How To Get A New Ford F-150 Key

Aside from the two original keys for your Ford F-150, having one or more spare keys is a good idea. You can keep one at home for emergency purposes, and you can also program a new key for a family member. So how do you get a new key for your F-150? We've done the research for your reading pleasure.

If you only have one fully-functional key for your F-150, the safest way to get a new key is from a dealership. Alternatively, a locksmith could cut a new key and/or program a new key fob. However, in some cases, you can also program a new key fob yourself.

If you've lost or damaged one of your F-150's keys or want to get yourself an extra key, you've come to the right place. Read on, and we'll help you understand how to get a new, fully-functioning key for your vehicle.

How Do I Get A Key Made For My Ford F-150?

To get a new key made for your F-150, you have two main options:

Buy a new one from a Ford dealership
Hire a professional automotive locksmith to cut and program a replacement key

Can Ford Make Me A New Key?

We recommend that you contact your local dealership if you only have at most one (1) working key or key fob left. You will need to provide the dealership with your vehicle identification number (VIN) for them to cut and program your new key.

Different dealers may charge different rates for a new key fob. Moreover, older Ford models' keys cost less than newer ones. If your Ford is relatively new, you may need to pay between $400 to $500 to the dealership.

In most cases, a professional automotive locksmith can get you a new key or key fob for your F-150. Blank key prices and labor costs may vary depending on the locksmith. However, automotive locksmiths often charge much lower than the dealers do for the same service.

Depending on your vehicle's model year, your locksmith can make you one of the following key types:

Transponder Key

This key has a physical key blade and a passive RFID chip inside the key head's casing. The locksmith will need to cut the blank key's blade and program the passive RFID chip.

Your F-150 needs to recognize the passive RFID chip before allowing the key to start the engine.

Check out these transponder keys for the F-150 on Amazon.

Key And Remote Combo

This combo key has a physical key blade, a passive RFID chip, and an active RFID-based remote key fob with two or more buttons for remotely controlling your car. As with the transponder key, your vehicle needs to recognize the RFID chip for engine ignition.

The active RFID chip allows your remote to send button commands to your vehicle like locking, unlocking, and remotely starting your car. The locksmith will need to cut the key blade and program both passive and active RFID chips.

Check out these F-150 compatible key/remote combo on Amazon.

Flip Key

Because of its blade and its passive and active RFID chips, a flip key is a type of key and remote combo. As the name suggests, the flip key's blade folds in and flips out of the fob's body.

Check out this 2004 to 2014 F-150 compatible flip key on Amazon.

Proximity Fob Or Smart Key

If you already have two distinct (not cloned) and fully-functional keys for your Ford F-150, then you can program a third one. In the following sections, we will show you how to program different types of Ford keys.

For keys with a physical key blade, you must get the blades cut before programming. Furthermore, modern Ford cars only allow you to program a maximum of four keys.

If you have a transponder key, then you will need to program the passive RFID chip on the key's head.

Bring your two working keys and your unprogrammed transponder key into your vehicle. Close all the doors.
Insert your first working key into the ignition and turn it to the "On" position. You don't need to start the car.
After the car is on for at least three seconds but no more than ten seconds, turn the ignition back to the "Off" or "Lock" position. Pull out the first working key.
After at least three seconds but no more than ten seconds of turning the ignition off, insert the second working key. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
After at least three seconds but no more than ten seconds of turning the ignition off, insert the unprogrammed key and turn the ignition on.
Keep the ignition on for six seconds before turning it off. Once the ignition is off, your instrument cluster should show a blinking indicator light for the key lock.
Your new transponder key is now programmed. You can start your engine to test it out.

If you have a remote and key combo, then you will need to program both the passive and active RFID chips. These two chips have different programming procedures.

To program the passive RFID chip, you will need to do the same procedure as with the transponder key.

After programming the passive RFID chip, you can start the engine. However, you cannot use your remote because you haven't programmed your active RFID chip yet. To program your active RFID chip, you need to follow these additional steps.

Insert one of your original working keys into the ignition and switch it between "On" and "Off" eight (8) times.
After the eighth repetition, your car's door locks should cycle. Your car is now in key programming mode. Do not take the original key out from the ignition.
Press the "Lock" button on all of the key remotes in your vehicle. This includes both your original remotes and your new unprogrammed remote.
Turn the ignition off and pull out your original key. This will end the car's programming mode.
You can now use your new key to start the car from the ignition cylinder. You can also use the new key's remote to lock and unlock your car's doors.

Programming a Ford flip key is almost as easy as programming the transponder key. You only need to follow one procedure to program both the passive and active RFID chips.

Bring your two working flip keys and your new unprogrammed flip key into your vehicle. Close all the doors.
Insert your first working key into the ignition and turn it to the "On" position. You don't need to start the car.
After the car is on for at least three seconds but no more than ten seconds, turn the ignition back to the "Off" or "Lock" position. Pull out the first working key.
After at least three seconds but no more than ten seconds of turning the ignition off, insert the second working key. Repeat the same process as with the first working key.
After at least three seconds but no more than ten seconds of turning the ignition off, insert the unprogrammed key and turn it to the "On" position.
Keep the ignition on for another six seconds. You should hear the door locks cycle.
Your new flip key is now programmed. You can start your engine and use the remote buttons as you normally would on your original keys.

Ford's smart keys, or Intelligent Access keys, have a slightly different procedure for programming. You will need to remove the plastic bottom of the front cupholder in the center console to access the backup key programming slot.

Place your first working key into the slot. Without stepping on the brake pedal, press and release the push-button ignition switch to turn the car to the "On" position.
Wait for five seconds until the startup beeps stop, then press and release the push-button ignition switch to turn the car off. Remove the first working key from the slot.
Within ten seconds of turning the car off, place your second working key in the slot and repeat steps 1 and 2.
Within ten seconds of turning the car off, place your unprogrammed key in the slot and press and release the push-button ignition switch to turn the car to the "On" position.
On your instrument panel, you will see your hazard lights flash and a message saying "Key Program Successful." You will also hear your door locks cycle.
Press and release the push-button ignition switch to turn the car off and exit the key programming mode.
Both the passive and active RFID chips in your new smart key are now programmed. You can use all the functions of your new smart key.

Wrapping Up

If you have less than two working keys left for your F-150, we recommend you go to your Ford dealership. However, if you still have two working keys, you can save money and buy a blank aftermarket key and/or key fob yourself.

You will need a locksmith to cut the key blade, but you can program your new key's passive and/or active RFID chips yourself.

Thank you very much for reading. We hope we were able to help you find a solution for your Ford F-150's key and key fob problems.

For more interesting reads about key fobs and other automotive topics, please check out these great articles below.

How To Roll Windows Down With Key Fob [Toyota, Ford And More]

How To Test Keyless Entry Remote

What Color Coolant Does Ford Use

How To Get A New Ford F-150 Key

How Do I Get A Key Made For My Ford F-150?

Can Ford Make Me A New Key?