DigiD app

How you can activate your app depends on your DigiD account. For example, whether your telephone number has been added to DigiD and your type of mobile device. The DigiD app automatically shows the options you can use. Open the DigiD app and follow the steps in the app.

• ID-check: Watch the video activate DigiD app with ID checkYou'll need a smartphone with an NFC reader (iPhone 7 or higher or Android 9.0 or higher). And a Dutch ID (passport, identity card or driver's license).  You can't use foreign identity documents, residence documents and foreign national identity documents. You can only add the ID-checck to the DigiD app on a mobile device. You cannot do this with the DigiD app on your computer.
• SMS code: Watch the video activate DigiD app via an SMS codeYou will receive the activation code by SMS if you choose to skip activation with ID-check or if you are unable to activate with ID-check. This is only possible if you have added your telephone number to your DigiD account.
• Letter: Watch the video activate DigiD app via a letterYou can also activate the DigiD app with a letter. This is useful if you have an older phone and have not yet added a phone number to your account.

Do you already have an activated DigiD app? If so, you can use this as well to activate the DigiD app on another device. Open the non-activated app and tap Next. Tap the link "Login with the DigiD app on a different device" and follow the steps.

Living abroad

Do you live abroad and do you already have an activated DigiD app? You can then use this as well to activate the DigiD app on another device. If you don't already have an activated DigiD app, you can activate the DigiD app via an ID check or with an SMS code. 

Read more on the website of The Netherlands Worldwide

If you add an ID check, you can do more with your DigiD app. Such as viewing extra sensitive data. This is, for example, data about your health. You can only add an ID check to the DigiD app on your mobile phone or tablet.

Watch the video adding the ID check to the DigiD app. 

More and more organizations require you to add an annual ID check to your DigiD app. By using the ID check, they have more certainty about your identity. If you don't have a smartphone with an NFC reader, you can ask someone else who does have a smartphone with an NFC reader to help you. 

Learn what to do

• Smartphone with an NFC reader
• I don't have a smartphone with an NFC reader myself

Please note, the ID-check via the DigiD app with a passport or identity card without a BSN does not work. Is there no citizen service number (BSN) on your Dutch passport or identity card? And was your identity document issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a border municipality, the Schiphol desk, or a Caribbean issuing authority? Unfortunately, you cannot perform an ID-check on the DigiD app with your identity document. The BSN is required for this. You did not yet have a BSN when you applied for your identity document.

What can you do?

• The ID-check is not always required to log in. If you wanted to activate the DigiD app with the ID-check, you can skip this step. You can activate the app via SMS verification.
• Or you can apply for a new passport or identity card. Do you live in the Netherlands? If so, apply at your local municipality. Do you live abroad? If so, see Applying for or renewing a Dutch passport or ID card from abroad | NederlandWereldwijd. When applying, indicate that you have a BSN and ask for it to be placed on your identity document. Once you have received your new identity document, you can add the ID-check to the DigiD app.

Do you want to log in by using the DigiD app? Browse to the website where you want to log in. Your municipality, for example, and click on log in with DigiD app.

Watch the video

I log in with the DigiD app on:

• The same device
• A different device
• A different app

You can use your fingerprint or facial recognition instead of a PIN. This is called biometrics. It allows you to log in even faster with the DigiD app.

How do you use biometrics?

If you have set up biometrics on your phone, the DigiD app will automatically ask if you want to log in with facial recognition or a fingerprint from now on. You will then no longer need to use a PIN.

Do you not use biometrics on your phone? Or have you already answered this question before? Then the app will skip this step.  

You can always turn biometrics on or off later. You can do this as follows:

• Open the DigiD app on your phone.
• Go to the menu. 
• Tap “Settings”.
• Tap “Log in with fingerprint/facial recognition”.
• Select on or off. 

Please note, you cannot set up biometrics for the DigiD app on your computer or laptop.

