BYD Dolphin NFC Key Card: Setup and Use
The BYD Dolphin's NFC key card is a slim backup key that unlocks and starts the car. With the ignition off, hold the card against the NFC mark on the driver's side mirror for one to two seconds to lock or unlock. After unlocking, you have ten minutes to start the car. Keep the card away from the wireless charging pad, as an active charger can stop it working.
BYD Dolphin NFC Card at a Glance
| Measurement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reader location | NFC mark on the driver's side mirror |
| Detection distance | Less than 2 cm |
| Hold time | 1 to 2 seconds |
| Start window | 10 minutes after unlocking |
| Auto relock | 30 seconds if no door is opened |
| Toggle | Infotainment, Vehicle Settings, Locks |
What Is the NFC Key Card?
The NFC key card is a thin, credit-card-sized backup key that comes with your Dolphin. It uses near-field communication, the same technology as a contactless bank card, to lock, unlock, and start the car.
It is designed as a convenient backup for the main smart key. You can slip it into a wallet or phone case and always have a way into the car, even if the smart key battery is flat or the fob is at home.
Where to Tap the Card
This is the detail most owners get wrong, and it is worth being precise. On the BYD Dolphin, the NFC reader is on the driver's side mirror, not the B-pillar between the doors as on some other cars.
- Location: The small NFC mark on the driver's side wing mirror
- Distance: Very close, less than 2 cm away
- Hold time: Keep it there for one to two seconds, not just a quick swipe
- Ignition: The card only works with the ignition switched off
If nothing happens, the usual reason is holding the card too far away or not long enough. Rest it gently against the mirror mark and wait for the turn signals to respond.
How to Lock and Unlock With the Card
Once you know the spot, locking and unlocking takes a couple of seconds. Here is the exact sequence from the owner's manual.
- To unlock: With the car locked, hold the card against the NFC mark on the driver's mirror. All doors unlock and the turn signals flash twice
- Open a door promptly: Open a door within 30 seconds, or the car automatically relocks every door
- To lock: With all doors closed but unlocked and the ignition off, hold the card against the same mark. All doors lock and the turn signals flash once
- Confirm: A single flash means locked, a double flash means unlocked
Note that the card will not respond if a door is open at the time, or if the ignition is still on, so close up and power down first.
How to Start Your Dolphin With the Card
The card starts the car too, using a short activation window rather than a permanent connection.
- Unlock with the card at the driver's mirror as above
- Get in and close the door within the 30-second window
- Press the brake and the START/STOP button to start the car
- Mind the clock: You have up to ten minutes of start permission after unlocking, and it ends when you switch the ignition off
In other words, unlock, get in, and start as normal. The card does the authorising in the background for those ten minutes.
Turning NFC On or Off
If you prefer to enable or disable the card function, it lives in the car's settings.
Go to the infotainment touchscreen, then Vehicle Settings, then Locks, where you can manage the NFC and microswitch unlocking options. The exact layout may differ slightly by software version, but that is the path to look for.
The Wireless Charging Warning to Know
| Important: keep the card off the charging pad |
| The owner's manual warns against placing the NFC card in the wireless charging area while the charger is on. The electromagnetic field used for wireless phone charging can interfere with the card and stop it working. The same applies to coins, metal keys, and metal rings, which should never sit in the charging pad with your phone. Keep the card in a wallet or dedicated holder instead. |
What Stops the Card Working
NFC is reliable, but a few everyday things can block the signal. Knowing them saves frustration at the door.
- Metal in the way: A metal seal or a metal phone case can block the signal, so avoid attaching these to the card
- Too far or too fast: The range is under 2 cm, so hold the card steady against the mark
- A bent or damaged card: Do not bend the card or store it loose with hard objects
- Heat: Do not leave the card somewhere hot, such as on the dashboard in the sun
- Ignition on or a door open: The card only works with everything closed and the ignition off
The card pairs neatly with the other ways into your Dolphin. Our guide to using the BYD app for remote functions covers unlocking from your phone, and the smart key features across the range round out the picture.
If You Lose Your Card
Because the card is a working key, a lost one is worth acting on. The manual recommends contacting a BYD authorised dealer or service provider to block the lost card and reconfigure a replacement.
Until then, your smart key and the BYD app still give you full access, so a misplaced card is an inconvenience rather than a lockout.
Common thinks
- Tapping the B-pillar: On the Dolphin the reader is on the driver's side mirror, not the pillar
- Swiping too quickly: Hold the card still for one to two seconds within 2 cm
- Leaving the card on the charging pad: An active wireless charger can stop it working
- Using a metal card case: Metal blocks the NFC signal
- Forgetting the 30-second relock: Open a door promptly after unlocking
- Trying it with a door open: The card needs everything closed and the ignition off