Samsung Wallet can now serve as a digital key for select General Motors vehicles in the United States and Canada. Compatible Galaxy phones can automatically unlock an eligible Cadillac EV as the owner approaches, start the vehicle and lock it again when the owner walks away.
The first supported vehicles are the 2025–2027 Cadillac LYRIQ, 2026–2027 Cadillac OPTIQ and 2027 Cadillac VISTIQ. GM is rolling the capability out in phases, so owning the correct vehicle and phone does not guarantee that the activation prompt has already reached a particular car.
Which Cadillac vehicles work with Samsung Wallet?
Samsung’s October 6 announcement lists these initial models:
- 2025, 2026 and 2027 Cadillac LYRIQ
- 2026 and 2027 Cadillac OPTIQ
- 2027 Cadillac VISTIQ
GM says owners will see a notification in the “What’s New” section of their vehicle’s mobile app when digital-key support becomes available. That notification matters because the rollout depends on the vehicle software and account, not only the model year printed on the registration.
More GM vehicles are scheduled to join the program in December, including the 2026–2027 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, 2026–2027 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL, and the 2027 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade IQ/IQL and CELESTIQ. GM says additional models will follow over time but has not published a complete long-term list.
Which Samsung Galaxy phones are compatible?
The feature requires both Ultra-Wideband, or UWB, and Bluetooth Low Energy. Samsung’s current list includes:
- Galaxy Note20 Ultra
- Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra
- Galaxy S22+ and S22 Ultra
- Galaxy S23+ and S23 Ultra
- Galaxy S24+ and S24 Ultra
- Galaxy S25+, S25 Ultra and S25 Edge
- Galaxy S26+ and S26 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold2 through Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z TriFold
Standard Galaxy S models are notably absent from most generations because they generally lack the UWB hardware needed for precise proximity detection. A phone can run Samsung Wallet and still be incompatible with this particular car-key feature.
Samsung also requires a supported software version, region and Samsung account. Owners should rely on the compatibility prompt in the vehicle app and Samsung Wallet rather than assuming that a similarly named phone will work.
How the GM digital key works
After setup, UWB measures the phone’s position relative to the vehicle while Bluetooth handles connected controls. GM says the encrypted proximity system lets the vehicle distinguish between a device approaching from outside and one that is actually inside the cabin.
That enables passive entry: the doors unlock as the authorized phone approaches, without opening Samsung Wallet or tapping the phone against the door. The vehicle can start when the authorized device is present, then lock automatically when that device moves away.
Owners can also use the digital wallet to open the trunk and adjust climate controls before getting into the vehicle. GM says an account owner can share a key with as many as seven additional devices, although the exact sharing method and available permissions can depend on the receiving platform and device.
How to add the key to Samsung Wallet
GM’s setup process begins in the vehicle manufacturer’s mobile app, such as the myCadillac app. The owner must sign in, sit in the OnStar-connected vehicle and keep the physical key fob nearby. The app then guides the owner through adding the digital credential to Samsung Wallet.
The process is deliberately tied to the physical fob and vehicle account to reduce the chance that someone with only a stolen password could create a new car key remotely.
If the setup option is missing, owners should first check the mobile app’s “What’s New” area and install available vehicle and phone updates. Because the rollout continues through mid-October, the absence of a button may simply mean the vehicle has not received support yet.
What happens if the phone is lost?
Samsung says GM digital keys are stored in the phone’s embedded Secure Element, the protected hardware also used for other sensitive credentials. Samsung Wallet is protected by Samsung Knox, and Samsung says its implementation meets EAL6+ evaluation standards against advanced attack methods.
An owner can share a key, change its permissions and withdraw access through Samsung Wallet. If a Galaxy phone is lost or stolen, the key can be suspended or deleted remotely with Samsung Find on a computer. GM also says OnStar can deactivate a digital key.
Those controls are useful, but a digital key does not eliminate every failure mode. A dead phone battery, damaged device, account lockout, software problem or wireless interference can still prevent access. GM owner documentation recommends keeping a key card as backup on supported vehicles, and carrying the physical fob remains the safest option during travel or immediately after setup.
It is not exclusive to Samsung
GM designed its system around the Car Connectivity Consortium digital-key standard. The automaker says compatible iPhones, Apple Watches and Google Pixel phones can also store a GM key in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
GM’s published compatibility list starts with the iPhone 11 and Apple Watch Series 6, while supported Google hardware includes selected Pro and Fold models beginning with the Pixel 6 Pro. Platform availability can still arrive at different times, however. The Verge noted that Samsung support is active now while the precise status of every Apple and Google combination is less clear.
Who benefits—and who should wait?
The update is most useful for owners who already carry a UWB-equipped Galaxy phone and want to leave the bulky fob at home. Household key sharing, automatic locking and remote cancellation are also more flexible than handing someone a physical key.
Owners should still wait until their vehicle app confirms eligibility before changing routines. Model year, phone hardware, region, software version and rollout timing all matter. There is no benefit in buying a new Galaxy device solely for the feature until the exact vehicle has received the activation option.
For now, Samsung Wallet support turns a limited group of Cadillac EVs into a practical test of cross-brand digital car keys. December’s planned expansion to Chevrolet, GMC and more Cadillac models will determine how quickly the system moves beyond a small luxury-EV audience.