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Owner guide · Elgin Hyundai · Bartlett, IL
Hyundai Digital Key: How to Set It Up and Use It
Hyundai Digital Key lets a supported smartphone or an NFC card key stand in for your smart key. This guide walks through registering a phone key, locking, unlocking and starting, the card key, deleting keys and what to check on a used Hyundai. The steps come from the 2027 Santa Fe owner's manual, read October 26, 2026; menus can differ by model, so check your own manual.
2 typessmartphone key and NFC card key
2+ secondshold at the door handle pad to lock or unlock (NFC)
30 secondsdoors re-lock if none is opened
1 card keyper vehicle
How do I set up Hyundai Digital Key?
Install the Bluelink app and sign up for a Hyundai account and service. Then, in the vehicle with the smart key, turn the vehicle on, shift to P (Park) and go to Setup > Vehicle > Digital keys > Smartphone key > My Smartphone Key on the infotainment screen. In the Bluelink app choose Digital Key > Set Up Digital Key, follow the phone's prompts, and press Save on the infotainment screen. That is the 2027 Santa Fe owner's manual procedure.
Set up a smartphone digital key
Before you start, install the Bluelink app on your phone and sign up for a Hyundai account and service. Hyundai says digital key functions depend on the phone maker, and some functions may not operate depending on the services available on the vehicle. Then, per the 2027 Santa Fe owner's manual:
- Turn the vehicle on with a smart key, and keep the smart key with you inside the vehicle. Registration does not start if a smart key is not in the vehicle.
- Shift to P (Park) and select Setup > Vehicle > Digital keys > Smartphone key > My Smartphone Key on the infotainment screen.
- In the Bluelink app, select Digital Key > Set Up Digital Key and follow the prompts on the phone. A phone without Ultra Wide Band (UWB) goes face up on the wireless charging pad, which Hyundai calls the vehicle authentication pad, with the phone's NFC antenna touching it. A UWB phone only needs to be inside the vehicle.
- Press Save on the infotainment screen. A message appears when the digital key is saved.
Hyundai says registration can cancel if the phone comes off the pad, the infotainment screen changes, the engine is turned off or the gear is shifted. If a phone will not start registering, move it to the left or right on the pad and try again. Bluelink basics are on our Blue Link page.
Lock, unlock and start with your phone
How you use the key depends on whether your phone supports Ultra Wide Band. Your phone maker can tell you which it is.
| Task | Phone without UWB (NFC) | Phone with UWB |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock or lock | Hold the phone's NFC antenna to the driver's or passenger's door handle pad for more than 2 seconds. | With the phone on you, touch the lock/unlock sensor (the engraved part) on the door handle. |
| Two Press Unlock on | The first touch unlocks only the driver's door; touch the driver's handle again within 4 seconds to unlock all doors. | Not described for UWB phones in the manual. |
| Start | Place the phone on the wireless charging pad, press the brake pedal and press Engine Start/Stop. You can take the phone off the pad once the vehicle is on. | With the phone inside the vehicle, press the brake pedal and press Engine Start/Stop. |
| Liftgate | Not listed for NFC. | With the vehicle locked, press the liftgate open button with the phone on you. With Smart Liftgate set, stand behind the liftgate for more than 3 seconds. |
| Remote functions | Not listed for NFC. | With Bluetooth connected, door lock/unlock, remote start, panic and trunk open are available in the phone maker's app; Hyundai says remote start, panic and trunk/frunk open may not be available depending on the country or vehicle type (hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric). |
From the Hyundai Digital Key section of the 2027 Santa Fe owner's manual, read October 26, 2026. After unlocking, the doors re-lock automatically after 30 seconds unless a door is opened.
Hyundai's warning: the vehicle can be started when the registered phone is on the wireless charging pad, so never leave children or anyone unfamiliar with the system alone in the vehicle, and take the phone with you when you leave.
Use an NFC card key
The card key works like an NFC phone: hold it to the door handle pad for more than 2 seconds to lock or unlock, or place it on the wireless charging pad, press the brake and press Engine Start/Stop. To register it, per the 2027 Santa Fe manual:
- Have both of your smart keys with you in the vehicle.
- Check that "Use" is selected under Setup > Vehicle > Digital Keys > NFC Card Key.
- With the engine on, place the card key on the wireless charging pad.
- Select Vehicle > Digital Keys > NFC Card Key > Save in the Settings menu.
Only one card key can be registered to a vehicle, and once registered it cannot be registered to another vehicle. Hyundai says to keep the card key out of direct sunlight and high heat, take it off the charging pad after starting, and keep it away from credit cards and phones when you use it.
