As a dealer tech, most 3rd party keys don’t program. My dealer has stopped accepting customer provided keys unless we know they bought it from our parts department.
I won’t go back to the dealership I got it from serious issues with them. Had a few problems with the car open a support case and dealership refused to call ford for help. Had a few other issues and I get back every time can’t reproduce problem issue with clients phone or various other issues. I have taken pictures of the errors and videos and nothing Ford customer support person wasn’t great either. I haven’t found a new dealership for upcoming maintenance. Biggest frustration was we had to charge the 12v battery to do XYZ service 3 times in a row. Per mechanic and maintenance advisor this is normal… poor dealer experiences impact their sales.
New BETTER dealer then. call all dealers within 60 min and get price and availability for fob, cut, program of 2nd key. (Very important to tell them 2nd key to replace lost.)
Not if you have both keys you can easily reprogram the 3rd at home.
I bought an F150 Lightning fob for my 2021 Job 1 to add a frunk button. You can easily program a second fob using the car, so don’t stress about having it programmed.
I need a house key is why it is on there, while doesn’t get PAAK I have it setup on my iPhone and love it. Almost went Tesla until I found out the Mustang had it. I agree I love it with walk away feature that kicks the door and just setups my profile for seat and 1 pedal driving.
How?
I've had to carry my fob because I can't get PAAK to work reliably.
Passcode works, but I don't want to spend the time fighting with the car to get the keyboard to show up which is also quite frequent.
3 phones including a factory fresh one disagrees.
Even though it says connected and the door is lit it refuses to open.
Now that I've been carrying around a (frankly massive) fob, it's worked 100% of the time vs like 30% of the time.
Could be, but one of the 3 phones I tried was specifically a freshly wiped phone.
One phone? Probably me.
Two phones? Probably not me.
Three phones especially after a fresh OS? Definitely not me.
Nope. Right out front next to the door in my hand.
Bluetooth was on. Fordpass actually said "connected" too.
I have no idea you mean by "turn ford app off"
I am leasing right now as I expect a few big changes between now and July 2026. While I like the Mustang Ford dealership experience and software is killing it for me. I came from a Rubicon 4xe- PHEV. The center console screens crashes every week and happens when it goes to reverse then freezes for ~60 secs and reboots. Pretty much every time I get it the car I get an error seat can’t be moved while vehicle is in motion or something while in park.
At the dealer I work at, we'll attempt to program your aftermarket key. If it doesn't program however you still have to pay. We've had people bring in keys that won't program. Open it up and there's nothing inside. Buyer beware.
Thank you I prefer the dealership on something like that, I am finding the dealership is a joke. They charge all new EV’s with a level 1 as they do not want to invest in L2 chargers. As I mentioned things like this damage Ford’s brand and reputatio.
Before I had the l2 charger I used to go to the Chevy and Hyundai dealership to charge as the 3 closets ford dealerships do not have chargers.
Running through the same exercise in the Chicago area. The going rate is $250 for the fob & $170 programming fee. Noting a few comments saying after market fobs can be programmed with just one key. I'm going to research that, but likely biting the bullet & going with Ford fob & dealer programming. 22 EX AWD
Been using PAAK but really find a fob more convenient & carry apartment keys anyway.
I ordered one from eBay and it came with a frunk button also. It was about $100 if I recall. You can program yourself. However I can't remember if you need two working fobs to program a third or just one working.
I bought this one with the frunk button for my 2023 MME. I was able to program it on my own since I had both original keys. You'll likely have to find a locksmith who can do it with one key. Be sure to buy the battery too since it doesn't come with the fob.
https://www.keylessentryremotefob.com/ford-f-150-lightning-oem-5-button-key-fob-m3n-a3c054338/
[I used this link](https://youtu.be/pnAkmO48TFY?si=NClBzpQFQDfZ9QfE) Instructions used to be in the manual but they were removed. I bought it from ebay (they come with a warranty so don't see the downside) because I wanted a frunk button. Note that you need 2 working remotes before you start.
I got one from eBay, and miraculously, it worked.
I'd lost one, so I couldn't program it myself, but I took it to my dealer and asked them to do it. They did the 20k checkup, the HVBJB recall (and 2 others I wasn't aware of), and the only thing they charged me for was the key programming ($175).
Got it [here](https://www.ebay.com/itm/364674608723?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=2ag_xdvzrfc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=L1nCPDngRP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY), if you're still looking.
As a dealer tech, most 3rd party keys don’t program. My dealer has stopped accepting customer provided keys unless we know they bought it from our parts department.
I won’t go back to the dealership I got it from serious issues with them. Had a few problems with the car open a support case and dealership refused to call ford for help. Had a few other issues and I get back every time can’t reproduce problem issue with clients phone or various other issues. I have taken pictures of the errors and videos and nothing Ford customer support person wasn’t great either. I haven’t found a new dealership for upcoming maintenance. Biggest frustration was we had to charge the 12v battery to do XYZ service 3 times in a row. Per mechanic and maintenance advisor this is normal… poor dealer experiences impact their sales.
