The car key is getting a smartphone makeover. General Motors is rolling out a new Digital Key feature that lets owners store a version of their vehicle key in a digital wallet on a compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, Google Pixel, or Samsung Galaxy device.

GM is beginning the rollout with select 2026 and 2027 Cadillac EVs, with support for additional Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles coming later. The company says the feature is designed to make getting into and starting a vehicle possible without reaching for a traditional key fob.

And yes, that means the thing you were probably already holding while looking for your car keys can now be the car key.

Your phone can become the key

GM’s Digital Key is designed to handle more than simply unlocking the doors. Once configured, the vehicle can automatically unlock as you approach and lock itself when you walk away, using the proximity capabilities of compatible devices.

Owners can also use their digital key to start and drive the vehicle. GM says the system combines Bluetooth with Ultra Wideband technology for proximity-based authentication.

That should make the experience feel much closer to carrying a traditional key fob than using a phone app every time you need to get into the car. The phone can remain in your pocket while the vehicle handles the authentication in the background.

The digital wallet can also provide access to additional vehicle controls. GM says owners can open the trunk and adjust the climate controls from the digital key experience before getting into the vehicle.

That could be particularly handy on a hot or cold day when you’d rather have the cabin temperature sorted out before opening the door.

It works with Apple, Google, and Samsung wallets

GM isn’t tying the feature to one smartphone ecosystem. Digital keys can be stored in Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet, depending on the device being used.

On Apple’s side, compatible hardware starts with the iPhone 11 and newer, along with Apple Watch Series 6 and newer and the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra or newer models.

For Google, GM lists compatible devices including the Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Samsung support includes the Galaxy S21+ 5G and newer models, Galaxy Note20 and newer models, as well as Galaxy Z Fold and Z TriFold devices.

The important catch is that compatibility depends on the device supporting the required Ultra Wideband capabilities, so simply having a newer phone does not automatically guarantee support.

You can share your car key

Digital keys can also be shared. GM says an owner can securely share access with up to seven additional devices.

The company lists AirDrop, Messages, WhatsApp, and other methods as ways to share the key. That means handing the car to a family member or giving someone temporary access no longer necessarily requires physically handing over a key fob.

It’s a small feature, but potentially one of the more useful parts of the system. A digital key can be distributed to another device without making another physical key.

Security is built around proximity

GM is using Ultra Wideband technology for secure, encrypted, proximity-based authentication, while Bluetooth handles connected controls.

The digital key is stored inside the same type of digital wallet environment used for other sensitive credentials, rather than simply functioning as another password inside the GM mobile app.

The system is also based on the Car Connectivity Consortium’s standard for digital vehicle keys, which is intended to provide interoperability between compatible vehicles and devices.

If a phone or other device is lost or stolen, GM says the account owner can remove digital key access through the vehicle or digital wallet. OnStar can also deactivate a digital key if the device is reported lost or stolen.

That’s an important distinction from simply losing a physical key: the digital credential can be remotely disabled.

The rollout starts with Cadillac EVs

GM is introducing the feature in phases. The initial rollout runs from September 10 through mid-October for eligible Cadillac vehicles, including the 2025–2027 LYRIQ, 2026–2027 OPTIQ, and 2027 VISTIQ.

The feature will expand in December to additional GM vehicles, including the 2026–2027 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, 2026–2027 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and the 2027 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, and CELESTIQ.

GM says additional vehicles will receive Digital Key over time. Owners will see a notification in the “What’s New” section of their vehicle’s mobile app when the feature becomes available for their vehicle.

Setting it up requires the GM vehicle mobile app and an OnStar-connected vehicle. Owners need to have the physical key fob nearby during the initial setup, after which the digital key can be paired with the compatible wallet.

For GM, this is more than just another way to unlock a car. The company says Ultra Wideband could eventually enable more personalized experiences, such as automatically adjusting vehicle settings as a driver approaches.

The physical key isn’t disappearing overnight. But with GM putting the key inside Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Samsung Wallet, there’s now one less thing for drivers to remember when they leave the house.