Locking and unlocking Model X is convenient. Although you must be carrying a valid key fob, there is no need to use it. Model X has sensors around the driver's door that can recognize the presence of a key fob within a range of approximately one meter. So, you can keep your key fob in your pocket or purse and Model X detects it as you approach.

If equipped with the premium upgrade package, and the Automatic Doors setting is turned on, when you walk up to Model X carrying your key fob, doors automatically unlock and the driver's door partially opens. If not equipped, or if this setting is turned off, doors automatically unlock and a door opens when you press its handle. Selecting Exclude Automatic Doors Opening at Home still allows for automatic closing doors at home but disables automatic door opening (set your home address by touching Navigate > Set Home).

When carrying your key fob with you, you can also open the rear trunk without having to use the key fob. Simply press the switch located under the powered liftgate’s exterior handle. Driver Door Unlock Mode (see Driver Door Unlock Mode) must be off and the vehicle must detect the key fob near the driver's door before opening the rear trunk.

Model X also locks automatically. If you enable Walk Away Door Lock, Model X locks when you walk away carrying your key fob with you (see Walk-Away Door Lock).

In addition, you can set Model X to sound a soft horn whenever you car locks or unlocks (if equipped). To set up, touch Controls > Vehicle > Lock Confirmation Sound.

While sitting inside Model X, you can also lock and unlock the vehicle by touching the icon on the touchscreen's status bar.

To quickly familiarize yourself with the key fob, think of the key fob as a miniature version of Model X, with the Tesla badge representing the front. The key fob has three buttons on the top that feel like softer areas on the surface, and a metal button on each side representing the falcon wing doors.

1. Trunk
   • Double-click to open the rear trunk.
   • If equipped with a powered liftgate, double-click to close the rear trunk. You can also single-click to stop the liftgate when it is moving.
   • Hold the button down for one to two seconds to open the charge port door.
2. Lock/Unlock All
   • Single-click to lock all doors and rear trunk. Hazard warning lights flash once.
     Note

     If a door or the rear trunk is open, hazard warning lights flash three times and doors do not lock. But you can enable a single-click to both close all doors (and rear trunk) and lock them, by turning on the Close All with Key Fob setting (touch Controls > Vehicle > Close All with Key Fob). By default, this setting is turned off and you must triple-click the button to close and lock all doors.
   • Double-click to unlock. Hazard warning lights flash twice.
     Note

     If Model X is equipped with the premium upgrades package and Automatic Doors is enabled (touch Controls > Vehicle > Automatic Doors), doors unlock and the driver's door opens as you approach Model X. A subsequent double-click opens the passenger front door.
3. Front trunk
   • Double-click to open the front trunk.

4. Falcon wing doors

   • Double-click to open/close the associated falcon wing door.
   • Single-click to stop movement of the associated falcon wing door. Subsequently double-clicking reverses movement of the falcon wing door. For example if the door was opening, it closes, and vice versa.
     Note

     Falcon wing doors are designed to proactively detect obstacles that prevent the doors from moving when an obstacle is detected.
     Warning

     Model X falcon wing doors have several sensors to detect the presence of an object in the door's path. In most cases, when an object is detected, the door stops moving. However, the sensors are unable to detect all areas under all circumstances, particularly when closing, Therefore, you must monitor the movement of falcon wing doors to ensure the door's path of movement is free of obstacles, staying prepared at all times to proactively intervene to stop the door from contacting an object (including a person). Failure to do so can cause serious damage or bodily injury.

You do not need to point the key fob at Model X, but you must be within operating range (which varies depending on the strength of the key fob’s battery).

If Model X is unable to detect the key fob, the touchscreen displays a message indicating that a key fob is not inside. Place the key fob where Model X can best detect it, which is below the low voltage power socket (see Key Fob Not Inside).

Radio equipment on a similar frequency can affect the key fob. If this happens, move the key fob at least 30 cm away from other electronic devices (phone, laptop, etc). If the key fob does not work, you may need to change its battery. If the key fob’s battery is discharged, you can open Model X by following the unlocking procedure (see Unlocking When the Key Fob Doesn't Work).

To open a front door, pull the interior door handle toward you.

You can also use the touchscreen to open and close doors when inside Model X. Touch Controls), then choose the door you want to open or close.

The driver's door automatically closes when you sit in the driver's seat and press the brake pedal. You can also close doors by simply pulling the handle toward you.

Model X doors are electrically powered. When you approach Model X carrying a key, the doors automatically unlock. The front doors open when you press the door handle.

You can also set the driver's door to open automatically upon your approach and close automatically upon your departure (if equipped). The door partially opens between 20° and 45° (halfway open) depending on obstacles detected.

Touch Controls > Vehicle > Automatic Doors. If this setting is on, you can also open the driver's door by double-clicking the key fob's lock/unlock button. A subsequent double-click opens the front passenger door. Selecting Exclude Automatic Doors Opening at Home still allows for automatic closing doors at home but disables automatic door opening (set your home address by touching Navigate > Set Home).

