Carrying a key fob may soon feel as unnecessary as printing a boarding pass at home. GM is rolling out digital-key support across Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles, letting compatible phones and smartwatches handle locking, unlocking, and starting duties through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet. The rollout begins with select Cadillac EVs in September 2026 and expands to full-size SUVs across all three brands in December 2026, according to GM’s September 23 announcement.
Which Vehicles Qualify
The first wave is Cadillac EV-only; the second wave goes wide.
The September through mid-October 2026 phase covers three Cadillac electric models: the Lyriq in model years 2025 through 2027, the Optiq in model years 2026 and 2027, and the 2027 Vistiq. December 2026 brings the feature to the 2027 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, and Celestiq, plus the Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL, covering model years 2026 and 2027 where applicable.
Owning one of these vehicles is necessary but not sufficient: your phone must also carry the right hardware. GM will notify you through the “What’s New” section of your GM vehicle app when your specific model is ready.
What Your Phone Can Actually Do
UWB and Bluetooth work together so you never have to open an app to get in.
GM pairs Ultra-Wideband technology with Bluetooth Low Energy for proximity authentication. The vehicle detects your phone’s position and unlocks as you approach, then locks again when you walk away, with no screen-tapping required.
Beyond passive entry, a compatible device can start and drive the vehicle, open the trunk, toggle climate control through the wallet app, and share a digital key with another person where the wallet platform supports it. Availability of each function may vary by vehicle, device, and wallet platform.
Device eligibility is specific. On the Apple side, iPhone 11 or later is supported, but the second- and third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 16e are excluded. Apple Watch Series 6, later models, and Ultra are also supported. Google Wallet compatibility covers select Pixel 6 Pro and newer Pro, Fold, and Pro Fold models. Samsung Wallet requires UWB and Bluetooth Low Energy on eligible Galaxy S, Note, and Fold devices; Samsung’s October 6 announcement confirmed availability in the United States and Canada for the initial Cadillac EV launch.
Setting It Up
First-time activation needs the GM app, an OnStar connection, and your existing key fob present.
Activation requires three things in place at once: the GM vehicle app, an active OnStar connection, and the physical key fob. Once that pairing is complete, you follow the in-app prompts to add the digital key to Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet.
GM’s setup instructions describe an initial activation sequence rather than a permanent ongoing dependency, though the company does not guarantee the fob will never be needed again for service, device failure, or reactivation scenarios.
GM says additional vehicles will receive support over time, so the current launch list is a starting point rather than the full picture. When your model’s rollout date arrives, check the “What’s New” section of your GM vehicle app for the notification.
