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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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The verdict on

MyTSA

40
User verdict / 100 High confidence Divided

The MyTSA app is praised for its user-friendly design and general travel information, but it is widely criticized for providing inaccurate and unreliable security wait times, which is a primary reason many users download it.

4.6★ lifetime (31,691) Free to download since 2010 by Transportation Security Administration updated 0.9 mo ago recent negative 61% 120 reviews across 4 regions
Wait Time Accuracy General Information & UI Airport Search & Favorites TSA PreCheck Features App Stability & Bugs
5★63
4★12
3★27
2★42
1★119
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.6★ lifetime average

The MyTSA app offers general travel information, including what items are allowed, and has recently received UI enhancements. However, its core functionality of providing real-time security wait times is frequently reported as inaccurate, leading to user frustration and missed expectations. While some users find it helpful for general queries, the inconsistency in wait time data undermines its utility for many travelers.

What users like

  • Provides useful information on what can and cannot be brought through securityR5R70R99R129
  • Features a user-friendly interface and improved designR5R61R62R63
  • Helpful for general travel planning and informationR50R73R83R104
  • Allows users to ask questions and receive prompt, polite responses from TSAR99R154

What users complain about

  • Security wait times are frequently inaccurate and not real-time, often leading to longer waits than reportedR2R4R6R8
  • Wait times are often too general, not specific to terminals or individual checkpoints within an airportR4R13R31R51
  • Some users report issues with the app crashing or not opening after updatesR39R119R240
  • Difficulty adding or managing favorite airports, or the app defaulting to unwanted locationsR32R34R35R36
  • TSA PreCheck expiration dates are no longer displayed in the appR3
  • PreCheck checkpoint operating hours or status are sometimes incorrectly reported or not displayedR20R26R41R44
  • Issues with saving KTN (Known Traveler Number) on certain devices like iPadsR17R158

Latest update · v5.0.0

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

Welcome to the new TSA PreCheck® benefits tab. With the ease of one selection, this new tab provides users any and all information regarding TSA PreCheck® benefits and enrollment providers. • Added “TSA PreCheck®” benefits information tab • Added gateway feature to Chat with Ace • Added alert banners for important notifications • Updates to “Dashboard” and “AskTSA” tabs • UI enhancements • Bug fixes and accessibility enhancements

Recurring themes

Wait Time Accuracy negative
The most common complaint is that the security wait times displayed in the app are consistently inaccurate, often showing much shorter times than actual experience. Users report missing flights or being frustrated by misleading information, stating the times are estimates based on history rather than real-time data. This contradicts the developer's notes about 'Dashboard' updates, as users still find the core wait time feature unreliable.R2R4R6R8
Airport Search & Favorites negative
Many users struggle with the app's airport search functionality, reporting that it fails to recognize airport names or codes. There are also frequent complaints about difficulty adding or managing favorite airports, with the app often defaulting to a nearby, unused airport or limiting the number of favorites that can be selected. This impacts the app's usability for frequent travelers.R32R34R35R36
General Information & UI positive
Users appreciate the app's ability to provide information on what items are allowed through security and find the overall user interface to be well-designed and easy to use. The recent UI enhancements mentioned in the release notes seem to be positively received, with some users calling the new design 'sick' or 'awesome'.R5R50R61R62
TSA PreCheck Features mixed
While the app has a new TSA PreCheck benefits tab, users report issues such as the app no longer displaying their PreCheck expiration date. There are also complaints about inaccurate information regarding PreCheck checkpoint operating hours or their status (open/closed), and difficulties saving KTN numbers, particularly on iPads.R3R17R20R26
App Stability & Bugs negative
Some users have experienced app crashes, especially after recent updates, or issues with specific features like the 'AskTSA' tab on iPads. This indicates that despite 'Bug fi' (bug fixes) mentioned in the release notes, stability issues persist for some users.R38R39R119R240

Who it's for

This app is for travelers who primarily need general information about what can be brought through security and appreciate a well-designed interface R5R61R70. It is NOT for travelers who rely on accurate, real-time security wait times to plan their airport arrival, as this feature is widely reported as unreliable R2R8R23R48.

