure file storage) instead of storing the photo in Google Photos or Apple’s iCloud photos. On an iPhone, you can use the scanner that’s built into the Notes app. On Android, Google’s Stack PDF scanner will be enough to get the job done.
This story will be updated as the national vaccine conversation continues. For more information about the booster shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, make sure to read this primer.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
Technologies
Apple’s New Emoji Game Gives You a Smiley Wordle Alternative
The addition to Apple’s suite of games launches just in time for World Emoji Day.

Do we 💖 this? Just in time for World Emoji Day, Apple News Plus has launched Emoji Game in another indication that we will never have enough digital toys to entertain and divert us.
In the new game — available in English for News Plus subscribers in the US and Canada — players will try to fill in the blanks of three short phrases using a selection of emoji and genmoji using as few moves as possible. For example, if the phrase is «- — — — — of my — — -» («Apple of my eye»), then you would use the 🍏 and 👀 emoji to fill in those blanked-out words.
There will be clues for each of the three phrases, but if the player chooses to reveal any of the clues, that will count as a move. Game Center leaderboards will track results, and players can share their accomplishments with friends and family on messages, email and social media.
«Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that’s approachable and fun,» said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News, in a press release.
Emoji Game will appear daily in the Puzzles section of the Apple News app, and Apple News Plus subscribers can also play the puzzle in the Apple Games app, which will launch later this year and will host Emoji Game as well as crossword, crossword mini, Quartiles and sudoku.
Only hours after the announcement, the r/apple subreddit was already popping with reactions:
- «I wish we had that in my country. I love the nyt games Id like to try apple ones»
- «I just tried it, it’s pretty fun»
- «Looks like fun!»
For now the game is available in English for Apple News Plus subscribers in the US and Canada and for iPhones, iPads and Macs running iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or MacOS 15.4 or later. Apple News Plus costs $13 per month after a free trial period.
Technologies
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Technologies
Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck: Battle of the Handhelds
I put the two leading handhelds up against one another to find out which is the best.

I’ve been spending a lot of time playing with the new Nintendo Switch 2 and Valve’s 2023 Steam Deck OLED to find out which handheld gaming console is best for me. Will Nintendo’s flagship franchise take it to victory? Or will the Steam Deck’s open platform give it the edge? I’ve been comparing the two based on performance, hardware and games library and, so far, while there’s one I prefer, each one has advantages that stand out.
Library
Arguably the most important aspect to comparing these two handhelds is the games you’re able to play on them. What good is great battery life if there’s nothing you want to play?
The Switch 2 will get you access to all of Nintendo’s own games and can play most of the first Switch’s games such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Metroid Dread. There aren’t that many Switch 2 exclusives yet. Mario Kart World, Welcome Tour and Donkey Kong Bananza are the biggest ones for now, but so far they’ve all been really good — even if Welcome Tour is just a glorified instruction manual full of mini games (that I do like).
Many of the original Switch games have received performance improvements, some of them bigger than others. Pokemon Sword and Shield got a major update for free. But the upgrade editions for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom cost $10 each — unless you’re a Switch Online premium subscriber, in which case they’re free, too. More upgraded games are coming, including Mario Party Jamboree. If you’re looking to play Nintendo games, the Switch and Switch 2 are the only ways to do so.
On the other hand, the Steam Deck is an open ecosystem and grants you access to buying games from multiple types of online stores. Valve’s Steam Deck is primarily set up to run off Steam, but you can load in other ways to play games with a little tinkering. Even if you never load in other game stores, Steam has a ton to discover, including lots of Steam Deck-optimized games.
Both Switch and Steam Deck get a good amount of indie titles, but you’ll typically find that they launch on PC first. The Steam Deck can also run a lot of smaller, experimental stuff that’ll never make its way over to Switch. The Steam Deck can also play games from cloud-based platforms such as Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce. One of my favorite things to do with my Steam Deck is to remote play into my Xbox Series X or PS5 at home and play those console games when I’m on the go.
If you don’t mind missing out on Nintendo exclusives, the Steam Deck gets you a larger and more robust gaming library.
Ease of use
The Switch 2 is definitely the most straightforward of the main gaming consoles. It’s a dedicated gaming machine, so it’s very stable but some aspects can be annoying — such as trying to add a friend to play, which involves entering in a long friend code. That said, Steam Deck is also a good experience out of the box, but it has its own tricky moments that can be daunting if you want to push the system’s capabilities. Trying to hook into other game libraries will require watching tutorials, installing extra software — it’s not the easiest thing to do.
