5 Fixes Android Digital Car Key Desperately Needs

You’ve probably heard about using your car manufacturer’s mobile application to unlock, lock or start your car without having to be in or near the vehicle. There have been commercials showing astronauts locking their car from space or someone starting a car to turn on the heater while in a stadium. This type of technology has become commonplace in many vehicles manufactured over the past eight years. What’s less common is people using their phone outside of an app to control their car.

This technology, which relies on Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC) and ultra-wideband (UWB), is widespread in Apple car key and Android digital car key. These features are incredibly useful for those who are in a hurry or if you always forget your keys. With Apple Car Key and Android Digital Car Key, you can unlock your car without needing a key or fob. Instead, your phone serves as a link between you and the car, unlocking, locking, and even starting your vehicle.

These features also connect via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, giving you even more functionality once you’re inside the car. For those who own Android devices, Android digital car key is readily available in many automobiles. It’s been around since 2021, but there’s still a way to go before it’s perfect or as widely used as possible.

Here are some steps Google should take to improve its Android digital car key.

1 Become compatible with more vehicles

It’s light years away from Apple Car Key, but it could be better

Android digital car key launched in 2021, a year after Apple Car Key was first released. There are hundreds of cars that can be used with the Android digital car key because Google has made the technology easily available for different manufacturers to include the technology in its systems. The Apple Car Key is only available from a few select manufacturers and even fewer vehicle models from those car manufacturers. Apple only works with BMW, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, BYD and Lotus.

On the other hand, Android digital car key is available with all these brands, as well as the following:

• Audi
• Acura
• Buick
• Cadillac
• Chevrolet
• Chrysler
• Dodge
• Decree
• Ford
• GMC
• Honda
• Infiniti
• Jeep
• Land Rover
• Lexus
• Lucid
• Mazda
• mini
• Nissan
• polar star
• Porsche
• Ram
• Rivien
• Subaru
• Tesla
• Toyota
• Volkswagen
• Volvo

Although this is not the case for all cars on the market, it is available in many makes and models. If you own an Alfa Romeo or a Maserati, you’re out of luck. Maybe Google will think of you soon, but that hasn’t happened yet. That said, many vehicles scheduled for release soon will likely offer an Android digital car key.

2 Allow compatibility with smartwatches

Apple already does it, but not Google

Google makes some of the best smartwatches on the market. The Pixel Watch is the company’s flagship for wearable technology, so why isn’t Google making the Android digital car key smartwatch compatible? It’s not clear, but you can’t unlock or lock your car with your smartwatch at the moment.

Apple made this possible with Apple Watch almost instantly when it was announced, but it’s not possible to use it in Wear OS.

3 Get rid of the need for a maker app during setup

You still need an account with your car manufacturer

If you own a Mazda, you must use the Mazda app to configure Android digital car key. If you own a BMW, the My BMW app is a must. The same goes for Hyundai, Jeep and others. It can be frustrating to juggle multiple apps, including the Android digital car key feature on your phone, while you set everything up.

You can put the digital car key in Google or Samsung wallet. So why should you generate the key from the manufacturer’s app? This should be pretty easy to do if you plug your phone into the car. Maybe we’re just anticipating time, but the fewer steps the better.

4 Make key sharing easy

This is only available for certain cars

You can share your Android digital car key with a friend or family member if you want them to be able to access your car. There are several steps you need to follow, and this can be done in several ways, such as authenticating a key via a code or using the car dashboard. You can also give someone access to your car for a set period of time and limit how long they can use it.

But sharing a key isn’t easy, and not just because of the steps involved. This doesn’t work on all the models I listed above. It is up to the manufacturer to allow key sharing. You might think your car is capable of sharing a key because it can use this technology, but that’s not always the case. Google should have more say in which cars offer this and which don’t.

5 Allow all Android phones to have access

Many, but not all, can currently use it

To use the Android digital car key, you need an Android phone that is capable of doing so, but not all of them are. Android has done a great job using backwards compatibility to turn old phones into phones that can use it. But the current lineup that allows it includes Google Pixel phones from Pixel 6 and newer, Samsung Galaxy phones from S21+ and beyond, and more.

However, you may not know if your phone allows it until you look it up. If you have a Google phone running Android 12, you’re probably safe. But if you are still using Android 11 or earlier, you may not be able to use it. This includes a Google Pixel 5 or a Vivo X50. Google has the technology to upgrade older operating systems. It’s unlikely they’ll want to do that.