2021 Tesla Model Y Mobile App
Mobile App
The Tesla mobile app allows you to communicate with Model Y remotely using your iPhone® or Android™ phone.
To Use the Mobile App
To set up the Tesla mobile app to communicate with your Model Y:
- Download the Tesla mobile app to your phone.
- Log in to the Tesla mobile app by entering your Tesla account credentials.
- Enable mobile access to your Model Y by touching (see Controls).
- 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 to allow 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.
Overview
The Tesla mobile app’s home screen allows you to:
- See the name of your vehicle (if you have one).
- View your vehicle’s estimated range.
- See which drive mode the vehicle is in (Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive).
- Lock or unlock your vehicle.
- Enable maximum defrost to warm your vehicle in cold conditions.
- Check your vehicle’s charging information and open or close the charge port.
- Open the front trunk.
- View your vehicle’s odometer, VIN, and current firmware 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.
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 of your phone’s screen (shown as an avatar icon), you can:
- Switch to a different vehicle associated with your Tesla account, if you have access to more than one.
- Navigate the Tesla Shop.
- Access the Tesla inbox.
- 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.
- Open or close the charge port.
- Flash the lights or honk the horn to find where Model Y is parked.
- Enable Keyless Driving.
NoteKeyless 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 HomeLink Universal Transceiver).
- 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 by swiping up the from bottom , which helps melt snow, ice, and frost on the windshield, windows, and mirrors.
- Enable or disable Dog Mode or Camp Mode.
- Customizing climate controls allows you to precondition the cabin by moving the direction of air flow from the vents, and turn the seat heaters on or off.
- Vent or close the windows.
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.
Location
Locate Model Y with directions, or track its movement across a map.
Summon
You can park or retrieve Model Y using Summon (see Summon) or Smart Summon (see Smart Summon).
Schedule
Enable scheduled charging or departure, and precondition the vehicle. See Using Scheduled Charging and Using Scheduled Departure for more information.
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 Using Sentry Mode).
- 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 3 mph (5 km/h) of your selected maximum speed (see Safety).
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.
Roadside
View roadside resources and request roadside assistance (where applicable). For more information on Roadside Assistance, see Contacting Tesla Roadside Assistance.
Granting Access to a Second Driver
Add and remove access permission for an additional driver from the Tesla mobile app.
To add an additional driver, in the Tesla mobile app from the vehicle home screen, go to
and follow the onscreen instructions.To remove access, use the mobile app and go to
and follow the onscreen instructions.