These instructions apply to the Land Rover Range Rover Velar Mk1 (L560) 2017-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Land Rover Range Rover Velar (L560, 2017–Present) is best known for its sleek flush deployable door handles, which sit retracted until they sense the smart key. When the fob’s coin cell dies, those handles stay tucked in, the touch sensors go quiet, and the START/STOP button reports “Smart Key Not Found”. The Velar has a built-in backup for exactly this — you just need to know where the manual lock and the inductive start point are.
Start the Engine With a Dead Fob Battery
The car can still read the key’s transponder chip by induction once the fob is held right at the ignition.
- Get into the driver’s seat and close the door.
- The message centre prompts “Position As Shown And Press Start Button”, picturing the fob against the START/STOP button.
- Hold the smart key flat against the START/STOP button as shown.
- Press and hold the brake pedal.
- With the fob still in place, press the START/STOP button. The engine starts and you can drive away normally.
Unlock the Flush Door Handle With the Emergency Key
The Velar’s flush handles don’t have a separate keyhole cap — the cylinder hides inside the deployed handle.
- Press and hold the release catch on the side of the fob, then slide out the steel emergency key blade.
- At the driver’s door, press firmly on the front edge of the flush handle so the rear edge pivots outward.
- Pull the handle fully out to its deployed position. The lock cylinder is now exposed at the rear of the handle.
- Insert the emergency blade and turn to unlock the door.
Why the Alarm May Sound
Unlocking mechanically doesn’t pass a valid radio handshake to the car, so the alarm can trigger. Climb in and complete the dead-fob start above — the recognised transponder disarms the immobiliser and silences the siren.
Replace the CR2032 Coin Cell
The Velar smart key uses one CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. After removing the emergency blade, use the blade slot to split the fob halves. Fit a fresh CR2032 with the + face oriented the same way as the original and snap the case shut. Full keyless and deployable-handle operation returns at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Velar’s door handles won’t pop out — is the car broken? No. The flush handles only deploy when they detect a live key. With a dead fob they stay retracted; press the front edge to pop the rear, then pull the handle out manually.
Where do I hold the key to start the Velar? Against the START/STOP button, exactly as the dashboard image shows.
Is there a keyhole cap to remove like on older Range Rovers? No — the Velar’s cylinder sits inside the deployed flush handle, not under a separate cap.
The alarm sounded when I opened the door — normal? Yes. Mechanical entry bypasses the radio handshake. Starting the engine clears it.
How often should the fob battery be replaced? Every two to three years, or sooner if keyless range starts dropping off.
If a dashboard warning light stayed on after the flat-battery event, decode the stored fault at autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Land Rover. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.