SFD Unlock Autel: How to Unlock VW Audi SFD Gateway

This guide provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to manually unlock the latest VAG SFD (Vehicle Diagnostic Protection) gateway using Autel diagnostic scanners. This procedure is applicable to various Autel models, including the Ultra Lite, MK900BT, MK808S, and others. If you encounter the SFD locked error message on your Autel device, this guide will help you resolve the issue.

What is SFD Lock and Why Does it Need Unlocking?

The SFD lock is a security measure implemented by Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG) to protect vehicle systems from unauthorized access and modifications. Certain diagnostic functions, such as adaptation, basic settings, and coding, require unlocking the SFD gateway before they can be performed. Without unlocking, your Autel scanner may display an error message indicating that “SFD unlock is required”. This message typically appears after selecting a specific system under the Control Unit menu and attempting to access security access or login functions.

Sfd Unlock Autel: A Step-by-Step Guide

We’ll use a 2024 Audi Q7 and an Autel IM608 II scanner for this demonstration. The process remains largely similar for other VAG vehicles and compatible Autel scanners.

Step 1: Accessing the SFD Unlock Function

Connect your Autel scanner to the vehicle’s OBD-II port and establish communication. The scanner may prompt you to enable access to the Gateway (address 19) and disable the diagnostic firewall. You’ll encounter a message indicating that the “Vehicle Diagnostic Protection (SFD) is not unlocked”. Select the option to “Manually unlock SFD”.

Crucially, this screen displays the Unlocking Request Information, System, and VIN numbers. Copy this information down, as you’ll need it in the next step.

Step 2: Obtaining SFD Unlock Tokens

1. Open a web browser and navigate to vaglogins.com.
2. Log in to your account or create a new one if you don’t already have one.
3. Purchase SFD unlock tokens. These are typically available as single-use or time-limited options (e.g., 60 minutes).
4. Navigate to the “SFD generator” section of the website.
5. Enter the vehicle’s VIN and select the desired token type.
6. Click “Activate access” and select the locked VIN.
7. Paste the Login Request Information you copied from the Autel scanner.
8. Enter the diagnostic address: 0019.
9. Click “Request SFD”. The website will generate an SFD unlock token. Copy this token.

Step 3: Unlocking the SFD using the Token

1. Return to the Autel scanner’s “Manually unlock SFD” screen.
2. Paste the SFD token you copied from vaglogins.com into the designated field.
3. Click “Unlock SFD”.

The scanner will now process the token and unlock the SFD gateway. You should see a confirmation message indicating that the unlocking was successful. The unlock typically provides a time window (e.g., 90 minutes) during which you can perform diagnostic functions.

Confirmation and Next Steps

After a successful SFD unlock, you can proceed with the intended diagnostic procedures, such as oil resets, service resets, and other advanced functions that were previously blocked. You can verify the successful unlock by attempting to access those functions again. For example, navigating to the ‘Hot Functions’ and selecting ‘Oil Reset’ should now present available reset options without the SFD locked error.