Evidence note: The evidence for inaccurate wait times is overwhelming and consistent across many reviews. The positive feedback on UI and general information is present but less frequent than the negative feedback regarding wait times.

Frequently asked

Are the security wait times in the MyTSA app accurate?
No, many recent reviews indicate that the security wait times displayed in the MyTSA app are frequently inaccurate and not real-time, often showing much shorter times than actual experience R2R8R23R48.
Can I check my TSA PreCheck expiration date in the app?
According to recent reviews, the app no longer displays the TSA PreCheck expiration date, which users have noted as a missing feature R3.
Does the MyTSA app provide information on what items are allowed through security?
Yes, the app is praised for providing useful information on what items can and cannot be brought through security checkpoints R5R70R99R129.
Can I save my favorite airports in the MyTSA app?
Many users report difficulties adding and managing favorite airports, with the app sometimes failing to recognize airports or defaulting to unwanted locations R32R37R55R171.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] 5/5 · US My favorite app as a frequent flyer: The app is very accessible and works very well on my device. I has just re-downloaded it because it is such an amazing app. The AI has issues but besides that it is a pretty amazing app when I’m not sure something can get through the TSA I will check the app. I have to fly to school ever week so this gets handy when my teachers or AIDS give me something that I
  2. [R70] 4/5 · US Helpful: Was helpful but I wish they could give more info, I would recommend downloading your airlines app, I love using the delta app! I do like that you can see what you can and can’t bring.
  3. [R99] 5/5 · US User Friendly and Informative: The My TSA app is so helpful when preparing for travel. The Ask TSA portion provides real-time information.
  4. [R129] 4/5 · US PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: The App provides the passengers prior knowledge of what to bring & what not to carry when traveling by air.
  5. [R61] 5/5 · US A good UI design: Finally! More apps and websites need to do this. It really helps your company out-an attractive design can do nothing but draw in more users.
  6. [R62] 5/5 · US I wish MyTSA would include COVID notification: myTSA will be great for travelers if we get notification if someone got positive! This will be a great traveling tool! The new design is sick! Kudos to that!
  7. [R63] 5/5 · US Wow!!! This new design!!: I love the new design! The airports map is really helpful! I wish you have implemented this feature before. However, the feature that I was waiting for is still missing. Actual wait times live!! Hoping to see this on your next update!
  8. [R50] 5/5 · US My review: Great app very helpful
  9. [R73] 5/5 · US Awesome: Great information.
  10. [R83] 5/5 · US Helpful app: Having this app is very helpful, all information is there
  11. [R104] 5/5 · US Great TSA App: All the things you need right at your fingertips!!! Very well done TSA!!!
  12. [R154] 5/5 · US TSA app: I had a question and was able to send message to TSA. They answered promptly and very polite. Great app!
  13. [R2] 1/5 · US Not live reports: Maybe this used to work but it does not reflect accurate live times if you compare to airport websites which report actual live times. This is useless and just gives estimates based on history. And can be amazingly inaccurate
  14. [R4] 1/5 · US Horrible!: Wish I could rate this a zero. First of all, it says the wait times at all JFK terminals is the same. How can all 4 terminals have the same wait time! And the max wait time it displays is “greater than 60 minutes.” This could be 61 minutes or it could be 200 minutes…. No way to tell.
  15. [R6] 1/5 · US WRONG: Said wait time was 60 minutes, there was no wait, it took longer to work thru the back and forth turns to get to security.
  16. [R8] 1/5 · US Actually worthless: Has no relationship to reality. Don’t bother downloading as you can’t trust it.
  17. [R13] 1/5 · US Useless: Not sure whether this app is poorly designed or I am just stupid. DFW web site shows wait times at each checkpoint in each terminal. This app just reports overall time range for whole airport. How is that useful?
