Rivian Releases Apple Watch App - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Rivian Releases Apple Watch App

As expected, electric vehicle maker Rivian today released an Apple Watch app, providing R1S and R1T drivers with convenient features on their wrist.

Rivian Introduces Apple Watch App Feature
The app lets you choose up to four one-tap controls for locking or unlocking doors, opening or closing the windows, opening the front or rear trunks, sounding the vehicle's alarm, and more. In addition, you can turn the Apple Watch's Digital Crown to adjust the vehicle's cabin temperature and battery charging target in the app.

Rivian also offers an Apple Watch complication, allowing you to view the vehicle's charge level at a glance on your watch face.

Rivian recently rolled out Apple Wallet car key support for its second-generation R1S and R1T vehicles. This feature utilizes Ultra Wideband technology, allowing you to simply approach the vehicle, open the door, and start the vehicle, all with your iPhone in your pocket or bag or your Apple Watch on your wrist.

Rivian iPhone Car Keys in Apple Wallet Feature
Passive entry functionality requires an iPhone 11 or newer (excluding iPhone SE and iPhone 16e models) or an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer.

If you have a first-generation R1S or R1T model, digital key functionality is a bit more limited. You can lock or unlock the vehicle with a tap of the "lock" button in the app. "With the app open, you're ready to drive," says Rivian, for these models.

To get the Apple Watch app, head to the App Store and install the latest version of the Rivian app for the iPhone, and it will extend to the Apple Watch.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 12
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Popular Stories

apple watch s12 ultra 4

Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4 Owners Report Skin Irritation

Wednesday October 7, 2026 12:02 pm PDT by
Some Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners have experienced unexpected skin irritation with the new models, according to reports on the MacRumors forums and Reddit. Affected users complain of a burning sensation and redness under the sensor area. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 measure heart rate every five seconds, and some people have wondered if that's the cause of the skin...
apple watch s12 ultra 4

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Owners Report Unexpected Reboots

Monday September 21, 2026 2:08 am PDT by
Some new Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 owners are reporting the devices are rebooting unexpectedly, and diagnostic logs suggest the crashes are related to the Apple Neural Engine. Reports have been posted in the MacRumors forums since the new models launched on Friday. Users describe their watches suddenly displaying the Apple logo and restarting while they were interacting...
GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles Feature

GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles

Monday October 19, 2026 6:51 am PDT by
In a late September press release that we just discovered now, GM announced that it has started rolling out Apple Wallet car key support in select Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicle models, with additional models to follow over time. Google Wallet and Samsung Wallet will also be supported, with a related Samsung press release mentioning availability in the U.S. and Canada. GM said the...

Top Rated Comments

swrobel Avatar
9 months ago
that watch to wrist ratio tho
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Diopter Avatar
9 months ago
What Rivian owners actually want: CarPlay.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mazda 3s Avatar
9 months ago

I have a polestar. When I walk up to it wearing my Apple Watch it unlocks and lets me drive away.

When I walk away it locks the car.

No App necessary, it does it all using Wallet behind the scenes.

Rivian is not starting a revolution here.
Tell me you didn't read the article without telling me you didn't read the article 🤣 Rivian already supports what you stated using UWB and the Apple Wallet.

All this Apple Watch app does is let you perform vehicle functions you could already do on the smartphone app from your wrist. No one said they were starting a revolution. It's just a simple feature-add.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
psychonaut Avatar
9 months ago

Same.

Presumably the vehicle software update that's just starting to roll out to vehicles today will enable it.
One your vehicle gets the latest update it will work. My R1S got it last night and after that it works.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
9 months ago

What Rivian owners actually want: CarPlay.
amen! Looks like Tesla will beat Rivian to it... and with Lucid already offering, now Rivian is the only one standing out
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mazda 3s Avatar
9 months ago

Are people really so lazy that they need an app to open and close a car door for you?
They said unlock/lock. Not physically open/close the door... unless I'm missing something?

