Android Devices Now Compatible as BMW Digital Key Plus

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Digital Key Plus Now Available on Compatible Android Devices.

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Conveniently unlock, start, or lock the vehicle without taking the phone out of one’s pocket.
An important step towards the goal of identical functionality across all platforms.
Available now in Digital Key Plus-capable vehicles produced from November 2022.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 24, 2023…BMW Digital Key Plus is now also available for smartphones with Android operating systems. Previously compatible only with Apple devices, now customers with compatible devices from Samsung or Google can use them to unlock, lock, and start their BMWs without getting the phone out of their pockets.

Digital Key Plus can now be set up and activated on current Samsung Galaxy S23+ / Ultra and Google Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, and a number of older models with suitable hardware*. The vehicle can be programmed to lock or unlock as the customer approaches or walks away with their device just as with a conventional vehicle key with comfort access functionality. The orchestrated welcome light display and light carpet also function as with the physical key, depending on the vehicle equipment.

High convenience and high security based on ultra-wideband.

A smartphone with Digital Key Plus completely replaces the vehicle key with extended functionality made possible using ultra-wideband technology (UWB). This is a digital radio technology for close range with high bandwidth, which features very precise localization with the maximum possible security. The precision of UWB also ensures that the risk of relay attacks, where the radio signal is jammed or intercepted, is virtually eliminated. BMW worked in collaboration with key partners to develop the corresponding specification and established it as a global standard for the automotive industry via the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC). The CCC is the global driving force for vehicle connectivity for all smart mobile devices.

The BMW Digital Key Plus can be set up using the My BMW App. The owner can also share it – and therefore access to the vehicle – with up to five other users who have smartphones with either Android or iOS.

Express Mode adds to the convenience of Digital Key Plus by allowing users to lock/unlock and start their vehicle without unlocking their phone, even up to five hours after the phone’s battery has completely drained.

Goal of identical functionality across all platforms.

Until now, Digital Key Plus has only been compatible with iPhone and Apple Watch. BMW has set the goal to offer digital vehicle access for all customers – irrespective of the operating system of the smartphone they use. The next important development stage on the way to this goal is now to be able to offer the full range of comfort access functions on Android devices.

As recently as December 2022, the BMW Group launched a further expansion stage for Digital Key based on collaboration with partners like Apple and Google, meaning secure, cross-platform sharing of Digital Key between iPhone and compatible Android devices via email, SMS, or any other messaging service.

Android compatibility is available in Digital Key Plus-capable vehicles produced from

November 2022. A future remote software upgrade will expand the capability to Digital Key Plus-capable vehicles produced before November 2022.

* Samsung devices (running Android 13.1 or later):

Galaxy S23+, S23 Ultra, S22+, S22 Ultra, S21+, S21 Ultra, Z Fold4, Z Fold3, Note20 Ultra (in markets with Samsung Wallet)

Google devices (running Android 13.1 or later):

Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 6 Pro

[micvite]

This is amusing.. the s20 ultra keeps losing and getting the functionality lol when I first got my car I had it, a new app update killed it, then it came back and now it's gone again?

[TEGRITY]

Pretty wierd. My Flip 4 and my wife's Fold 4 do not support the standard digital key (samsung wallet doesnt). But, it now supports Digital Key Plus! Stupid S**t is what this is.

[PLF69]

Does comfort access by touching the handle work with this or its only proximity unlock ?

[EVRollerTech]

Originally Posted by PLF69

Does comfort access by touching the handle work with this or its only proximity unlock ?

The comfort access by touching door handle works for both lock and unlock if like to do that as well. Even though you can turn off the automatic features (unlock while approaching and lock while walking away) I have both enabled but usually always touch the handle to lock just in case.

[aiursblade]

I still haven’t found a good resource that shows which 2023 models support digital key plus… anyone have a list or a link?

[B58-M340iX]

I don't think this option is available for the 3 series yet. I have an S23 Ultra and a 21 M340 with almost all options (including digital key and keycard option) and have yet to get it to work. My thought is that the ultra-wideband (UWB) radios aren't present with ID7. I'm not sure if they are present with ID8 cars, but I'll let others chime in on that.

