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Is there a way to share the Prius Gen 5 (with Digital Key)?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by thnok, Apr 24, 2023.

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  1. thnok

    thnok Member

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    I’m trying to share a Gen 5 Prius 2023 XLE with Digital Key, digitally through the app. So the Person 2 will have all access (remote start, heating, digital key etc..). Is there a way to do this right now with the Toyota app?

    I took the route of sharing the digital key, but seems to be that it shares the “key” and not the other settings such as remote start controls etc..

    Any tips/advice on how to share it?

    or is it the old method of creating a shareable Toyota account but use it on two devices?
     
  2. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Reading between the lines here...........
    It sounds like the new model REQUIRES a working phone to start the car.

    If that is true......may God help us all. (n)
     
  3. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    This site needs a facepalm emoji.

    Toyota Digital Key is an ALTERNATATIVE to using a standard keyfob. If you choose to use it, it means one less thing in your pocket. But you're more than free to just keep on using one of the two regular keyfobs you get with your new Toyota.
     
  4. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    Reading through the Toyota support site, it looks like the core of the problem is that Toyota treats Digital Key(Bluetooth based) and Remote Connect(cellphone network based) as two different things. You're allowed to share your Digital Key up to 7 times, but Remote Connect is different.

    While it's possible to share Remote Connect with a different person, only one user may be active at any given time. It almost feels like Toyota wants you to use a shareable account for family usage, while sharing Remote Connect is for letting someone borrow your car.

    https://support.toyota.com/s/article/What-is-the-difference-between-Digital-Key-and-Remote-Connect-Toyota?language=en_US
    https://support.toyota.com/s/article/How-do-I-share-my-Digital-Key-Toyota?language=en_US
    https://support.toyota.com/s/article/Can-I-share-my-Remote-10703?language=en_US
     
  5. thnok

    thnok Member

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    I've been trying out bunch of things and this is the only way that works so far. Remote Connect is unpaired from Digital Key. So even if Digital Key is shared, the person 2 only has the ability to start and drive the car but not do anything of controlling the remote start etc..

    So the only workable solution is to share the account. But I wonder if there is anything I'm missing.
     
  6. Vneck

    Vneck New Member

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    feels funny they ask you to pay for the digital key, and you need to subscribe to use it after a year because it is the function people already pay for it upfront. It like people buy a lock, and the company asks you to pay monthly in order to enter your house.
     
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  7. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    I'm not sure if we are agreeing with each other or trying to say different things, so I'm going to restate some stuff in a different format just in case.

    Digital Key
    - uses Bluetooth
    - short range only
    - turns a cell phone into a basic keyfob
    - only allows locking/unlocking of doors and starting the car
    - can be shared up to 7 times by primary user

    Remote Connect
    - uses cell phone network
    - unlimited range(as long as cell phone and car both have cell signal)
    - allows remote start/stop, lock/unlock, lights, horn, hazards, climate
    - can only be assigned to one driver at a time
    - can be assigned to a guest driver, but assignment must be revoked in order for primary driver to have control back


    So let's look at a couple scenarios...

    1. You are the primary driver of the car. You drive the car 99% of the time. Very occasionally you have someone else(significant other, child, parent, friend, etc.) use the car and want them to have complete access. In that case, it might be worth the hassle of assigning them to be a Remote Connect guest driver and then taking control back when they return the car.

    2. You are the primary driver/owner of the car, but it is regularly used by others in your family. You want the other(s) to have complete remote access, but it would be way too much of a hassle to be constantly switching control between multiple Toyota accounts. In this case, it's probably better for everyone involved to share a single Toyota account on all phones.


    Note: I'm basing all this on reading/watching Toyota support articles/videos. I don't have my gen5 yet, and my gen3 doesn't have any remote features, so I don't have any personal experience with the app.
     
  8. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    The problem is that for these systems to work, the car needs access the cell phone network. And the cell providers aren't going to give that access away for free. In a way, you're paying for adding your car to your cell plan.

    The basic functions are free for ten years(I figure Toyota assumes most buyers sell/trade their cars before that)
    - Safety Connect: Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator
    - Service Connect: receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports

    The functions that require far more regular access(and correspondingly many more cell network connections) are free for one year
    - Remote Connect: description in my other post

    The functions that require large amounts of data from the cell network either have very short trials or no trials at all
    - Wi-Fi Connect: turns the car into a hotspot; 30 day/3GB trial
    - Drive Connect: cloud-based navigation with some extra nav stuff including talking to a real person for directions; 1-year trial on Limited/XSE+, no trial on lower trims
     
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  9. thnok

    thnok Member

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    Yeah, we are agreeing with each other. And my comments are on the first hand experience of trying to figure this out.

    2. You are the primary driver/owner of the car, but it is regularly used by others in your family. You want the other(s) to have complete remote access, but it would be way too much of a hassle to be constantly switching control between multiple Toyota accounts. In this case, it's probably better for everyone involved to share a single Toyota account on all phones.

    In this scenario, the only way is to create a sharable Toyota account and then use that. I've noticed there is a Master digital key, which is downloaded to the first person who uses this sharable Toyota account. But you can still download another digital key without any issue.

    As you mentioned, Remote Connect is disjointed from the Digital Key. I'm able to share Digital Key through the app, but that person will only get the ability to unlock/lock/drive, they are not able to remote start. I am not sure if Toyota is working on fixing this in the long run because Prius is one of the first to have this Digital Key. Right?
     
  10. Hammersmith

    Hammersmith Senior Member

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    Sadly, I think Digital Key has been around for a few years. It was definitely available on several 2022 models, and possibly some 2021 models as well. That would put development of the tech back to 2020 or even 2019.

    The following article was published in Aug of 2019. It had the Digital Key name by that point, even if it's clear from the article that the tech wasn't finalized yet.
    Toyota Connected North America | Digital Key
     
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  11. thnok

    thnok Member

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    oh that makes things even worse. I'm still kind of surprised the Remote Connect acts separately from the Digital Key.
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Is this analogous to the “Peter Principle”: cars are lumbered with increasing complexity, till a stalemate is reached; hardly anyone can comprehend/use half the dreck?

    Same principle applies to the beleaguered mechanics trying to maintain/fix them.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Apr 26, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2023
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  13. Sharol

    Sharol Member

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    I just want my second fob for my husband to use to drive the car if I'm not along. I don't want a digital key. I'm hoping I can just ignore the issue until my 2nd fob gets here in 6 months or so (according to you guys and the dealer - car built in October). In the meantime I'll have to hand over my fob to my husband (who I trust more than anyone on the planet). I REALLY hate that idea. I don't even completely trust myself not to lose it.

    I agree with Mendel, the tech is getting (has gotten) too techy (and I'm a geek).
     
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