SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 10, 2026, 01:15 PST
- Rivian is working on an Apple Watch app that brings remote controls and extends watch-based access to older R1 models.
- The app connects with Rivian’s upcoming software cycle and an imminent update to its iPhone app.
- The update will also bring clearer cold-weather range alerts along with some adjustments to drive modes.
Rivian is working on an Apple Watch app that enables drivers to lock and unlock their vehicles, tweak cabin settings, and set charging goals—all from their wrist, according to recent reports and snippets from release notes.
This shift is crucial as the battle over EVs is turning into a software showdown. Automakers now push frequent updates to roll out new features post-sale, and these small tweaks often have a bigger impact on daily driving than a fresh trim level.
It arrives mid-winter, just when owners focus on essentials: hopping into the car fast and figuring out how cold weather affects range.
According to release notes highlighted by 9to5Mac, the new Watch app puts controls like lock/unlock, window venting, and an alarm right on your wrist. You can use the Digital Crown to tweak the cabin temperature or set a target battery level or charge state. Owners can select up to four “quick controls” for easy access. For Gen 1 R1 models from 2021-2024, the Watch app needs to be open in the foreground for the watch to function as a key. Newer Rivian vehicles, however, rely on Apple Wallet’s digital car key instead. The app isn’t available yet, and it requires Rivian’s mobile app version 3.9 or later, which will automatically install the Watch app once updated. 1
AppleInsider reports the new app will bring Watch-based controls to Rivian models from 2021 onward, letting users manage things like windows, climate, and charging directly from their wrist—features that previously required the phone app. The article also points out that Apple’s Car Key, available since 2020, works with over 30 brands, including Cadillac and other GM vehicles. Tesla, by comparison, sticks to its own apps for these functions. This update is linked to Rivian’s iOS app version 3.9, which hasn’t appeared on Apple’s App Store yet. 2
Digital keys still pose a major challenge in connected-car tech. “It’s a hard technology problem,” Rivian’s chief software officer Wassym Bensaid told The Verge, highlighting the tricky blend of phone hardware and software that must reliably communicate with a vehicle. Alysia Johnson, president of the Car Connectivity Consortium, said newer standards are designed to simplify key sharing across devices: “It’s just like sharing a photo,” she explained. Still, The Verge pointed out that online forums are full of complaints about digital keys failing to recognize drivers, even as Wallet-based keys roll out to more car brands. 3
Rivian’s upcoming software update, labeled 2026.03, is set to introduce cold-weather alerts that highlight when low temperatures are draining range, featuring a blue battery icon to mark energy that’s temporarily out of reach, according to electric-vehicles.com. The report also notes the update brings adjustments to drive modes and performance, while integrating the Apple Watch app into the main system. 4
The rollout might be patchy. According to the release notes, the watch-as-key feature varies across vehicle generations, and some drivers might find having to keep an app open on their watch inconvenient. On a larger scale, digital keys rely on short-range wireless signals that can fail, and cold-weather modes can’t fix the fundamental issue of a drained battery in freezing conditions.
In December, Rivian started launching its “Digital Key” for second-gen models, allowing drivers to store a car key in wallet apps on iPhone, Apple Watch, and select Google Pixel and Samsung devices. The company explained the system relies on Ultra-Wideband for passive entry, with NFC serving as a backup tap-to-unlock option. 5
The reports didn’t specify a release date for the Watch app, only tying it to the next mobile app update and the 2026.03 software cycle. If Rivian follows through, the app would bring wrist controls that some competitors already have, plus extend key access to older R1 models.