You can try the following solutions on your mobile device or tablet: 

• Update: The DigiD app, the operating system of your device and your internet browser must be up to date. Make sure you have the latest versions.
• Change the language: Change the language in your DigiD app. To do this, go to Settings – Language via the menu. If the DigiD app works well, you can change the language back immediately. Also change the language on your device from Dutch to English. Or from English to Dutch.
• Date and time: Set your device's date and time to Automatic in Settings.
• Change internet connection: Switch from Wi-Fi to 4G/5G.

Android

Do you have an Android device? Check whether the Staat der Nederlanden Root CA certificate is enabled. Go to Settings > Biometrics and Security > Other Security Settings > Certificate.

Computer or laptop

• Update: make sure you have the latest version of the DigiD app on your computer or laptop.

I live abroad

If activation with SMS or ID-check is unsuccessful and you live abroad, unfortunately you have to apply for a new DigiD.

Read more about applying for DigiD if you live abroad

Please note, you can only add an ID check to the DigiD app on your mobile phone or tablet. You cannot do this with the DigiD app on your computer or laptop.

If you have problems adding the ID check, first check whether the NFC reader on your phone or tablet is turned on.

• NFC reader and ID too far away from each other: Place your ID on the back of your device. Perhaps the distance between the NFC reader and the chip in your ID is too large. Often it helps to shift your device over your ID until there is a connection.
• Phone case: Is there a case around your phone or tablet? Remove it and try again. Most devices make a sound when connecting to the chip in your ID.
• Metal nearby: Perhaps you are too close to metal. The frame of a table, for example. If that's the case the NFC reader might not work. Put the ID in your hand and try again. 

No smartphone with NFC reader

If you don't have a smartphone with an NFC reader, you can add the ID check with the help of someone else who does have a smartphone with an NFC reader. This is done via the Check-ID app.

Learn how to add the ID check with someone else's help

Samsung

Are you using a Samsung S9 or S9+? Then make sure that the battery of your device is at least 70% charged. The NFC reader won't work when your phone is in low-power mode

Apple

Are you using an Apple device? Place your ID on the back and top of the device. Is this unsuccessful? Close the app and try again.

Do you want to activate the DigiD app? If you have a DigiD with SMS verification, you can activate the DigiD app with an SMS code. Do you need the ID check because you want to log in to an organisation that has made the DigiD app with ID check mandatory? Please contact this organisation for an alternative.

Sometimes scanning the QR code fails. Possible solutions: 

• Enlarge your browser screen to at least 200%.
• Use a different browser, such as Firefox, Edge, Chrome or Safari.
• Make sure that the cursor is not in front of or next to the QR code.
• Check whether your camera is completely free and if it’s not blocked by your phone cover.

If you have an Android device, you will need to reset your camera settings: 

• Open your camera and click settings. 
• Choose Reset settings

Edge or Chrome

Are you using Edge or Chrome and does the QR code look different than usual?

• Go to the settings of your browser.
• Click on 'System'.
• Disable the 'Hardware acceleration' setting.

You may experience one of the following issues when logging in with the DigiD app on a single device:

1. After entering your PIN, you return to the home screen. Or you see the message: ‘Unfortunately, you cannot continue’.
2. You see the message: ‘DigiD app does not open’ (Samsung Internet Browser only).

This is caused by an update to your Chromium-based browser, such as Google Chrome or Samsung Internet Browser. Below, we explain what you can do.

1. Returned to the home screen or the message ‘Unfortunately, you cannot continue’

• Go to Google Play and update the DigiD app to the lates version.
• Set Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge as the default browser on your Android device.
• Close the DigiD app before trying to log in to an organisation again.
• Use the default browser you just set up.

To set a default browser:

• Open Settings on your phone.
• Tap Apps.
• Tap Default apps. This may also be called Choose default apps.
• Tap Browser app.
• Select Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

This usually solves the problem.

