There is now no longer any need for a specific app or a set method of transmission. Instead, digital keys can be easily passed on to friends or family from the wallet using the native "share" function known from many apps.
This means that sharing a BMW Digital Key now takes the straightforward form of sending a link. The key can be sent by e-mail, SMS or any other messaging service, e.g. WhatsApp. The recipient does not require either a specific app or a BMW ID. to add the Digital Key to their wallet, they simply click on the link.
If the owner and recipient are standing next to each other, the key can also be shared via Apple AirDrop or Android Nearby Share. In certain cases, an activation code may have to be entered in the vehicle for security reasons, which the sender would ideally disclose to the recipient via a different channel. Once a digital key has been received on an iPhone, the recipient can add it to an Apple Watch just as easily.
This new function is available for all new vehicles with BMW Digital Key or BMW Digital Key Plus. Older suitably equipped vehicles will be able to make full use of this feature once their software has been updated to status "22-11" or later via Remote Software Upgrade. Cross-platform sharing will initially be available for compatible iPhones (running iOS 16.1 or later) and Google smartphones (Pixel 6/6 Pro and Pixel 7/7 Pro running Android 13 or later), with models from Samsung, set to follow shortly.
Source: BMW
