I believe I've gotten everything setup in the new 500h but it fails to download the Digital Key every single time.

I've got a full battery, WiFi internet connection is solid, and/or cellular signal is very good.

ideas?

 

Do yourself a favor and just forget about the digital key. It's worthless. You will always need to bring your fob with you.

But if you're insistant, the issue could be your phone. I had a Pixel 6 Pro and couldn't download a digital key for my 2025 500h, but when I switched to a newer phone, I was able to download it. I've since removed it from my phone because it's cause more issues than it is.

 

Agree with eNX just deleted mine. I have had trouble downloading because dis not have a lock on my phone. Added a pin code to unlock later went back to none in lock once it was downloaded. The other thing you need to make sure in the Lexus app under account and security make sure biometric is enabled.

 

Here is what I found out by trying this 200 times, since Lexus support is useless:
1- Disconnect Wifi, phone must be on data only
2- Delete the app
3- Re-install the app on the phone
4- Log into the app
5- now download the digital key
6- then it will ask you to go to the car and connect to car
7- when the lock and unlock buttons on remote tab of the app turn blue, digital key is connected to the car
8- then go into app settings: Security, Keep me logged in
9- Increase the require Authentication to longer (Like 12 hours)

 

Digital Key is a reasonable feature but very poorly executed. Repeat after us, "I do not want to use digital key"

 

I wasted many months on trying to get Digital Key working reliably. It isn't possible. You'll be happier if you pretend it doesn't exist.

 

I had a similar experience. My digital key worked for 4 weeks and then didn't.

I tried everything above to no avail.

The kind people at Lexus of Warwick RI and they added some steps to the process above.

a) 'Forget' two Bluetooth connections on you phone: CAR Digital_Key and Lexus RX (In my case).
b) Remove the APP
c) Download the APP
d) it will ask you to login - do so
e) It will ask you to download the Digital Key
- Note the FAQ on Lexus web site to delete your Digital Key off of the car no longer exists for 2025 -despite what it says.
- Note when you Delete the key in the APP - Everywhere - it does not delete it in the cloud.
f) No follow the process of connecting your DigitalKey to your car
- Note: DO NOT connect your phone to the BlueTooth that controls the phone, Carplay, etc. - Do this AFTER you have gotten the key working


This worked for me after many scenarios.

 

Long story short:

Bought a slightly used, 2022 RX450h L April of 2024. Spent too much time trying to get it into My Lexus app. Support wanted of course, a copy of the title. Which I provided multiple times but there was never any follow through. Worse, entering my VIN showed right model, year color but kept saying it doesn't match our records. And, the app somehow continues to have my old, 2006 Toyota Highlander on it with no data.

This April, I picked up a 2021 LC 500 convertible at a Lexus dealership. Adding that to My Lexus was smooth and easy. And was able to work through issues with RX as well. They're all on My Lexus app and at .com. The Toyota is still there too. There are service records for it from more than a decade ago.

I was offered the Lexus Connect free trial. I had ignored it because I thought that all went away with Lexus dropping Enform or whatever it was a year or two back. Then, I found out that that was only on older, 3G models. So, I decided to test it out. Just for ducks. In both Lexus'.

I'm a dedicated car play user and live with Waze, Pandora and SiriusXM using car play and my iPhone. So, I had no itention of paying for Lexus Connect over the long run. But thought at least I should see what it's all about.

It wasn't too hard to get most of it set up in both cars. Except that in order to try the remote, I needed to activate it. And, remote was on feature I might actually use.

As many of you know, to activate the remote, I was supposed to get in my car, iPhone in hand, sign in and then hit the SOS button. Supposedly, someone from Lexus Connect would talk to me, confirm that I was the owner, and activate the remote. I as very hesitant.

I got in the car, logged into the app and hit the SOS button. It turned red, but nothing else happened. After a time, I pressed it again and it turned off and gave me a "disconnected" message on my phone. I went inside and poked around the internet to see if I was doing everything right.

Well, I tried it again in the LC a few days later. It said it was having difficulty with cell connection and instructed me to be patient. Again, after a couple of minutes, I shut the SOS off. And it showed the disconnect in the app on my phone.

I went inside to take a much needed nap. And turned my phone off so I could sleep.

A half hour later, I woke up to find a voicemail on my phone. From 911:

"Hi, this is the Vallejo Police Department. Your vehicle had signal SOS to the alarm company. Contact us if you're having an emergency. Please dial 911 and stay on the line. Thank you."

I thought "oh ****". But didn't take any action because that message sounded like nothing would happen unless I called back.

Laid back down for a half hour, when the doorbell rang and I saw two Vallejo police officers on my front porch on my security camera.

I ran downstairs screaming "oh ****" all the way down. I apologized profusely and begged forgiveness. I was sure I was going to get a fine. But they laughed it off and left.

Needless to say, I haven't done anything with Lexus Connect since. Well, except check vehicle status in the app and the like.

Does anyone know the magic key to get remote activated without summoning the local police?

 

Not sure why you pressed SOS, I have never pressed that button and I have a working digital key I've never used because it's WORTHLESS

 

I believe with the digital key if you try to leave your phone in your car and go into a store you can't lock the car bc it detects a key inside. How do you get around that other than either putting your phone in airplane mode or turning off the bluetooth in the phone's settings?

 

Not many people leave their phones in the car.

 

Don't think that answers the question really so let me phrase it differently. Let's say you are wearing pants without pockets and you want to run into a store, take a walk in the park or whatever else and don't want or need to carry your phone in your hand. I guess if you lock your phone in the car you would then need your fob to get back in.

 

Because the instructions in the Lexus app say to do so.

"Activate Remote: To use remote features like start, stop, lock and unlock, we need to verify you as the owner of the vehicle."

then:

"Verify Ownership: When your vehicle is in an area with good cellular coverage, press the SOS button and follow the prompts for 'Remote Activation' ".

Same exact instructions in the app for the 2021 LC and the 2022 RX.

 

I have had my digital key working for well over a year. I did have to reinstall once after a Lexus App or IOS upgrade. Not sure which. I recall in order to reinstall, I had to remove the key from the app, but also remove the old key from the vehicle using the nav screen. Once both were removed the install worked. But like others have said, it is not something you want to rely on. I don't even use the driver profiles. The fobs along with memory buttons are simple and reliable.

 

Yeah... Not a 5th Gen and not the procedure for the 5th Gen. Hence why I was confused.