Rivian launches new Apple Watch app with vehicle controls, digital key & more [Hands-on]

Source: 9to5Mac

Just a few weeks after rolling out the Rivian Digital Key update, which helped tremendously with proximity‑based features, Rivian has doubled down and is rolling out a new dedicated Apple Watch app. The Apple Watch update was designed as an extension of the Rivian iPhone app, giving you all the most‑used features right on your wrist. It has customizable quick controls, glanceable vehicle status, and support for digital key functionality (depending on your vehicle generation). I got some early access to the app, so here is what you should know.

Rivian Apple Watch App

I was curious to see how Rivian was going to implement all of their digital controls into a much smaller display on the Apple Watch. The app provides access to several essential vehicle controls and has been nicely optimized for the smaller Apple Watch display. From your watch, you can:

• Lock or unlock doors
• Vent windows
• Sound the alarm
• Adjust cabin temperature
• Set a target state of charge using the Digital Crown

The app lets you customize up to four quick controls, so you can have fast access to your most used actions. It also has dedicated pages for certain controls and features. You can use the digital crown to scroll between them. There are dedicated pages for climate control, battery & range information, Gear Guard access, and Rivian location data. All of these elements mirror the iPhone app, so it stays easy to navigate and familiar to Rivian owners.

My Experience

As I mentioned, I had early access to the Apple Watch update, and I got to see firsthand how this all worked. The best part was that there was no new setup. All you do is update the Rivian iPhone app to the new version, and a Rivian Apple Watch app appears on your watch. As long as you were previously connected with your iPhone, your watch will also be connected. Everything worked as intended. All the controls on the watch responded quickly, with zero issues. Customizing your main four controls is also easy; just long‑press on the control you want to swap out, and choose a new one.

The highlight for me was the Apple Watch complication. You can customize it to show the current battery state of the Rivian, and it also doubles as a shortcut. At a glance, I can see how much battery I have, and if I need to dive into the app, I can just tap the complication. Very simple, easy, and extremely useful. Knowing that you can control your car from your wrist gives you peace of mind, especially if you’re like me and often forget your phone when you need something from the car.

Digital Key and Entry Experience

Vehicle access behavior depends on the Rivian generation. For Gen 1 vehicles, drivers can tap the lock icon within the app to unlock the vehicle and then drive once the app is open, so it is still possible to use just your Apple Watch as a great key. For Gen 2 vehicles, Rivian supports passive entry. Once a digital key is configured, the vehicle automatically unlocks as the driver approaches, enabling a hands‑free entry experience similar to smartphone‑based digital keys. I have a Gen 2, and the digital key experience really does help with keyless entry.

Availability and Final Thoughts

The new app update is available now. Just head to the App Store, update the Rivian app, and the Apple Watch app will appear on your watch ready to go. I think this is a great free added feature for Rivian owners. It allows you to do basically everything the iPhone app does, but on your wrist. It’s reliable, functional, and gives you a second way to access your car that is always with you. The battery‑status complication is my favorite feature—having that on my watch is incredibly convenient.

What do you think? Do you own a Rivian? Did you update your app? Have you been waiting for this release? Let’s discuss below.