They're small, light, and completely inconspicuous. And yet, key fobs have become critically essential devices among car owners, partly because of the many functions they now serve. Gone are the days when key fobs could only start a car remotely or lock and unlock doors, and some of these key fobs can actually be quite expensive. That doesn't happen anymore. These days, key fobs have a multitude of built-in features, some of which owners may not even be aware of. Knowing these features opens up a world of convenience that car owners didn't know existed.
It is important to know what these hidden features are, how to access them, and how to use them in a way that doesn't frustrate car owners. Check out a few examples of some nifty key fob features you may not know. Just make sure that when you take the time to practice these features, you're doing so from the safe confines of your homes. Granted, not all key fobs have these features, but if yours has them and you don't know about it, now's as good a time as any to find out.
Updated April 17, 2023: As technology becomes more advanced, you can be sure that the key fob will become a source of more and more functions, so articles such as this must continue to be updated regularly. This is, of course, why this one is getting refreshed and added to, so the information is as up-to-date as possible for you.
1 Open All Windows With Your Car's Key Fob
It's a hot day, and you know that when you get into your car, you'll feel like you're in an oven. Rolling down your car's windows and opening the sunroof will quickly fix that problem. It can be accomplished by pressing the "unlock" button on the key fob once, then pressing it again within 10 seconds and holding it down until all the windows are opened. Check to see if your key fob has this function. It's pretty useful if you know how to use it.
2 Remote Start With Your Car's Key Fob
You know it's there if you see a button with a circular arrow going clockwise. For those who already know about this button, it works by first pressing the lock button, followed by pressing the remote engine start button. Other key fobs have a similar button but have a different sequence to start the engine remotely. Ford's key fobs, for example, have the same circular arrow logo with "2x" — other fobs are labeled "X2," which means the same — positioned inside the circle.
This tells you that you need to press the button twice for the car's engine to start remotely. That said, there are automakers — BMW mostly — with new key fobs that do not carry the button. In the case of new BMWs, starting the engine remotely can be accomplished by pressing the "lock" button on the key fob in rapid succession.
3 Fold Your Car's Mirrors With the Key Fob
Some cars come with side mirrors that automatically fold when you lock the doors after getting out of the vehicle, especially if you own a new Chevrolet model or a new GMC pickup. The key fobs of these models can fold the side mirrors automatically. All you need to do is hold the "lock" button on the key fob for a full second and watch the side mirrors fold by themselves. It's essential for SUVs or pickups with larger-than-usual side mirrors.
4 Car Summoning and Parking With the Key Fob
The Tesla key fob is arguably one of the most functional key fobs in the market today. In addition to locking and unlocking the doors of, say, the Model S, the key fob can also open the frunk, charge port, and rear hatch. One other feature it has is the Summon function, which, as the name implies, moves the car in and out of tight parking spaces while you're standing outside it.
Once the feature is activated, all you need to do is press the button in the center of the fob — think of it as the roof of the car — until you see the hazard lights flash. Once that happens, you press the front "hood" of the vehicle if you want your car to move forward and then press it again to make it stop. The same process applies if you want the car to go backward. Press to move, then press again to stop
5 You Might Have a Secret Key Hidden Inside Your Key Fob
There are different forms of key fobs in the industry these days. There are ones like Tesla that look like toy cars, and then there are generic ones that are pretty straightforward in most people's eyes. Most key fobs with hidden physical keys typically store them inside the fob. This can be accessed by pushing a button on the key fob and then pulling the key out. In some cases, the key automatically comes out; in others, you must pull it out.
6 Unlock Your Trunk When Your Hands Are Full With Your Key Fob
A feature of key fobs that many people already know about is the button that pops open the trunk or back hatch. This comes in extremely handy when your hands are full of groceries or party supplies, and it would be a pain in the neck to put it all down just to get the key out and unlock it. Instead, with a push of a simple button, the trunk can be opened, the hatch can come up like on a Kia SUV, and the load of items in your hands can be slipped into place in one smooth movement.
7 Key Fob Keeps You Safe In Underground Parking Lots
Admit it! You have seen the "Panic" button on your key fob and have pushed it to scare the heck out of one of your friends who was walking by. It is fun to play around with, for sure, but it is designed to keep you safe when criminals decide to target you in isolated areas, such as in underground parking garages. You should always be aware of your surroundings and have your keys ready to use so you can get into your vehicle as quickly as possible. If a suspicious person should approach you, hit that "Panic" button to make some noise, which will, nine times out of ten, scare away anyone thinking of committing a criminal act.
8 Key Fob Can Scare Off Burglars Inside The House
Car thefts and home invasions are not only on the rise across the nation, but they are also becoming such a big problem that people do not feel safe driving down the road or sleeping in their own beds. The "Panic" button on the key fob is not only a great way to deter criminals from attacking you in isolated areas, but it can help stop people from carjacking you on the roads. Plus, if you keep the key fob close to your bed, a push of the "Panic" button at any sign of a burglar will scare them off and alert the neighbors to be on guard.
9 Adjust Your Seat Settings With Your Key Fob
There is simply nothing worse than going to climb into your car and having your knees hit you in the chin because the person driving before has short legs. Some companies have considered this problem, such as many of the GMC Denali vehicles, and offer a way to adjust the seat settings through the key fob. For the most part, all you need to do is program the car to the specific key fob that you use. The system in the automobile will automatically know that it is you and will set the seat in the correct position before you climb in.
10 Park Your Car Safely Using Your Key Fob
You would think that parking in tight spots would be easy with all the cameras installed on the new vehicles, but that is not always the case. The parking assist cameras does not have a 360-degree view, which can sometimes make it difficult to safely get your vehicle into a parking spot. Some of the cars, such as the Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Hyundai Sonata can park themselves. All you have to do is climb out, hit the Remote Smart Parking Assist button on the key fob, and let the car do the hard work.