By Conor Early · October 26, 2026
Archive R2 cabin photograph from Rivian’s 2024 launch media; not a Pet Cam interface or a demonstration of the 2026 software. Photo: Rivian. Source and rights. Rivian editorial-use media.
Explainer · Rivian announced this feature on October 7, 2026.
R2’s Pet Cam gives owners more than one way to check the cabin, and those views should not be confused. Rivian says the Gear Guard section of its mobile app provides a live camera feed with a cabin-temperature badge. The app dashboard and phone lock screen instead show periodically refreshed snapshots.
That distinction matters when a quick glance becomes reassurance. A still image is not continuous video. Before relying on a check-in, confirm that the app is connecting and showing current information; if it cannot, physically check the vehicle and your pet.
Rivian introduced Pet Cam for R2 with software 2026.36. Its accompanying remote Pet Mode controls extend to other Rivian models, but that does not mean every model gains R2’s cabin camera feature. Someone inside the vehicle can stop the stream from the center display.
Check your vehicle’s installed software and current app before assuming the feature has arrived. Treat the camera as an additional check, alongside the vehicle’s Pet Mode instructions and direct supervision.
Source: Rivian’s October 7 announcement.