I wish this worked with the Android ecosystem, but it doesn't. Apparently a Pixel Watch 3 can be used as a key only with certain BMW and Mini vehicles.

 

God! I just picked up a 2025 Limited Ioniq 5 and have been getting that “unknown failure” gibberish text every time I want to set up the digital key on my iPhone! So are you saying that’s because of adding the key to my Apple Watch and I should skip that part? Also, I’m a bit confused if the my iPhone should be on the NFC reader during the setup or not? I’ve received a welcome email that has a passcode, it seems like if I put the phone on the NFC reader it asks for that passcode but if I don’t put the phone on NFC it won’t ask for passcode. I’m confused which way I should set it up

 

First, you must setup Bluelink. I think you have done that, but want to be sure. Get that to work so your car is communicating to Bluelink e.g. on the web and via the MyHyundai app. That connection seems to first be required so the behind the scenes authorization can be established for the digital key.

I also suspect the email you received from Hyundai is regarding initial Bluelink setup -- I can't tell from what you provided. I didn't receive anything from Hyundai with a passcode related to the digital key, only eventually a generic email about digital keys being available with proper smart devices. IIRC, I only had to put in my own iPhone password when FaceID couldn't see me well enough sitting over in the driver's seat after I put the phone way to the right on the charging pad.

When you have Bluelink working, only then proceed to connect your iPhone as a digital key. Use the MyHyundai app to initiate the process and follow the steps precisely. It will tell you when you need to put the iPhone on the charging pad. Be patient. Some of the steps took far longer than I expected. Once the process connecting your phone is complete, assuming you have a more recent Apple Watch previously paired with your iPhone and NFC-capable, the app should prompt with the first image I attached above asking if you want to get your watch connected as a digital key -- that is where everything began to fail for me. If the steps fail for you too, meaning your iPhone is fully capable of acting as a digital key with your car, but you don't have your watch working yet, then follow my couple of extra steps above to manually get the watch going.

If none of that more generic info helps, I need to understand more precisely where are you with the setup procedure and your devices. Let's start with this:

1. Is Bluelink fully connected and your MyHyundai app is operational (I think so.)
2. Some of your comments make me feel like your iPhone may already be connected to your new IONIQ 5 as a digital key -- is it? Even if you don't know, respond back and I'll try to create a few steps for you to try so we both know the answer. From there, after your phone is operational as a digital key, we can work on the watch.

Worst case, you could call Hyundai Customer Service 800-633-5151 and hopefully then can assist.

 

Thanks for the walkthrough. Very helpful. I've had my '25 for a bit over a week and was fighting with this and couldn't figure out what I was missing.

 

no different than e.g. if you had added your partner's phone, and it shows up as a shared key in the IC as it should.

Good luck!

Thank you!

I have being trying to set my wife's iPhone as Digital Key for our 2025 Ioniq 6 starting from the MyHyundai app on her phone with her log in, but it wouldn't work as we already had my iPhone set up as a Digital Key and it would not add another.

It never occurred to me it would be as simple as sharing my Digital Key from my Wallet with her (I used Airdrop) and we now have the Ioniq 6 Digital Key in the Wallet on her iPhone!

She has an Apple Watch so tomorrow we will try to add that as well for her (I have a Garmin running watch so not an option)