Feature Spotlight: Here’s How OnStar’s RemoteLink App Works
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OnStar’s MyLink RemoteLink app (for iPhone and Android devices) is probably the most useful (not to mention the coolest) piece of telematics technology on the market today. We thought that some of you may want to know how RemoteLink works, so we’ve reached out to the folks at OnStar and got the down-low for your reading pleasure.
Assuming that the user has already registered for OnStar, has an OnStar user ID and password, has enabled remote commands online, downloaded the app, logged in, and confirmed the device, here’s how the RemoteLink app works:
- For starters, RemoteLink (running on a mobile device, such as a smartphone) connects to the outside world via the Internet either through a cellular network (like 3G or 4G) or through WiFi
- When a user requests a remote command (such as remote start), the app sends a signal to OnStar’s data centers (again, via the Internet)
- The data center then sends a response, which is sent to the vehicle (such as the request for remote start) over the Internet using a cellular connection. The cellular carriers vary by geography; in the U.S., the carrier is Verizon Wireless; in China, it’s China Telecom.
- Upon receiving the command from the data center, the vehicle executes the appropriate command and then responds using its built-in OnStar cellular connection, sending a signal to the data center over the Internet (such as whether it has successfully executed the remote start command)
- Upon receiving the reply from the vehicle, the data center then sends a final reply, which is dispatched to the vehicle as well as the user’s device. At this point, the device (such as a smartphone) shows a successful “Your Vehicle Is Now Running” or unsuccessful “Unable to start vehicle” message.
This same process is replicated for other commands, such as door lock/unlock, horn, lights, and vehicle information (such as tire pressure, gas mileage, range, etc). OnStar tells us that subsequent requests are faster than the very first, since the connection to the vehicle is already open and active.
Most importantly, the five-step process outlined above takes place within a matter of 50 seconds. Considering that the user can perform the same functions whether they are ten feet away from their vehicle or ten thousand miles around the world, we’d say this is nothing short of remarkable. What’s more, everything the app does is performed through the Web and OnStar’s data centers: no direct phone-to-vehicle connection is present.
For those upset by the fact that RemoteLink only works with certain 2010 and newer model year vehicles, it’s important to note that only vehicles with generation 9 OnStar hardware were designed to work with the app. Since this hardware is only present in 2011 model year and newer GM vehicles, compatibility with 2010 model year and older products requires several work-arounds, which aren’t possible on certain cars.
Now that you know how RemoteLink works, what features would you like to see added to the service? Sound off in the comments!
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It would be nice if oil life, gas and fluid levels, diagnostics, window rollup/rolldown, and hvac controls were all available.
How do I find out if I can upgrade my OnStar to use these features? I would totally be willing to do that! I love my car and can’t afford to upgrade that right now. But to be able to change out my OnStar for remote start…….. oh that would be heaven! Winter is just around the corner!!!
So this does not work with my Blackberry Torch ?? I have a 2011 model year truck but no phone to make it work , Great …..
Mike — not yet… but there is some movement being made:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2011/06/exclusive-onstar-looking-into-blackberry-windows-phone-versions-of-mylink-app/
when will the app for the 2010 lacrosse be here it is crazy that they would not have that for the 2010 lacrosse whats up with that?
From the article above:
“For those upset by the fact that RemoteLink only works with certain 2010 and newer model year vehicles, it’s important to note that only vehicles with generation 9 OnStar hardware were designed to work with the app. Since this hardware is only present in 2011 model year and newer GM vehicles, compatibility with 2010 model year and older products requires several work-arounds, which aren’t possible on certain cars.”
The LaCrosse is one of those…
Is there a “work around” for a 2010 CTS ? Thank you.
i have a 2011 malibu an it has remote start buit does not have it on apt
2012 Equinox, remotelink app start feature does not work unless you have factory installed remote start….
I would like to know if the remote link app will be updated to allow remote start in vehicle not equipped with factory installed remote start? I was disappointed to discover that I was not able to do this after purchasing my new 2012 equinox. This would be a +++ for Gm , encouraging people to continue with there onstar subscription. I don’t see much advantage to this feature if you already have factory installed remote start on you key fob. I have seen some blogs saying a programming update will enable this feature? Any info will be appreciated. Thank Bruce Young
Bruce, not sure how that would be possible… if you have remote start, then you have remote start — whether it’s on the key fob or RemoteLink app. If not, then you don’t.