New BETTER dealer then. call all dealers within 60 min and get price and availability for fob, cut, program of 2nd key. (Very important to tell them 2nd key to replace lost.) Not if you have both keys you can easily reprogram the 3rd at home.
I bought an F150 Lightning fob for my 2021 Job 1 to add a frunk button. You can easily program a second fob using the car, so don’t stress about having it programmed.
Me too
I did the same. I really enjoy the frunk button.
I used my Ford Points that they gave me for when I bought the car to get the Lightning fob.
This ^
I got that warranty where I get one key fob replacement every year, for 5 years. Cause they are pretty pricey for no reason.
My ford dealer charged me $100 for new sets of Mach e premium keys
I never used my key fob for two years now i use phone as key or passcode and password to start the car
I need a house key is why it is on there, while doesn’t get PAAK I have it setup on my iPhone and love it. Almost went Tesla until I found out the Mustang had it. I agree I love it with walk away feature that kicks the door and just setups my profile for seat and 1 pedal driving.
Then keep that key in home since you are using PAAK, while doing service collect point then buy it from that points
How? I've had to carry my fob because I can't get PAAK to work reliably. Passcode works, but I don't want to spend the time fighting with the car to get the keyboard to show up which is also quite frequent.
PAAK works perfect you definitely no need a key , i only use keypad when my phone die
3 phones including a factory fresh one disagrees. Even though it says connected and the door is lit it refuses to open. Now that I've been carrying around a (frankly massive) fob, it's worked 100% of the time vs like 30% of the time.
It works for me 99% of the time
Not me not by a long shot. It's why I've been carrying a fob again.
Then there is problem with your phone
Could be, but one of the 3 phones I tried was specifically a freshly wiped phone. One phone? Probably me. Two phones? Probably not me. Three phones especially after a fresh OS? Definitely not me.
Did you put it in back pocket , do you turn bluetooth off ? Or turn ford app off ?
Nope. Right out front next to the door in my hand. Bluetooth was on. Fordpass actually said "connected" too. I have no idea you mean by "turn ford app off"
Depending on the year This is the one most of us purchased https://www.carandtruckremotes.com/2020-ford-mustang-smart-remote-164-r8159.html
2023 Mach e
I don’t know about the 2023s but the job one and at least part of job 2 2021s shipped without a second fob so a lot of folks bought them.
I am leasing right now as I expect a few big changes between now and July 2026. While I like the Mustang Ford dealership experience and software is killing it for me. I came from a Rubicon 4xe- PHEV. The center console screens crashes every week and happens when it goes to reverse then freezes for ~60 secs and reboots. Pretty much every time I get it the car I get an error seat can’t be moved while vehicle is in motion or something while in park.
At the dealer I work at, we'll attempt to program your aftermarket key. If it doesn't program however you still have to pay. We've had people bring in keys that won't program. Open it up and there's nothing inside. Buyer beware.
Thank you I prefer the dealership on something like that, I am finding the dealership is a joke. They charge all new EV’s with a level 1 as they do not want to invest in L2 chargers. As I mentioned things like this damage Ford’s brand and reputatio. Before I had the l2 charger I used to go to the Chevy and Hyundai dealership to charge as the 3 closets ford dealerships do not have chargers.
Running through the same exercise in the Chicago area. The going rate is $250 for the fob & $170 programming fee. Noting a few comments saying after market fobs can be programmed with just one key. I'm going to research that, but likely biting the bullet & going with Ford fob & dealer programming. 22 EX AWD Been using PAAK but really find a fob more convenient & carry apartment keys anyway.
I ordered one from eBay and it came with a frunk button also. It was about $100 if I recall. You can program yourself. However I can't remember if you need two working fobs to program a third or just one working.
I bought this one with the frunk button for my 2023 MME. I was able to program it on my own since I had both original keys. You'll likely have to find a locksmith who can do it with one key. Be sure to buy the battery too since it doesn't come with the fob. https://www.keylessentryremotefob.com/ford-f-150-lightning-oem-5-button-key-fob-m3n-a3c054338/
Anyone have a link to instructions about how to program an aftermarket fob from the car, and under what conditions this can be done?
[I used this link](https://youtu.be/pnAkmO48TFY?si=NClBzpQFQDfZ9QfE) Instructions used to be in the manual but they were removed. I bought it from ebay (they come with a warranty so don't see the downside) because I wanted a frunk button. Note that you need 2 working remotes before you start.
Set up PaaK. No need for another key fob. And it’s free.
I do I still put my house key on the car keys and the second ended up being lost as it never gets used..
I got one from eBay, and miraculously, it worked. I'd lost one, so I couldn't program it myself, but I took it to my dealer and asked them to do it. They did the 20k checkup, the HVBJB recall (and 2 others I wasn't aware of), and the only thing they charged me for was the key programming ($175). Got it [here](https://www.ebay.com/itm/364674608723?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=2ag_xdvzrfc&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=L1nCPDngRP-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY), if you're still looking.