Yes. If you don't empty your pockets, the scanners will set off an alarm and you'll need a patdown. Can you put items in your pockets before going through airport security? You can, but depending on the method of screening it will need to come out, so might as well put in the tray.

Yes, airport security in 2026 requires that you completely empty your pockets before passing through the scanners. While newer "High-Fidelity" Millimeter Wave body scanners can see through clothing, they are extremely sensitive to any objects—including non-metallic items like tissues, gum wrappers, or wallets—which will show up as an "anomaly" and trigger a manual pat-down. To ensure a high-fidelity, efficient screening process, security officers instruct passengers to place all pocket contents, including phones, keys, coins, and even heavy cardstock boarding passes, into the bins for X-ray. It is a high-fidelity "pro-tip" to place these smaller items inside your carry-on bag or jacket pocket before reaching the front of the line to prevent items from falling out of the bins. Even if you have TSA PreCheck, you are generally required to remove large metal objects from your pockets to avoid setting off the standard metal detectors used in those expedited lanes.