How BMW's Digital Key Plus turns Android smartphones into full-fledged car keys

If you own a BMW car and an Android smartphone, you might be interested to know that the German automaker has added support of Digital Key Plus on compatible Android devices. Digital Key Plus is a mobile car key technology that lets you use your compatible Android phone as your car's key, with some additional benefits.

What is Digital Key Plus and how does it work?

Digital Key Plus is an upgrade from the previous Digital Key feature that BMW launched for Android devices earlier this year. The main difference is that Digital Key Plus uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, which is a digital radio technology that enables precise localization and communication between devices.

With UWB, you can unlock and start your car just by approaching it with your phone in your pocket or bag. You don't need to take out your phone or hold it near the door handle, as you would with the regular Digital Key. The car will sense your phone's presence and automatically unlock and start when you get in. When you walk away, the car will lock itself again.

UWB also provides a high level of security, as it prevents relay attacks, which are attempts to jam or intercept the radio signals between your phone and your car. BMW claims that UWB makes this risk "virtually eliminated".

To use Digital Key Plus, you need to have a compatible Android phone running Android 13.1 or later, and a compatible BMW car with Digital Key Plus technology. You also need to download the My BMW app, which lets you set up and manage your Digital Key Plus, as well as access other features such as locking and unlocking your car remotely, opening your trunk, and controlling the temperature.

Which Android phones and BMW cars are compatible with Digital Key Plus?

As of now, BMW supports the following Android phones for Digital Key Plus:

- Google Pixel 7 Pro

- Google Pixel 6 Pro

- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

- Samsung Galaxy S23+

- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

- Samsung Galaxy S22+

- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

- Samsung Galaxy S21+

- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3

- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

If you have a Samsung device, you can also use the BMW Digital Key Plus if you are in a market that supports Samsung Wallet.

As for BMW cars, only those produced from November 2022 onward with Digital Key Plus technology are compatible with Android phones. However, BMW plans to roll out remote software updates to enable older models to use Digital Key Plus in the future.

How can I share my Digital Key Plus with others?

One of the advantages of Digital Key Plus is that you can share it with up to five other Android users via the My BMW app. You can send them an invitation via email, text message, or any other messaging service, and they can accept it on their compatible Android phone. This way, you can let your friends or family members borrow your car without giving them a physical key.

You can also share your Digital Key Plus between iPhone and Android devices securely. This means that if you have an iPhone or an Apple Watch that supports Digital Key Plus (which was previously only available for Apple devices), you can share it with someone who has an Android phone that supports Digital Key Plus, and vice versa.

What are the benefits of Digital Key Plus?

Digital Key Plus offers several benefits for BMW drivers who use Android phones. Some of them are:

Convenience: You don't need to carry a physical key or take out your phone to unlock and start your car. You can just walk up to your car and get in.

Security: UWB technology prevents relay attacks and ensures that only authorized devices can access your car.

Flexibility: You can share your Digital Key Plus with other Android users or iPhone users easily and securely via the My BMW app.

Functionality: You can access other features of your car via the My BMW app, such as locking and unlocking your car remotely, opening your trunk, and controlling the temperature.

BMW has added Digital Key Plus support for Pixel and Samsung devices running Android 13.1 or later. This is a mobile car key technology that uses UWB technology to let you unlock and start your car just by approaching it with your phone in your pocket or bag. It also provides a high level of security and allows you to share your Digital Key Plus with other Android users or iPhone users via the My BMW app. You can read more about this announcement from BMW here.