Apparently that’s true as long as they have the appropriate reader device - it sounds like it works similarly to tap to pay. Without that, you’d have to open up the Wallet app to show them.
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Have you checked if there is an override? I have two cars that use fobs, a 2016 Nissan and a 2015 Tesla. Both allow the key fobs to work even if the fob battery is dead, you just have to know the magic spot to put the fob (which presumably then gets powered by an inductive system).
BTW, older Teslas can be started from the app, but they don’t use NFC technology. The gotcha is that, if all you have is a phone (no fob) and your car and/or phone is outside cellular and WiFi range or Tesla’s servers are down, you cannot unlock or start the car.
I’ve thought I’d like an all-electric, but still have concerned that driving the two-lanes in the wide-open western states (US-12 across the Dakotas and Montana, for example), as I love to do in lieu of freeways, would still be problematic for finding charging stations. So I decided to compromise, and ordered a non-plug-in hybrid Forester.
Agreed about lousy manuals! I’ve found that the worst part of the Subaru manual is the index combined with clever names for features which make looking them up difficult. Even if the feature is reasonably described, the manual is of no use if I can’t find it!
Our Volvo EX key lives in 3 places: a tiny digital fob, a plastic card, and Apple Wallet. I have never used the fob, because the other 2 are so convenient. Howsomever…
Twice I have been unable to drive home, after I unlocked the car with iPhone and put it into drive, only to be confronted with this alert on the display panel: No valid key read
Right. If the phone let me into the car, it is obviously a valid key.
So, much like Ronald Reagan, I trust but verify — the card always in my back pocket.
Displaying your mDL in Wallet or showing a photo of your physical card (a photo image) is generally not a legal substitute for the original in a traffic stop situation. That’s also not how mDL was intended to be used.
Most states require showing a physical license upon request during a traffic stop. A LEO might use their discretion to accept a picture (which they then use to look up your actual DL through their systems), but in most states they are perfectly within their right to cite/fine you if you are not able to produce the physical DL within a timely manner (seconds/minutes, but not “I live just around the corner and can go get it”).
Some states accept digital proof of insurance, but DL is an entirely different matter. There is no legal right to drive on the public roadway in a MV (unlike the bogus “traveling” garbage put forth by some nut jobs). It is a privilege, in most states contingent on possessing, and being able to produce upon lawful request, a valid DL.
Ron, I have a 2016 Nissan Murano. BOTH key fob batteries died at the same time. Where is that magic spot you mentioned? (And to make it worse, 1 key fob was totally dead. It was very expensive to replace through Nissan!!!)
It varies based on the car, but it should be in your owner’s manual (which you may have to download these days).
On our 2018 Kia Sedona, there’s a mechanical key inside the fob which can be used to unlock the doors. And if you press the fob up against the starter button, you can start the car even if the fob’s battery is completely dead.
As I understand it (and I could be wrong about this), the fob normally communicates via Bluetooth, but it also has an NFC tag in it, which can be used when it has a dead battery, if you hold it near the receiving antenna (which is behind the start button for this car).
I’ve also seen manuals document specific locations on/in the center console where you can place a key fob when its battery is dead.
But this hasn’t been an issue for me. The Kia fob uses a standard CR2032 battery, which isn’t hard to replace. And the car alerts you (via a dashboard popup) when the battery is running low, so you have time to replace it before it dies.
When shopping for a new car these days, I think it’s a good idea to ask about things like how to change the battery in a key fob. If it requires dealer servicing, then I’d immediately change my plans and shop for a different model car.
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On Toyotas, the sweet spot is the Start/Stop button. When I did a web search for information on a Nissan, it also appears to be true for them. Is that the same for other cars that have moved away from a traditional metal key?
By the way, for my 2023 Prius, the front of the metal key that can open the driver’s front door also fits in a slot between the 2 halves of the fob.. You can then twist the key to open the fob to replace the battery.