Edit: I just read that the feature is available in cars built since November 2022. There's a software update coming that is supposed to enable digital key plus for vehicles produced prior to November 2022. If true, this is awesome! Just carrying my phone is a huge plus and means that I wouldn't have to carry my fob around.

[Nahlem]

Heh whenever a new feature is released from BMW like this there is some amount of detective work to find out following.

-What models it works for (cars)
-What models it works for (phones)
-In what country it is allowed or not (As with the 360 remote camera) Witch is disabled in a lot of countries kinda feels like a shity thing to disable instead of just making it a box for every user to tick and make sure they follow the country's laws and not BMW like that. Then again we live in a world of suing people and companies for every little thing possible.
-When or if it will be released for everyone at the same time

And so on and so forth

Yeah the regular digital key is kinda sad and useless compared to the fob, the fob does a better job at adding to the comfort, for example being able to open the boot without having to take the key out due to comfort access while the regular digital key won't allow you to open to boot when close to the car due to for example the i4 even though released at the same time as the I4 the IX has newer tech. While the i4 lacks behind even though both marketed as the "newest in BMW Tech and so" then when people maybe choose the i4 over the IX due to maybe not wanting a SUV they simply lack out of any of the newer stuff like the UWB, and so on and so forth.

And also having to have the phone in the charging dock is also kinda pointless its like having an old type of key, it won't start when in the car only. That adds to the "hassle" so to speak and not comfortable compared to the key fob witch you just have it in the pocket walk away from the car it locks it self come close to the car it can unlock it self if you have that option ticked otherwise or like with the boot with the fob you can unlock it no problem with the digital key you can't then you have to unlock the car first then open the boot lid.

BMW is very weird with how they set up their cars and this is one of the reasons they will have a harder time attracting more tech crowds to their cars if they are going to be so neathertalic about the tech and what cars gets it.


For example BMW needs to clean up following stuff starting yesterday rather then now.

The cars needs to share tech across the board especially when it is from the same year.

The amount of i drive versions geez BMW fix this already, don't release OS8 if you are going to release 8.5 or 9.0 a couple of months later. Just keep the OS7 until you have a proper release candidate. And when you do make sure that candidate can be OTAD down line for many years to come with new features otherwise you are simply putting in way to much hassle for people. And don't marked it as OTAD while in truth its more "OTA every 6 months otherwise its faster to go to the dealer for an update" Because they obviously can release them faster .63 updated got released fast after 11/2022 came.

Why buy an BMW with IOS 8? When you know a better one will come in a few months making the current gen being completely obsolete, and vulnerable to attacks.

For example in an earlier thread IOS 8.5 will be able to be updated on some IX's but not all while newest IXs will have 8.5 but not 9.0 and not being abled to updated to 9.0

Its like then why not just wait for 9.0 and maybe to 9.5 instead better to be safe then sorry right?

BMW get your head out of the gutter and clean up this mess and making it work across the board, and updated current 2021 to 2023+ and so on and so forth.

BMW always talks about how modular they are in terms of platforms they have but the modular design stops right there because modular Software thats not what they have its more of throw away tech then updatable tech. Just making it more of an e-waste product so to speak. While at the same time talking about circular economy but making their OSes in the cars not circular at all just a complete e-waste.

[Cruise'n]

Originally Posted by micvite

This is amusing.. the s20 ultra keeps losing and getting the functionality lol when I first got my car I had it, a new app update killed it, then it came back and now it's gone again?

Don't know if helps but look for the other BMW app.
There was two and the newer solved this issue for me. Hopefully maybe you.

[Cruise'n]

Originally Posted by PLF69

Does comfort access by touching the handle work with this or its only proximity unlock ?

When you walk towards the car it unlocks before you get there. Along with a little fancy light show.
When you walk away it locks so no need to touch door for either

[Cruise'n]

Originally Posted by aiursblade

I still haven’t found a good resource that shows which 2023 models support digital key plus… anyone have a list or a link?