Delete, replace or share a key
Turn the vehicle on with a smart key and keep it with you, then use these infotainment menus from the 2027 Santa Fe manual.
Delete your own phone key
Setup > Vehicle > Digital Keys > Smartphone key > My Smartphone Key > Delete. You must do this before registering a different phone as your key.
Delete every phone key
Setup > Vehicle > Digital Keys > Smartphone key > Delete all. Shared keys cannot be deleted one at a time.
Delete the card key
Setup > Vehicle > Digital Keys > Card Key > Delete.
Share a key
An active digital key can be shared with a different smartphone through the Bluelink app. Deleting the Bluelink app does not delete the key saved on the phone; manage it in the phone maker's digital key app.
Deleting the key in the vehicle also deletes it from the phone, and deleting it from the phone also deletes it from the vehicle, per Hyundai.
Buying or selling a used Hyundai with Digital Key
If any smartphone or card key is still registered, Hyundai says a "Digital key registered" message appears once on the infotainment screen when the Engine Start/Stop button is in ON after unlocking. When you buy a used Hyundai, look for that message, delete the previous owner's smartphone and card keys, and tell Hyundai Customer Care about the used-vehicle purchase. If a card key came with the vehicle, check that it works.
Linking a phone key to a driver profile is covered in our driver profiles and seat memory guide.
If your digital key does not work
Hyundai lists these reasons a digital key may not operate. If your digital key system needs repair or replacement, Hyundai says the registered smartphone and card keys can be deleted.
- The phone battery or the vehicle battery is discharged
- NFC or Bluetooth is turned off in the phone's settings
- A credit card is near the phone, or the phone is in a metal or thick case or a cover that uses wireless communication
- The card key is in a wallet or card holder, or stacked with other cards
- Electronic interference from other vehicles or objects
- For NFC: move the phone or card more than 4 inches away from the door handle pad and try again
Hyundai also cautions that carrying a registered UWB phone within Bluetooth range of the vehicle for a long time can drain the vehicle's battery; turning off the digital key's passive entry in the phone's wallet app prevents that. Schedule service online if you would like us to look at it, and check the service specials first.
Elgin Hyundai service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 7 a.m.-7 p.m. |
| Saturday | 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Sunday | Closed |
From Elgin Hyundai's website, October 26, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Hyundai Digital Key FAQ
What can Hyundai Digital Key do?
In the 2027 Santa Fe owner's manual, Hyundai says a digital key can lock or unlock the driver and passenger doors or the liftgate and turn on the vehicle. Hyundai lists two kinds: a smartphone key and an NFC card key.
Which phones work with Hyundai Digital Key?
Hyundai says digital keys only work on smartphones that support digital key functions, which the phone makers provide, and that supported brands and models are listed on the phone makers' websites or Hyundai's website. Check your own phone before you plan around it.
Do I need the Bluelink app?
Yes, for a smartphone key. The manual says to download the Bluelink app and sign up for a Hyundai account and service before you register the phone.
Can I share my Hyundai Digital Key?
Yes. Hyundai says an active digital key can be shared through the Bluelink app with a different smartphone. The first use of a shared key can take longer to activate.
Why will my Hyundai not lock with my phone?
The manual says you cannot lock the vehicle with the digital key if the smart key is inside, the Engine Start/Stop button is in ACC or ON, or any door, the hood or the liftgate is open.
I bought a used Hyundai. What should I do about digital keys?
Hyundai says a "Digital key registered" message appears once on the infotainment screen if a previous owner's smartphone or card key is still registered. Delete those keys and tell Hyundai Customer Care about the used-vehicle purchase.
Questions about your Hyundai Digital Key?
Visit Elgin Hyundai at 1215 W. Lake St. in Bartlett, IL, or book a service visit if your digital key system needs a look.
Sources
Digital key steps, menus and limits are from the Hyundai Digital Key section of the 2027 Santa Fe owner's manual, read October 26, 2026. Hyundai says its manuals cover optional equipment and that not every feature applies to every vehicle, so your own manual is the final word. Address and hours are from Elgin Hyundai's own website. Image: Hyundai Motor America.
- 2027 Santa Fe Owner's Manual: Hyundai Digital Key (smartphone and card key), used vehicle and limitations, Hyundai Motor America, read October 26, 2026
- Hyundai owner's manuals and warranties (manual downloads), Hyundai Motor America, read October 26, 2026
- Santa Fe (Digital Key 2 image), Hyundai Motor America, October 26, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Elgin Hyundai, October 26, 2026
- Hyundai service at Elgin Hyundai, Elgin Hyundai, October 26, 2026
