Software Updates

Over-the-air software updates are updates to your vehicle which you can download using Wi-Fi. These updates introduce new features and updates to your vehicle—making your vehicle safer and more capable over time.

Software updates occur on a rolling basis, so not every vehicle will receive the same update at the same time. When an update is available, we will notify you through an alert on your vehicle’s touchscreen and the Tesla app. To check for vehicle updates on your touchscreen, tap ‘Controls’ > 'Software.’ Your vehicle will check for updates and display “Checking for updates...”

If there are no pending software updates, the touchscreen will display “Your car software is up to date.”

If a software update is available, the touchscreen will display “Update available.” The touchscreen will also display a yellow download icon at the top of the screen.

We do not send software updates to individual vehicles upon request. We recommend staying connected to Wi-Fi to receive the latest software updates. Your owner’s manual will have step-by-step instructions on how to connect your vehicle to Wi-Fi.

There are two phases to a software update:

1. Download phase: During the download phase, the new update is released over-the-air and prepared for install on your vehicle. You must remain connected to Wi-Fi while downloading an update.
2. Install phase: During the install phase, the fully downloaded software update is installed on your vehicle. You cannot drive during the install phase as a safety measure. If plugged into a charger, your vehicle will not charge until the install process is complete.

Some software updates can take several hours to complete. Your vehicle must be parked while the software is being updated. To ensure the fastest and most reliable delivery of software updates, leave Wi-Fi turned on and connected whenever possible.

Once a software update is available, start your update one of the following ways.

• Tap on the yellow clock icon to display the scheduling window. You will be able to select a time to schedule the software update or install it now. After you set a scheduled time for the installation of the update, the yellow clock icon will change to a white icon until the update starts. At any time before the update, you can tap the clock icon to change the time of the update.
• Tap ‘Controls’ > ‘Software’ to determine if your vehicle has a software update available. If available, tap ‘Update available’ to navigate to the scheduling window.
• Start updates from the Tesla app.

When the download process starts, a green download icon will appear on your touchscreen. If your touchscreen is showing a yellow download icon, a software update is available, but your vehicle isn’t connected to Wi-Fi.

To help ensure a quick, hassle-free download experience, your vehicle must have a stable Wi-Fi connection of at least three bars. If your connection shows less than three bars, you may need to move the vehicle closer to the Wi-Fi source or wait until you have a better connection before downloading an update. If you need help with your Wi-Fi, contact your internet service provider.

As a safety measure, you cannot drive your vehicle during the install phase. You can drive during the download phase; however the download process may be paused if your vehicle becomes disconnected from Wi-Fi by being taken out of park.

To access the latest release notes for your vehicle, tap ‘Software’ > ‘Release Notes.’

To check the latest software version on your vehicle, tap ‘Software’ on your touchscreen. You can also see which version you have in the Tesla app. You current software version is listed under your VIN on the main page.

Note: It is not possible to revert your vehicle to a previous software version.

You cannot cancel a software update once it has started the install phase.

If you believe that your software update was unsuccessful or your vehicle or touchscreen is unresponsive after an update, you can take the following steps:

First, verify the status of your software update. If you do not see a ‘Software Update Complete’ notification on the Tesla app and it’s been over three hours since the update was started, try rebooting the touchscreen. To reboot the touchscreen, hold the two scroll wheel buttons (around 20 seconds) on the steering wheel until the Tesla ‘T’ appears on the touchscreen.

If the update is still unsuccessful, schedule a service appointment.

Make sure the vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi while downloading or installing the update.

If the update isn’t making any progress, schedule a service appointment.

If you are experiencing issues with Bluetooth connectivity, follow these steps:

1. Disconnect and delete your device from your vehicle Bluetooth settings screen.
2. Delete the vehicle from your device Bluetooth settings.
3. Try to re-pair your device to your vehicle.

For other related issues, attempt a touchscreen reboot as described above.

For issues related to vehicle entry, first check that you have the appropriate keyless entry settings enabled. If you are using phone key, ensure that the mobile device shows as your key in your ‘Phone Key’ settings and that the Tesla app is running in the background. If the issue persists, turn your devices Bluetooth connection on and off. Otherwise, re-pair your mobile device as the key.

Your owner’s manual will have step-by-step instructions on how set up phone key and pair your mobile device.

Tesla vehicles receive regular software updates, both large and small. Minor software updates may not result in any noticeable changes to the driving experience.

Your vehicle will not charge while installing an over-the-air update. If you install a software update while charging, your vehicle will stop charging during the update and will automatically resume charging once the update is complete.