How to Lock a Tesla?

Image Credits: LiCarco

You can lock your Tesla in any of the following ways, depending on the model and your preferences. 

1. Using the Card Key (Model 3 and Model Y)

You get 2 key cards when you purchase your Tesla and both are set up to just your car. To use them, simply tap the card key on the B-pillar (driver’s side door pillar) to lock or unlock the car. 

Source: Tesla Model Y Owner's Manual

Visually, when the car is unlocked, the side mirrors unfold, and when it is locked, the side mirrors fold.

2. Using the Touchscreen

Sitting inside your Tesla, you can lock and unlock all doors and trunks by touching the lock icon next to the clock on your touchscreen

Source: Tesla Model 3 Owner's Manual

However, the Drive Away Locking feature ensures that Your Tesla automatically locks all doors (including the trunks) when your driving speed exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h).

3.Using Your Smartphone (Phone Key)

You can lock your Tesla using your smartphone. To do that, you will have to set up a Phone Key in your Tesla app. There are several ways of doing that. 

Set up the phone key from outside the car:

1. Download the Tesla mobile app to your phone.
2. Log into the Tesla mobile app using your Tesla account username and password.
3. Enable your phone’s Bluetooth. At times, you might also need to give the Tesla app the permission to use Bluetooth.
4. Open the app on your phone > Tap on “Set Up Phone Key” (Also available under the “Security” tab)
5. Place your key card on the B-Pillar and the set-up process will complete on its own.

Set up the phone key from inside the car:

You need to follow steps 1 to 4 as before, but while inside the car, instead of placing the keycard on the B-Pillar, you can place it on the center console. And the process will be completed on its own.

When the phone key is set up right, your car will unlock when you walk up to it with your phone’s Bluetooth on and lock when you walk away from it.

4. Using the Tesla Mobile App

While the Phone Key set-up requires you to be in the car’s proximity and use Bluetooth to lock or unlock your car, you can also use the lock option in your Tesla app to lock your car remotely. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Tesla App
2. Tap the lock icon to lock the car

You will need to use the cellular data to do that.

5. Using the Key Fob

While the previous Tesla owners got the key fob while buying the car, now you have to pay for it. But it is still a nifty backup tool when you don’t have your phone with you or when the BlueTooth doesn’t connect. Depending on the model. 

Source: Tesla Model S Owner’s Manual 

While each of the marked areas of the key fob lock and unlock the respective areas of the car, (pretty cool!) the roof one marked as 2 would be the one to use most frequently. 

Double-click the roof button to unlock all doors and the trunk and single-click to lock them.

Model X additionally has the buttons for the falcon doors, apart from the ones shown in the above image.

Key fob also has the Passive Entry feature that works the same way as your Bluetooth phone. That is, when you are in the proximity of the car with the key fob in your pocket, the car unlocks and when you are out of the range, it locks, without pressing any buttons. You can switch this feature on from Controls > Safety > Passive Entry

Walk-Away Lock Feature

For the Phone Key or Key Fobs to work propeorly, you will need to have the ‘Walk-Away Door Lock’ feature enabled. Here’s how to enable it: 

1. Enable Walk-Away Lock: Go to ‘Controls’ > ‘Locks’ > ‘Walk-Away Door Lock’ on the car’s touchscreen and enable the feature. 
2. Enable Lock-Confirmation Sound: To also hear a confirmation sound when your Tesla locks, go to Controls > Locks > Lock Confirmation Sound. You can even customize the lock sound from Toybox > Boombox > Lock Sound
3. The car will lock automatically when you walk away with the key fob or paired phone.

6. Voice Commands (if supported)

1. Activate Voice Command: Fully press the microphone button on the right side of the steering wheel. When a chime sounds, make your request.

Source: Tesla Model 3 Owner’s Manual

2. Give Command: Say “Lock/unlock the doors” 

However, voice commands only work when you are inside your car, 

When Will Your Tesla Not Lock Automatically?

Even though you think you have locked your Tesla using any of the above methods, the car will not lock automatically if: 

• You check the Exclude Home checkbox and the car is parked at the location you have designated as Home. 
• A phone key or paired key fob is detected inside the car
• A door or trunk is not fully closed.
• The phone key's Bluetooth setting is turned off.
• If the car detects an authenticated key for several minutes after you exit the vehicle. In this case, the Walk-Away Lock gets disabled and you must manually lock the car until after your next drive.
• The driver does not use the driver door to get out of the vehicle.

Always check whether the mirrors fold in, if they don’t your car might still be unlocked.

Conclusion

All of these methods offer flexibility and convenience, ensuring that your Tesla can be locked easily and securely in various situations.

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