Audi Q6 Digital Key Disaster
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AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 40
Likes: 8
From: Montreal
Audi Q6 Digital Key Disaster
On a weekend getaway miles from home, left the hotel and on arrival to the restaurant I realized I forgot my key fob in the hotel room. No worries I thought, I have my digital key and Audi App. Locked my Q6 with the Audi app and off to dinner.
Got back to my car and tried to unlock but the audi app would not let me giving me an error, unable to unlock vehicle. Tried multiple times and it would always fail while saying turn off ignition. Held my phone next to the door handle and nothing. It worked fine when leaving the hotel.
Called Audi roadside assist and they sent a CAA two truck to unlock it, bad idea as now the alarm goes off and the car still doesn't recognize my digital key once inside.
Had to beg the tow truck to drive me 30 mins to the hotel to get my key fob, on return it recognized my key fob / key user and I was able to drive back to the hotel.
Now the key fob buttons don't work, can't lock my car anymore, open trunk... What the hell did I do wrong?
Guess I need to go back to the dealership to get this sorted. I've had the car for two weeks.
Got back to my car and tried to unlock but the audi app would not let me giving me an error, unable to unlock vehicle. Tried multiple times and it would always fail while saying turn off ignition. Held my phone next to the door handle and nothing. It worked fine when leaving the hotel.
Called Audi roadside assist and they sent a CAA two truck to unlock it, bad idea as now the alarm goes off and the car still doesn't recognize my digital key once inside.
Had to beg the tow truck to drive me 30 mins to the hotel to get my key fob, on return it recognized my key fob / key user and I was able to drive back to the hotel.
Now the key fob buttons don't work, can't lock my car anymore, open trunk... What the hell did I do wrong?
Guess I need to go back to the dealership to get this sorted. I've had the car for two weeks.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 573
Likes: 16
From: Cary, NC
What I noticed because of course it's not all rosey, stay away from the Audi app to use for unlocking/locking or anything like that. Use it primarily to see your charge level is it. The digital key in your wallet (assuming an iPhone) is your primary key. The issues I have had is that the car won't immediately unlock, so have to try it a few times (more annoying than anything). If you see that red line in the dash when you touch the handle, then just bring your phone closer and keep any of your hand off that locking portion of the handle. For locking I never have too many issues, unless I left my phone in the car. While driving, randomly the car thinks I no longer have my phone / digital key. As if I threw the phone out the window. Just wait, the warning will go away and might come back again, but then will settle down and go away.
The biggest pitfalls I ran into are:
- Do NOT reset your pin in the Audi app / better yet stay away from that app unless you are at home with the fob.
- Do NOT connect your Car to some other WiFi, I think this really messes things up and there is some linkage to that WiFi and things (especially btw your phone and the car - reminder: The digital key is on your phone)
Hope this help, just waiting so I can get a second digital key for my wife.
Last edited by cakasky; May 19, 2025 at 05:07 AM.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Oct 2018
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Counterpoint, Genesis/Hyundai knows how to make a functional mobile app...
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 525
Likes: 77
From: Ottawa
I'm using the digital key most of the time. It's very convenient to not have to bring my keys. Now it's more of a habit to leave them behind anymore. Since most of all my driving is around town, this is fairly safe. But if I were to go away, then of course I would take my fob just in case.
What I noticed because of course it's not all rosey, stay away from the Audi app to use for unlocking/locking or anything like that. Use it primarily to see your charge level is it. The digital key in your wallet (assuming an iPhone) is your primary key. The issues I have had is that the car won't immediately unlock, so have to try it a few times (more annoying than anything). If you see that red line in the dash when you touch the handle, then just bring your phone closer and keep any of your hand off that locking portion of the handle. For locking I never have too many issues, unless I left my phone in the car. While driving, randomly the car thinks I no longer have my phone / digital key. As if I threw the phone out the window. Just wait, the warning will go away and might come back again, but then will settle down and go away.
The biggest pitfalls I ran into are:
Hope this help, just waiting so I can get a second digital key for my wife.
What I noticed because of course it's not all rosey, stay away from the Audi app to use for unlocking/locking or anything like that. Use it primarily to see your charge level is it. The digital key in your wallet (assuming an iPhone) is your primary key. The issues I have had is that the car won't immediately unlock, so have to try it a few times (more annoying than anything). If you see that red line in the dash when you touch the handle, then just bring your phone closer and keep any of your hand off that locking portion of the handle. For locking I never have too many issues, unless I left my phone in the car. While driving, randomly the car thinks I no longer have my phone / digital key. As if I threw the phone out the window. Just wait, the warning will go away and might come back again, but then will settle down and go away.
The biggest pitfalls I ran into are:
- Do NOT reset your pin in the Audi app / better yet stay away from that app unless you are at home with the fob.
- Do NOT connect your Car to some other WiFi, I think this really messes things up and there is some linkage to that WiFi and things (especially btw your phone and the car - reminder: The digital key is on your phone)
Hope this help, just waiting so I can get a second digital key for my wife.
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