Skip to main content

New Android 12 digital car keys use NFC or UWB, coming to Pixel and Samsung this year

Continuing the trend of phones replacing physical wallets and cards for more and more people, Android 12 is introducing support for digital car keys. Google showed off the capability at I/O 2021 this morning.

Android 12 digital car keys let you unlock/lock and start a vehicle from your phone. Visually, it takes on the appearance of a Google Pay credit/debit card with a “Hold to reader” prompt and options like requiring an “unlocked phone to use this key.” This fullscreen page also links to the companion app with a shortcut to quickly open or download. 

Behind the scenes, Google will leverage Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology on newer devices so that you don’t have to take your phone out. Meanwhile, getting inside an NFC-enabled vehicle will require a physical tap on the car door.

This dual approach allows devices that have the absolute newest tech to still take advantage of these virtual keys. Meanwhile, users will be able to securely and remotely share your car key with others when necessary.

Android 12’s digital car keys will be available on “select” Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones in the coming months. This is presumably in reference to UWB availability, while BMW is one of the first named vehicle partners. Apple has a similar feature for the latest iPhones and is also in the process of rolling out these virtual credentials.

More about Android 12:

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com