Apple Phone Key .. update problem is push to unlock

[Explorer83]

Welp after months of waiting for phone key, thoroughly disappointed. Basically the exact same performance as the previous phone key especially unlocking behavior at home.

Finally decided that its better to leave passive unlock and lock on at home rather than feel like a fool trying to get my trucks door to unlock.

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[Dark-Fx]

Haven't had any issues with the digital key on my Android.

 

[Jabbahop]

works fine on my iphone 16

 

[Rivian-E]

Vastly improved experience for me on my iPhone 17. Night and day from the non-UWB version.

 

[captainjp]

Disagree with OP

 

[WattsUpNJ]

It's been a worse experience for me. For the most part, it's normal. The car sense me before I get to the doors usually about 75% of the time. This morning it did not recognize me, so I had to pull out my phone and manually unlock. Got in and it wouldn't let me drive until I took out my key card and put it on the sensor. That was a bit frustrating. Got back home, did a reset and it's working again.

But it never recognizes my Apple Watch as a key, despite it showing in my apple wallet on both my phone and watch AND the vehicle shows my watch as a key.

Normally I would consider that a "nice to have" but I'm a runner who often parks, leaves my phone in the car and goes for a run. I deleted WAAK when I added my watch as a key and now it won't allow me to go back to using WAAK and my watch key doesn't work either.

I need to call service but I assume they are dealing with bigger issues right now.

 

[lefkonj]

worked perfectly fine for me and my iPhone. Sorry you are having trouble but didn't have a big issue with the app either.

 

[Explorer83]

Glad to hear others are having better experiences. Maybe i will try a delete and reinstall. Like another poster, my apple watch key is totally non functional. Only exception is that the shortcuts that i added from my phone to the menu on the watch seem to work with a delay.
iPhone shortcuts also seem to work better.
Overall experience very 6/7… lol my daughter would cringe at that

 

[mikehmb]

Having similar experience as OP. Watch worked once and never again. Phone would be faster if I just go in via the widget, or at least tap on the widget to take me to the app, because the widget suddenly looks like this (actual screen grab):

 

[ElGuano]

The new UWB digital key is SO much better for me, on an iphone 15PM.

Before, using the standard BLE key, I always had Proximity Lock set to "lock only at home," since every time I would walk out the front door to get the mail, or walk around the living room, the truck would unlock. And of course, when I actually wanted the truck to unlock, half the time it wouldn't work even by the time I get to the door and stand for a few seconds. This happened particularly when I walked around the back of the truck to get to the door (approaching from the front worked better).

With digital key, it works exactly as it should, and is finally superior to the phone key experience on our Tesla. The only time I get a false unlock is when I pass right next to the truck (e.g., get into the other car, and back out of the garage passing next to the Rivian in the driveway). Walking towards the car and away from it triggers lock/unlock more consistently, and sooner. Usually it unlocks within 10 feet, and locks as soon as I'm 15 feet away.

Good stuff, it's a real QOL improvement IMHO.

 

[Rivian-E]

Having similar experience as OP. Watch worked once and never again. Phone would be faster if I just go in via the widget, or at least tap on the widget to take me to the app, because the widget suddenly looks like this (actual screen grab):

Have you restarted your phone since the update and/or removed and re-added the widgets? This happens with major software updates from time to time.

 

[Swiszo]

Welp after months of waiting for phone key, thoroughly disappointed. Basically the exact same performance as the previous phone key especially unlocking behavior at home.

Finally decided that its better to leave passive unlock and lock on at home rather than feel like a fool trying to get my trucks door to unlock.

No problems with iPhone 17. Better than walking around the house and having the truck lock, un lock, lock, unlock while I'm in the kitchen and it is in the garage. Much faster response, phone to truck with near field communication

 

[mattbrad2]

I would completely remove the key and add it from scratch. The digital key "conversion" doesn't seem to work very well. I had the same issue with my S24 Ultra. It kept using the passive bluetooth key instead of the UWB digital key, even though Samsung wallet happily told me everything was fine. I still would have to take the phone out of my pocket, which I knew wasn't right. Now it works perfectly.

 

[ChewyDog]

Apple Phone Key performance is great in my experience over the past week. I’ve noticed my R1S unlocking earlier upon approach and also while the phone is obstructed (phone still in my back pocket). There were times previous to the update where I would need to take the phone out of my back pocket to get it to engage with the vehicle.

I’ve also shared the digital key with my Apple Watch and it has worked flawlessly. I’ve run a couple quick local trips with no keys other than the watch - without issue (locking, unlocking, driving, etc.)

 

[Jim4]

Digital key is far superior. Try doing the obvious and deleting and starting over from scratch, and perhaps a soft restart of the phone and car. Bet it will work fine after that.

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