After the release of iOS 18, some BMW owners have encountered issues with shared digital car keys stored in the Apple Wallet app. Reports from the Apple Support Community and BMW forums reveal that the “passive entry” feature, which allows users to lock, unlock, and start their BMW vehicles without manually unlocking the car, has stopped working for shared keys. This passive entry feature works seamlessly for the primary user but is failing when it comes to secondary keys shared with family members, such as a spouse.
Passive entry is a key feature that makes the driving experience more convenient by allowing users to interact with their cars simply by having their iPhones in their pockets. However, after the iOS 18 update, secondary users who have been given shared access via Apple Wallet can no longer utilize this feature. The primary car owner, who holds the original key, continues to benefit from passive entry, but the secondary keys are not functioning properly.
This problem remains unresolved despite Apple’s release of iOS 18.0.1 and even the beta version of iOS 18.1. As of now, the exact cause of the malfunction remains unclear, leaving many users frustrated and seeking solutions.
The ability to share car keys through Apple Wallet is one of the modern conveniences designed to improve daily life. However, when these digital solutions fail, it can cause significant disruptions. BMW and Apple have yet to provide an official fix, but many are hopeful that future updates will address the issue.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide any updates when new information becomes available. For now, those impacted may need to rely on their primary car key or wait for future iOS patches that might resolve the problem.
This issue underscores the importance of seamless integration between automotive technology and mobile platforms, especially when modern users depend heavily on their smartphones for everyday tasks like accessing their cars. Apple and BMW will need to collaborate to ensure that such connectivity problems are resolved efficiently to maintain the convenience that users expect.
