Pro Tip: ensure you have 2nd key with you with new digital key!

[AFineOldWine]

I hope this is a "one off" or "extremely rare", but I got locked out of our G2 R1S yesterday, in a manner that never happened before the new 2025.46 key update.

As I sometimes do, I left my phone on the charge pad when I exited the vehicle. As always, I listened for the proximity lock sound as I walked away, and heard it. When I went to pay in the coffee shop, I realized I didn't have my phone. Worse, I'd left my wallet (with the key card) at home. So, my bad, but a changed experience with the new digital key.

In the past, any time I left the phone in the car, the proximity lock would not engage -- I wouldn't hear the lock sound, and could return to the still-unlocked car to retrieve my phone. I have no idea why the proximity lock activated in this case. There were no other authorized drivers (or their devices) around. There wasn't even another pedestrian around. Fortunately, my wife was (as always) able to bail me out, and the barista who loaned me their phone got an extra nice holiday tip. So the only damage was to my ego.

I did contact service to see if there was a way to revert to the old key. There is not. I haven't been able to recreate the lockout (yet?). I've always had a second-way-in on all my prior vehicles (e.g. hidden key), so I'm sad my R1S does not have a "fail safe" option.

Has anyone else figured out a plan B for when the bear runs off with your pants while you're skinny dipping in that secret swimming hole only you know about? (These are "adventure vehicles" after all!)

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[David_C_]

This happened to me today...but I figured it was because I had my Apple Watch on, and it sensed me walking away with that key, and therefore ignored my phone key in the car. Was that your situation too? If you don't have a watch with a key, that's super odd...and something I'll be wary of in the future, thanks for the heads up!

 

[AFineOldWine]

This happened to me today...but I figured it was because I had my Apple Watch on, and it sensed me walking away with that key, and therefore ignored my phone key in the car.

No, I don't have a watch (of any kind). Using a watch was one of the workarounds support suggested to me -- so I think that makes you safe.

 

[Seano]

Wow: good to know.

Just like the time I mistakenly locked my key fob inside our BMW, despite being told it couldn’t happen.

 

[mrairgraphics]

Oh man Just happened to me yesterday as well ! I have a bad habit of leaving my phone/wallet in my car… walked away and that lovely whistle sound notified me of my locked out status! Rivian support chat quickly got me back in and promptly told me in a fun tone..”change your habits buddy”

 

[David_C_]

Do we know why the car locks if you walk away empty handed? If the car isn’t sensing your phone go out of range, are the cameras watching you walk away? Is it just a timer after the doors close? Seems like something in the software need to be fixed…

 

[grayr1]

I hope this is a "one off" or "extremely rare", but I got locked out of our G2 R1S yesterday, in a manner that never happened before the new 2025.46 key update.

As I sometimes do, I left my phone on the charge pad when I exited the vehicle. As always, I listened for the proximity lock sound as I walked away, and heard it. When I went to pay in the coffee shop, I realized I didn't have my phone. Worse, I'd left my wallet (with the key card) at home. So, my bad, but a changed experience with the new digital key.

In the past, any time I left the phone in the car, the proximity lock would not engage -- I wouldn't hear the lock sound, and could return to the still-unlocked car to retrieve my phone. I have no idea why the proximity lock activated in this case. There were no other authorized drivers (or their devices) around. There wasn't even another pedestrian around. Fortunately, my wife was (as always) able to bail me out, and the barista who loaned me their phone got an extra nice holiday tip. So the only damage was to my ego.

I did contact service to see if there was a way to revert to the old key. There is not. I haven't been able to recreate the lockout (yet?). I've always had a second-way-in on all my prior vehicles (e.g. hidden key), so I'm sad my R1S does not have a "fail safe" option.

Has anyone else figured out a plan B for when the bear runs off with your pants while you're skinny dipping in that secret swimming hole only you know about? (These are "adventure vehicles" after all!)

I hide one of my credit card keys in my trailer hitch. It’s out of sight and easily retrievable. I wrap it in a zip-lock bag and it’s a great piece of mind knowing I won’t be locked out.

 

[iansriv]

I used to forget things a lot. Start the day with 15 minutes of mindful meditation. We have evolved/devolved into a society where we are constantly bombarded with multiple tasks and we lose focus. I also make a habit of making sure I have my phone on me the moment I step outside my car. This is not meant to be a lecture. Just passing on what little I know. Cheers.

 

[AFineOldWine]

told me in a fun tone..”change your habits buddy”

<rant> That's backwards - technology must be designed to serve humans, not vise versa! </rant>

Sigh too few people in product engineering have read any of Don Norman's human computer work, or Nancy Leveson's Engineering a Safer World. This bug goes against both approaches, even though they come from different directions!

Rivian support chat quickly got me back in

Yeah - since don't have the number memorized, I guess I'm going to have it added as tattoo. Maybe on the shackle of a padlock, so I can remember the purpose....

 

[tkauftheil]

Support can unlock your vehicle remotely. Not sure of the criteria or what info is needed to be supplied, but they can do it. But if your phone is locked in the car, that might be difficult.

 

[mkhuffman]

There is no proximity lock if you are still in the vehicle (because the phone is still there). My truck relocks a few minutes after unlocking because I have it set to do that.

Not sure why the digital key would change that behavior, but certainly this is something that could happen to me. Most likely I would have my wallet and "backup" key card if it did happen.

 

[2kwik4u]

<rant> That's backwards - technology must be designed to serve humans, not vise versa! </rant>

Sigh too few people in product engineering have read any of Don Norman's human computer work, or Nancy Leveson's Engineering a Safer World. This bug goes against both approaches, even though they come from different directions!

110% agree here.

 

[Newtonrj]

This has happened to me twice. Here is the workaround... Go to the back of the R1S or front of the R1 vehicle and either open the trunk or frunk with the button while wearing your watch or keycard. This force-awakens the R1 and you should be successful at opening doors as they present themselves. I've found that when you leave the phone in the car, remember before it chirp/locks and get it out, the car will still go to sleep and in certain cases won't awake even by app triggering. There is obviously a small bug but force-awaking the vehicle by trunk/frunk seems to work. Drive-on safely.

 

[David_C_]

Go to the back of the R1S or front of the R1 vehicle and either open the trunk or frunk with the button while wearing your watch or keycard.

I’ve noticed this behavior, but hadn’t thought of where force awakening (there’s a Star Wars joke here somewhere…) can be used to my advantage. Thanks for the idea, this is a good one.

 

[mkhuffman]

This has happened to me twice. Here is the workaround... Go to the back of the R1S or front of the R1 vehicle and either open the trunk or frunk with the button while wearing your watch or keycard. This force-awakens the R1 and you should be successful at opening doors as they present themselves. I've found that when you leave the phone in the car, remember before it chirp/locks and get it out, the car will still go to sleep and in certain cases won't awake even by app triggering. There is obviously a small bug but force-awaking the vehicle by trunk/frunk seems to work. Drive-on safely.

This only works if you have a key outside the truck. The problem is if you walk away leaving your phone in the truck, it auto locks and you have no backup key on your person. Waking it won't help.

I have walked away from my truck without my phone more times than I can count. Luckily I remember very quickly and return before it locks. And I do have the card key in my wallet. I can see the day when I leave my phone and wallet in the truck and it locks me out.

My Mach-e had a keypad on the door which was amazingly useful especially when something like this happens. That door keypad is a Ford thing, and I really miss it.

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