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Old Nov 18, 2023 | 04:35 PM
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Default key detected in car

I've had NX hybrid for around month. I mostly use wallet card, but noticed with key fob same happens. The issue is when i get out of car, key in pocket, about 50% of the time i can't lock car via door handle due to message on dash 'key detected in car' and constant beep. I can lock via app successfully. Or I can wait an "X" amount of time (haven't tested enough to know for sure), then somethings clears, then i can touch door handle to lock.
Anyone else, or someone know solution? Thanks
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Old Nov 18, 2023 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by kent2174
I've had NX hybrid for around month. I mostly use wallet card, but noticed with key fob same happens. The issue is when i get out of car, key in pocket, about 50% of the time i can't lock car via door handle due to message on dash 'key detected in car' and constant beep. I can lock via app successfully. Or I can wait an "X" amount of time (haven't tested enough to know for sure), then somethings clears, then i can touch door handle to lock.
Anyone else, or someone know solution? Thanks
Do you have digital key setup?
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Old Nov 18, 2023 | 08:05 PM
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yes on iphone, however the iphone is never left in car......and whenever I have used digital key to operate car, i must always open app because i don't enable background services.
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Old Nov 19, 2023 | 06:55 AM
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The only time I've seen this happen is when I have the digital key on and the car still detects the phone in the car. Next time try to take your phone away from the car and try to lock. See if that works or not.
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 01:14 AM
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So this is an old thread but it happened to me today on 2026 Nx+. I left my phone (Apple) with digital key active inside my car while the key fob was in my pocket to drop some mail.

I came home and exited the car with both iPhone and key fob in my pocket. But I could not lock the door via the door handle. It beeped at me stating “key detected inside vehicle” message.

All day today I was not able to lock the door via the handle. Somehow the Nx senses that the digital key is still inside the vehicle (my uneducated guess).

Anyway, I was able to clear this message and get my doors to lock via the handle was to move away from the car. I came inside the house and then launched Lexus app on my phone. Then just go thru a Lock/Unlock sequence via the app. If done correctly you will get a confirmation on your phone that the vehicle is locked.

By doing this, the vehicle “learns” that the keys are no longer inside the vehicle. I left the phone inside the house. Picked up the key fob. Unlocked the vehicle and was able to lock it via the door handles again.

I hope this helps someone who comes across this issue.
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 01:26 AM
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Originally Posted by ShakMan
I came home and exited the car with both iPhone and key fob in my pocket. But I could not lock the door via the door handle. It beeped at me stating “key detected inside vehicle” message.
If you have the phone and key fob in the same pocket, regardless of whether or not you have digital key, I think it can interfere with the transmission from the key fob.
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Old Mar 9, 2026 | 01:47 PM
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I dont have the key and the phone in the same pocket (my phone is too big for that). The phone is always on the wireless charger. Anyway the issue is how to 'clear' the "key detected in the car" regardless since you will not be able to lock the car via the door handles.

So far the only way I know how to do it is from the Lexus iphone app (away from the vehicle). If anyone knows another way, let me know. I just learned this will trial and error.
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 10:15 AM
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Has anyone figured out a workaround to this issue?

I just re-enabled my digital key after about a year and ran into this problem where the car thinks there is a key still in the car. I had to turn off the Bluetooth on my phone in order to lock the car.
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Old Apr 17, 2026 | 08:43 AM
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It’s still intermittent for me. I’m have an active digital key subscription on my iPhone since my NX is new. And I also carry the key fob. I will run into times where I cannot Lock the car, touching the door sensors. Maybe I’m carrying both at the same time.

I just walk away from the car and then turn around and lock the car remotely from the key fob.
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