How is the app more useful than the key fob? Take, for instance, someone like myself who’s not in the physical vicinity of my car throughout the day (and night) — since it’s parked in a parking lot away from the office and from my apartment. Remote start in the case when I’m not in range — via the app — is most useful. Can’t do so with the key fob.
I understand your point with respect to the range you would get with the remote start app. That would be the only advantage should you have the factory remote key fob with the start feature.
So what I am saying is it would be a great feature should you be able to start your car using the app, despite the fact your car doesn’t have factory remote start on key fob installed.
All cars are now started by the computer after simply receiving a signal from the key switch. This breaks it down to programming issues. I am led to believe from blogs I have read that GM should be able to make this available.
From a business point of view, this might discouraged people from buying the factory start feature in there new vehicle. In reality the largest percent of cars are sold without this feature and I suggest that it’s in GM’s best interest to include this feature across the board as it would require people to continue with there onstar service to use this feature.
I think there is some extra hardware that’s involved in the remote start functionality… but I’m not 100% sure of it. Even then, remote start across the board would be nice — and a great way to differentiate from the standard features of competitors.
Can you tell me why the remote start feature is not available for the 2012 Malibu 2LT?
Not sure why it’s not supported. But from the compatibility chart from the OnStar website:
“Remote start feature not available.”
Weak!
I am extremely displeased that the remote start feature does not work with dealer installed factory remote start and programming on my brand new 2012 Silverado. Seems to me like this should be easy for OnStar and GM to fix. All I get so far is that it had to be installed at the factory which I didn’t know. Had I known in advance, I would have made sure that the vehicle had the remote start factory installed. Looks like it’s all about the higher priced option for the convenience package as opposed to the dealer installed factory remote start. Gm blames it on OnStar. OnStar blames it on GM. Customer looses.
Larry — one of the things I’ve learned over the years is that complicated systems like OnStar and OnStar RemoteLink are very tightly-integrated… and if the vehicle didn’t come with a certain feature from the factory, one can’t expect an aftermarket solution to work, even if said aftermarket solution is OEM-made.
Did someone at the dealer level tell you that this will work for you?
Alex,
Don’t even try to blame it on the dealer. The dealer did not misrepresent the function of this feature in any way shape or form. All they did was install the factory supplied key fobs and factory supplied programming to my truck which should have the accomodation package on it. I just think that OnStar refuses to update the original profile of the truck which was set up before the key fobs were programmed to the truck. Should just be a couple of mouse clicks on their end. It’s all about the money and time that it would take to do this on thousands of vehicles across the country. If it’s programming it can be fixed if they are willing.
I don’t think I was blaming it on the dealer as much as on you.
When doing anything aftermarket/post-factory to a vehicle (any make or model), it’s always important to do the necessary research and due diligence, especially if it’s so important to you to have this particular feature. Perhaps the dealer could have helped you in finding the right information, but ultimately it’s up to you.
You weren’t mislead by any kind of false advertising or mis-information… Were you?
Nothing personal man, I’m just trying to understand.
Guess I’m just plain stupid. No I wasn’t mislead by information or advertizing because there wasn’t any information available that I saw until after you sign up for OnStar. Kind of hard to do that until you take delivery of the vehicle. As I have researched this a little more, it all has to do with the codes that are on the original build sheet at the factory. Is it unreasonable to think that someone can find a program fix that will allow identical equipment and programming to be updated to the point that OnStar can make this feature work? If no one pushes them, they certainly aren’t going to do anything. There are a lot of other people asking about the remote start feature that appear to not understand it all. They should let OnStar and GM know they want this fixed. Posting to a blog like this just lets other people know there is a problem. It doesn’t fix anything.
Wait, there are a lot of people who are having trouble with Remote Start? Sorry, maybe I’m just not following.
Ultimately, I understand where you’re coming from. But OnStar, while simple to use for the consumer, is an incredibly complex system. So it’s not like they designed the system to cater to the whim of every non-factory mod.
