These instructions apply to the Volvo XC60 Mk2 (246) 2018-present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
When the remote for a Volvo XC60 (2nd generation, 2017/2018–present, SPA platform) only locks the car from arm’s length, stops flashing its light, or dies altogether, the flat lithium coin cell inside it is almost always the reason. The 2nd-gen XC60 shares Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) “remote control key” with the S90, V90 and XC90 — a slim rectangular fob whose case slides apart in two halves and hides a small emergency key blade in the end. It is fiddlier than the old click-open flip keys, so it pays to know the exact sequence. Here is how to spot a dying cell, the battery you need, the step-by-step way into the SPA key, and why cutting a fresh key is still a dealer job.
How to Tell the Fob Battery Is Dying
- Shrinking range. You have to stand right beside the XC60 — or hold the key against the door handle — before it will lock or unlock. This gradual loss of range is the earliest and clearest sign.
- The key’s light stops responding. A healthy SPA remote acknowledges a button press; once the cell is too weak, that feedback and the reliable button response fade out.
- A dashboard key message. The XC60 shows a low key-battery warning in the driver display when it reads a fob whose cell is running down — treat it as a prompt to change the battery soon, not an emergency.
- Cold-morning dropouts. A coin cell that is nearly flat sags further in low temperatures, so the key may work in the afternoon but refuse first thing on a frosty morning.
- Keyless entry gets unreliable. On Keyless-equipped cars, passive lock/unlock at the handle and push-button start may become hit-and-miss before the remote buttons fail outright.
A CR2032 in an XC60 remote typically lasts two to four years. Because a keyless fob wakes up whenever it is near the car, a key you keep close to the driveway can drain faster than a spare left in a drawer. If yours is a few years old and showing any of the above, fit a fresh cell before suspecting the car.
The Battery You Need
The 2nd-gen XC60 remote control key uses a single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell — the same size across the SPA key range and the most common fob battery sold anywhere, from supermarkets to hardware shops. Buy a good branded cell; budget batteries sag under the short burst of current the transmitter draws and can give poor range even when brand new. One cell does the whole job, and there is no separate battery for the passive keyless function.
Method — Opening the SPA Remote Control Key
- Remove the emergency key blade first. Slide the spring-loaded catch at the base of the fob to the side and pull the small metal key blade straight out. It lifts out of a socket in the end of the case.
- Slide off the front shell. Hold the key with the Volvo badge facing you the right way up, move the release catch to the side, and slide the front shell a few millimetres upward. It frees itself and lifts away.
- Slide off the back shell. Turn the key over, move the catch again, and slide the rear shell a few millimetres in the same way until it releases and lifts off. You now have the bare inner key with the battery cover exposed.
- Open the battery cover. Using a small flat screwdriver, turn the round battery cover anticlockwise until its mark lines up with the OPEN text, then lift the cover away.
- Swap the cell. Note how the old CR2032 sits, then ease it out. Seat the new cell edge-first into the holder and slide it forward so it fastens under the two plastic catches, then press it down until it is held under the retaining catch. Match the orientation of the cell you removed — the compartment carries a moulded marking to follow.
- Close and reassemble. Refit the battery cover and turn it clockwise to the CLOSE mark. Reposition each shell, press it down until you hear a click, then slide it home until a second click confirms it is locked. Finally, slide the emergency blade back into its socket until it clicks in.
⚠️ Get the orientation right. Published guides disagree on whether the plus face points up or down in the SPA holder, so don’t rely on a generic instruction — copy the exact way the old cell was seated and follow the moulded marking inside the compartment. A cell fitted the wrong way can fail to power the key or quietly discharge, so a two-second check before you close the case saves a lot of guesswork.
Confirm It Worked
Stand back several metres and lock, then unlock, the XC60. Full range should return at once. If a low key-battery message was showing in the driver display, it usually clears the next time the car reads a healthy fob — sometimes immediately, sometimes after one drive cycle. Keyless entry and push-button start should also feel instant again.
If a Fresh Cell Doesn’t Fix It
- Re-check the seating. The cell must slide fully under both plastic catches and sit flat against the contacts; a battery that is only half-clipped gives the same weak, short-range behaviour as a flat one.
- Wipe the contacts. A smear of finger grease or light corrosion on the terminals is enough to cause dropouts — clean them with a dry cloth before deciding the fob has failed.
- Confirm the shells clicked home. If a half-shell is not fully seated, the buttons can feel dead or spongy; reassemble until both clicks are heard.
- Rule out the car, not the key. If the remote died the moment the 12 V battery was disconnected, or the car is slow to wake, the cause may be the vehicle. If you can’t get in at all, our Volvo XC60 dead key-fob start guide explains how to unlock and start with a flat fob.
New Key or Spare — Why It’s a Dealer Job
Changing the coin cell keeps the fob’s existing pairing, so nothing needs reprogramming and the key works the instant you reassemble it — ignore any advice to “press the lock button six times to re-sync,” which the XC60 does not require. Adding a new key is a different matter: a blank SPA remote has to be ordered against the car’s VIN, cut for the emergency blade, and married to the immobiliser with Volvo’s diagnostic software. That makes a replacement or spare key a job for a Volvo dealer or a properly equipped auto-locksmith — so keep the battery in your spare fresh too, and you’ll never be down to a single working key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What battery does a 2nd-gen Volvo XC60 key take?
A single CR2032 3-volt lithium coin cell. It is the same cell used across Volvo’s SPA remote keys, so any fresh, good-quality CR2032 will do.
Do I need to remove the key blade to change the battery?
Yes. On the SPA remote you slide the spring catch and pull the emergency blade out first, then the two case shells slide apart to reveal the rotating battery cover.
Which way up does the cell go?
Seat it edge-first and slide it under the two plastic catches. Sources disagree on which face points up, so match the orientation of the cell you took out and follow the marking moulded into the holder rather than guessing.
Do I have to reprogram the key after changing the battery?
No. A battery swap does not affect the fob’s coding, so it works straight away. Only a brand-new key needs pairing to the car.
How long should an XC60 key battery last?
Usually two to four years. A keyless fob kept near the car wakes more often and can run down sooner, so a spare stored away often outlasts the one you carry.
Can I still drive the XC60 if the fob is completely dead?
Yes. Use the emergency blade to unlock the driver’s door, and the car can still be started by holding the fob against the marked spot in the cabin — a dead cell won’t strand you. See our XC60 dead key-fob start guide for the exact spot.
If the remote stopped working suddenly right after the car’s 12 V battery was disconnected — rather than fading over weeks — the fault is more likely the car or the pairing than the coin cell, and it may leave a stored fault code worth checking on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Volvo. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.