X5 M60i & X6 M60i 100%
That's all I know sorry, maybe helps

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by theseanofsydney

When you walk towards the car it unlocks before you get there. Along with a little fancy light show.
When you walk away it locks so no need to touch door for either

I well aware of the walk to and away feature that I deactivate on my cars I wanted to know if the normal access comfort of putting your hand inside the handle works with the phone key

[J_Supplanter]

My 23 M3 has software version 07/2022.50. My car was built in November I believe. I have a Google Pixel 5 (hate the 6 & 7 so holding out). I just tried (again) to setup my digital key. Still not compatible -____- allegedly.

[B58-M340iX]

Originally Posted by J_Supplanter

My 23 M3 has software version 07/2022.50. My car was built in November I believe. I have a Google Pixel 5 (hate the 6 & 7 so holding out). I just tried (again) to setup my digital key. Still not compatible -____- allegedly.

Your car may not have the option. Digital key was in and out 21-22 MY.

[MrE93]

I setup my digital key for my 2023 edrive 35 on my S23 Ultra yesterday.

[Blue87]

Good to know that my vehicle produced 3 months prior to Nov cuttoff will/may get a digital key plus update. I'm expecting this to be similar to the speed of cellular carrier updates and will see it in about a year. It'll be time to get a new phone at that point and hopefully it will be compatible.

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Keep in mind it says for Digital Key Plus Capable vehicles.

That means only the SP21 architecture vehicles, such as the iX, 7 Series, X1, X5 LCI, X6 LCI and XM will support UWB-based digital key systems.

SP18 architecture based cars, which also include cars with ID8 (OS8) such as the M2, 3 Series LCI, i4 and '2024 4 Series aren't capable of them, due to not having UWB hardware capability and only NFC hardware (the pad and door handle)

[RSnic]

Wow, isn't that wonderful -- my Samsung S21+ can take BMW digital key, BUT my 2020 M340 has the older technology-- even though my phone works at some very old tap & pay devices!

[iDrive_A_M3]

I have a Galaxy S20 Ultra and a 2021 M440 (with iDrive 7 + Live Cockpit and wireless charging) and I was finally able to add a digital key through Samsung Wallet and pair it to the car today. It works perfectly fine. I never was able to do this in the past 2 years that I've had the car (I tried multipe times, I'd always got errors saying my phone was not compatible).

I was suprised this actually worked as my car/phone do not meet any of the criteria noted in the original post.

[B58-M340iX]

Originally Posted by RSnic

Wow, isn't that wonderful -- my Samsung S21+ can take BMW digital key, BUT my 2020 M340 has the older technology-- even though my phone works at some very old tap & pay devices!

What do you mean by older technology? Digital Key came before Digital Key Plus. I don't think the 3 series has Ultra-wideband radios. If your car is equipped with Digital Key, you should be able to use your S21+ with it with no problem.

[RSnic]

B58-M340iX ,

I wish that were true! To set up as digital key, you need the digital key in the MyBMW app -- I don't because as I have been told by BMW Geniuses (I know that's somewhat of an oxymoron), it's because my car has the older NFC

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by B58-M340iX

What do you mean by older technology? Digital Key came before Digital Key Plus. I don't think the 3 series has Ultra-wideband radios. If your car is equipped with Digital Key, you should be able to use your S21+ with it with no problem.

Originally Posted by RSnic

B58-M340iX ,

I wish that were true! To set up as digital key, you need the digital key in the MyBMW app -- I don't because as I have been told by BMW Geniuses (I know that's somewhat of an oxymoron), it's because my car has the older NFC

There had been some discussion around it here - https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1742346

But it's actually due to how they designed Digital Key initially.

Digital Key Classic was the first iteration, or DK 1.0 - This was for the 2019 to 2020 MY SP18 cars like the G20 and G05. It supported a different protocol to work, and only supported Android and had a subscription-based model where the keys are only valid for a year at a time.

Then they had phased out DK 1.0 in favour of Digital Key, or DK 1.5. This allowed assigning a Main key, as well as it having no expiry date. They initially supported only iOS 13.6 and newer but slowly rolled out to Android.

This ended up being a backend issue where it depended on the build date of the car and the software inconjunction to determine if the car is DK 1.0 or 1.5.

It does puzzle a lot of us why they never changed the backend of vehicles with DK 1.0 to 1.5, since mainly an issue on the ConnectedDrive server side of allowing it or not. But likely it was due to a subscription agreement for the Android devices on DK 1.0 that they didn't force a change.