No, TSA usually lets you keep shoes on now, but staff can ask you to remove them if screening needs a closer check.
Airport screening goes smoother when you know what will get binned and what can stay with you. Shoes used to be the big wildcard, since most people had to step out of them and send them through the X-ray.
As of July 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a nationwide change: travelers can generally keep shoes on at TSA checkpoints. You can read the official notice in DHS to End “Shoes-Off” Travel Policy.
That said, the checkpoint is still a security screening. If something alarms, if the officer needs a closer check, or if your footwear is tricky for scanners, you can still be asked to remove shoes. So it’s smart to plan like shoe removal might happen, even if it often won’t.
| Traveler Or Lane | Do Shoes Usually Stay On | What To Expect At The Belt |
|---|---|---|
| Standard screening lane | Yes, in most cases | Keep shoes on unless there’s an alarm or extra screening |
| TSA PreCheck lane | Yes | Shoes stay on in normal flow, still possible to be asked during a check |
| Children 12 and under | Yes | Kids can keep shoes on in standard screening, with a parent nearby |
| Teens 13–17 | Usually yes | Rules track the lane and screening result; follow the officer’s call |
| Adults 75 and older | Often yes | May keep shoes on, but alarms can trigger shoe checks |
| Footwear with lots of metal | Sometimes | May alarm; you might be asked to remove shoes for a rescan |
| Thick boots or high tops | Sometimes | Extra screening is more common if the scanner can’t clear the image |
| Selected for additional screening | Not always | Follow instructions; shoe removal is one of the common steps |
What This Shoe Change Means At The Checkpoint
The big shift is simple: shoe removal is no longer the default for most people. You’ll still see bins, but more travelers will keep shoes on and move straight through screening.
It also means the line can feel inconsistent from trip to trip. Different airports, lanes, and machines can create different experiences. Even in the same airport, one lane may run a bit differently than the next.
The best mindset is “shoes on unless asked.” It keeps you calm and keeps you from slowing the line by guessing.
Do You Need to Take Off Shoes for TSA?
For most trips, you won’t. The updated policy is meant to let travelers keep shoes on while walking through screening. Still, if your shoes trigger an alert, the officer may ask you to remove them so they can screen the shoes and clear you.
If you want a no-drama plan, wear shoes that are quick to loosen. That way, if you do get asked, you can step out fast and step back in without a full shoe-tying pit stop.
Taking Off Shoes At TSA Screening Rules By Lane
Standard screening lanes
In standard lanes, the new baseline is shoes stay on. You’ll place bags and pockets items in bins, then walk through the scanner as directed.
If the scanner alarms around your feet or ankles, the officer may ask for shoe removal and a quick rescreen. This isn’t a “you did something wrong” moment. It’s just how the system clears an alarm.
When it happens, keep your shoes paired and close together, and send them through as directed. You’ll get them back quickly once they clear.
TSA PreCheck lanes
PreCheck travelers have long been able to keep shoes on in normal flow. The benefit still shows up in other ways too, like fewer steps with outerwear and electronics in many cases. TSA’s own page on screening accommodations notes the typical PreCheck approach to shoes and other items. See Disabilities and Medical Conditions for the official description of what travelers can usually keep on or keep packed in PreCheck lanes.
Even so, a lane can still run an extra check. If an officer asks for shoe removal, it’s usually tied to an alarm, a screening selection, or a footwear issue that needs a closer view.
Children traveling with family
Kids 12 and under can keep shoes on during standard screening. That’s been a long-standing TSA practice, and it helps keep families moving with less stress.
TSA spells this out on its official guidance for families. The clearest reference is the TSA page Traveling with Children, which notes kids 12 and under can keep shoes on at screening.
For teens, procedures depend on the lane and the screening result. If your teen is asked to remove shoes, it’s the same drill as any adult: remove, send through, clear, move on.
Older travelers
Adults 75 and older often have a smoother process at the checkpoint, and shoe removal is not always required. Still, alarms can trigger shoe checks, so it pays to wear footwear that’s simple to remove if needed.
If you travel with a cane, braces, or other gear, tell the officer early and follow the lane instructions step by step. Clear, calm communication speeds things up.
Why You Might Still Be Asked To Remove Shoes
The new default is shoes on, but screening is still built around alarms and follow-ups. A few common reasons shoe removal can come up are straightforward.
