Set up or manage a digital car key

You can lock, unlock, and start your car from your Android phone with a digital car key.

Pair your phone to your car

Important: Digital car keys are only available for select vehicles in select markets.

• They work with:
  • Pixel 6 and later, including Pixel Fold and Pixel 8 Pro.
  • Samsung Galaxy S21 and later.
  • Select Android devices that run Android 12 and up.

To set up a digital car key, you must be connected to the internet. If you have a Samsung phone, you can set up Digital Key in Samsung Wallet.

Use the car manufacturer app

1. To set up your account, open the car manufacturer app.
2. To pair your car to the account, find “digital car key” and follow the instructions.
3. On the welcome screen, sign in with your Google Account.
4. Review the Terms of Service.
5. Tap Agree & continue.
   Tip: You can edit the car key name now, but this name can’t be changed later. By default, it’s [your name] + [phone model]. For example, “Erik’s Pixel 6 Pro.”
6. Tap Start pairing and wait for your phone and car to pair.
7. Once pairing is complete, your digital key is added to Google Wallet.
   • If you don’t have the Google Wallet app, follow the on-screen instructions to download it.

Use an email link from your car manufacturer

1. On your phone, open the digital car key email from your car manufacturer.
2. In the email, tap Add to Android. If it’s the first time you add a key to your device, you’re prompted to update your device before you start pairing.
3. Tip: If you unpair your phone or remove your digital key, you’ll need to pair your car with an email link again, and you’ll need a new email and link. If the email you received doesn’t have the “Add to Android” link, contact your car manufacturer for help.
4. On the welcome screen, sign in with your Google Account.
5. Review the Terms of Service.
6. Tap Agree & continue.
7. Tip: You can edit the car key name now, but this name can’t be changed later. By default, it’s [your name] + [phone model]. For example, “Erik’s Pixel 6 Pro.”
8. Place your phone on your car key reader and wait for your phone and car to pair.
9. Once pairing is complete, your digital key is added to Google Wallet.
10. If you don’t have the Google Wallet app, you’re prompted to download it. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Use the car head unit

Important: This option is only available on some vehicles. Check with your car manufacturer for more info.

1. On the car head unit, select the digital car key setup. Check your owner’s manual or with your manufacturer for help if you can’t find this option.
   • If your phone screen is locked, enter your password.
2. Place your phone on the car key reader.
3. On the car head unit, follow the on-screen instructions. If it’s the first time you add a key to your device, you’re prompted to update your device before you start pairing.
4. Once the update is complete, tap Set up your car key.
5. On the welcome screen, sign in to your Google Account.
6. Review the Terms of Service.
7. Tap Agree & continue.
8. Enter your activation code.
9. You can edit the car key name now, but this name can’t be changed later. By default, it’s [user name] + [phone model]. For example, “Erik’s Pixel 6 Pro.”
10. Place your phone on your car key reader and wait for your phone and car to pair.
11. Once pairing is complete, your digital key is added to Google Wallet.
    • If you don’t have the Google Wallet app, you’re prompted to download it. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Tip: On your phone home screen, you can set up a shortcut for quick access to your digital key.

Pair your digital car key to your Pixel watch

Learn how to add a key to your watch.

Lock, unlock & start your car with your digital car key

Important: If you set up a screen lock for your digital car key, enter your password.

Lock or unlock your car

Hold the back of your device near the door handle of your car.

Start your car

1. Inside the car, place your device on the car key reader.
2. Press the car start button.

Use passive entry

Passive entry is on by default when you set up your digital car key. With passive entry, you don’t have to hold your device near the door handle to use your car key. Your device will automatically unlock your car doors when you’re near, start your car when you’re inside, and lock your car doors when you leave.