The Switch 2 also comes with two Joy-Con controllers that detach and work independently, meaning local multiplayer is extremely easy right out of the box. To match this on the Steam Deck, you’d need to purchase two additional third-party controllers. Plus, the Switch 2’s included dock makes TV-connected gaming a lot easier to set up than with the Steam Deck, and the Switch 2’s kickstand allows tabletop co-op pretty easily, too.
The Switch 2 also has built-in chat to easily connect with friends, although you’ll need a compatible USB camera to add video. Gamechat requires a Nintendo Online subscription, while the Steam Deck can use standard free online chat apps, such as installing Discord, just like how you would install a third-party storefront.
Display
The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch LCD display that can output a 1080p image at 120Hz. The Steam Deck comes with either a 7-inch LCD or 7.4-inch OLED screen that outputs a lower 1,280×800-pixel resolution at 60 or 90Hz, respectively. But if you’re playing on a television, you’ll get a 4K image with both systems as long as you plug the Switch 2 into its dock and use the right HDMI cable with the Steam Deck. It’s worth noting a dock comes bundled with the Switch: For the Steam Deck to connect to a TV, you’ll need to purchase the cable or accessory separately.
Despite not having a nicer OLED screen, I prefer the Switch 2’s larger and faster display, especially when that screen size still allows for a smaller device overall.
Portability
The Switch 2 weighs a little less — it’s 534 grams compared to 640 grams for the Steam Deck OLED. The Switch 2 is also noticeably smaller and much thinner, making it more portable to transport. And as someone who backpacks and travels a lot, and often brings a handheld device in my bag, I need to make use of all the space I can get.
But the Steam Deck does feel better to hold in your hand. The larger size means its handgrips are comfier to grab on to, and the built-in back buttons are a nice, pro-style feature that you can only get on the Switch 2 if you buy a Pro Controller or Charging Grip. It’s also worth mentioning that the Steam Deck includes a carrying case with your purchase. The Switch 2 does not, which you’re definitely going to want to protect its big screen.
Battery
When you’re on the go, battery life makes a huge difference. The Switch 2 has a 5,220-mAh battery and Nintendo says that gets you roughly between two and six and a half hours of gaming. The Steam Deck OLED has a larger 6,470-mAh battery and Valve says it’ll last somewhere between three and 12 hours. Bottom line: The Steam Deck will generally keep you gaming longer. This depends on the game but it lines up pretty well with what I’ve experienced. More graphically-intense games such as Elden Ring Nightrein will drain the Steam Deck’s battery faster, while Balatro will last longer. Mario Kart World gets around three to four hours for the Switch 2.
Storage and price
The Steam Deck comes in three configurations: A $399 LCD model with 256GB of internal storage, a $549 OLED model with 512GB of internal storage, and a $649 OLED model with 1TB of internal storage. The Switch 2 has just one option — 256GB of internal storage with an LCD screen for $450. Both devices can take microSD cards to increase their storage capacity. However, the Switch 2 requires the newer microSD Express cards, which are still quite pricey. The Steam Deck has a cheaper entry price, and the additional storage and screen options are nice to be able to choose from. But the Steam Deck is also a couple years older and has already seen discounts since launch.
One big difference, though, is game prices. Switch games rarely go on sale, and Nintendo keeps its first-game prices high over time. Meanwhile, games on Steam can definitely save you some cash — Steam games often launch at cheaper prices than their Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo counterparts, and often see drastic discounts as the months go on. Steam sales happen all the time, and it’s easy to scoop up deals and suddenly find that you have more games in your library than you have time to play.
Another added cost for Switch 2 is online multiplayer, which requires a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. You’ll get perks for your subscription, including access to a large catalog of older Nintendo games from systems you may have had in your childhood, but I personally prefer my multiplayer to be free of charge. (I have more than enough subscriptions in my life.) Still, local multiplayer is much easier to pull off with the Switch 2 and doesn’t require buying multiple additional cables and controllers, like you’ll need on Steam Deck.
Overall
I love Nintendo’s legendary catalogue of games, but for me the Steam Deck offers a better bang for my buck. There’s a wider overall selection of titles on Steam and almost every developer puts their games on PC right away. It also offers a cheaper entry price and more model variations to choose from. While I do value the sleek more portable size of the Switch 2, the discounts on Steam games are hard for me to ignore compared to Nintendo’s much more rigid pricing.
Personally, I’m finding there is far more to do with a Steam Deck. But if you can’t live without Mario and Zelda, and you’re interested in ways to play games with family and friends together in the same room, you’re going to really appreciate the Switch 2.
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