Ah, the convenience of having your Tesla readily accessible at home without the constant locking and unlocking! Many Tesla owners appreciate the ability to move freely around their garage or driveway without their car automatically securing itself. Let's dive into how you can achieve this, step by step, and maintain a seamless experience with your electric vehicle.
A Journey to Seamless Home Access: Keeping Your Tesla Unlocked!
Are you tired of your Tesla locking itself every time you step away, even when you're just grabbing something from the garage? Imagine the freedom of effortless entry and exit from your car while at home. This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to configure your Tesla to stay unlocked in your designated "home" location.
Step 1: Designating Your Home Location
The first and most crucial step is to teach your Tesla where "home" is. This is the geographic location where you want the car to behave differently regarding its locking mechanisms.
Sub-heading 1.1: Navigating to Destinations
Engage the Touchscreen: Get into your Tesla and make sure the vehicle is powered on.
Tap 'Navigate': On your large center touchscreen, locate and tap the "Navigate" icon. This will typically bring up the navigation map.
Sub-heading 1.2: Setting Your Home Address
Locate 'Set Home': Within the navigation menu, you should find an option to "Set Home" or "Add Home." Tap on this.
Input Your Address: Carefully enter your home address. Accuracy is key here, as the car uses GPS to determine if it's in your designated "home" area.
Confirm and Save: Once entered, confirm the address and save it as your "Home" destination.
Step 2: Configuring Walk-Away Door Lock Settings
Tesla's "Walk-Away Door Lock" feature is incredibly convenient for security when you're out and about, but it's what we need to adjust for your home environment.
Sub-heading 2.1: Accessing Lock Controls
Go to 'Controls': On your Tesla's touchscreen, tap the car icon, which typically brings up the main "Controls" menu.
Select 'Locks': Within the "Controls" menu, you'll see a "Locks" section. Tap on this to access the door and security settings.
Sub-heading 2.2: Disabling Walk-Away Lock at Home
Find 'Walk-Away Door Lock': Look for the "Walk-Away Door Lock" option. You'll likely see a toggle switch next to it.
Check 'Exclude Home': This is the critical setting. Below or next to the "Walk-Away Door Lock" toggle, there should be a checkbox or an option labeled "Exclude Home." Tap to select this checkbox.
When "Exclude Home" is checked, your Tesla will not automatically lock when it's parked at the location you have designated as Home. This means you can get in and out without your car locking itself.
Step 3: Understanding Other Relevant Settings (and What to Consider)
While the "Exclude Home" option is the primary method, it's good to be aware of other settings that can influence your Tesla's locking behavior.
Sub-heading 3.1: Phone Key and Key Fob Detection
Keeping a Key Inside: Your Tesla will not automatically lock if a phone key or paired key fob is detected inside the vehicle. This is a built-in safety feature to prevent you from locking your keys in the car.
Bluetooth Connectivity: Ensure your phone's Bluetooth is turned on if you're relying on your phone key for unlocking and the "Exclude Home" feature. If Bluetooth is off, the car won't recognize your phone key, and auto-lock might still engage outside your designated home area.
Sub-heading 3.2: 'Unlock on Park' Feature
Convenience for Passengers: You might also find the "Unlock on Park" feature useful. This setting, found under
Controls > Locks > Unlock on Park, will unlock all doors automatically when you put the car in Park. This is great for when you arrive home with passengers. However, this is distinct from preventing auto-lock when you exit the car at home.
Sub-heading 3.3: Sentry Mode Considerations
Sentry Mode and Home: Sentry Mode is Tesla's advanced security system that monitors your car's surroundings when parked. While it's generally recommended for public parking, you might want to exclude your home from Sentry Mode activation to save battery and avoid unnecessary recordings. You can do this by navigating to
Controls > Safety > Sentry Modeand selecting "Exclude Home" from the Sentry Mode settings. This allows you to have your car unlocked at home without Sentry Mode actively draining your battery.
Step 4: Testing Your New Settings
After making these changes, it's always a good idea to test them out.
Park at Home: Park your Tesla at your designated home location.
Exit the Vehicle: Get out of the car with your phone key or key fob.
Observe: Your Tesla should not lock itself. The mirrors should not fold (if you have the "Fold Mirrors" on lock setting enabled) and there should be no lock confirmation sound.
Re-enter: You should be able to simply open the door and get back in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to disable auto-lock on Tesla permanently?
You can't "permanently" disable auto-lock everywhere, as it's a core security feature. However, you can disable it for specific locations like your home by using the "Exclude Home" option within the "Walk-Away Door Lock" settings.
How to prevent Tesla from locking with phone key inside?
Your Tesla is designed to not automatically lock if it detects an authenticated phone key or paired key fob inside the vehicle.
How to turn off Sentry Mode when at home?
You can exclude your home location from Sentry Mode activation by going to Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode and checking the "Exclude Home" option.
How to configure Tesla HomeLink for garage door?
HomeLink allows you to connect your Tesla to up to three radio-frequency controlled devices like garage doors. You program it by going to the HomeLink icon on your touchscreen, touching "Create HomeLink," and following the on-screen instructions, often involving your remote control.
How to stop Tesla from honking when locking?
You can disable the lock confirmation sound by going to Controls > Locks and unchecking the "Lock Confirmation Sound" option.
How to set a "Home" location in Tesla navigation?
Go to the "Navigate" icon on your touchscreen, then look for an option like "Set Home" or "Add Home" to input and save your address.
How to enable "Unlock on Park" in Tesla?
Navigate to Controls > Locks on your touchscreen and toggle on the "Unlock on Park" feature.
How to check if my Tesla is locked remotely?
You can check the lock status of your Tesla and lock/unlock it remotely using the Tesla mobile app.
How to manage multiple key fobs for a Tesla?
You can pair multiple key fobs to your Tesla through the "Locks" section in the "Controls" menu. Each paired key fob will behave similarly to your primary one.
How to secure my Tesla at home while keeping it unlocked?
While keeping it unlocked for convenience, ensure you still have a secure physical garage or driveway. For an added layer, consider setting a "PIN to Drive" and keeping Sentry Mode enabled when parked outside your immediate home area or if you have concerns about security.
Here's a video that might help you with setting up HomeLink, which is often used in conjunction with home parking:
