First go of it... remove digital keys is greyed out - can't select it. Tried initiating the pairing via the car rather than the app and got caught in a loop as I wasn't in the app when I placed the phone in the charging space. Will try again over the weekend.

 

Unsuccessful all around - regardless of which way I tried. I thought there was an update regarding phone connectivity, but I haven't been prompted for it.

 

The OTA update Digital Vehicle Key was sent to my car along with an email with instructions and a 6 digit code (if needed) that resolved the issue for me.

 

I work at a dealership and came across this message during a delivery. I resolved by enabling internet access for the apple wallet. Hope this helps This was on a 2026 450 E-class

 

Do not know what I’m doing wrong, but I cannot get this feature to work reliably on my phone. I get it to work and it works fine for a few weeks and then it stops working. If you can’t rely on it, it is completely useless.

 

I only tried using the phone twice. Once at the dealership when I purchased the car - yes I delivered my own car to myself and then once in my garage. I see it as an emergency backup to the FOB.

 

I have used the Digital Key exclusively, either iPhone or Apple Watch. Twice I've had failures with the watch: Once I was able to get it working by taking it off and putting it on the RFID charging pad. The other time it dropped to 9% charge and into low power mode. Despite claims by Apple that the Digital Key features still function in low power mode, this turns your car into a brick and requires an Uber ride to fetch the key (Roadside Assistance offered to tow it...they will not remotely start it).

 

There is a software update for the digital vehicle key that "improves general stability and device compatibility for Digital vehicle key". It was installed Nov 5, 2025. Since then, it has worked flawlessly for me. Prior to that it was sketchy for me also. It solved what is in post #29 also.

 

Were you able to unlock the car with the watch in low power mode, but not start it?

I can start the car with the watch or phone in massive entry mode easily. Using NFC mode is more complicated than it should be. I've come to expect a quick tap in NFC mode like I experience with digital payments. When I tested starting the car with the iPhone using NFC mode, placing the iPhone onto the charging pad didn't work for me. I had to slide the phone backward so that the top of the phone was in the middle of the charging pad. It took multiple attempts for it to be able to see the digital key, but I was able to start the car.

I haven't tried starting the car with the Apple Watch in NFC mode. I wear the watch on my left wrist. The Watch passcode needs to be entered after the watch is placed on the wrist for the key to work. I figured that unnatural contortions would be required to touch the middle of charging pad with the wrist on my left hand. In a pinch, I could put the watch on the right hand before starting the car.

I haven't tested unlocking and starting the car in low power mode. Apple does claim that it is possible. With the watch, I would think that you would not be able to take it off and put it on the RFID charging pad, because then the passcode authentication on the Watch would no longer be valid and the Watch would not be able to use the digital key until the passcode was entered.

I got into a similar weird situation when trying to start the car with the phone in NFC mode. The phone would try to do facial recognition and request double tapping of the side button while the phone was in the charging tray. I had to pull the phone from the tray, double click the side button, do facial recognition and then put the top of the iPhone 16 Pro around the middle of the pad, and move it around until the message on the driver display said the car was looking for a key.

 

When I use the NFC function on the Apple Watch or phone to unlock the car now it gives me a message "updating key" in the Apple Wallet. There is a bit of delay, but then the car unlocks. I wonder what it is doing when "updating the key." My house Schlage Encode Plus locks on the house always unlock immediately when tapped with an Apple device.

 

As mentioned I use Digital Key exclusively, either Apple Watch or iPhone. I haven't carried the actual fob since I got the car. Other than the two times I outlined, the process has always been seamless...I approach the car, handles pop out, doors unlock when I touch the inside of the handle, and the car comes to life with a press of the ignition.

With the watch in low-power mode, the doors did not unlock with NFC. I went into the MB app on my watch to unlock the doors remotely.

 

The digital keys for the car and the Schlage are different. The one for the car uses UWB with NFC as backup when in low power mode, whereas the Schlage lock uses NFC and doesn’t use UWB. So I’m guessing the updating message and delay is due to the key having to switch to NFC.

 

For those who has an android that wants to use digital key, I can confirm it works (in Canada at least) on a google pixel 9 phone through Google Wallet.

 

I was confusing low-power mode, with the mode where the watch is running out of battery and only shows the time. Last night my iPhone shut off with the message that "find my" and digital keys could still be used. I think the watch has a similar digital key mode. I was going to see if I could unlock and start the car with the iPhone after the battery was run down, but I was too lazy.

I am surprised that the doors did not unlock with NFC and the watch in low-power mode. The remote unlock with the app on the phone or watch is always a good backup. So you were able to enter the car. Were you able to start it?

 

^ I was able to get in with remote unlock thru the app but I could not start the car. Roadside Assistance would not start it remotely. They offered to send a tow truck but I opted to Uber home to get the key instead.

 

I deactivated the digital key from google wallet on the pixel and paired it to my samsung, using samsung wallet, it also works.