Hyundai’s and Apple Wallet’s Digital Key

Hyundai first launched its Digital Key feature with the 2020 Sonata. With it, you could unlock the car by holding your smartphone against the driver or passenger door handle. Once inside, you could place the phone anywhere, though the available wireless charger was a good place, push the start button and go. And the whole time, your Hyundai key could be left behind on top of your dresser. You could also extend this ability to family or friends as needed. It was a cool feature, but it had its limitations at the time. Dick Smith Hyundai is happy to inform you of how things have progressed. 

The most significant limitation in 2020 was that Digital Key did not work with an iPhone. So you and anyone you wanted to share your key with had to have an Android phone. Digital Key 2 was announced in the fall of 2023, and it was compatible with both Android and iPhones, the latter through the Apple Wallet app. 

Vehicles that presently have Digital Key in their model line include:

• Kona and Kona EV
• Tucson
• Palisade
• Santa Fe
• Elantra
• Sonata
• Santa Cruz
• IONIQ 5
• IONIQ 6
  

Of those, the models that can use Digital Key 2 through Apple Wallet include:

• 2023 and newer Palisade
• 2023 and newer IONIQ 6
• 2024 Kona EV
• 2024 Santa Fe
  

It is important to note that while there is a digital key app on your phone, you do not need to open it to use it. It doesn’t even have to be unlocked. Having previously been set up in your phone, it simply needs to be on for it to work. For security reasons, Hyundai Digital Key uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to allow the vehicle to operate. Unlike Bluetooth, it requires the device and reader to be within a few centimeters of each other. The close proximity prevents the vehicle from being unlocked and started by someone else when you just happen to be near your car. Once inside, the vehicle will read the presence of the phone so you can set it down anywhere, and it will work. 

In addition to the convenience of just using your phone to enter and start your car, is the ability to enable vehicle operating access for up to three family or friends at any time. They would download the Digital Key App or add the system to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, after which you would use your app to invite them to have a Shared Key. When they accept, they must create a MyHyundai.com account to operate your Hyundai. You can have up to three Shared Keys, and one secondary driver can set up their own presets for driver-seat and mirror position, climate, audio preferences, and more. As the primary user, you can control when a Shared Key can be used and pause or end a Shared Key’s capability at any time.

Hyundai isn’t the only brand with this feature, but it is one of the only non-luxury brands where you will find it. Learn more and see a demonstration of how it works by visiting Dick Smith Hyundai of Greenville.