My car is parked outside. My kid says that they left their phone in the car. With my Tesla, I open the smartphone app (or my watch app) to unlock the car, and he can get in.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo
Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo
6 minutes ago
iOS 27.3 May Expand RCS Support to Australia's Telstra in December
iOS 27.3 May Expand RCS Support to Australia's Telstra in December
2 hours ago
New Apple TV 4K Features 'Whole Room Audio' With Four HomePods
New Apple TV 4K Features 'Whole Room Audio' With Four HomePods
4 hours ago
Apple Now Sells DIY Repair Parts for iPhone 18 Pro and Two New Macs
Apple Now Sells DIY Repair Parts for iPhone 18 Pro and Two New Macs
4 hours ago
Amazon's HomeView Pre-Order Discount Returns, Plus Save on Apple TV 4K
Amazon's HomeView Pre-Order Discount Returns, Plus Save on Apple TV 4K
5 hours ago
Apple Says Mac Mini Assembly in U.S. to Begin Later This Year
Apple Says Mac Mini Assembly in U.S. to Begin Later This Year
5 hours ago
Apple Says Nearly 100 iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Parts Made in USA
Apple Says Nearly 100 iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Parts Made in USA
5 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Hits New Low Price With Amazon's $299 Discount [Updated]
Apple Watch Ultra 3 Hits New Low Price With Amazon's $299 Discount [Updated]
5 hours ago
Apple's October 28 'Pro and Tell' Launch: What's Coming
Apple's October 28 'Pro and Tell' Launch: What's Coming
18 hours ago
Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer
Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer
19 hours ago
Apple Buys AI Audio Editing App Samplab
Apple Buys AI Audio Editing App Samplab
20 hours ago
EFF's Privacy Badger Anti-Tracking Extension Expands to Safari
EFF's Privacy Badger Anti-Tracking Extension Expands to Safari
21 hours ago
HomePod 27.2 Adds Sound Glow to Existing HomePod Models
HomePod 27.2 Adds Sound Glow to Existing HomePod Models
22 hours ago
Apple Starts Moving Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
Apple Starts Moving Up iPhone Duo Delivery Dates
23 hours ago
tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound
tvOS 27.2 RC Lays Groundwork for HomePod Surround Sound
23 hours ago
Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Three Countries
Apple Says iPhone Duo Not Available on Walk-In Basis in Three Countries
1 day ago
Apple Seeds macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Release Candidate to Developers
Apple Seeds macOS Golden Gate 27.2 Release Candidate to Developers
1 day ago
Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate
Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate
1 day ago
Apple Seeds watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Release Candidates
Apple Seeds watchOS 27.2, tvOS 27.2 and visionOS 27.2 Release Candidates
1 day ago
Samsung Slashes Prices on Frame TVs With Biggest Savings Yet for 2026 Models
Samsung Slashes Prices on Frame TVs With Biggest Savings Yet for 2026 Models
1 day ago
RIP, MacBook Ultra
RIP, MacBook Ultra
1 day ago
Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'
Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'
1 day ago
GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles
GM Says Apple Wallet Car Keys Coming to These Vehicles
1 day ago
Amazon Offers $900 Off 2026 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Max Chip
Amazon Offers $900 Off 2026 16-Inch MacBook Pro With M5 Max Chip
1 day ago
Amazon Discounts New Mac Mini by Up to $149, Mac Studio by $200
Amazon Discounts New Mac Mini by Up to $149, Mac Studio by $200
2 days ago
Apple Expected to Release New Products on Next Four Fridays
Apple Expected to Release New Products on Next Four Fridays
2 days ago
Apple Reveals iPhone Duo's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals iPhone Duo's Battery Capacity
2 days ago
Apple Planning 'HomeView Max' With 9-Inch, 360-Degree Screen
Apple Planning 'HomeView Max' With 9-Inch, 360-Degree Screen
2 days ago
Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
Mark Gurman: Apple Made 'Major Mistake' With iPhone Duo Pre-Orders
2 days ago
Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases
Apple Retail Staff Told to Warn Against iPhone Duo Walk-In Purchases
3 days ago