Lock and unlock
The basic test for almost every remote.
Fob programming
Key fob programming
On-site programming so a car key fob locks, unlocks, and performs the functions that vehicle supports.
Key fob programming pairs a fob the car does not yet recognise. Use this page when you already have the fob, or you have been told the remote must be coded before the buttons will work. If the fob is missing or physically finished, go to key fob replacement instead.
People also describe this as programming a remote, a clicker, or a proximity fob. The procedure depends on the model year. One working fob on hand can change the steps. Tell us if every fob was lost.
This is not car key programming unless the car also refuses to start. Say whether the engine starts with the key or fob you have.
On the visit
What programming is meant to restore
Trunk or hatch
Where the car uses the fob for the trunk release.
Panic
If that button exists, it is checked too.
Proximity detection
For push-button cars, the car should see the fob inside the cabin.
Additional fobs
A second fob can be added when the car still has one that works.
A stop point
Incompatible fobs are identified rather than forced through a procedure that cannot succeed.
Common situations
Before you request a visit
You already have the fob
This is the right page. Replacement is for a fob you do not have or cannot trust.
No fobs remain
Say that. All-fobs-lost programming is not the same appointment as adding a spare.
The car will not start
Add that symptom. You may need car key programming as well.
It is a building fob
Office and apartment fobs are often managed by the property, not programmed like a car.
Programming a fob you already own
Aftermarket and dealer fobs both show up in this request. The part number or a clear photo of the back of the fob helps, but it is not required to ask for a visit. The technician confirms fit at the car.
If programming fails because the part is wrong, you should hear that before extra parts are added. A replacement fob can then be quoted as a separate choice.
Related automotive work
A fob that will not program because the car’s key system is damaged may lead to a broader automotive locksmith visit. Door locks that move but do not latch are a hardware problem, closer to lock repair than to programming.
Questions
Practical answers
What is key fob programming?
It pairs a remote or proximity fob to the car so lock, unlock, and related buttons work. It is not the same as cutting a metal key, though some vehicles need both.
Can you program a fob I bought myself?
Bring it with the car. Some fobs program on site and some do not match that model. Compatibility is checked before you are committed to a programming fee for a part that cannot work.
The fob works only sometimes. Is that programming?
Intermittent range can be a battery, a cracked board, or a pairing issue. Say what changed. A new battery is the first check you can do; programming is the step when the car does not recognise the fob at all.
Do you come to the car?
Yes. Programming needs the vehicle. Share the city and a safe place to work.
Related locksmith services
These pages cover a neighboring job in more detail.
Have a fob that needs programming?
Send the vehicle details, the city, and whether any fob still works.