How to program a 2017+ Chevy Volt or Bolt key FOB. Real instructions that actually work!  

Only tutorial I found online that actually worked. Saved me $150. Thanks!

Just programmed a second key. Worked perfectly! Thanks

Worked like a champ. I didn't think it would work but was pleasantly surprised. The only thing that got me worried was when I was waiting the ten minutes the screen went black, but I just closed the door and reopened it and the screen came back on right where I left it.

Nicely done Chip I just got one of the recalled / refurbished 2020 Bolts with only 9K miles on it, for $14k out the door from a Chevy dealership. It only had one key fob. I followed this same procedure with an OEM fob I bought thru amazon and it worked correctly. The only mistake I did, when the 2nd key was programmed I looked at the dashboard: ready for key #3, and the screen also said "Press √ to dismiss" and I did. The car did not complain or do anything weird. I checked both key fobs out, took the car for a ride around the block, everything was great. Then I got a text and email from onstar saying a thief alert was triggered - if this was an accidental report click this link to cancel it - otherwise the car will be reported stolen ! I clicked the link, that was 12 hours ago, everything is fine, the car drives and the fobs both work. The only difference is I did not hold the START button for 12 seconds when it said "Ready for key #3" - I pressed the √ button on the right side of the steering wheel. This seems like a SW bug in the Bolt - but the owners manual also says to hold the START button for 12 seconds to exit - so.. my bad. I think it also helps to point out: if you have two fobs and you want to program a 3rd... or up to 8 total, you dont have to do the 3 ten minute waits. If you have two programmed fobs in the car when you twist the key in the door handle, it immediately says READY for key #3... ( or 4 or 5...). There are reasons why its different: if you only have one key fob it assumes you lost the other one (or it was stolen). It forces you to wait half an hour so that someone with just one key cannot make a copy and use it later to steal your car. It also ERASES the code used for ALL the key fobs you had before, and erases the keys you put in the programming location and writes new codes into all of them. This is important - if you do the one fob procedure used in the video, you must reprogram ALL the key fobs you have for this car - and if none of them program correctly you cannot drive the car. But you can start over and try again. DO NOT LOSE your last door key or you will never be able to program replacement fobs - get the physical door key for the 2nd... 3rd fob cut at a hardware store ASAP - because the physical key is the only way you can initiate another fob programming sequence. It is not the last fob that you have to protect for dear life. To the best of my knowledge if you only have the physical door key you can buy a new fob and program it as shown in the video - but if you lose the last metal key, you are screwed - towing the car to the dealership on a flat bed truck screwed! If you only have one fob and metal key, put the metal KEY in a safe place until you can make a copy. One last thing: I ordered an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) keyfob. I have read multiple stories on line that say the cheaper ($30 to $50) aftermarket key fobs will not work. It does not seem to matter if your fob is new (erased) or used, because when you program the key starting with only one fob (as in this video) it erases the one you have and puts a new code in it Being an OEM fob seems to be necessary. EDIT: Its possible I might have opened the door with the metal key when the one programmed keyfob was in the house, about 20 feet away. That might have been what triggered the thief alert to Onstar - not sure. If you car was locked with the keyfob and you open it with just the metal key in the door handle when the fob is not present, it does not turn off the security / alarm system.

I used the $38 online unit with no problems.

I have a Canadian model and got a blister on my fingers working the key!! :( A message on the cluster stating not available in Canada would've been nice!

Thank you. Crystal clear instructions. Worked perfectly.

Thanks very much. Really saved a complicated problem.

Is this also for a 2017 Bolt? I see 2017 in title but the video is a 2019 Bolt. Anyone that programmed a 2017 have a link to what key fob you used?

Great instructions, thank you!!

Strangely, I had to turn my key the other way to get this to work. There were some expletives muttered when the procedure didn't work, but trying by turning my key to the right, not the left solved the problem. The rest of the procedure was the same.

Will the second manual key work to open the car?

I have my original key FOBs and they work but when I changed the battery, the proximity sensor in the door handle stopped working on my 2017 Volt

Was happy to see this, then I decided to read what the manual said and found this nugget: "This feature is not available in Canada". Ah, for fuk's sake! Off to the dealer to get robbed.

I have strange prob. I have 1 working fob that was programmed for $$$. I have 2 fobs bought from Ebay for duplicating. $$$ guy had difficulty creating his working fob, but he got there. When I went to do mine, the five clicks on the key did not bring up the starting point video shows, but instead said ready for FOB 4. Where to from there?

Does the same procedure work with cars in Canada since the user manual indicates that this feature is not functional in Canada? thanks

Hi, In case it won’t work, is there a way for a reset

will this work for a 2016 volt?

Tried to program my second key. First key wiped blank. Now ignition button is blinking and I can't the car back into reprogam mode - going to have to tow it in the morning now...

This not only didn’t work, it bricked the car. 🤬