Depending on market region,
vehicle configuration, options purchased, and software version, your vehicle may not be
equipped with Sentry Mode or the
features may not operate exactly as described. It is your sole responsibility to
consult and comply with all local regulations and property restrictions regarding
the use of cameras.
When enabled, your vehicle's cameras and sensors (if equipped) remain powered
on and ready to record suspicious activity around your vehicle when Model 3 is locked and in Park. Think of
Sentry Mode as an intelligent vehicle security system that alerts you when it detects
possible threats nearby.
If a threat is detected or the vehicle sensors determine there is a lot of jerky movement
like when getting towed or shaken, Sentry Mode:
Pulses the headlights.
Sounds the alarm.
Displays a message on the touchscreen that indicates cameras may be recording to
inform individuals outside of the vehicles.
Alerts you of the alarm on the mobile app.
Saves footage of the event to a USB drive (if installed).
Sentry Mode is disabled by default. You can use voice commands or the Tesla mobile app to easily enable or disable Sentry Mode. To enable Sentry Mode using voice commands, say "Keep Tesla safe," "Keep my car safe," "Sentry on," or "Enable Sentry" (see Voice Commands).
Note
For some vehicles manufactured after approximately November 1, 2021, the center console USB ports may only support charging devices. Use the USB port inside the glove box for all other functions.
Sentry Mode requires your Battery to be at least 20% charged. If the Battery falls below 20%, Sentry Mode turns off and the mobile app sends you a notification. Power consumption may increase when Sentry Mode is active.
Note
When Sentry Mode is enabled, the Security Alarm settings (Controls > Safety > Security Alarm) are not available.
CAUTION
Do not rely on Sentry Mode to protect Model 3 from all possible security threats. Sentry Mode uses many factors to determine whether to activate the security alarm. All impacts may not be detected and the alarm may not activate in all situations. While it may help deter some threats, no security system can prevent all attacks.
Note
Sentry Mode only sends notifications to
the mobile app when the alarm is triggered, when someone attempts to open a door or
trunk, or sudden jerky motions are detected by the vehicle. If Sentry Mode doesn't
consider an event a clear threat, the vehicle records footage but doesn't trigger the
alarm.
How to Use Sentry Mode (With a USB
Flash Drive)
Sentry Mode requires a properly
formatted USB drive inserted in your vehicle's USB port. Vehicles manufactured beginning
approximately 2020 are equipped with a pre-formatted USB flash drive in the
glove box. There are two ways to format the USB drive:
Insert the USB drive into
the USB port and navigate to Controls > Format USB
Drive. Your vehicle automatically formats the USB drive for
you.
Insert the USB drive into the
vehicle's USB port, preferrable the one in the glove box (if equipped).
With your vehicle in Park, enable
Dashcam by navigating to Controls > Safety > Dashcam (Dashcam must be enabled for Sentry Mode to work).
Touch Controls > Sentry
Mode > On. Once enabled, the Sentry Mode icon in Controls turns red.
Note
Rear camera recordings are available only on vehicles
manufactured after approximately February 2018.
When enabled,
Sentry Mode is idle, ready to sound the alarm and save a recording of the
security event if triggered. The clip length of the recording can be
customized (touch Safety > Sentry
Mode > Sentry
Mode Clip Length). See Viewing Video Recordings for information on viewing footage.
To manually enable/disable Sentry
Mode until the next drive, touch the Sentry Mode icon. Sentry Mode is Off when
the icon is no longer red.Turn Sentry Mode Off in Controls > Safety > Sentry
Mode to disable for more than one drive cycle.
How to Use Sentry Mode (Without a USB
Flash Drive)
When Sentry mode is enabled and a security event is detected but without a USB drive plugged into a USB port, your vehicle alerts you through the mobile app, without any camera recordings.
Sentry Mode Settings
Exclude specific
locations
In Controls > Safety > Sentry
Mode, you can determine if you want Sentry Mode to not enable in certain
locations (see Home, Work, and Favorite Destinations
for more information):
Exclude Home:
Sentry Mode does not automatically enable at the location set as Home in
your Favorites list.
Exclude Work:
Sentry Mode does not automatically enable at the location set as Work in
your Favorites list.
Exclude
Favorites: Sentry Mode does not automatically enable at any location
in your Favorites list.
Note
To recognize a
location listed as Home, Work, or a Favorite, Model 3 must be parked
within approximately 500
meters of the saved location.
To set up your Home or Work location, touch Navigate > Set Home/Set
Work. To set up a Favorite,
touch the star when viewing an address on the map. Manually turning Sentry
Mode on or off using the touchscreen or the mobile app overrides your Home,
Work, or Favorite exclusion preferences until your next drive.
Set Sentry Mode Clip Length
If Sentry Mode is configured to capture camera recordings of security events using a properly formatted USB drive, you can customize the recording length on your touchscreen (touch Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode > Sentry Mode Clip Length).
Set Camera-Based Detection
When Camera-Based Detection is enabled, Sentry Mode uses the vehicle’s external cameras in addition to vehicle sensors to detect a security event while parked. If disabled, your vehicle only saves clips to the USB drive if a physical threat is detected. To adjust, touch Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode > Camera-Based Detection.
View
Live Camera
Note
View Live
Camera requires premium connectivity and version 4.2.1 (or
newer) of the Tesla mobile app installed on a phone that has been paired as
a key to Model 3.
When Sentry
Mode is enabled, use the mobile app to remotely view the area surrounding
Model 3 as seen through the
exterior cameras. To enable, touch Controls > Safety > Sentry
Mode > View Live
Camera via Mobile App on the touchscreen to see what Sentry Mode records in
real-time. Ensure there are no occupants in the vehicle and all doors are
locked. Then, on the mobile app, navigate to Safety > Sentry
Mode > View Live
Camera.
When View Live
Camera is actively in use, Model 3 periodically flashes
its exterior lights and displays a message on the touchscreen to notify
others that the area surrounding the vehicle is being viewed through the
cameras.
View Live Camera is limited to approximately 15 minutes of cumulative usage per day.
You can also enable Dog Mode at the same time and switch
the live camera view to see through the interior camera on the mobile app.
See Keep Climate On, Dog, and Camp
for more information. This feature is not supported in vehicles with
Autopilot computer 2.0 or 2.5. Touch Controls > Software > Autopilot
computer to find out which computer your vehicle has.
Note
If Dog and Sentry are enabled
at the same time, Sentry defaults to Disable Sentry Sounds
to protect your pet.
Note
Video quality can
vary depending on network connectivity. No audio is captured.
Note
The live camera
feed is fully encrypted and cannot be accessed by Tesla.
NoteRear camera recordings are available only on vehicles manufactured after approximately February 2018.