Apple digital car key arrives with updated BMW Connected app

BMW on Thursday added Digital Key support to its BMW Connected app, a little over a week after Apple announced a digital car key feature set to debut with iOS 13.6.

The digital car keys feature will allow users to store "digital keys" within the Wallet app, allowing them to lock, unlock or start their vehicles with an iPhone or Apple Watch.

BMW was announced as the first adopter of the vehicular technology, and the automaker has updated its BMW Connected app to support the feature with what it calls BMW Digital Key.

"The BMW Digital Key for the iPhone will enable you to lock and unlock your car by holding iPhone up to the door handle and start it up by placing iPhone in the smartphone tray," BMW said of the update.

Digital Key users will also be able to share access with up to five of their friends or family members. The setup process is carried out within the BMW Connected app, while actual Digital Keys are stored in Wallet.

The feature will be available on the iPhone XR and iPhone XS and newer, as well as the Apple Watch Series 5 and newer.

While BMW has updated their app to support digital keys, Apple will introduce compatibility with the feature in the forthcoming iOS 13.6 and watchOS 6.2.8. The feature will also be present in iOS 14 and watchOS 7.

As the carmaker said on June 22, the BMW Digital Key feature will also be compatible with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 series models, as well as the X5, X5M, X6, X6M, X7 and Z4.

13 Comments

furryone 6 comments · 14 Years

About 4 years ago

Wow, BMW and Apple are right on the bleeding edge - of what is laughable, especially for Tesla owners, who have been using their phones as a car key for years. Oh, and we don't need to "Hold the iPhone up to the door handle, or put the phone in a tray" to drive our cars. Teslas unlock upon approach - no fumbling for the phone required - that's so last decade...

MacPro 19838 comments · 18 Years

Only Apple could get people to change out their high end cars just to use the latest iOS App lol. Kudos. I only partially joke, because I know I selected cars based on Car Play over the last few years.

I expect Jaguar, Mercedes and Audi will follow BMW soon.

JBSlough 92 comments · 8 Years

Just not getting this. Why would I want to take my phone out? My Focus key fob does this and it never has to leave my pocket or bag. Seems like a step backwards.

macxpress 5910 comments · 16 Years

furryone said:

Wow, BMW and Apple are right on the bleeding edge - of what is laughable, especially for Tesla owners, who have been using their phones as a car key for years. Oh, and we don't need to "Hold the iPhone up to the door handle, or put the phone in a tray" to drive our cars. Teslas unlock upon approach - no fumbling for the phone required - that's so last decade...

Plz.....Its not like Tesla isn't without their issues and many of them. And your Tesla app can't unlock more than one vehicle if you happen to own more than one which many do in the US at least.

macgui 2456 comments · 17 Years

JBSlough said:

Just not getting this. Why would I want to take my phone out? My Focus key fob does this and it never has to leave my pocket or bag. Seems like a step backwards.

Yeah, I like the idea of keyless entry and ignition, but this isn't my preference for implementation.

"The BMW Digital Key for the iPhone will enable you to lock and unlock your car by holding iPhone up to the door handle and start it up by placing iPhone in the smartphone tray"

Seriously? A digital key has a lot of advantages, especially if you can send it to a friend or limit someone's access such as a valet mode, etc. But it's only marginally faster and possible more convenient than a traditional key, as far as convenience goes. Setting the phone in a tray – does that start the car or allow an button to be pushed to start? Probably the latter, also not much of a convenience/time save.

Given that a lot of people might be on their phone anyway as they approach, it would seem to be a logical step.

Now if your Watch allowed the same functionality that would be notable, especially if it functioned like a fob via proximity and not 'touch'.. The Watch already unlocks my Macs. I'd still want to carry a real key though. Still, I'm happy to see this much for Apple and car manufacturers. I'd happily take that over not having a choice.