Every driver knows the feeling. You park the car and start walking away. Then a nagging feeling comes over you: Did you lock it?
You turn around and press the lock button. Once, twice, three times. But you’re too far away for the signal to reach.
In this situation, you may trust that you did in fact lock the car. But in all likelihood, you’ll go back toward the vehicle, intermittently pressing the button until it locks.
But what if there was a third option that doesn’t require you to retrace your steps?
One woman has a tip that could save you some time—without sacrificing your peace of mind.
Anni’s trick
Earlier this week, Anni (@adultingwithanni) shared a “quick trick” for when your car is too far away to lock it with the key fob.
In the TikTok, she stands at a distance from her vehicle pressing the button to no avail.
Then she does something strange.
“What you can do is use your body as an antenna to extend the signal,” she says.
“So you’re gonna put the key right up underneath your chin,” she continues, holding the keys against her neck. “And you press down, and it locks the car for you.”
When she hits the button this time, the taillights of her vehicle illuminate, indicating that the lock button has been pressed.
“Simple as that,” Anni concludes.
She didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry sent via TikTok DM.
Miracle or myth?
While it may seem like an urban myth, Anni’s right. You can extend the range of your key fob by using your body as an antenna.
This advice has been bouncing around cyberspace for years. It’s even been verified by the professional debunkers at Snopes.
Per Snopes, the best place to put the key fob is right up against your temple.
Apparently the fluid in your head helps amplify the signal, which isn’t at all unsettling.
This trick isn’t only useful for locking the vehicle when you’re too far away. You can also use it to find your car or activate the alarm in case of an emergency.
The people have thoughts
While the noggin-as-antenna trick may have been discovered nearly two decades ago, judging by the response to Anni’s TikTok, it has yet to become common knowledge.
Within a day, her video had gone viral. It’s been viewed over 494,000 times and generated 780 comments.
“Antenna?! What am I a praying mantis?” wrote an astonished observer.
“Does it work if you’re literally dead inside?” joked another.
One person shared that it works particularly well with one popular car brand. “Toyotas do this really well,” they said.
As one person pointed out, the trick even made it into the 2017 film that was nominated for best picture. In La La Land, Emma Stone’s character puts her keys up to her head to boost the signal and find her Prius after a party in the Hollywood Hills.
And they say real life is never like the movies.
@adultingwithanni When in doubt, use your head… to lock your car #adultingwithanni #lifehacks #howto #adulting #simpleasthat #carhacks #car #signal #carkey #dealership #antenna ♬ original sound – Adulting with Anni
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
