Rivian owners have long asked for a way to leave their iPhones at home without losing access to their vehicles, and that day has finally arrived. Rivian announced the launch of its official Apple Watch app today, bringing a highly requested suite of remote controls and digital key features directly to your wrist.
The app is designed to be a seamless extension of the Rivian ecosystem. While the automaker famously continues to skip Apple CarPlay in favor of its own software, it is clearly leaning into Apple's hardware integrations. This launch comes at a busy time for the brand, arriving just as the new 2026.03 software update begins rolling out and ahead of the high-stakes R2 SUV unveiling scheduled for next month.
Your Wrist is Now a Digital Key
Rivian Wave
The standout feature of the new app is the expanded Digital Key functionality. Rivian first brought Apple Wallet-based digital keys to second-generation (Gen 2) vehicles in December, but the new watch app brings similar power to everyone.
For Gen 1 owners (2021–2024 models), the app acts as a bridge to enable digital key support. By keeping the Rivian app open on the watch, you can lock, unlock, and even start your vehicle without your phone. Gen 2 customers get an even smoother "passive entry" experience, where the car automatically unlocks as you approach using Ultra-Wideband technology — no tapping required.
Customizable Quick Controls
Rivian Wave
Rivian understands that a watch app needs to be fast, so they’ve made the interface highly customizable. You can choose up to four "Quick Actions" to live on the main screen of the app. This allows you to lock or unlock the doors, vent the windows, or sound the alarm with a single tap.
Beyond these basics, the app uses the hardware of the Apple Watch in clever ways. For example, you can rotate the Digital Crown to precisely adjust the cabin temperature or set a target state of charge for your battery. It’s a tactile way to interact with your car that feels much more natural than swiping on a phone screen.
Glanceable Vehicle Status
Rivian Wave
The integration goes beyond just buttons. Rivian has introduced a dedicated Apple Watch complication that you can add to your favorite watch face. This lets you see your vehicle’s range and battery percentage at a glance, sitting right next to your weather or activity rings.
Inside the app, the design mirrors the iPhone experience perfectly. You’ll see your specific vehicle color and configuration visualized on the screen, and even the "Gear Guard Yeti" makes a guest appearance to let you know your car is being watched.
Looking Forward
This app is launching just as Rivian prepares to start rolling out its 2026.03 OTA update, which is bringing other major improvements like a revamped Kneel Mode and better cold-weather range transparency. Rivian’s Apple Watch app is launching with a host of new features, and the company has confirmed that more functionality is on the way.
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Rivian is keeping the updates coming for its R1 lineup. The company’s Chief Software Officer, Wassym Bensaid, announced that software update 2026.03 is scheduled to hit both Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicles later this week.
This latest over-the-air (OTA) release is packed with community-requested features and refinements aimed at making the R1T and R1S even more capable. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect when the notification pops up on your screen.
Cold Weather Improvements
As we navigate the tail end of winter, Rivian is rolling out smarter range and battery insights. Cold weather is notoriously tough on EVs, often leading to reduced range as the battery uses energy to keep itself warm.
With this update, both the in-car display and the Rivian app will offer more detailed visibility into how the temperature is affecting your battery. You’ll now see blue shading on the battery graphic to indicate exactly how much energy is temporarily unavailable due to the cold, along with preemptive tips on how to manage your range.
Kneel on Demand
Rivian Wave
One of the most significant changes is a complete overhaul of Kneel Mode. Originally launched in 2022, this feature lowers the vehicle’s air suspension when you park to make it easier to get in and out or load up the front trunk.
The 2026.03 update introduces "Kneel on Demand," which adds a one-tap button to the Quick Controls menu in the UI. You can also trigger the lowering process while traveling under 20 mph to ensure the car is ready the moment you stop. Plus, the R1 can now go even lower than before and will kneel across all on-road drive modes — even on steep 15% grades and 25% side tilts.
Launch Mode
Rivian Wave
If you’ve ever wanted to experience the neck-snapping acceleration Rivian is known for, Launch Mode is your ticket. Previously restricted to certain high-end builds, Launch Mode is now expanding to all Performance Dual-Motor variants.
This mode actively lowers the R1, stiffens the suspension, and optimizes torque to each wheel to help you achieve the fastest possible 0-60 mph sprint. It also provides a cool visualization on the driver display to track your stats.
Sport Mode
Rivian Wave
Finally, Sport Mode is coming to all R1T and R1S variants. This mode optimizes the vehicle for maximum on-road performance by sharpening throttle response and providing more direct steering feedback.
The new update also adds more flexibility to Sport Mode, including options for better ride comfort so you can enjoy the extra performance without feeling every single pebble on the road.
Beyond these headline features, the update will include plenty of "under the hood" refinements and a new Apple Watch companion app. We’ll have the full breakdown for you once the update officially starts rolling out.
Rivian is taking one of its most helpful accessibility features and giving it a massive overhaul. In a recent post on X, Rivian’s Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid announced that the upcoming 2026.03 software update will completely revamp "Kneel Mode" for both first and second-generation R1 vehicles.
Bensaid noted that these improvements were refined based on user feedback, specifically thanking users like tech YouTuber JerryRigEverything and his partner Cambry for their input. While we don't have an exact release date yet, this update will follow the v2025.46 release from December, which brought major autonomy upgrades like Universal Hands-Free driving.
What is Kneel Mode?
If you’re new to the brand, Kneel Mode is a handy feature available for both the R1T pickup and R1S SUV. Originally released in October 2022, it uses the vehicle’s independent air suspension to lower the ride height when you park. The goal is simple: make it easier for people and pets to hop in and out, and make loading gear into the front trunk or rear cargo area less of a chore.
Currently, when the mode is toggled on, the car drops about 1.4 inches (35mm) within five seconds of shifting into park. To keep things safe, it only works in "All-Purpose" and "Conserve" modes at a standard ride height. It won't activate if you’re in Off-Road or Towing modes, as a sudden height change could damage the underbody or your trailer.
If someone opens a door before the car finishes lowering, the process pauses until everyone is out and the doors are shut. Once you start driving again, the car automatically raises back up to its standard height as you hit 5 mph.
What’s Changing in the 2026.03 Update?
The upcoming revamp makes the feature much more flexible. According to Bensaid, the R1 can now go even lower than before, providing a truly "lower profile" for entry and exit.
One of the biggest usability upgrades is a quick control option, which adds a dedicated button to the user interface for one-tap access to Kneel Mode.
Rivian is also releasing what they’re calling a rolling trigger, which sounds like it allow the user to enable Kneel Mode on Park if the vehicle is traveling below 20 mph.
Perhaps most importantly, Rivian is expanding where you can use it. The updated Kneel Mode will be available across many different ride heights and all on-road drive modes — including Sport Mode, which previously didn't support it because the car was already low. It even gets a boost for adventuring, staying active on 15% grades and 25% side tilts.
These changes will make the once-niche setting into a much more useful setting that works when and where you actually need it.
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