Mobile App

The Tesla mobile app allows you to communicate with Model Y remotely using your iPhone® or Android™ phone.

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The information below may not represent an exhaustive list of the functions available on the Tesla mobile app. To ensure access to new and improved features, download updated versions of the mobile app as they become available.

To Use the Mobile App

To set up the Tesla mobile app to communicate with your Model Y:

  1. Download the Tesla mobile app to your phone.
  2. Log in to the Tesla mobile app by entering your Tesla account credentials.
  3. Enable mobile access to your Model Y by touching Controls > Safety > Allow Mobile Access.
  4. Turn your phone's Bluetooth setting ON and ensure that Bluetooth is turned on within your phone's global settings for the Tesla mobile app. For example, on your phone, navigate to Settings, choose the Tesla mobile app, and ensure the Bluetooth setting is enabled.

Your phone and vehicle must both be actively connected to cellular service or Wi-Fi for the mobile app to communicate with your vehicle. Tesla recommends that you always have a functional physical key readily available if parking in an area with limited or absent cellular service, such as an indoor parking garage.

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In the event that you require lockout assistance from Tesla due to a non-warranty issue, such as having limited cellular connectivity and having no secondary key available, your expenses are not covered under the Roadside Assistance policy.
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Tesla does not support the use of third party applications to contact Model Y.

Mobile App for Apple Watch

You can also use the mobile app on your Apple Watch.

The Tesla mobile app for Apple Watch requires:

  • An Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE 2, or Apple Watch Ultra 1 or newer with watchOS 11.0 or newer.
  • Vehicle firmware version 2024.44.25 or newer.
  • Tesla Mobile app version 4.39.5 or newer.

Before using the Tesla mobile app on your Apple Watch, ensure that your iPhone and Apple Watch are updated to the latest available software version. To add the Tesla mobile app to your Apple Watch, use the Watch app on your iPhone.

You can use the Tesla Apple Watch app to lock and unlock Model Y, open and close the trunk, and open the frunk.

In addition, you can use your Apple Watch as a key the same way you would use your phone as a key. For more information, see Keys.

Overview

When both your phone and the vehicle have internet service, the Tesla mobile app's home screen allows you to:

  • Lock or unlock your vehicle.
  • Enable or disable the heating or air conditioning and monitor the cabin climate.
  • Check your vehicle's charging information. Charging details also appear when a charging cable is plugged in.
  • Open or close the charge port.
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    Twisting red lines next to the Battery icon indicate that the Battery is actively heating up (including while charging or preparing to charge).
  • See where your vehicle is located.
  • View your vehicle’s estimated range.
  • Open the front trunk.
  • View your vehicle’s odometer, VIN, and current software version.

Media settings appear on the mobile app to pause, play, rewind, fast forward, and adjust the volume of the media currently playing in the vehicle. You may need to enable Media settings by touching Audio Settings > Options > Allow Mobile Control.

For supported video sources, send videos to Tesla Theater by sharing the link through the mobile app. Navigate to the movie, show, or video you want to play on your phone and touch the share button. Share the video with the Tesla app and it appears on the touchscreen if Model Y is in Park.

Profile

In the Profile tab located at the top corner, you can:

  • Switch to a different vehicle associated with your Tesla account, if you have access to more than one.
  • Navigate the Tesla Shop.
  • Manage your account information and view your order history.
  • View and customize notifications you receive under the Settings tab, such as Calendar sync, when your security alarm has been triggered, charging updates, and new software updates. You can start updates from afar and check its progress.

Controls

The Controls tab allows you to do the following:

  • Open the front or rear trunk.
  • Lock or unlock Model Y from afar.
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    Your vehicle does not automatically re-lock if you unlock from the mobile app.
  • Open or close the charge port.
  • Flash the lights or honk the horn to find where Model Y is parked.
  • Enable Keyless Driving.
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    Keyless Driving can be used when you do not have your key or to bypass PIN to Drive in cases where you forgot your PIN or your touchscreen is unresponsive (see PIN to Drive).
  • Open and close your garage door if your vehicle has a programmed HomeLink connection, if available (see Smart Garage).
  • Vent the windows.

Climate

You can check the interior temperature and heat or cool the cabin before driving (even if it’s in a garage), control the seat heaters, and defrost the windshield:

  • Enable or disable Defrost Car, which helps melt snow, ice, and frost on the windshield, windows, and mirrors, by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.
  • Enable or disable Dog Mode or Camp Mode.
  • Enable Cabin Overheat Protection, which prevents the cabin from getting too warm in hot ambient conditions. You can choose whether you want the A/C or just the fan to run when the temperature in the cabin exceeds 40° C or the selected temperature (if available). See Operating Climate Controls for more information.
  • Vent or close the windows.
  • Precondition the cabin to your desired temperature and turn on or off the steering wheel and seat heaters (if equipped).

Using the mobile app to precondition Model Y also warms the Battery as needed. The mobile app will notify you once your vehicle has reached the desired preconditioning temperature.

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In some vehicles, depending on vehicle specifications and date of manufacture, using the mobile app to defrost Model Y also thaws ice on the charge port latch. This is useful in extremely cold weather or icy conditions in which the charge port latch can freeze in place, preventing you from removing or inserting the charge cable.

Location

Locate Model Y with directions, or track its movement across a map.

Schedule

Enable scheduled charging or departure, and precondition the vehicle. See Scheduled Precondition and Charge for more information. Scheduled charging or departure can also be saved based on a preferred location.

You can also schedule a light show for a future time. For more information about light show, see Theater, Arcade, and Toybox.

Security

The Security tab allows you to do the following:

  • Pair your phone to the vehicle (see Phone Key).
  • Enable or disable Sentry Mode (see How to Use Sentry Mode (With a USB Flash Drive)).
  • Enable or disable Valet Mode (see Valet Mode).
  • Enable or disable Speed Limit Mode and receive notifications when the vehicle's driving speed is within approximately 5 km/h of your selected maximum speed (see Speed Limit Mode).
  • Watch and share Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips from the mobile app. See Dashcam for more information.
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    Requires Premium Connectivity and mobile app version 4.39.5 or newer. Only available on iOS.

Upgrades

View and purchase the latest upgrades available for your vehicle, such as full self-driving.

Service

See Schedule Service for information on how to schedule service through the mobile app.

Granting Access to a Second Driver

Add and remove access permission for an additional driver from the Tesla mobile app.

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Tesla mobile app version 4.3.1 or higher is required. Additional drivers can either use a previously registered Tesla Account or use the app to create a new Tesla Account.

To add an additional driver, in the Tesla mobile app from the vehicle home screen, go to Security > Add Driver and follow the onscreen instructions.

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The additional driver has access to all app features except purchasing upgrades.

To remove access, use the mobile app and go to Security > Manage Drivers and follow the onscreen instructions.