Workaround Solution -- Phone as a Key (PaaK) setup not available in FordPass on Android

[Metal_Horses]

I have not been able to set up PaaK on my Android Pixel 3aXL and my wife's Pixel 4 phone. The "Setup Phone as a Key" (Circled in the pic below) option never appeared below my Start button in FordPass, despite several reboots, uninstalls, clearing cache, Mach-e Master Resets and THREE calls to the FordPass (Quote) "Guides".

For the heck of it, I sent my VIN to my brother who has an iPhone just to see if he set it up, would he at least get the PaaK option.

So I sent him the VIN and he did an Activation request. I went into FordPass to grant him authorization and the PaaK option was in there!

I followed all the instructions, said "yes" to all the Android pairing questions and now it's working. And I also get all the extra features like windows up/down, trunk, horn, etc...

So relieved. Hopefully this helps others pulling their hair out because of this.

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[benk016]

If anyone is having an issue with PAAK working consistently on their android phone, try this.

Mine setup and was working, but it wouldn't work reliably. I basically had to have my phone on, and the app open for it to connect. I went through my settings and told the ford pass app to never force it to sleep. And since then, any time I open my app, its still connected to the vehicle with bluetooth. It seems to have a big range, it can stay connected anywhere in my house.

I did go out to the car to verify its working, and it won't turn on the lights as I approach, but it does unlock the car and open the door when you push the door button on the car.

I suspect it doesn't do the approach lighting because its staying connected so it doesn't see me as "approaching"

 

[krookbond]

Hi,

I can see the Setup phone as a key option but it does not go through. I do not get the popup to paste the pairing code and then it fails. I called the FordPass service but they were not able to resolve it. Anyone with similar issue?

AG

 

[Metal_Horses]

Hi,

I can see the Setup phone as a key option but it does not go through. I do not get the popup to paste the pairing code and then it fails. I called the FordPass service but they were not able to resolve it. Anyone with similar issue?

AG

Once I actually GOT the option, it worked fine.

I did notice I had to do several "Accepts" to Bluetooth prompts on my phone during the setup. I have the latest Android 11 OS

 

[KAustin]

If anyone is having an issue with PAAK working consistently on their android phone, try this.

Mine setup and was working, but it wouldn't work reliably. I basically had to have my phone on, and the app open for it to connect. I went through my settings and told the ford pass app to never force it to sleep. And since then, any time I open my app, its still connected to the vehicle with bluetooth. It seems to have a big range, it can stay connected anywhere in my house.

I did go out to the car to verify its working, and it won't turn on the lights as I approach, but it does unlock the car and open the door when you push the door button on the car.

I suspect it doesn't do the approach lighting because its staying connected so it doesn't see me as "approaching"

Are you seeing any additional battery drain on the phone from keeping the app on?

 

[benk016]

Are you seeing any additional battery drain on the phone from keeping the app on?

Yes. I just did this yesterday, but My battery was draining a lot faster than usual. And this phone is only a month old.

I really want to not have to carry the fob around, so I'm going to try it, but I may have to turn it back off if it is draining too much.

Would be nice if you could adjust the range of the bluetooth. I don't need it being connected to the car all day while I'm home.

 

[Metal_Horses]

Are you seeing any additional battery drain on the phone from keeping the app on?

Yeah, my phone is close to dead when I go to bed (Battery single digits) and it was no where near that before PaaK.

 

[krookbond]

Mine is not going through the paak setup. It ends up with this message. I tried 3 different phones, both ios and android.

 

[Nikos]

I have not been able to set up PaaK on my Android Pixel 3aXL and my wife's Pixel 4 phone. The "Setup Phone as a Key" (Circled in the pic below) option never appeared below my Start button in FordPass, despite several reboots, uninstalls, clearing cache, Mach-e Master Resets and THREE calls to the FordPass (Quote) "Guides".

For the heck of it, I sent my VIN to my brother who has an iPhone just to see if he set it up, would he at least get the PaaK option.

So I sent him the VIN and he did an Activation request. I went into FordPass to grant him authorization and the PaaK option was in there!

I followed all the instructions, said "yes" to all the Android pairing questions and now it's working. And I also get all the extra features like windows up/down, trunk, horn, etc...

So relieved. Hopefully this helps others pulling their hair out because of this.

I did not have problems with my Pixel 2XL.
I had to try twice though to make my phone as a key. That windows up/down, trunk open etc did not see or I just missed it completely.
These are the stuff that intrigues me.
You think you learned and found all the things in the menu pages but more pops up. My wife is good at that while we driving.
She points all this out. I wonder what the next OTA update would be like.

 

[imstriker]

On my Pixel 5 the pairing was quite odd. I had to pair multiple times and the phone did not always pop up. It was up in the notification bar as pair to null. Once I found and did all of those, it does show up on my phone but the car does not show it.

 

[Garbone]

My BLU and ruin fails pairing. The wife's BLU Sets up but does not really work. Glad they issued two FOBs.

 

[Jayally]

My BLU and ruin fails pairing. The wife's BLU Sets up but does not really work. Glad they issued two FOBs.

Ford only gave one FOB because of the PAAK but mine is still not working and I can't use it to drive and the best I can do it press and hold the button to unlock or lock the car but it takes so long I might as well have the FOB on me. I think they should have given 2 FOBS out to everyone.

 

[snickerson123]

Yes. I just did this yesterday, but My battery was draining a lot faster than usual. And this phone is only a month old.

I really want to not have to carry the fob around, so I'm going to try it, but I may have to turn it back off if it is draining too much.

Would be nice if you could adjust the range of the bluetooth. I don't need it being connected to the car all day while I'm home.

Yes. I just did this yesterday, but My battery was draining a lot faster than usual. And this phone is only a month old.

I really want to not have to carry the fob around, so I'm going to try it, but I may have to turn it back off if it is draining too much.

Would be nice if you could adjust the range of the bluetooth. I don't need it being connected to the car all day while I'm home.

I would think with as many people working from home that they would have some sort of programming that prevents our phones from being constantly connected to our cars which in most cases would be close to our work stations at home. I hope they do an OTA to fix that.

 

[imstriker]

Everything here is very real if you try to use PAAK. I'd just avoid it. I did finally get mine working, but it is a pretty much complete fail. My just about brand new Pixel 5 basically has no battery life now. We drove 4+ hours today in the Mach E and even with wireless charging it is just about dead. And it is a nightmare at home. Oh, you are in the kitchen, unlock, wait you moved, lock and honk no matter how late it is. Definitely need a second FOB and a lot of work on this "feature".

 

[Jayally]

I finally have mine working and can open and close windows etc but my Moto G Power which I bought because of its' amazing battery life is not even making it to the end of the day. If my battery dies what good is it as a key and I have to open up the Ford App in order for it to be recognized. A great idea but not ready to be a full replacement.