Rivian keys now live in your Apple Wallet – just don’t lose your phone AND your sanity
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Rivian owners, your phone is finally becoming a proper key. The company’s software chief, Wassym Bensaid, has confirmed that the upcoming .46 update will officially turn on Digital Key support for second-generation R1S and R1T vehicles. This isn’t just an app update; it introduces native keys that live right inside your Apple Wallet on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
The best part? It uses both Ultra Wideband (UWB) for precise, hands-free unlocking and NFC. That NFC bit is huge because it supports Apple’s Power Reserve feature – meaning you can still tap your phone to unlock your truck for up to five hours after your battery dies.
Rivian is also bumping the limit from four to eight digital keys per vehicle, so the whole family can have access. And it’s not just for Apple users; full compatibility is coming for Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet, too.
Why This Matters
This is a massive maturity moment for Rivian. If you drove a Gen 1 vehicle, you know the struggle of relying on the Rivian app’s Bluetooth unlocking. It worked, but it wasn’t on the same level as the seamless experience offered by BMW or Tesla. It lacked that native wallet feel, the precision, and definitely didn’t work if your phone died.
This move to true Digital Key support bridges that gap. It finally aligns Rivian with the industry gold standards – specifically leveraging Apple’s CarKey framework – and actually utilizes the upgraded hardware built into the Gen 2 platform.
Why You Should Care
Ideally, this just makes life easier and less stressful. You can genuinely leave the bulky key fob at home without worrying about being stranded if your phone battery hits 0%.
It adds a layer of safety and redundancy that wasn’t there before. Plus, being able to share access instantly via text message is a game-changer. If a friend needs to borrow the truck or grab something from the trunk, you can send them a key in seconds without needing a physical handoff.
What’s Next
Look for the .46 OTA update to hit vehicles later this month. While Gen 2 owners get the full package immediately, Gen 1 owners might be out of luck for the full experience since they lack the newer UWB hardware.
Rivian says this is just the start for the Gen 2 platform, signaling a broader push to make the car feel more like a piece of high-tech software and less like a traditional vehicle.
Moinak Pal is has been working in the technology sector covering both consumer centric tech and automotive technology for the…
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