Name: Keylo – Key for Tesla
Rating: 4.5 (19 reviews)
Author: pacoz

Keylo turns your Garmin watch into a car key for compatible Tesla vehicles. Yes you can drive your car with only your watch.

The watch communicates directly with the car over Bluetooth — no phone nearby, no internet connection, no account and no subscription.

Keylo does not collect or transmit any personal data. Your VIN and key remain on the watch.

WHAT KEYLO DOES

Unlock as you walk up. Open Keylo and head to the car. Once the vehicle has recognised the watch as a key, simply touch the door handle to unlock, just like with a phone key. No button press on the watch is needed.

Drive with your watch as the key. Get in, press the brake and select Drive. No phone, key card or other key needs to be nearby.

Lock and unlock on demand. Select the action with UP and DOWN on the main screen and press START.

Open the trunk and frunk from the same list.

WHAT YOU NEED

* A Tesla that supports Bluetooth phone keys
* A compatible Garmin watch
* Your Tesla key card, once, for pairing
* Your 17-character VIN

ONE-TIME SETUP

1. Enter your VIN.

In Garmin Connect on your phone, go to:

Device → Connect IQ Apps → Keylo → Settings

Enter the 17-character VIN. You can find it on the windshield or in the Tesla app under vehicle information.

Without a VIN, Keylo shows a setup notice and does nothing else.

2. Pair the watch with the car.

Sit inside the car. In Keylo, press and hold MENU and then choose Pair. Immediately afterwards, place your Tesla key card on the centre console at the usual key-card position behind the cup holders or in newer models in the phone holder. Sometimes you need to tap the card a few times.

The pairing window is short. Once successful, the car screen confirms the new key.

If it does not work the first time, Keylo repeats the pairing request. Simply tap the card again.

EVERYDAY USE

Open Keylo shortly before you reach the car.

The status line at the top of the screen shows what is happening:

Looking for car → Connecting → Ready

Once it says Ready, the watch is registered as a key.

Touch the door handle and the car unlocks.

To drive, press the brake and select Drive.

To lock the car manually when you leave, select Lock on the watch and press START.

LIMITS WORTH KNOWING

Keylo only works while the app is open. Connect IQ does not allow this Bluetooth functionality to continue in the background. This is a Connect IQ limitation.

The active key registration lasts for ten minutes of inactivity. Every button press on the watch and every query from the car resets the timer, so in normal use you will rarely see it expire.

After ten minutes without activity, Keylo signs the key off to save battery. One button press reconnects it.

When you move out of Bluetooth range, Keylo loses its connection to the car. When you return, it reconnects automatically as long as the app is still open and the inactivity timer has not expired.

Reconnection can take a few seconds. If the car has not recognised the watch when you first touch the handle, try again after a moment.

Keylo has currently been tested with a 2024 Tesla Model Y. Other Tesla models and firmware versions that support the same Bluetooth key protocol should work, but have not yet been personally tested.

SECURITY

The secret key is stored locally in the app's storage on the watch. It is not stored in a dedicated secure element.

An unlocked watch with Keylo installed should therefore be treated like a physical car key.

Keylo does not use an account or cloud service and does not collect or transmit your VIN, key or other personal data.

Keylo is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or associated with Tesla, Inc. or Garmin Ltd.