Rivian Launches New Mobile App with Gear Guard Live Cam Support

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Photo: @Michael_L_Rauch via X

After beginning internal testing of software update 2024.35 with Gear Guard Live Cam as the main feature, Rivian is now updating the mobile app to support the feature. Rivian app 2.14.0 allows owners to view vehicle camera streams from their mobile phones. It also improves trip planning by adding new conveniences and tags to charging locations in the navigation planner.

Even though Rivian did many things differently than Tesla, it was impossible not to be influenced by what it did Electric vehicle the market leader has already experienced. Many of the business choices were taken straight from Tesla’s playbook, but the most obvious is what Rivian has done for its customers. The software experience has been praised as second only to Tesla, especially because the EV startup has paid close attention to what the EV market leader is doing.

The latest feature Rivian has copied from Tesla is the Gear Guard Live Cam, which was announced alongside the launch of the second-generation R1S and R1T. It’s a nod to Tesla’s Sentry Model Live Camera, which lets owners watch video streams from the vehicle’s cameras on their phones. Rivian’s Gear Guard Live Cam should work more or less the same way when it arrives in Rivian’s EVs with the 2024.35 update.

The latest update began internal testing earlier this week and will likely be available to customers next week. Based on the release notes, the Gear Guard Live Cam will be offered to all R1S and R1T vehicles regardless of model year. That means the first-generation R1 EV with lower-resolution cameras will likely disappoint in video quality. Fortunately, Rivian has offered a significant update to the dash cams on the 2025 models.

To take advantage of the new feature, Rivian also had to implement Gear Guard Live Cam support into its mobile app. That happened with update 2.14.0, which also improved the app’s trip planner, allowing owners to plan charging stops with new conveniences and tags.

Once you install the 2024.35 update on your Rivian, you’ll be able to use the app to watch live feeds from your vehicle’s cameras. Unlike Tesla’s implementation, which offers simultaneous views from four cameras in the app, you’ll have to choose which camera you want to see. There are four cameras to choose from on the Rivian: front, back, left, and right. The R1T gets the added option of watching a feed from the bed camera.

Based on screenshots shared by Rivian Wave, the app’s interface offers the option to watch the live stream in full screen, as well as a mysterious bell button. This could be used to sound the vehicle’s horn, although we don’t know for sure. The Gear Guard Live Cam feature is only available with a Connect+ subscription. It’s available now as a free trial for Rivian owners, who can test out the feature before committing to a paid renewal.