Want to turn your Tesla into a festive, reindeer-powered sleigh? Buckle up, because activating Santa Mode is a delightful Easter egg that brings holiday cheer right into your car's cabin! ✨ It's a fantastic way to surprise passengers, especially during the festive season.
Step 1: Getting Started – Choose Your Activation Method
First things first, let's decide how you want to bring Santa to life in your Tesla. There are a few different ways, each with its own little twist.
Sub-heading: The Voice Command Magic
This is often the quickest and most surprising way to activate Santa Mode. Your Tesla's voice command system is quite smart!
Press the Voice Command Button: Locate the microphone button on your steering wheel (on Model 3 and Y, it's typically the right scroll button). Give it a quick press. You'll hear a chime, indicating your Tesla is ready for your command.
Speak Your Command:
To activate Santa Mode with the classic "Run Rudolph Run" song, simply say: ""Ho ho ho"."
For a funnier, slightly more unexpected twist with the song "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," try saying: ""Ho ho ho, not funny"."
Pro-tip: Sometimes, repeating the voice command "Ho ho ho" a second time can stop the current song from playing and restart it.
Sub-heading: The Toy Box Touchscreen Method
If you prefer a visual approach or want to see all the Easter eggs in one place, the Toy Box is your go-to.
Access All Apps: On your Tesla's large touchscreen display, tap the "..." (three dots) icon at the bottom of the screen. This will open the "All Apps" menu.
Find the Toy Box: Scroll through the apps until you find the "Toy Box" icon. Tap on it.
Select Santa Mode: Within the Toy Box, you'll see various Easter eggs. Scroll to the right until you find the "Santa Mode" panel.
Activate "Jingle All the Way": Tap on the Santa Mode panel. You'll usually see a slider or button labeled ""Jingle All the Way"." Toggle it on to activate the mode. This typically plays the "Run Rudolph Run" song.
Step 2: Experience the Holiday Transformation!
Once Santa Mode is activated, get ready for some truly festive changes in your Tesla!
Sub-heading: Visual Delights on Your Display ️
The most noticeable change will be on your car's display.
Your Car Becomes a Sleigh: On the screen, your Tesla will transform into Santa's sleigh, complete with presents and pulled by two adorable reindeer.
Reindeer on the Road: Other vehicles on your display, normally represented as generic cars, will now appear as reindeer! Watch how their legs animate faster or slower depending on their speed.
Winter Wonderland: The roads on your display will be covered in snow, and you'll even see snowflakes gently falling.
Cybertruck Special: If you're lucky enough to have a Cybertruck, the Santa Mode experience is even more unique! Your Cybertruck will become a "Cybersled" pulled by "Cyber Reindeer" with goggles, and even Santa Optimus will be at the helm! Plus, when you use your turn signals, Santa Optimus will actually stick out his arm and look in that direction.
Sub-heading: Sounds of the Season
Your ears are in for a treat too!
Sleigh Bell Turn Signals: Instead of the standard clicking sound for your turn signals, you'll hear the delightful sound of sleigh bells. Listen closely: the reindeer's collars on your screen will flash red in sync with your turn signals!
Festive Music: Depending on how you activated it, you'll hear either ""Run Rudolph Run"" or ""Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"." Be aware that the volume for these songs can be quite loud and isn't always adjustable within Santa Mode itself.
Step 3: Spread the Cheer (and Turn it Off!)
Sub-heading: External Holiday Music (PWS Equipped Vehicles)
If your Tesla is equipped with a Pedestrian Warning System (PWS), you can share the festive music with those outside your car!
Be in Park: This feature generally requires your car to be in Park.
Toggle "Spread Cheer": In the Santa Mode settings within the Toy Box, look for a slider or button labeled ""Spread Cheer"." Toggle it on. The selected Santa Mode song will then play through your car's external speaker.
Note: The song typically plays once. You may need to toggle the setting off and on again to repeat it.
Sub-heading: Turning Off Santa Mode
Had enough holiday cheer? Turning off Santa Mode is simple.
Return to the Toy Box: Go back to the "All Apps" menu and then the "Toy Box."
Toggle Off Santa Mode: Find the "Santa Mode" panel and toggle the ""Jingle All the Way"" slider or button off.
Note: While voice commands like "Turn off Santa Mode" might be expected to work, there can sometimes be bugs preventing this, so the Toy Box method is the most reliable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to activate Santa Mode on a Tesla?
You can activate Santa Mode by saying ""Ho ho ho"" or ""Ho ho ho, not funny"" to your Tesla's voice command, or by navigating to the "Toy Box" in your touchscreen's "All Apps" menu and enabling Santa Mode there.
How to get "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" in Santa Mode?
To play "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer," use the voice command ""Ho ho ho, not funny"."
How to stop the music in Tesla Santa Mode?
The music typically plays through once. To stop it, you can often re-issue the voice command, or, more reliably, turn off Santa Mode entirely through the "Toy Box" on your touchscreen.
How to make the reindeer move faster in Santa Mode?
The reindeer's leg movements on the display are synchronized with the speed of your Tesla and other vehicles around you. The faster you drive, the faster they'll appear to move.
How to get Santa Mode on a Cybertruck?
Santa Mode on a Cybertruck is activated the same way as other Teslas (voice command or Toy Box). The Cybertruck will feature unique visuals like a "Cybersled" and "Cyber Reindeer" with Santa Optimus driving.
How to know if my Tesla has a Pedestrian Warning System (PWS)?
If your Tesla emits a low sound from the outside at low speeds (to alert pedestrians), it likely has a PWS, allowing you to play Santa Mode music externally.
How to adjust the volume of Santa Mode music?
Generally, the volume of the Santa Mode music is fixed and quite loud, and there isn't a direct way to adjust it within the Santa Mode settings itself.
How to turn off Santa Mode using voice commands?
While a voice command like "Turn off Santa Mode" should ideally work, it has been known to have bugs. The most reliable way to turn it off is via the "Toy Box" in your Tesla's touchscreen.
How to see other cars as reindeer in Santa Mode?
Once Santa Mode is activated, your Tesla's display will automatically render surrounding vehicles as reindeer.
How to get the ambient lighting to change with Santa Mode?
In newer Tesla models, particularly the Cybertruck and some 2024+ Model 3s, activating Santa Mode will cause the interior ambient lighting to cycle between red, green, and white.
