Enable Manual Door Handle Access on Rivian R1T/R1S (Gen 1) for At-Home Use

Rivian’s proximity locking system is a fantastic feature when you’re out and about, but at home, it can lead to some frustrating quirks. Have you ever noticed your vehicle unlocking itself or waking up multiple times simply because you’re walking around your house? This is a common issue for Rivian owners who leave proximity locking enabled, especially when the vehicle is parked near your living space, like in a garage or driveway. Luckily, there’s a practical workaround to manually control your door while at home—similar to a Tesla Model 3 or Y setup. Shoutout to Tyrone on X for sharing this trick!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to solving this, specifically for Gen 1 Rivian vehicles (R1T and R1S). This will allow you to enjoy manual door handle access at home while keeping proximity locking functional for when you’re out and about.

Unintended Unlocking at Home

If you leave proximity locking on, your vehicle might constantly wake up or unlock as you move around your home. This can become an annoyance, especially if your Rivian is parked in the garage. On the other hand, disabling proximity locking entirely solves one issue but creates another: now you need to use the app, fob, or keycard to unlock your vehicle, which can be slower and less convenient.

Enable Manual Door Handle Mode at Home

To solve both of these issues, here’s what you should do:

Steps to Enable Manual Door Handle Mode

1. Open the Settings Menu
   • In your Rivian app or vehicle screen, navigate to the Settings menu.
2. Go to Access Settings
   • Scroll until you find the option labeled Access.
3. Adjust Locking Behavior at Home
   • Locate the section for Locking Behavior at Home.
   • Select the option to Turn Off Proximity Unlocking at Home. This will prevent your vehicle from waking up or unlocking automatically when you’re at home.
4. Disable Auto Relock
   • Make sure Auto Relock is turned off. This ensures that the vehicle stays unlocked unless you manually lock it.
5. Activate Carwash Mode at Home
   • When you arrive home and park your vehicle, activate Carwash Mode. This mode prevents the door handles from presenting themselves automatically and puts your Rivian into a sleep state.
   • To activate Carwash Mode, swipe right from the edge of the vehicle’s screen, or press the car icon at the top bar. Then, click the settings button and select Carwash Mode.
6. Exit Your Vehicle Normally
   • Once you’re done parking, exit the vehicle as you normally would. The door handles will remain flush, and you’ll have to manually present them to unlock the vehicle.

Benefits of This Setup

By following this method, you achieve a couple of key advantages:

• Reduced Vehicle Wake-ups: No more unnecessary waking up or unlocking every time you walk by your vehicle at home.
• Convenience at Home: You’ll enjoy the manual door handle access, much like what Tesla owners experience, reducing the dependency on your app, fob, or keycard.
• Proximity Locking for On-the-Go Use: When you leave home, proximity locking and unlocking will function as expected, so you can still enjoy that convenience when you’re out.

This setup strikes a balance between the convenience of proximity locking and the manual control you might prefer when you’re at home. It’s a simple and effective way to optimize your Rivian experience without losing out on the smart features.

Hopefully, this tip helps the community! If you have any other tips or suggestions, feel free to share them.