IOS 26 - Passive Car Key (i.e. phone in pocket) functionality not working - anyone else seeing this?

[Bkdodger]

I am having this problem with my 2025 iX with a twist. It worked initially on my new iPhone 17 pro. Suddenly one morning it stopped working. I have rebooted iDrive, reinstalled the Digital Key on my iPhone, and even re-paired bluetooth.

Today I sent the key to my wife who has a iPhone 17. Her phone works fine with the iX.

Bizzare.

BMW app has been spotty for me last few days not sure if coincidence. Wednesday I was getting I have no data connection could not log in cannot get any kind of correct information from the app. I've already once reset everything and I usually try to keep the truck from unlocking when I'm near the house and that had to be re done once already bc it kicked back on ..smh

 

[Bkdodger]

I just had an issue again with my recognition, as it was not picking up my iPhone near my house, and when I went into the settings to check the keys, I noticed that for some reason it turned off driver recognition on my iPhone on its own while it kept my Android phone on smh , I’ve also now unchecked exclude home setting to do further testing.

 

[Bkdodger]

How's everyone doing ? The issue continues for me with not recognizing the iPhone and I'm having to place it in the wireless pad to start after using the BMW app to unlock. I'm thinking of just waiting it out now and going to move the main key to an Android phone in the meantime smh

 

[SIAShotgun]

I've just come across this thread. I just got a brand new KIA EV6 and I'm having a similar issue. Passive unlock just doesn't work. I do think it's the phone and not the car as the digital key works when I open my Wallet app and tap the unlock button. Interestingly, the phone isn't always connected to the car when I'm nearby but closing the Wallet and opening it again wakes it up most of the time (though sometimes I have to repeat this procedure a couple of times). I'm using an iPhone 17 Pro Max with IOS 26.1.

I've seen a few threads describing similar issues and it does seem to work for some, on a variety of vehicles.

 

[Bkdodger]

I've just come across this thread. I just got a brand new KIA EV6 and I'm having a similar issue. Passive unlock just doesn't work. I do think it's the phone and not the car as the digital key works when I open my Wallet app and tap the unlock button. Interestingly, the phone isn't always connected to the car when I'm nearby but closing the Wallet and opening it again wakes it up most of the time (though sometimes I have to repeat this procedure a couple of times). I'm using an iPhone 17 Pro Max with IOS 26.1.

I've seen a few threads describing similar issues and it does seem to work for some, on a variety of vehicles.

I'm convinced it's iOS 26 and testing now with my Android phone so far working as it should with passive unlock.