Alex, can you tell me why I can never remote start my 2013 Volt at the end of the day?The app always tells me to go drive my car so it can connect. The dealer tells me it is an OnStar issue and OnStar tells me it is a dealer issue. error (206)
Do not feel bad I have a 2010 Buick Lacrosse and you would thin k it would be on there verses a chevrolet cruze go figure seems like gm chooses what vehicles have that stuff, but for the lacrosse not to have it sucks!!!
Alex,
You said:
“Assuming that the user has already registered for OnStar, has an OnStar user ID and password, has enabled remote commands online, downloaded the app, logged in, and confirmed the device, here’s how the RemoteLink app works:”
I have completed all that and everything works as far as the “unlock” or “lock” vehicle but for some reason, this message pops up after I click the “remote start” button….. “remote start is not allowed when your keys are in the vehicle and only two remote starts are allowed per ignition cycle”. My keys are right in front of me. I called On Star and the lady said I had to bring it into the dealership for them to do something about that. Isn’t there any other way since everything else is working? Help!! Thanks in advance!!
Liz, only two starts are allowed per ignition cycle. I think your car just needs a reset since you may have started it using the app and not realized it.
To reset the starts/ignition cycle count, get into your car, start it, then then take the keys out.
Hi Alex
You mentioned above: “…compatibility with 2010 model year and older products requires several work-arounds…” Can you clarify the workarounds here? I have a 2010 Sierra SLT and would like to look into possible workarounds… Thanks!
No, I can not — as I don’t know what they are. However, that’s what we heard directly from GM. Does the app not work at all for your truck? We’ve been receiving occasional reports that it works for some folks, even though their vehicles aren’t “officially” supported.
No, I tried to activate the app anyway but my OnStar account won’t let me enable the setting (it indicates my vehicle isn’t eligible and disables the option). I talked to OnStar today and they said they are still working to make it available for select past models/years. I volunteered to be part of any testing or pilots for this, via the feedback email address, for whatever good that might do.
Any ideas how we can keep the pressure on GM/OnStar here?
Interesting that they said they’re still working on bringing reverse-compatibility. I thought it was a done deal by this point. Good to know.
To keep the pressure on, I would keep posting to this thread and even write OnStar directly to see if you can get an official reply. Perhaps I can do the same tomorrow.
GM and OnStar do a great job with the diversion tactics. They will keep telling you that they are working on it when the reality is that it is all about the money. All of these OnStar equipped vehicles have the capabilty for OnStar to unlock your doors or do anything else they so desire once they are in communication with the vehicle. If you have dealer installed remote start you, OnStar will not make the remote start feature on RemoteLink available to you either even if they do decide to make the 2010 and earlier vehicles work with RemoteLink. They won’t even do it for the 2012 models. What I have discovered is that I paid $250 for a pair of key fobs that have a different cover on them and the so called programming to make the dealer installed remote start work. There was absolutely no hardware added to my vehicle. When I opened the cover on my old key fobs and the new ones, the circuit board inside is identical. The only difference is the extra button on the cover with the contact point on the back of it that completes the circuit on the circuit board that already has the necessary circuit for remote start. I’m betting that when I get my old key fobs programmed back into my truck that I can swap covers on the key fobs and they will remote start the truck. The mechanic that programmed my new key fobs into the truck took my old key fobs out of service so I can’t test it until I get the old key fobs reactivated when they do my first oil change.
My point to all of this is that OnStar has all the necessary communication equipment in place on these vehicles and it is really about the expense of managing the volume of calls through RemoteLink that enabling millions of vehicles will generate. Every time that you update your vehicle through RemoteLInk some form of communication has to take place whether it is actually through a satellite or cell phone embedded in the vehicle. I’ve heard that it is an SMS message being passed between the vehicle and your smart phone. So is it expense, programming, capacity of the satellites, capacity on a cellular network, or just fear of their system being hacked and millions of vehicles being shut down at once?
As far as keeping pressure on OnStar and GM, there are a few other blogs that you can easily find with a Google search. OnStar has their own where they will reply to you directly. The more people that bring it up, the more pressure you can apply. Personnally, I like the lady that sued Honda in Small Claims Court and won instead of the class action suit.
