These instructions apply to the Volvo XC60 Mk2 (246) 2018-present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Volvo XC60 (2017–Present) uses Volvo’s Keyless Drive remote and the SPA-platform twist START knob. If the fob’s CR2032 battery goes flat the car stops sensing the key in your pocket, but the XC60 carries a backup reader in the front cupholder that powers the key by induction, so a dead fob is an inconvenience rather than a breakdown.
A “Key battery low” message normally appears on the driver display for several days first. Use it as your cue to fit a fresh CR2032 before the cell fails completely.
Starting the XC60 with a dead key fob
- Unlock and enter the car using the emergency key blade (see below).
- Sit in the driver’s seat and press the brake pedal firmly.
- Lift the rubber mat in the front cupholder of the tunnel console to reveal the small key symbol at the base — this marks the backup reader.
- Lay the remote flat on the symbol so it sits over the reader coil.
- With the brake still pressed, twist the START knob clockwise and let it spring back. The car reads the key through the cupholder and starts.
- Keep it running until the battery is changed, because the car may not re-detect a dead key to restart.
Unlocking the door with the emergency key
- Slide the catch on the back of the remote and withdraw the metal emergency key blade.
- Walk to the driver’s door, where the keyhole hides behind a cover at the rear edge of the handle.
- Insert the blade tip into the slot under the cover and lever the cover off to expose the lock barrel.
- Turn the blade to unlock, then refit the handle cover.
- The alarm may sound as you open the door; it silences once you start the car with the key on the cupholder reader.
How the cupholder backup reader works
The XC60 remote houses a battery-powered radio for the buttons and a separate passive transponder for the immobiliser. The cupholder reader produces a magnetic field that energises that transponder directly, letting the car verify the security code with no usable battery. That is why a totally flat fob still starts the car from the cupholder yet can no longer lock or unlock it remotely.
Replacing the key fob battery
The XC60 remote takes a single CR2032 3V lithium coin cell. Steer clear of rechargeable cells, whose lower 1.2V output disrupts the fob.
- Pull out the emergency key blade to release the rear cover.
- Slide the cover off and twist the round battery cap anticlockwise with a coin.
- Remove the old CR2032 and fit the replacement positive (+) side up.
- Turn the cap clockwise to lock and clip the cover back into place.
- Reinsert the blade. The low-battery warning clears at the next engine start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the XC60 backup reader? In the bottom of the front cupholder in the tunnel console. Lift the rubber mat to find the key symbol and rest the remote on it.
Do I press a button or twist a knob? The XC60 uses a rotary START knob. With a flat fob, place the key in the cupholder, press the brake and twist the knob clockwise.
Can the emergency key start the engine? No. The blade only unlocks the driver’s door; the remote must be on the cupholder reader to start the car.
What battery does the XC60 fob use? A CR2032 3V lithium coin cell.
The keyhole is hidden — where is it? Behind a cover on the rear of the driver’s-door handle. Prise the cover off with the blade to reach the barrel.
If a fault light or stored trouble code shows after the fob dies, you can decode it on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Volvo. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.