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 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)

Popular Stories

modular ultra training load

watchOS 27 to Offer New Watch Faces, Including 'Modular Ultra' Variant

Monday May 4, 2026 5:58 am PDT by
For watchOS 27, Apple is testing new Apple Watch faces, and one of them is a simpler version of an existing Apple Watch Ultra watch face that could be coming to standard Series models. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple is testing multiple new faces for watchOS 27, code-named "Orchid." One of them is said to be a "simplified take" on the...
Apple Announces 2026 Pride Band Watch Face and iPhone Wallpaper Feature

Apple Announces 2026 Pride Band, Watch Face, and iPhone Wallpaper

Monday May 4, 2026 6:05 am PDT by
Apple today introduced its 2026 Pride Collection, including a new Apple Watch band, watch face, and a matching wallpaper for the iPhone and iPad. Apple said its Pride Collection celebrates LGBTQ+ communities around the world during Pride Month in June and beyond. In addition, the company noted that it is proud to financially support organizations that serve LGBTQ+ communities. The new Pri...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

watchOS 26.5 Fixes Two Apple Watch Bugs

Tuesday May 5, 2026 7:56 am PDT by
watchOS 26.5 fixes two Apple Watch bugs, according to Apple's release notes for the update, which is expected to be released next week. Apple fixed bugs in the Messages and Workout apps:• Fixes an issue where Messages on Apple Watch may use SMS instead of iMessage when paired with a dual SIM iPhone • Fixes an issue where Workout app audio alerts could fail to play if the phone was not...

Top Rated Comments

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