That is by design. And it’s not just for the key fob. That “key” is also designed to be able to release the mechanical shift‑lock override during loss of power events as well as release windshield wiper blades from the arm (J hook).
A couple of experiences with the Ioniq 5 and digital key:
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After 6+ months of using the dk and never giving a thought to the fob, we drove 45 minutes to our Hyundai dealership for regular service. Guess what they needed? Take the fob with you when you go for service.
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The “who arrives first” at the car being the person whose profile is set is a pain. We’ve gotten into the habit of whoever is going to drive approaches first and the other person hangs back 4 or 5 feet.
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fairly often I get the message “no dk device found” when I hit the start button. Most of the time hitting the start button again works just fine. Sometimes the car still refuses to acknowledge the phone. If you set the phone on the charging pad, Apple Wallet opens to the dk and everything works after that.
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My doors won’t lock if the phone is inside, same as a fob. Touching the square spot on the door handy just makes a beep. Maybe having a watch attached makes a difference. I’ve wondered what I’d do if I ever needed to leave the phone in the car on purpose,
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If you have a spare electronic key fob, it makes a lot of sense to replace its battery every couple of years. Almost all fobs use common, easily replaceable batteries. You can find videos on YouTube showing exactly how to do it and which battery to buy for most relatively recent vehicles.
Although I’ve had fobs last more than ten years, 2-5 years seems to be the average rating. It may seem like overkill, but if you tend to leave your spare key fob sitting a drawer for long periods, I suggest replacing the battery on your spare fob annually, e.g., when you replace the battery on your smoke/CO2 detectors or just set a reminder on your phone.
Much better to spend $5/year on a battery than to be caught without a working spare when you really need one or to spend hundreds of dollars to reprogram your fob!
It’s in front of the Start/Stop button on our Titan XD pickup. Yes, shortly after we bought the truck (used) both key fob batteries died while we were away. There is a physical key hidden inside the fob (you have to slide a button on the back of the fob to release it) that will unlock the door, and then once inside you can hold the fob in front of the start/stop button to start the vehicle. Fortunately, both our fobs were revived with a battery replacement.
I got a new 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD 2 months ago, too. I had the same collection of challenges getting my wife’s Digital Key set up, too. Got nowhere with the Hyundai docs, either. I asked Perplexity for help, got a lot of instructions, but as with all guidance telling me what menus to follow in app, the guidance often fails because the AI forgets the version details or the exact car model details (“2026” is key for our car). I finally called for Hyundai phone support and we stumbled our way to the Apple Wallet and the Hyundai card there. That did the trick.
Thanks, too, Adam for the “Lock with Siri” info, since Claude got that one wrong (telling me I can’t to that), even though I told it I had the 2026 model.
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I have used the Tesla chargers twice now. A breeze to use with the Tesla app. I have the 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD, which comes standard with the NACS port. The 2025 model did not. So it will depend on your specific car model.
Hi Adam - You said your favorite Siri experience was when you said “Siri, lock the car.” I’m pessimistically wondering if you’ve ever experienced Siri denying a request to unlock the car. “I’m sorry Adam, I can’t do that.”
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Ah, so you still have to use Tesla’s app. That was one of the things I was wondering about. I have a reservation for an Aptera LE and they still have a projected 2026 delivery year fro me. Of course, when I made my initial reservation 4 years ago, it was 2023 so I take their delivery estimates with a lot of salt!
My wife’s car alerted us to a low fob battery with advice to “take it to a dealer”. I contacted the service guy who said that it was easy- look it up on Youtube. He was correct.
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The instructions might also be in your owner’s manual. At least it is for my 2012 Honda and 2018 Kia.
Have you had any issues when you’ve had to valet park your car? Do you need to have the little extra physical key on hand? What if you don’t have it with you?
2025s have NACS, earlier models do not. Have any other Ioniq 5 owners here experienced a blown ICCU?