I just purchased a 2012 Malibu yesterday and was up til 3am(I know, thats my fault) trying to figure out why the remote start feature didn’t display on the onstar ap. I deleted and reinstalled about 3-4 times, thinking perhaps it would magically appear. AIN’T HAPPENING! Save yourself the time. Get used to it. The Onstar customer care supervisor told me that no Malibu has it on there, not in the hardware, etc etc. Not sure I understand why, but at least I can quit beating my head against the brick wall over it. She also said a few other models wont support it either. Good question for new car buyers!
Patty,
It pays to keep complaining to OnStar and GM about your dissapointment. I would also complain on every forum that you can find, especially the ones that people go to compare vehicles such as Kelly Blue Book. OnStar and Gm also have forums and comment websites. I didn’t think that I was getting anywhere with the remote start feature on my 2012 Silverado with dealer installed remote start but after calling OnStar and telling them that I wanted my OnStar subscription cancelled after the 6 month trial period and insisting that they put a reminder in for their people to make it happen automatically, my RemoteLink remote start icons showed up. It suddenly started working. I still haven’t decided if I am going to follow through with cancelling my OnStar subsciption yet.
In your case with the Malibou, even if they don’t make remote start available right now, if enough people complain loud enough, it may happen. The part they tell you about the hardware on your car not working with RemoteLink is total crap. If OnStar can communicate with the computer in your car, they can make it do anything they want including lock and unlock the doors and start the car. It’s all about the cost of programming in their system.
Larry — to confirm: you had the dealer-installed remote start installed in your 2012 Silverado and RemoteLink has started working with it?
Alex,
That is correct. My dealer installed remote start now works just fine with RemoteLink. It has been for over 6 weeks now. There hasn’t been anything intermittent about it either. Now that the weather is warm here, I haven’t needed to use it but might be nice to cool down the vehicle as the summer heats up. I also swapped out one of the circuit boards in my key fob after the dealer reactivated the original ones for me and it works to remote start the vehicle as well. I think it would be interesting to find someone who hasn’t already had the dealer installed remote start installed swap their circuit board into a key fob that is set up for remote start just to see if it works without paying GM the $250.
Alex,
My wife and I purchased a 2012 Malibu a couple of days ago and we LOVE it. I was so excited to know that the car had OnStar and the car had remote start. I downloaded the Remote Link app expecting to be able to start the car with the app like advertised. To our great disappointment remote start from the Remote Link app was not supported on the 2012 Malibu and after doing my research like everyone else I found out from the OnStar website the this model did not support remote start from the Remote Link app. We were really looking forward to this feature because we live in Southeast Georgia and summer is fast approaching and it would be nice to start the car from inside a mall or something so that our two kids would not have to sit in the car waiting for it to cool off. The interesting fact I noticed was that the Malibu was the ONLY model no equipped with this option. Now don’t get me wrong….I really enjoy GM products but give me a break. They could not put forth a little extra effort in ensuring that all models of the 2012 line up included this feature with the app. Pure laziness if you ask me. But what do we know….we are just the end users here and don’t know anything. Just my 2 cents and if you have any follow up info I would greatly appreciate it.
I completely agree with you. There is no reason GM could have not equipped at least its 2012 models with the proper hardware to support the RemoteLink app. Total rubbish and laziness, if you ask me.
Of course, the other side of the coin is that the 2012 Malibu is an outgoing model being replaced by an all-new one. But that doesn’t mean jack to someone who just laid down $25,000+ on a brand new car that you will have for several years. It’s not like you’re buying a 2010 in 2012… You’re buying a 2012 in 2012!
Great app, poor Onstar Service. Wanted to use it to remotely monitor my vehicle and make sure my “sitters” were taking it for bi-weekly drives while it is in storage. When unable to connect I called Onstar and was told that the vehcile needs to be driven at least every 2 days to work reliably. What if locked you keys in your car that you left at an airport for a week? I will be cancelling Onstar.
I locked my keys in my truck. Called onstar, and the satellite signal didn’t work. They called me back asked me if I wanted them to send a locksmith to my location. I said sure, how much would it cost. Turns out it is free if they are unable to remotely unlock the doors.
