Ford warns that ‘Phone as a Key’ may not be working on some Android phones

Ben Schoon | Dec 20 2024 - 5:34 am PT

As some users have been running into issues, Ford is saying that its “Phone as a Key” feature is running into some compatibility issues on Android devices.

In an email to customers, Ford warns that Android users may run into issues with the “Phone as a Key” feature that allows users to unlock their vehicle without a key fob. The feature, Ford says, is being impacted by “a recent Android 14 software update,” leaving the FordPass app unable to unlock vehicles reliably.

There’s no specific explanation of which update is causing problems, which is certainly strange as Android 14 has been widely available for the better part of a year at this point across devices from several Android brands. Presumably, the issue is with the app rather than the OS, but it’s hard to say anything for certain.

Ford explains:

If you currently use a device that runs on the Android 14 operating system and drive a Ford vehicle, the Phone as a Key functionality in your FordPass app may currently be impaired.

Due to a recent Android 14 software update, some users are unable to access and start their Ford vehicles using the Phone as a Key feature in their FordPass app.

We are working on a solution with third parties, and we will update you once the situation is resolved. In the interim, to start you vehicle, please use your key fob or Backup Passcode.

We apologize for this inconvenience – and we appreciate your patience. Please do not delete or reset your Phone as a Key, as either action will lock you out.

The notice was sent in an email to Ford customers, as shared in a Facebook group. Users on the post report that, indeed, their Phone as a Key feature has recently run into issues, but specifics aren’t shared.

Hopefully, things will be back up and running soon. If you’ve run into issues, let us know in the comments below!