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OWNER ANSWER

BYD app on Apple Watch: UK compatibility and setup

To add a supported BYD car key to Apple Watch, first activate it on your compatible iPhone. Then open the Watch app on that iPhone → Wallet & Apple Pay → Add beside the car key. This sets up a Wallet key; receiving BYD app notifications on your watch does not give it access to the car.

BYD mobile app on Apple Watch illustration.
  1. Check that Digital Key appears for the correct car in the BYD app.
  2. Activate the main key on the compatible iPhone using the app’s Apple Wallet hand-off. Safety note: Keep a working physical key available until the watch key is activated and tested. A visible notification does not confirm that the watch can open or start the car.
  3. When prompted, add it to the nearby paired and unlocked Apple Watch.
  4. If it was not added during setup, open the iPhone Watch app → Wallet & Apple Pay and choose Add next to the car key.
  5. Test locking, unlocking and start authorisation beside the parked car with the physical key available.

What to expect

The car key is present in the supported watch wallet and the watch can unlock and authorise starting as documented for your car. An iPhone key alone does not establish watch activation.

If that did not work

  • No Digital Key in the BYD app: ask BYD to confirm the owner account link and Digital Key eligibility for your exact car, model year and software.
  • The key has not finished activating on the iPhone: complete the phone setup first using the linked Digital Key guide below.
  • The iPhone key works but the watch key is missing: use the paired iPhone’s Watch app, not the BYD notification settings. Check that the watch is signed in with your Apple Account and has the latest available watchOS. Then look under Wallet & Apple Pay for Add beside the key.
  • Still no Add option, or activation fails: give support the watch/iPhone models, OS versions and the exact screen or error. Ask Apple to check the Wallet/watch setup and BYD to confirm vehicle compatibility; updating a watch cannot add unsupported vehicle equipment.

Watch notification or vehicle key?

A mirrored phone notification or third-party shortcut is not an activated NFC key. Check that the key appears in the supported wallet and completes activation. BYD names Apple Watch; its Galaxy and Pixel compatibility lists concern phones rather than a general promise for those brands’ watches. BYD’s published list specifies iPhone XS or later and Apple Watch Series 5 or later, with a compatible car and software. Check the exact combination before buying a device for this purpose.

Removing watch access

Use a watch passcode and wrist detection. For a watch that is lost, sold or sent for repair, follow the supported wallet/account controls to remove access promptly.

Related links

Source: BYD Europe official source · Apple car-key setup and recovery. Checked 22 October 2026.

Watch setup checked 13 November 2026 against Apple’s car-key instructions and BYD’s compatibility guidance.

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