Audi Key Fob Battery Dead, Spare Key or Keys Locked in the Car?

Audi cars in Singapore

Audi models like the A4, A6, Q3 and Q5 are popular with Singapore professionals and families who want a quiet, well-built car. We work on Audi models including the A3, A4, A6, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

A typical Audi call

This is the kind of Audi call we often get: A family with a Q5 at a shopping mall carpark: a child presses the lock button inside while the key is still in the cup holder, and everyone steps out. We open the car without touching the paint or seals, and the family is on their way.

What's different about Audi keys

Many Audis with advanced keys lock and unlock by touch. On some models the emergency keyhole is hidden under a cap on the driver's door handle that you prise off with the key blade. Audi uses remote flip keys on many models and an advanced (keyless) key on others. Most keyless Audi fobs contain an emergency key blade for the door.

Audi key fob battery dead? How to get in and start

1. Get in: Press the release button on the fob and pull out the emergency key. On many Audis you prise off a small cap on the driver's door handle to reach the keyhole.
2. Start the car: Hold the key at the spot marked with a key symbol, often in the centre console near the cup holders, then press the start button.

Details vary by year, so check your manual. Still stuck? Call us. Key locked inside instead? See keys locked in the car.

Audi key fob battery replacement

Most Audi fobs take a 3V coin cell (often CR2032 or CR2025): copy the type printed on the old one and fit the new cell the same way up. Not working after the swap? See key fob not working after a battery change; if the backup start above works, the Audi fob itself is fine.

Audi spare key

Down to one Audi key? We clone Audi remote key fobs from a working key, after checking your NRIC against the log card. We don't clone smart (keyless) keys. Cloning costs S$100–S$1,000 depending on the car, so WhatsApp 9224 9224 the model, year and a key photo to confirm first.

Audi key battery: CR2032

On the 2017-and-later A4 and the 2018-and-later Q5, the key takes a CR2032; a few older Audi keys use a CR2025. Take the emergency key out first. On some 2015 to 2017 Q5 keys the back cover is held by a single small Torx (T8) screw rather than clipping off. Handle the new cell by its edges: skin oil on the contacts can shorten its life.

On older A4s with a flip key, a flat battery only stops the remote buttons: the key blade still opens the door and turns the ignition.

Audi locked with the key inside

It still happens with advanced keys: a child presses the lock button, the key is in a bag in the boot, or the key's battery is too weak for the car to detect it. We open the door without damage: no broken glass, no wedges forced into the door frame.

Tips for Audi owners

• Learn where the hidden keyhole is on your driver's door; on some models it sits under a small cover on the handle.
• If the fob only works up close, replace its battery before it fails.
• Keep the spare fob at home, not in the car.

Independent locksmith, not affiliated with Audi. All prices.

Sources: Audi dealer guide: changing the key battery · Audi dealer guide: starting with a dead key. Checked November 2026. Keys vary by model and year: always check your own handbook.

Related: BMW · Volkswagen · Porsche · spare key fob cloning · all car brands