- Scanner alarm at the feet or ankles. The system needs a follow-up to clear the alert.
- Footwear materials that don’t screen cleanly. Thick soles, layered boots, and bulky straps can complicate a scan.
- Metal hardware. Shanks, plates, big buckles, studs, and dense eyelets can trigger checks.
- Additional screening selection. Sometimes the lane calls for extra steps to clear a traveler.
- Medical or mobility gear around the feet. Braces and supports can change how the image reads, which can lead to a shoe check.
If you get asked, the fastest move is to follow directions, keep your shoes together, and keep your socks on. The checkpoint is built for quick repeat steps, so the quicker you match the process, the sooner you’re on your way.
Shoes That Tend To Trigger Extra Checks
This doesn’t mean these shoes are “bad.” It just means they’re more likely to create an alarm or lead to a closer look. If you wear one of these, plan for the chance you’ll remove shoes at the belt.
| Footwear Type | Why It Can Slow Screening | Easy Fix Before The Line |
|---|---|---|
| Work boots | Thick soles and layered materials | Loosen laces and tuck ends |
| High-top sneakers | Dense ankle area and extra hardware | Use simple lace pattern or elastic laces |
| Sandals with metal buckles | Hardware can alarm | Choose plastic buckles for travel days |
| Fashion boots with zippers | Metal zipper lines can draw attention | Wear socks and be ready to unzip fast |
| Shoes with steel shanks | Dense strip inside the sole | Pick lighter shoes when you can |
| Platform shoes | Bulk makes imaging less clear | Swap to low-profile shoes for the flight |
| Orthopedic shoes with inserts | Extra layers can change the scan | Keep inserts in place and follow officer steps |
How To Pick Travel Shoes That Keep You Moving
If you want fewer surprises, pick shoes that are easy for scanners and easy for you. Think low-profile soles, minimal metal, and quick-on design.
Slip-ons can be great, but only if they stay snug on your feet. Floppy slip-ons can be annoying in a long line. A snug sneaker with elastic laces is often the sweet spot.
If your trip calls for boots, you can still travel in them. Just plan for the shoe-off moment: loosen laces before you hit the bins, wear socks you’re fine standing in, and keep a small wipe in your bag if you hate airport floors.
What To Do If An Officer Asks For Shoe Removal
This is where a calm, simple routine pays off.
- Step aside only as directed. Don’t block the bin return path.
- Remove shoes and keep them paired. Put them side by side, not scattered.
- Send shoes through screening if asked. Don’t argue with the process.
- Wait for the clear signal. Put shoes back on only when you’re told to move on.
- Repack after you clear the area. Grab your stuff, then step to a bench to lace up.
If you’re traveling with kids, coach them in one line: “Keep your shoes on unless the officer says take them off.” It prevents the classic family pile-up where one person removes shoes while everyone else is still loading bins.
Special Notes For Medical Footwear And Mobility Needs
If you wear braces, medical boots, or specialty footwear, you can still get through screening without drama. Let the officer know early, before you step into the scanner. Short and direct is best: “I’m wearing a brace on my left foot.”
Extra screening steps may happen, since the image can look different with medical gear. If shoe removal is requested, follow the instructions and ask where to place the item so it stays clean and easy to retrieve.
If you want added help at the airport, TSA has a program called TSA Cares that explains assistance options and screening expectations for medical conditions. Use that info when planning, not at the belt.
Quick Checklist Before You Join The Line
This is a fast routine that works at most U.S. airports, even when the lane is busy.
- Pick shoes with minimal metal and low-profile soles when you can.
- Loosen laces before you reach the bins.
- Wear socks you don’t mind standing in.
- Empty pockets early so you’re not juggling at the belt.
- Keep shoes paired if you remove them.
- Repack at a bench, not at the bin return spot.
One Last Reality Check Before You Fly
The new rule means most travelers won’t remove shoes at TSA anymore, and that’s a real time-saver. Still, the checkpoint is built on clearing alarms, and shoe checks remain one of the quickest follow-ups an officer can use.
If you keep the plan simple—shoes on unless asked, footwear that’s easy to remove when needed—you’ll move through with less stress. And if you do get the shoe-off call, you’ll be ready, not rattled.
For reference inside your packing notes, the question do you need to take off shoes for TSA? is now usually answered with “no,” with the same common-sense exception: screening results can change what the officer asks you to do.