  18. [R31] 2/5 · US Gives general wait times, not specific to your terminal: The only reason you would download this app probably is to check security checkpoint wait times. And that’s where this falls the most short. It only gives an average wait time across the entire airport. At the minimum it should give times per terminal. In places like DFW where each Terminal has multiple security checkpoints, even more sp
  19. [R51] 1/5 · US Smart idea that's not helpful: Why does TSA think that having the security wait times for the entire airport makes sense when it varies terminal by terminal? You're better going to the websites that have figured all this out way better and way more effectively than this app. The first time I used it, the prediction was so off I deleted it right off my phone.
  20. [R39] 3/5 · US I’m not a tester, but it seems there are some bugs in the app: Over all, I would recommend the app. Currently there are some bugs that do need addressed. Example: if you go to the tab for ask TSA on the iPad, if you click on the tsa website. The app crashes. On a cellphone it goes to the website. That is just one example. To me not being able to access what you need could be a problem. That is w
  21. [R119] 3/5 · US App won’t open: Since the last update the app crashes when I try to open it. Before that the app was ok.
  22. [R240] 3/5 · US Great Concept Poor Execution: I don't wanna end up on a list or something, but the app shuts down every time I try to check DFW. But it needs more users!! Fix it so we can get some real wait time info!
  23. [R32] 1/5 · US No search results: I just downloaded this app but on searching for the airports I will be using no results come back. Location services are set to always
  24. [R34] 1/5 · US Broken: App won’t even load the list of airports, useless
  25. [R35] 1/5 · US Does not recognize airports: This app does not recognize the names of any airports so you can’t use it.
  26. [R36] 1/5 · US Not recognized any airport: Tried put 20 or more US international airports the app doesn’t recognize any
  27. [R3] 3/5 · US Expiration Date?!?!????: It used to show when my TSA precheck will expire but why does it no longer show in the app. Make it make sense. On the next update, please return to previous format.
  28. [R20] 1/5 · US Totally Unreliable Checkpoint Info: I recently checked this app for a flight out of DCA Terminal 2, which has two security checkpoints. The app said both checkpoints were open and the wait time at each was 0-15 minutes. Turns out the south checkpoint was completely closed, so I walked the length of the terminal to the north checkpoint, where I ended up waiting about 35 minutes. I can't remember t
  29. [R26] 1/5 · US Useless: At PHL now. Apps says pre-check is closed and it is open. Says wait time for regular tsa is 0-15. Yeah, no.
  30. [R41] 2/5 · US No Precheck Operating Hours?: I was hoping this app would tell me what time TSA precheck closes, but no such luck
  31. [R44] 2/5 · US Inaccurate for SEA PreCheck lanes: App says Checkpoints 1 and 4 are open for TSA PreCheck, but both are closed and Checkpoint 1 doesn’t open until 4am according to an airport worker.
  32. [R17] 2/5 · US KTN number incorrect on app: Can’t correct on app
  33. [R158] 3/5 · US KTN on iPad doesn’t save: This works fine on my iPhone, but on my iPad when I try to save the KTN number, it doesn’t save. It confirms that it’s saved, but when I exit and reopen the app, it’s gone.
  34. [R38] 1/5 · US Won’t download: This app is “stuck” on download and I can’t stop it and it won’t restart
  35. [R23] 1/5 · US Wait time often wrong: This app often has incorrect wait times for TSA. Incorrect info displayed 60-70% of the time in my experience. Not much purpose for this app beyond that. Do yourself a favor and skip it.
  36. [R48] 1/5 · US Wrong estimated times: Told me 0-15 minute wait. Took over 3 hours and missed my flight
  37. [R37] 1/5 · US Unable to add favorite airports..: The app will Not allow nor recognize any airports that I put in- Philadelphia. Tampa, etc… Very confusing-
  38. [R55] 1/5 · US Garbage App: I try to choose Favorite Airports. Then suddenly the app flips from the list of airports to a specific airport. After that it’s over. I cant choose any more airports. So i can only choose 2 or 3 airports?
  39. [R171] 3/5 · US Can’t change default airport: This seems like it can be useful, but I can’t find a way to remove the default closest airport, which I never use, or at least drop it below the ones I actually fly from. The what can I bring list is helpful; there are things there I wouldn’t even have thought to ask about. I’ll revisit this after my holiday travels and adjust the rating if appropriate. Three stars f

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store