Ford Developing Virtual Keypad: Unlock Your Car With Hand Gestures Instead of a Code

At a time when most automakers are embracing NFC access, biometric scanners, and smartphone-based key systems, Ford continues to rely on its long-running Securicode keypad — a feature that lets drivers unlock doors, open the trunk, or lock the car by entering a five-digit code. While the system might seem a bit old-school in 2025, it remains surprisingly popular and practical.

But Ford isn’t stuck in the past. A recently filed patent application reveals a next-generation version of Securicode that uses hand gestures instead of buttons. The concept is simple: a camera detects the driver’s hand movements as they “draw” a pattern in the air over a virtual keypad — similar to the pattern unlock feature on a smartphone, but applied to the car’s exterior.

The system would use visual anchor points to make the gesture input intuitive and easy. Precision isn’t critical — small deviations are allowed — and users could create their own unique pattern, which the system would recognize to unlock the vehicle. Cameras placed under side mirrors or near door handles would create a virtual space for gesture input, while even transparent stickers on windows could serve as visual guides.

Ford’s Securicode has proven its usefulness for over 40 years. It allows drivers to leave keys inside, eliminates the need for a fob, and even supports custom codes for different users or vehicle functions — a convenient solution for families, fleets, and shared vehicles alike.

For now, Ford’s gesture-based entry system exists only as a patent, and there’s no confirmation it will reach production. Still, the concept shows that Ford is actively exploring ways to blend trusted features with modern technology, keeping one foot in tradition and the other firmly in the future.