How To Program A Chevrolet Traverse Smart Key Remote Fob 2018 - 2020

A step by step video on how to program a smart key remote fob to a 2018 - 2020 Chevrolet Traverse.

1. Using the driver's door, turn the key counterclockwise to the unlock position five times within 10 seconds.The Driver Information Center(DIC) displays REMOTE LEARN PENDING, PLEASE WAIT.

2. Wait for 10 minutes until the DIC displays PRESS ENGINE START BUTTON TO LEARN, then press the ENGINE START/STOP button. (You may have to open and close drivers door to see the DIC display). The DIC display will again show REMOTE LEARN PENDING, PLEASE WAIT.

3. Repeat Step 2 two additional times. After the third time all previously known transmitters will no longer work with the vehicle. The DIC displays PRESS ENGINE START BUTTON TO LEARN, then press the ENGINE START/STOP button. (You may have to open and close drivers door to see the DIC display). Remaining remote key fobs can be relearned during the next steps. The DIC display should now show READY FOR REMOTE # 1.

4. Place the new smart key fob in the transmitter pocket in the center console .

5. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button. When the transmitter is learned, the DIC display will show that it is ready to program the next remote key fob.

6. Remove the smart key fob from the transmitter pocket and press unlock or lock on the transmitter.

To program additional transmitters, repeat Steps 4–6. When all additional transmitters are programmed, press and hold the ENGINE START/STOP button for approximately 12 seconds to exit programming mode.

[Earshot]

Thought I'd spend my 10-minute cycles providing some notes/observations/protips here. My scenario: Just got into a used 2021 Traverse that came with two key fobs, only one of which worked. Miserable dealership experience and, regretfully, I'll be avoiding going back there like April 2020 COVID. Observations/pro-tips re: this wacky process:
1. Too many commenters here are asking about the programming of a second fob. It was a missed opportunity for this valuable video to not address this second-fob audience in the intro, when our guy says the video is for those who have lost both keys. It would also would have been worth emphasizing that you can't just "add" a key via this process--you're gonna be reprogramming your working key in order to get both to work. A demonstration of a second key getting programmed directly after the first might have also been helpful here. All this said, this vid is awsome and THIS WORKS! Big props to anyone who nails it in one go.
2. About 5 seconds after each "Remote learning pending, please wait" messaging, the display goes dark. Nothing will display even when you close/open doors. Not until that exact 10:00 mark.
3. During your 10-minute waits, take the opportunity to imagine what might be going on over at the GM mothership in Motor City, USA. For example, I imagined lab mice running feverishly on their wheels to power the going ons in an adjacent control room, from which several men and women with headsets and matching uniforms pressed blinking buttons and turned knobs as fast as their hands could go, their eyes darting intensely from monitor to monitor, bloodshot from blinking only at 10-minute intervals. These men, women, and mice were doing God's work, I imagined, with one common destiny: MUST. LEARN. NEW. REMOTE. FOR TRAVERSE.
4. I noticed that during this process, my other original remote was already bricked early on, well before my new key was programmed.
5. In my first effort, the unprogrammed key got programmed, but my new Key #2 (formerly my working key), did not end up getting programmed. I believe that I neglected to press the Unlock/Lock before exiting the learning mode. This mistake is costly as it caused me to have to start from scratch. Don't screw it up. No pressure.
6. In my 3rd attempt, I succeeded to program both transmitters... but not without the car alarm sounding between them. Fortunately, the final step only takes ~15 seconds and you should be able to turn off alarm with newly-programmed fob as you exit programming mode, before the spouse or neighbors get too upset.
7. Our remote start button still doesn't work on either fob but I think it's because the car doesn't support it. Likewise, the comments here re: different fobs linking to seat memory seem relevant only to those whose doors have the 1/2/3 buttons, which our car does not.

[bryanb]

I paid someone 60 bucks to program a remote I got off of Amazon and only half of it worked. I told them and they said it was because the remote came from Amazon so I tried the instructions on this vid and it worked. I did have to do it a second time because I didn't read the info on the second fob but all is good. Thank you for sharing this info

[Chevy.]

This works follow it step-by-step. I lost both the remote keys to my 2020 Chevy traverse. I went to the dealer and purchased a key and had it cut at the dealer and then I purchased two remotes from Amazon and I was able to program both remotes following these same exact steps thank you so much for this information.

[MichaelAgovino-uo]

That was an excellent tutorial. Spot on explanation. Worked for me the first time through on my 2019:Traverse. Thanks for posting, great job.

[adrianmartinez]

Thank you, , works great for my 2018 traverse, I saved $240 dlls. From what a guy charged me to program the additional remote.

[SchaeferJamesE]

Worked wonderfully and flawlessly on 2019 Traverse. Thank you

[marcusf]

Great instruction. NOTE that I bought a knockoff key off eBay, and my traverse didn't recognize it. Fortunately, I only needed a new key because the buttons had worn off. I ended up moving the insides of my old key into the new shell of the knockoff key, and it worked. Just be aware that knockoff keys may not be able to be programmed in this way.. The key I bought online didn't have the golden Chevy Bowtie on the back..

[Thromp]

Thanks so much! This was easy to follow and worked perfectly on my 2020 Chevy Traverse. Those greedy jackals at my local Chevy dealership wanted to charge me an extra 80 bucks to pair my spare fob to the vehicle as if the 300 bucks to buy and cut it wasn't enough.

[lhaynes]

It worked!!! I’m SHOOK!! Thank you! God bless you!!!

[seanekblad]

This was really helpful. A note I might add after trying on a 2019 traverse. He doesn’t mention leaving the key in the driver door. I enabled theft deterrent lock because it I took it out. Leave it in the door until the last step, and do not put back into the fob until after the 12 second button hold at the end. Process is outlined in the manual as well.

[antonionaddeo]

Thank you so much for the very clear instructions. Upon extracting the key from the fob, I have discovered that both the fobs I have are uncut! Are you aware of any alternative process I can follow? Thank you again

[khalilgherbi]

Hi great video, please here’s my question: I bought traverse 2018 from someone who gave me only one key (keyless) he lost the second one, so I bought new transmitter (new key), shall use this video to programme the second key, thanks in advance.

[christopherlong]

OK question I have a 2018 Chevy traverse and I just got a brand new key for it and when I get in the car, it says key fob three and I need to switch it to key fob one for the memory seats. How do I go about doing that? Please help me I’ve been looking everywhere.

[annekelleher]

So I lost my only keyfob to my car. I had 2 new ones without the emergency keys reprogrammed. They I found the original key fob with the metal key. It doesn’t work now. Can I reprogram it with your above instructions without screwing up the 2 spares I have?

[MikeH]

Any thoughts as to why I can’t exit learn mode on my 21 traverse? Great video btw. Thank you

[jeffs.]

Does it make a difference if I have 2 keys, one works fine and the other is unrecognized by the car?

[PaulBaron-pc]

Do you have to leave the key in the car door lock during the 10 minute cycles

[Bumblebeetunaz]

Can you show the steps to program new GM remote start system for 2023 model year?

[makaveli]

Can I *NOT* do this procedure to Add a 2nd Key? I have a working Key & A Used Spare with the same FCC. The original Spare in gone.

[terrancecottle]

On a 2020 Traverse - the vehicle will not exit programming mode after reprogramming only 1 key. It shows "ready for remote 2" every time I get in. Is there a way around this, or do I need 2 fobs?