Does it still not work?

Try one of the following options:

• Log in using SMS verification.
• Log in using two devices. Use the verification code and scan the QR code with your DigiD app.
• Use a different browser, such as Firefox.
• Or view our step-by-step instructions to solve the problem.

2. Message: ‘DigiD app does not open’ (Samsung Internet Browser only)

Immediate solution:

• Tap the small DigiD logo in the top-right corner of the address bar.
• You will then see the screen where you can enter your PIN.

This solution only works once. The next time you log in, you will need to tap the small DigiD logo again.

Permanent solution:

• Open Samsung Internet Browser.
• Tap the three dots in the bottom-right corner.
• Select Settings.
• Select Security and privacy.
• Turn off Block opening external apps.

Does this not work? Then use a different browser. 

The DigiD app does not open automatically in all mobile browsers. On your Android device, you see the message DigiD app does not open. Use one of the following browsers:

• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge

Since an Android update, you may be unable to log in to your phone using the DigiD app. You will then see the message: ‘DigiD app won’t open’. Follow the steps below to resolve this issue: 

1. Go to the settings on your device.
2. Select 'Apps'.
3. Select 'DigiD'.
4. Choose 'Set as default'.
5. Select 'supported web addresses'.
6. Turn on the toggle for 'app.digid.nl'.

You should then be able to log in again.

Samsung Internet app

Is your device keeps using Samsung's pre-installed Internet app. Then do the following:

• Open the Samsung Internet app.
• Click the three dashes in the bottom right to open the menu.
• Click Settings.
• Click Useful functions.
• Turn on the Open links in apps option.

If you still get the same notification, try to log in by using your username and password.

When you log in on your mobile, the DigiD app should open automatically. You may be asked to enter the pairing code. This is due to the settings of your browser. Your browser is then set as a desktop site.

Use default browser

The DigiD app does not always work well in all browsers. Therefore, use one of the following browsers:

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari (Apple).

Shortcut

Always open a browser on your phone first and then go to the website where you want to log in with DigiD.

Forgot PIN code

• Open the DigiD app. 
• Select Forgot PIN code. 
• Select Reactivate.

You can now reactivate the app and select a new PIN code. Your previously chosen PIN code will no longer be valid.

Change PIN code

• Open the DigiD app.
• Enter your current PIN code.
• Go to the menu of the DigiD app.
• Select My DigiD.
• Select Change PIN code.
• Select Next.
• Enter your current PIN code.
• Enter your new PIN code. 
• Repeat your new PIN code. 

You can activate the DigiD app on up to 5 different devices. If you already installed the DigiD app on more than 5 devices, you have to uninstall it on 1 of them. 

You can now activate a DigiD app on another device.

Do you get the error message 'Connecting to DigiD failed' or 'An unknown error has occurred'? Then try the following:

• Update: Update the DigiD app via the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Does this not work? Then perform a software update. You can do this through the settings of your device. Afterwards, open the DigiD app again. 
• Date and time: Set your device's date and time to Automatic via your device's settings.
• Language: Change the language in the DigiD app. To do this, go to Settings – Language via the menu of the DigiD app. Change the language. As soon as the DigiD app works, you can change the language again. Also change the language on your device via the settings of your device.
• Close open internet pages: Close all open internet pages, both in the separate browser windows and the open pages in tabs.
• Change internet connection: Switch from Wi-Fi to 4G/5G or from 4G/5G to Wi-Fi
• Temporarily disable antivirus and security: Temporarily disable antivirus and security programs.
• Standard browser: The DigiD app does not always work well in all browsers. Therefore, use one of the following browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari (Apple).

For iPhone users

Do you have an iPhone? Check if your mobile data is activated.

You can get the message 'Sorry you can't continue' if you have been inactive on the web page for 15 minutes or more. Sometimes this message is displayed incorrectly by settings on your computer or mobile device.

Resolve this issue