You can also specify that you want to unlock only the driver's door by touching Controls > Vehicle > Driver Door Unlock Mode. See Driver Door Unlock Mode.

Whenever a door is open, the Door Open indicator displays on the instrument panel. Also, the image of the Model X on the touchscreen's Controls window also provides a visual representation of an open door or trunk.

To close doors from the outside, you can:

• Manually push them shut.
• Single-click or triple-click the key fob's lock/unlock button (if the Close All with Key Fob setting is on, only a single click is needed to close all doors and trunks—a triple-click is needed if the setting is off).

Since your Model X does not have traditional door handles that you can pull from the outside, it is equipped with pop actuators (sometimes referred to as "ice breakers") that are used to assist in opening the front doors in cases where resistance is detected, such as ice buildup in cold weather. The pop actuator is located just above the front door latch and extends as necessary to open the front door. Once the front door opens slightly, the pop actuator gently retracts back into the door.

If the pop actuator is unable to retract because it is stuck to or caught on something, the pop actuator can be extended manually to extract the object by performing the following:

1. Carefully close the door latch using a pen, screwdriver, or comparable tool (never use a finger or body part and avoid damaging the paint); Model X will detect this as though the door is closed.

   

2. Make sure Model X is unlocked, then press the exterior door handle or pull the interior door handle to reset the latch and extend the pop actuator.
3. As the pop actuator extends out from the door, quickly extract the object.
   Warning

   The pop actuator will attempt to retract back into the door almost immediately after the door handle is pressed or pulled. The pop actuator retracts gently, but will not release automatically if something gets caught.

Model X has falcon wing doors that easily open and close by pressing a button, using a key fob, or touching the associated icon on the touchscreen. The falcon wing doors are equipped with several sensors that detect the presence of people and objects and, if an object is detected, the door stops moving. Based on detected objects, the doors may adjust their outward and upward movement in an attempt to avoid contacting the object. For example, if an object is detected above Model X, the door's movement may extend further outward but lower, whereas if an object (or person) is detected beside the door, the door may extend outward much less.

To open a falcon wing door from outside Model X, press the door handle or double-press the falcon wing door button on the key fob (see Using the Key Fob).

To open a falcon wing door from inside Model X, press the switch located on the driver's side door pillar, or, on the touchscreen, touch the associated door icon (Controls):

To close a falcon wing door, press the button located on the inside of the door. You can also use the key fob (see Using the Key Fob), use the switch on the door pillar (illustrated above), or touch the associated door icon on the touchscreen (Controls).

If a falcon wing door is left open when you attempt to shift out of Park, the touchscreen displays a notification requiring you to confirm your intent to drive. The falcon wing door automatically closes when your driving speed reaches 16 km/h. It is your responsibility to ensure doors and trunks are properly closed before driving.

From inside Model X, you can use the touchscreen to lock or unlock doors and trunks, provided a valid key is inside the vehicle. Touch the lock icon on the touchscreen's status bar.

When you stop Model X and engage Park, you can choose whether you want doors to unlock or remain locked. To do so, touch Controls > Vehicle > Unlock on Park. When enabled, doors automatically unlock when you engage Park.

You can also unlock doors by pressing the Park button on the end of the drive stalk a second time (for example, after pressing it one time to engage Park).

You can choose to unlock only the driver's door when you approach your vehicle carrying your key fob. To do so, touch Controls > Vehicle > Driver Door Unlock Mode. To unlock the remaining doors, use the touchscreen or press the key fob a second time.

Model X has child-protection locks on the falcon wing doors and liftgate to prevent them from being opened using interior handles. Use the touchscreen to turn child-protection locks on or off. Touch Controls > Vehicle > Child-Protection Lock.

Model X automatically locks all doors (including the trunks) whenever your driving speed exceeds 8 km/h.

Doors and trunks automatically lock whenever you walk away carrying the key fob or if the key fob is otherwise not detected by your vehicle (not present, dead battery, etc.).

Check the Exclude Home checkbox to prevent doors from locking when you walk away carrying the key fob when Model X is parked at the location you have designated as Home. For details on how to designate a location as Home, see Home, Work, and Favorite Destinations.

If you unlock Model X using the mobile app, it automatically locks after a short period of time if all doors remain closed. If parked in an area without cellular service (such as an indoor parking garage), ensure that you have a functional key fob available to unlock Model X.

If Model X detects an authenticated key fob for five minutes after you exit the vehicle and close all doors, Walk-Away Door Lock disables and doors do not lock when you leave with the key fob. You will need to manually lock Model X until after your next drive.

In addition, if all doors are closed and you use the key fob to unlock Model X, walk away locking is temporarily suspended for one minute. If you open a door within this minute, it does not re-lock until after all the doors are closed and you have walked away with the key fob.