Connect your phone through Bluetooth or the Tesla app
Your Tesla connects to your phone in two ways: Bluetooth for calls, texts, and music inside the car, and the Tesla app for remote control and location tracking from anywhere. Most owners use both. Bluetooth pairs once and works automatically when you get in the car. The app requires your Tesla account and stays connected as long as you have internet on your phone.
Bluetooth is the simpler choice if you only want to make calls and stream music. The app is necessary if you want to unlock the car remotely, check battery level, or see where the car is parked. You can use one, both, or neither — the choice is yours, and you can disconnect either one at any time.
Key Takeaways
- Bluetooth pairing happens once in the car's touchscreen settings and then reconnects automatically each time you enter the vehicle.
- The Tesla app requires your Tesla account login and lets you control the car and see its location from your phone, but only if you choose to set it up.
- You can unpair your phone from Bluetooth or sign out of the app at any time, and the car will no longer share data with your phone.
- Bluetooth audio and calls use your phone's data plan; the app uses your phone's internet connection to communicate with Tesla's servers.
- Multiple phones can pair to the same Tesla, but only one can be the primary phone for calls and texts at a time.
Pairing your phone through Bluetooth
Start with your phone's Bluetooth settings off or in pairing mode. In the Tesla, touch the car icon at the bottom left of the touchscreen, then select Safety & Security, then Bluetooth. The screen will show "Searching for devices" or a list of nearby phones. Select your phone's name from the list.
Your phone will ask you to confirm the pairing. Accept it. The Tesla will then show your phone as connected. From that point forward, Bluetooth will turn on automatically when you unlock the car and your phone is nearby. You do not have to do anything else — it just works.
If your phone does not appear in the Tesla's Bluetooth list, make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your phone and that it is set to be discoverable. Some phones hide this setting in a menu called "Bluetooth settings" or "Visibility". Check your phone's manual if you are not sure where to find it.
Setting up the Tesla app on your phone
read the Tesla app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Open it and sign in with the same email and password you use for your Tesla account. If you do not have a Tesla account yet, you will need to create one — this is the account you use to manage your Tesla online.
After you sign in, the app will ask for permission to access your location. You must allow this if you want the app to show you where your car is parked. The app will also ask for permission to send you notifications — you can allow or deny this depending on whether you want alerts about your car's status.
Once you have signed in, the app will connect to your car automatically if your car is on the same Wi-Fi network or if your phone has internet. You will see your car's name and a map showing its location. From there, you can lock or unlock the doors, check the battery, or start the climate control.
What data flows when you use each connection
Bluetooth sends audio and call data directly between your phone and the car. Tesla does not receive a copy of your calls or the music you play. The car does keep a record that you connected on a certain date, but not what you did while connected.
The Tesla app is different. When you use it, your phone sends information to Tesla's servers, and Tesla sends information back. This includes your car's location, battery level, whether doors are locked, and when you last used the car. Tesla stores this data on its servers so the app can show you the information even when your car is offline.
If you do not want the app to track your car's location, do not install the app or do not sign in. Bluetooth alone will not send location data. You can also sign out of the app at any time, and Tesla will stop receiving location updates from that phone.
Disconnecting your phone from the car
To remove Bluetooth pairing, go to the car icon on the Tesla touchscreen, select Safety & Security, then Bluetooth. Find your phone in the list and select it, then choose Forget or Remove. The car will no longer connect to that phone via Bluetooth.
To sign out of the Tesla app, open the app on your phone, go to your account menu (usually three lines or a person icon), scroll to the bottom, and select Sign Out. You will need to sign in again if you want to use the app in the future. Signing out stops the app from sending your location to Tesla.
If you sell the car or give it to someone else, unpair all your phones and sign out of the app before you hand it over. This prevents the new owner from seeing your location history or controlling the car with your account.
Troubleshooting common connection problems
If Bluetooth will not pair, restart both your phone and the Tesla. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. In the Tesla, go to Controls (the gear icon), scroll down to Safety & Security, and toggle Bluetooth off and back on. Then try pairing again.
If the app will not connect, check that you have internet on your phone and that your car is powered on. The car does not need to be unlocked, but it does need to be awake. If the app still will not connect after a few minutes, sign out and sign back in. If that does not work, restart your phone.
If your phone keeps disconnecting from Bluetooth while you drive, the car may be switching between Wi-Fi networks or the Bluetooth antenna may be weak. Try moving your phone closer to the center of the dashboard. If disconnections happen only in certain locations, it may be interference from nearby devices — this is usually not a problem you can fix yourself.
Multiple phones and shared cars
You can pair up to 10 phones to a single Tesla via Bluetooth. However, only one phone can be the primary phone at a time — this is the phone the car will use for incoming calls and texts. When you get in the car with a different phone, you can manually switch which phone is primary in the Bluetooth settings.
For the Tesla app, each person needs their own Tesla account. You cannot share login credentials. If multiple people in your household want to use the app, each person should create their own account, and the car owner should add them as authorized users in the Tesla account settings. This way, each person can see the car's location and control it, but Tesla will know which person did what.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the car without connecting my phone?
Yes. You can drive the car, unlock it with the key card, and use all features without ever pairing your phone or installing the app. The phone connection is optional and only adds convenience.
Does the Tesla app work if my car is offline?
No. The app needs internet on your phone and an active connection between your car and Tesla's servers. If your car has no cellular signal, the app will not show real-time data, though it may show the last known location from before the car went offline.
What happens to my data if I disconnect my phone?
Bluetooth pairing data stays on both your phone and the car until you forget the pairing. If you sign out of the Tesla app, Tesla stops receiving new location data, but it keeps the history of where your car has been. You can request Tesla delete your data through your account settings.
Can someone else use the Tesla app to track my car?
Only if they have your Tesla account login. The app does not work without signing in. If you are concerned about someone tracking you, change your Tesla password and sign out of the app on any devices you do not recognize.
Does Bluetooth drain my phone battery faster?
Bluetooth uses very little battery, especially when the car is doing the work of playing audio. The Tesla app uses more battery because it keeps your phone's location services and internet active. If battery life is a concern, you can turn off the app or disable location permission for it in your phone's settings.