I tried to use the “non remote start” key fob to start my 2012 Silverado by shorting the Start button on the circuit board, NO GO. the other functions worked this way but not the remote start. I guess the dealer has to activate it on the truck
I have a 2011 Camaro and I find the OnStar is an wonderful feature to have for this kind of car. For the duration that I have had my Camaro OnStar has performed flawlessly. I am very impressed by the integration in the amount of control I have over my vehicle with this application Especially downloading navigation instructions from the application directly to my vehicle.
The only improvement I could suggest would be, Remote control of the windows and sunroof. Sometimes when you’re in a hurry you forget to close your sunroof all the way in or raise up your windows this could be bad if it starts to rain. I’m not saying this is an excuse for diligence but life happens..One more suggestion and I know I’m stretching it would be remote control to open the trunk. In my opinion these Suggestions would make this An incredible application to control your vehicle well-done GM well-done OnStar…
I have OnStar installed in my 2009 Pontiac G6 GT however my subscription is long expired. If I renew it will this App work? I did check the website and it says only 2010 & newer but I didn’t know if there was possible a work around since the car is already equiped. Thanks!
Heather — it would seem that you’re out of luck, as the RemoteLink apps only work with specific vehicles — like those of the 2010 model year and newer. These use a different OnStar hardware setup (generation 9) rather than the older Generation 8 that was not designed for this kind of functionality. Here’s a compatibility guide:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2011/12/here-are-the-gm-models-compatible-with-onstar-remotelink-app/
I know how it must feel to hear that 🙁
Please hurry up with the 2010 Chevy Equinox I have been waiting to long. I have yet to hear on the progress.
I just bought a 2012 malibu and i am very upset that it does not come with remote start for a newer car .what can we do to get remote start in our cars .and yes they do advisiters that the 2010 and newer modles do come with remote start……….
I agree with Required Name. The Malibu is the ONLY Chevy vehicle that doesn’t support remote start with OnStar. Is the Malibu so uniquely designed that it can’t be made to use this feature? Can NOTHING be done to change this? Let’s go viral, people! (How do you do that?) GM ought to fix this.
Have a 2013 Equinox. Have spent multiple hours (for a combined 15 calls) and still have issues. Installed the app on my iPhone and it worked great until after 10/12. Just stopped working. It was been supposedly escalated to a senior technician. I had a 2010 and knew of the app, but knew it wouldn’t work with my 2010. If I hadn’t had issues with my steering gear, I would still have it and wouldn’t be suffering the agonies of talking to multiple people about the same issues over and over about Onstar. They can’t even get my minutes to show up on their website. If it weren’t for the fact my daycare is out in the country and I’ve gotten stuck before, I would discontinue Onstar and not look back. I have looked, but not a lot of info out there related to the 2013 and Onstar or the app. Anyone else having these issues?
Lisa, what issues are you experiencing? Can you be a bit more specific? 🙂
Amazingly” the issues are resolved. Apparently, the reason my Onstar RemoteLink app didn’t work was because of a bad phone number. Hey changed it and suddenly, it works again. The other issue was my minutes showing on the website. Since I’m not in my car all the time and the app didn’t show the minutes (which is does) I was expecting my minutes to show. Apparently, unless you purchase minutes, the freebie minutes don’t show. So, I asked if the minutes would show on the website if I made a purchase (didn’t want to, but last ditch effort) and sure enough they did. I received a call the next day from Onstar telling me that the 30minutes I purchased were showing. Since that wasn’t what I was concerned about I asked about my 230 (160+complimentary minutes) . She told me since they were complimentary, they wouldn’t show. I logged on a little later and low and behold, I had 260 minutes. The person who called told me she was looking at the page I would see, but apparently not. The other problem that took 3weeks to resolve was getting my 2010 off the website. They managed to only be able to add my 2013, but couldn’t delete my 2010. Basically, I told them to work off line and contact me when he had fixed it. No call for 3days so I logged in assuming it was done and they had deleted the wrong car. Had to call them 3times just to get that fixed. Out of all the people I spoke with(I was transferred at least 3 times on average each call) I only spoke with 3 people who actually did . I went through 19 hours of labor and dealing with Onstar has been worse.
S, for people with app issues, screw the hard reboot (opening you drivers side door for 1,imite, removing the keys from the vehicle, then starting the car and let it run for 3-4 minutes) have them change your phone number!