Two drivers: Rivian picks wrong phone

[Seano]

This is a weird one and it’s happened a few times - wondering if anyone else experienced / is there a setting I’m missing? Some other cars I’ve had specifically allow you to set connection priorities.

We start to get in my 2025 R1S and the Rivian switches driver to my wife. I’m setup as owner & we both use iPhone 16 pro (although hers is the larger phone); we’re both setup with digital keys. I was previous/current driver.

My initial thought is that the larger format phone has a larger/stronger antenna or something?

Obviously something I can switch on the dash, but last time it happened as I was entering the car, the seat was pushing me into the dash before I could change it.

Any thoughts?

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[KRIV_ian]

Happens to me quite often, I assumed it was just connecting to the phone it "saw" first.

 

[SANZC02]

Happens to me quite often, I assumed it was just connecting to the phone it "saw" first.

I agree, both my Rivian and Tesla just connects to the phone it sees first.

 

[Rade]

Happens when my husband gets in first with his iPhone Generally, when my knees are in the dashboard and Apple Music needs to be authenticated, I know it's on his setting.

 

[Ralph]

Happens when my husband gets in first with his iPhone Generally, when my knees are in the dashboard and Apple Music needs to be authenticated, I know it's on his setting.

At least for us, the phone connection being discussed is independent of the driver selected. The truck clearly shows me as driver, but if my wife is present, it will connect to her phone more often than not.

When this happens, I can't simply select "me" from the Bluetooth symbol on the top right of the display. It lists both names, but will not change to my phone unless I reboot my phone.

This started happening at the last update. I'm anxious to see if this is eliminated with the next.

Still excited to see the added features updates bring us.

 

[KRIV_ian]

I've had it both ways,

1. Selects passenger as the driver profile and connects to their phone (bluetooth)
2. Selects driver as the driver profile but connects to the passenger's phone (bluetooth)

I wish the vehicle's logic would at least prevent number 2 so that the bluetooth connection defaults to the device that set the profile.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I never used to have this issue, but our situation has changed and given me insight into it. Generally it's selecting the profile of the person who enters first.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Mine does this constantly. I default to my wife all the time, even though I'm the primary on the car. On her car, we both have a FOB, but it can differentiate between who goes in what door. The Rivian gets it wrong so often it almost feels like it's on purpose.

 

[JacobAZ]

Its confusing. There are two separate processes. PAK is the first phone the R1 detects, which sets the driver seat setting, mirrors, etc. Its basically a handshake and done. The audio is a separate blue tooth connection (shows on phone a as Rivian Audio). In general, this is either the first phone R1 detects, or the last phone connected. But other factors come into play regarding blue tooth. Such as my Garmin watch can make phone calls and may already be blue toothed to the phone, so the R1 will not connect to my phone for audio since my phone is not available. So, When I get in I look at the dash to see whose name displays and change the driver if necessary. Similar. I can select connection to see whose phone is blue tooth connected and change if desired.

 

[Seano]

Thanks for the feedback: I did look for a setting to adjust - glad to know I'm not crazy.

Hopefully its on the nice to have / easy to change in the future.

 

[Rivan]

I have the same issue.
I think one solution is, I told my wife, if they can’t fix this, we have to get a divorce

 

[loqueid]

Is it alphabetical, maybe? It does it to my wife all the time. We just joke that the Rivian prefers my wife driving over me. The kids agree.

 

[Great Gatsby]

Same here when we had the R1. Tesla appears to have fixed this issue. My wife is always first but the vehicle appears to wait to see who is going to the driver's said before choosing a profile.

Hopefully the R2 has a better handle on this technology. Kind of annoying to always be switching back and forth.

 

[tdrew55]

This is a weird one and it’s happened a few times - wondering if anyone else experienced / is there a setting I’m missing? Some other cars I’ve had specifically allow you to set connection priorities.

We start to get in my 2025 R1S and the Rivian switches driver to my wife. I’m setup as owner & we both use iPhone 16 pro (although hers is the larger phone); we’re both setup with digital keys. I was previous/current driver.

My initial thought is that the larger format phone has a larger/stronger antenna or something?

Obviously something I can switch on the dash, but last time it happened as I was entering the car, the seat was pushing me into the dash before I could change it.

Any thoughts?

Yup, it happens...

 

[Picard]

Same problem. I have a pixel 9 and my wife has the 10. I am the registered owner but more or less every time we are going out somewhere, it will start moving seats and settings for her even if I was the last one driving. I wish Rivian added a priority so that the owner gets first dibs in case it detects both "keys" approaching (or even the last driver). It got so annoying to the point that I had to remove my wife's phone as a key. That lasted for a few weeks until I needed my wife to pick me up and that was the end of that plan .

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