What is Digital Key?

Digital Key uses your smartphone to perform the same functions as a car key. Unlock, lock, start your car and more from your smartphone with this NFC/UWB(Ultra-Widband) technology.

View of Samsung Digital Key screens included in the Samsung Wallet.

All the information is securely stored in your smartphone's integrated Secure Element and makes it easy to select the key you want to use.

To find out how Digital Key works and its different uses, read on below.

 

Depending on the car brand, the devices that allow the use of the Digital Key may vary.

When using a Genesis / KIA / Hyundai car

  • Digital Keys can be used on models with the latest Android 13 OS or higher software installed: Galaxy S20 series (excluding S20 FE), Note20 series, S21 series (including S21 FE), S22 series, S23 series (including S23 FE), S24 series, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip 3, Z Flip 4, Z Flip 5, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, Z Fold 4, Z Fold 5, Z Fold 6.

     

When using a BMW / MINI car

  • Digital Keys can be used on models with the latest Android 13 OS or higher software installed: Galaxy S20 series (excluding S20 FE), Note20 series, S21 series (including S21 FE), S22 series, S23 series (including S23 FE), S24 series, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip 3, Z Flip 4, Z Flip 5, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, Z Fold 4, Z Fold 5, Z Fold 6.

  • To use the new features (Share Key, UWB type) of Digital Key, an update to the latest Android 13 OS or higher S/W and to the latest Digital Key app is required.

     

When using a BYD car

  • Digital Keys can be used on models with the latest Android 13 OS or higher software installed: Galaxy S20 series (excluding S20 FE), Note20 series, S21 series (including S21 FE), S22 series, S23 series (including S23 FE), S24 series, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip 3, Z Flip 4, Z Flip 5, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 2, Z Fold 3, Z Fold 4, Z Fold 5, Z Fold 6.

 

According to Samsung security policy, a Digital Key can only be used on one smartphone. Transfer of information or duplication between devices is not possible. Please continue reading to find out more information.

Please note:

  • The list of smartphone models that can be supported may vary by car manufacturer. 

  • You can update your Android OS in Settings > Software update > Download and install.

  • You can update your digital key application in Galaxy Store > Menu > Updates. 

  • This feature may not be available depending on the region or model, vehicle brand.  

The most important step is installing the car manufacturer’s app or receiving a registration information message from them. When you have it, follow these steps:

1 Register your information in the car manufacturer’s app by following the guidelines.
2 Get in your car with the physical key and then follow the car navigation menu instructions.
3 Tap the “Digital Key registration menu” in the car manufacturer’s app.
4 Samsung Wallet will open, and you will be able to register your car key by following the app's instructions.

Please note: If this is your first time using Samsung Wallet, you will be able to proceed after setting up your Samsung Wallet.

The Digital Key is a feature that assists your real car key for convenience.
To use your car key, follow these steps:

After completing the registration of your car key, you can use the NFC/UWB feature on your smartphone to unlock or set the lock on the handle of the car door to open it.

When your car recognizes your smartphone, depending on the car, the screen of your car may let you know if you can start the engine.

NFC Type

1 Touch the NFC antenna area of the smartphone with the digital key registered to the vehicle’s door. The door will unlock or lock.
2 After you place the smartphone on the vehicle’s wireless charging pad and the digital key is authenticated, you can start the vehicle using the start button.

Please note:

To use this feature, the smartphone and vehicle must support the NFC feature. If your car does not recognize your smartphone, try again after slightly changing the placement or orientation of your smartphone on the wireless charging pad.

UWB (Ultra-wideband) Type

1 The vehicle’s door will unlock when you get close to the vehicle with your smartphone and will lock when you move away.
2 After the digital key is authenticated when you get inside the vehicle, you can start the vehicle using the start button.

Please note:

To use this feature, the smartphone and vehicle must support the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) feature.

If you want to stop using your Digital Key, follow these steps:

1 Select a registered Digital Key to launch the Key’s Details screen.
2 Select more options icon and tap on “Delete”. To complete this, fingerprint recognition is required.

If you want to share your Digital Key, you must know only the car owner can execute this. If you are the car owner and you want to start Digital Key sharing, follow these steps:

 

Depending on the manufacturer of your car, Share Key can be done as below.

Both the owner of the car and the Share Key recipient’s smartphones require the latest Android 13 OS or higher S/W and the latest Digital Key app update.

1 Select a registered Digital Key to launch the Key's Details screen.
2 Select Share Key.
3 Enter your Samsung Wallet password or continue with fingerprint recognition.
4 Set the name of the Share Key recipient and permission to use the car, then tap Send Key.
5 Select the Share Key recipient or message app (text message, email, messenger). The app selected to send the Share invitation in the previous process will open, and the message will be sent.
6 Confirm and deliver the authentication code to verify the Share Key recipient. For enhanced security, we recommend delivering the authentication code using a different method than when sending the Share invitation message.
7 Once the Share invitation is completed, you can check the list of recipients you have shared with on the Key’s Details screen.