Important:

• Not all vehicles support passive entry. Contact your vehicle manufacturer for compatibility.
• Not all devices support passive entry. Check with your device’s manufacturer for compatibility.
• On some devices, you can only use passive entry on one car.
• Ensure your vehicle has the most up to date software.
• If passive entry doesn’t work, you can tap your device to the car’s door handle to unlock.

Turn off passive entry

Turn off on your phone

1. Open the Google Wallet app .
2. Select your digital car key.
3. Tap Details.
4. Turn off Passive entry.

Turn off on your watch

Learn how to turn off Passive entry settings.

Add or change the screen lock settings for your digital car key

If you choose to require phone unlock to use your digital car key, you must first turn off passive entry.

Important: By default, your car key doesn’t require your screen to be unlocked to use it.

1. Open the Google Wallet app .
2. Tap your car key. You may need to scroll to find it.
3. Tap Details Require phone unlock.
4. Choose the action that you want to use the screen lock for:
   • Unlock car.
   • Start car.
   • Unlock, lock, and start car.
   • If you don’t want to require screen lock to use your car key, tap Off.
5. Tap Save.

Use remote commands for lock, alarm & open trunk

On supported vehicles, you can lock and unlock your car, turn on your alarm, and use your power trunk from your Google Wallet or quick settings.

Important:

• Not all commands are available on all vehicles.
• Contact your vehicle manufacturer for compatibility.
• To use commands, you must to be within Bluetooth range of the vehicle

Lock, unlock, or turn on your alarm

From your Google Wallet app or quick settings, tap Lock, Unlock, or Alarm.

Open your trunk

From your Google Wallet app or quick settings, tap Trunk to open.

Add commands to quick settings

1. In your Google Wallet app, at the top right, tap More .
2. Tap Add to Quick Settings Add tile.

Use your phone with a dead battery

Important: You may still be able to unlock and start your car for a few hours after your phone’s battery has died. However, you can only use a phone with a dead battery as a car key if you don't require your phone to be unlocked to use the key.

• Hold the back of your phone near the door handle of your car.
• Place your phone on the key reader to start the engine.

Troubleshoot remote commands & passive entry

If passive entry or remote commands don't work on your supported device, you may have to update the vehicle software, delete the key and pair again.

Manage your digital car key

Add or change the screen lock settings for your digital car key

Important: By default, your digital car key doesn’t require your screen to be unlocked to use it. The key can be used for a few hours after your phone battery is drained. If you choose to require a screen lock, your key won’t work if your phone doesn’t have battery life.

1. Open the Google Wallet app .
2. Tap your digital car key. You may need to swipe to find it.
3. At the bottom, tap Details Require phone unlock.
4. Choose the action that you want to use the screen lock for:
   • Unlock car
   • Start car
   • Unlock, lock, and start car
   • For no screen lock, tap Off.
5. Tap Save.

Set up a shortcut to your digital car key

To access your digital car key from your phone home screen:

1. Open the Google Wallet app .
2. Tap your digital car key. You may need to swipe to find it.
3. Tap More Add to Home screen.

Delete a digital car key

1. Open the Google Wallet app .
2. Tap your digital car key. You may need to swipe to find it.
3. Tap More Delete Key Delete.
4. To verify it’s you, tap Confirm. You’ll get a notification that the key is deleted.

Tip: For some car models, you may be able to delete the key from the car’s screen.

Remove key access if your phone is lost or stolen

Important: To remotely delete or suspend a key, your phone must be on and connected to a network.

If your phone is lost or stolen, you can remove access to the key through Google Find My Device.

• To erase your phone and any paired keys remotely, tap Erase device.
• To suspend your key and lock your device remotely, tap Secure device.

Tip: For some car models you can:

• Delete a key even if your phone is offline. This process may not always be immediate.
• Delete the key from the car’s screen.

Transfer a digital car key to a new phone

1. On your previous phone, delete your digital key.
2. Pair your new phone to your car.

Related resources

• Troubleshoot digital car key setup
• Learn what Google shares with your car & phone manufacturers