Fact or Fiction: Extend Car Remote Range by Holding Your Key Fob Under Your Chin

Maybe you’ve seen a friend do it. Maybe you’ve tried it yourself. Maybe you’ve written it off as a total myth. But does holding the car remote to your head actually make it work better? Well, as crazy as it sounds, this is no myth. Keep on reading to find out why.

The Science Behind It

Sticking your key next to your head seems silly, so how does it actually work? Tim Pozar, a Silicon Valley radio engineer, explained the process to the New York Times:

“You are capacitively coupling the fob to your head. With all the fluids in your head, it ends up being a nice conductor. Not a great one, but it works.”

In other words, your head can help boost the signal between your remote and the car. You won’t suddenly be able to unlock your vehicle from a mile away, but you can increase the range by a small amount.

In Real Life

So, if your remote is starting to lose signal strength, here’s how to use this little car hack we just learned about:

1. Put the key fob up to your chin.
2. Press the unlock button.

It’s really that easy, and you can tangibly see how much of a difference it makes. Try unlocking your car normally, and then when you get to a range your key no longer works, use your head to boost the signal. You can experiment to see exactly how well it works.