Rivian’s 2026.36 software update brings Pet Cam to the R2, a live color view of the cabin you can open from your phone while your dog waits in the car. The same update lets every Rivian owner turn Pet Mode on from the app, and it finally delivers Rivian Assistant to the R2.
Rivian announced the update on October 7 and says it is beginning to roll out to eligible R1 and R2 vehicles now. The company says more than 60 percent of its owners travel with a dog, which explains why pets got top billing over the voice assistant.
How Pet Cam works
Pet Cam uses the R2’s high-definition color cabin camera, so it is an R2-only feature. When Pet Mode is on, you can open a live feed from the Gear Guard section of the Rivian app and see your pet along with a live cabin temperature reading.
If you just want a quick look, the app dashboard and your phone’s lock screen refresh with snapshot images of the cabin, so you do not have to start a full video stream. Anyone sitting in the car can stop the stream with one tap on the center display, which keeps the camera from turning into a surprise for a passenger who stayed behind.
Remote Pet Mode for the R1
R1T and R1S owners do not get Pet Cam, but they do get the new app controls, on both Gen 1 and Gen 2 vehicles. You can now switch Pet Mode on from the Rivian app after you have already walked away, and switch it off with the paw icon in the app’s climate controls. The app asks for a quick confirming tap either way, so a stray thumb does not shut off the air conditioning with a dog inside.
Rivian Assistant reaches the R2
The voice assistant R1 owners got this spring is now debuting on the R2 in the same update. It handles climate, media, and navigation, answers general questions, pulls up the weather at your destination, and can name the song that is playing. On the R2 you start it by pressing the right Haptic Halo Wheel on the steering wheel, tapping the icon on the display, or saying “Hey, Rivian” or “Okay, Rivian.” Our earlier Rivian Assistant on R2 post covers what it can do in more detail.
Will you need Connect+?
Rivian’s announcement does not mention a subscription for Pet Cam or for the R2 Assistant. On the R1, the Assistant went to owners with Connect+ or an active trial, so check the 2026.36 release notes in the Rivian app or on the center display before you count on either feature.
The update lands as the R2 works through its early production fixes, including the small high-voltage battery fastener recall. For R2 owners with a dog in the back seat, Pet Cam is the most practical thing Rivian has shipped since deliveries began in June.
FAQ
Which Rivian vehicles get Pet Cam?
Only the R2. Rivian says Pet Cam relies on the R2’s high-definition color cabin camera.
What do R1 owners get in update 2026.36?
R1T and R1S owners, Gen 1 and Gen 2, can now turn Pet Mode on and off from the Rivian app after leaving the vehicle.
Does Rivian Assistant come to the R2 in 2026.36?
Yes. Rivian says the Assistant debuts on the R2 with this update, which is rolling out now to eligible vehicles.