This can only be executed when the recipient has received a sharing invitation text message from the car owner. Recipients who have received shared Keys do not need to carry a physical key or get in the car to register a Key. To accept the Digital Key, follow these steps:

1 Open the sharing invitation text messages and tap “See Key”.
2 Samsung Wallet will open, and you will be able to register your car key by following the app's instructions.

Both the owner of the car and the Share Key recipient’s smartphones require the latest Android 13 OS or higher S/W and the latest Digital Key app update. Share invitations may also be received via text messages, emails, or messenger apps. Share Key recipients may be asked for authentication during the Share Key acceptance process, or a Digital Key activation process may be required. 

How to activate a Digital Key

1 Authentication code.

The Share Key recipient should follow the instructions on the car’s navigation screen, and enter the authentication code received from the owner of the car.

2 Physical car key.

The Share Key recipient should have the physical car key and follow the instructions on the car’s navigation screen.

3 Activated Digital Key.

The Share Key recipient should have the activated Digital Key and follow the instructions on the car’s navigation screen.

Please note:

If this is your first time using Samsung Wallet, you will be able to proceed after setting up your Samsung Wallet.

This action can only be executed by the car owner. If you want to do this, follow these steps:

1 Run your Samsung Wallet and select a registered Digital Key to launch the Key’s Details screen.
2 At the Key’s Details screen select a recipient of the shared Key.
3 When you select “Cancel Key”, fingerprint recognition will be required.
4 You can confirm the termination of sharing on the Key’s Details screen.

If you want to prevent others from using your Digital Keys, follow these steps: 

1 Select a registered Digital Key to launch the Key’s Details screen.
2 Select more options icon and tap on the “Security option”.
3 Activate the identity verification feature. To complete this, fingerprint recognition is required.

I started to register a Digital Key on my smartphone, but I cannot complete the registration.

When registering a Digital Key, it may take 1-3 minutes depending on the status of the network you are using.

Registering a Digital Key requires a network connection. If you try to register a Digital Key in an area where the network is not running smoothly, the network connection may be unstable, or you may have lost the connection. You must be aware of the area you are registering in.

 

Can I register multiple Digital Keys for one car?

Digital Keys only allow one primary user to register a key for one car. Other users can use the Key through the Key’s sharing feature.

 

Is a network connection needed to use a Digital Key?

If you have already registered a Digital Key, you can use it even if you do not have a network connection.

If you do not have a network connection, you cannot register a new Digital Key. 

 

I lost my smartphone. How can I suspend the use of my Digital Keys?

You can suspend use of your Digital Keys by going to the Internet and searching “SmartThings Find”. Here you can remotely lock your smartphone. If you delete the data on your smartphone, any registered Digital Keys will be deleted as well. 

 

What can I do if I put my device on my car’s wireless charging pad, but the car is not starting?

Check the status of your Digital Key. If the Digital Key is not registered on the car company's server, the car will not start. If you are using a shared key, the car may not start depending on the permissions granted. 

Please note:

Digital Key permissions can be checked by selecting the corresponding Digital Key in Samsung Wallet.

What can I do if I put my device close to the door handle of the car, but the door does not open?

The first thing you must do is check if the NFC feature of your smartphone has been activated. If you select Digital Key in Samsung Wallet, you can check the status of your current Digital Keys. If the use of a Digital Key has been stopped, it will not work.

 

Do Digital Keys work on all car door handles?

No, they do not work on all car door handles. It is dependent on the model of your car. Also, the location of the door on which you can use your Digital Key will be different. For more information, contact the car manufacturer.

 

Is the wireless charging pad located in the same place in all cars?

The location of the wireless charging pad to place your smartphone on when starting the engine varies depending on the car manufacturer. For more information, contact the car manufacturer.

 

What can I do if the door does not open after confirming verification?

If the security setting is activated in the Additional menu in the Details of the Digital Key, security verification will be confirmed when locking or unlocking your car door. You must confirm your Digital Key with your biometrics data. Then, you must put the smartphone on the door handle of the car within 1 minute of confirmation.

If the security setting is activated and the smartphone is turned off, fingerprint recognition will not be possible, and the Digital Key will not be usable.

 

My smartphone’s battery ran out and it turned off. Can I use my Digital Key?

If your smartphone has turned off after running out of battery, it can be used within 5 hours. But you must know if the security feature is enabled on the Key's Details screen, the Digital Key cannot be used as it is not possible to run fingerprint recognition.  

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