Finally — Apple Wallet Car Key is Activated!

[Johnus]

Crossing fingers the same support comes to Android soon... I'm seeing 10 other manufacturers with support in Samsung Wallet right now.

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[mattbrad2]

Simply enabling UWB would solve most PAAK issues. The new FOB uses it so I have no idea why this has been exclusive to just the FOB. That alone fixes most of your Android PAAK problems (with UWB enabled phones obviously)

 

[zefram47]

Is this only for Gen 2, or possible for Gen 1 also?

Gen2 only...unfortunately, Gen1 does not have UWB hardware.

 

[mpshizzle]

Crossing fingers the same support comes to Android soon... I'm seeing 10 other manufacturers with support in Samsung Wallet right now.

I'm hoping so as well. When they initially announced Gen 2 they said specifically iPhone and Pixels.

(unfortunately Samsung has blocked car keys from working on Google wallet on their devices. You HAVE to use Samsung wallet for car keys. But Rivian hasn't mentioned support for that)

 

[BTOR]

Looks like Rivian/Apple is finally rolling out Apple Wallet car key support for Gen2!!! I’m really excited to finally use my Apple Watch as a key and to be able to unlock the R1 even when our phone’s are dead thanks to Express Mode. This is a big win for seamless iPhone/Watch integration and UWB should solve so many of our PAAK issues I assume this will be landing in the next update or soon thereafter

https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/28/rivian-activates-apple-car-key-support/

EV manufacturer Rivian appears to finally be rolling out support for Apple's digital car keys available through the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. Rivian announced support for the feature in debuting its second-generation R1S and R1T over a year ago, but the company had not activated it until today, as spotted in an Apple configuration file by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.​

​

While we can't confirm whether it's up and running for all users just yet, Apple has pushed support live on its end, so owners of supported Rivian vehicles should hopefully be seeing it soon.​

I'm guessing that it will be as simple as an 'add to wallet' button within the APP once it goes live - thats what its typically been for the HomeKey locks and Boarding Passes etc

Keep in mind, your iPhone must meet these requirements to be Car Key compatible:

• iPhone XS or later, or iPhone SE (2nd generation), with the latest version of iOS, or Apple Watch Series 5 or later, or Apple Watch SE, with the latest version of watchOS.

 

[True Brit]

I just don't see the need for it. My phone has unlocked the vehicle without any problems.

 

[Sgt Beavis]

Looks like Rivian/Apple is finally rolling out Apple Wallet car key support for Gen2!!! I’m really excited to finally use my Apple Watch as a key and to be able to unlock the R1 even when our phone’s are dead thanks to Express Mode. This is a big win for seamless iPhone/Watch integration and UWB should solve so many of our PAAK issues I assume this will be landing in the next update or soon thereafter

https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/28/rivian-activates-apple-car-key-support/

EV manufacturer Rivian appears to finally be rolling out support for Apple's digital car keys available through the Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch. Rivian announced support for the feature in debuting its second-generation R1S and R1T over a year ago, but the company had not activated it until today, as spotted in an Apple configuration file by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.​

​

While we can't confirm whether it's up and running for all users just yet, Apple has pushed support live on its end, so owners of supported Rivian vehicles should hopefully be seeing it soon.​

There is an update on that article.

Update August 29 4:35 a.m.: Rivian tells MacRumors that while the feature has been pushed live on Apple's side, it hasn't yet launched on Rivian's side. It is, however, coming soon.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Don’t see why they can’t do this for gen1. Keycards are RFID NFC and iPhones have it.

 

[lefkonj]

Don’t see why they can’t do this for gen1. Keycards are RFID and iPhones have it.

The hardware isn't in the Gen1 to support the function.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

The hardware isn't in the Gen1 to support the function.

Not UWB but the door handles in gen1 are RFID NFC just like keycards.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Don’t see why they can’t do this for gen1. Keycards are RFID and iPhones have it.

They are using UWB protocol, not NFC like the gen 1's have.

https://www.rfidconnectus.com/news/uwb-vs.-nfc.html

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Can’t wait for this. Ability to unlock with a dead phone is awesome. One of the reasons I like having a fob. Also looking forward to more responsive proximity unlocking.

 

[Dark-Fx]

They are using UWB protocol, not NFC like the gen 1's have.

https://www.rfidconnectus.com/news/uwb-vs.-nfc.html

por que no los dos

 

[lefkonj]

Apple PaaK isn't RFID, so Gen1 doesn't have the hardware.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

por que no los dos

I don't think you can make it work the same way. My wife's i4M50 has an Apple Key, but the i4 uses NFC. There is no proximity unlock; you must hold your phone up to the sensor in the door to lock/unlock. I would imagine this would require two different sets of coding in the app, and I'm unsure how well those two protocols would interact when used simultaneously, or if that is even possible.

This could all be total bullshit, of course, as the extent of my software development skills is to ask ChatGPT to write code for me.

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