Tired of that bright screen in your Tesla, especially during night drives or when you just want a moment of peace? While Teslas are technological marvels, sometimes you might want to turn off that central display. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various ways to manage your Tesla's screen, from a quick blanking to a full system shutdown, ensuring you have control over your driving environment.
Step 1: Understanding Your Tesla's "Off" Modes – It's Not Like a Traditional Car!
First, let's address a common misconception: a Tesla doesn't typically "turn off" in the same way a gasoline car does. Instead, it enters various power-saving modes. When you leave your Tesla with your phone key or key fob, it automatically powers down into a sleep mode to conserve energy. This is often what people mean when they say they want to "turn off" the car. However, there are also ways to temporarily blank the screen or even perform a full power cycle.
Why would you want to turn off the screen?
Reducing distractions during night driving or in certain environments.
Troubleshooting an unresponsive or glitching screen.
Conserving battery when parked for extended periods (though Tesla's sleep mode handles this well).
Privacy when you don't want the screen to be active.
Step 2: Quick Screen Blanking (Soft Reset) – The Most Common Method
This is the go-to method for most users who want to temporarily turn off the main display. It's often referred to as a "soft reset" because it only restarts the touchscreen, not the entire vehicle's systems.
2.1: Prerequisites for a Soft Reset
Vehicle must be in Park (P): Safety first! You cannot perform this action while driving.
No brake pedal needed: While some might instinctively press the brake, it's not required for this specific action and won't affect the process.
2.2: The Simple Two-Button Hold
Shift into Park: Ensure your Tesla is safely in Park.
Locate the Scroll Buttons: Find the two scroll wheels on your steering wheel (one on the left, one on the right).
Press and Hold Simultaneously: Press and hold both scroll buttons down at the same time.
Wait for the Screen to Go Black: Keep holding the buttons until the touchscreen turns completely black. This usually takes about 10-20 seconds.
Release and Wait for Restart: Once the screen is black, release the scroll buttons. After a few seconds, the Tesla logo will reappear, and the touchscreen will restart. This entire process typically takes around 30 seconds to a minute.
Important Note: During this restart, the car status display, safety warnings, and backup camera will not be visible. So, make sure you're in a safe, stationary location.
Step 3: Activating "Screen Clean Mode" – For a Temporary Dark Screen
If your primary goal is to clean the screen without accidentally pressing anything, Tesla has a dedicated mode for that!
3.1: Accessing Screen Clean Mode
Navigate to Controls: On your Tesla's touchscreen, tap the "Controls" icon (usually a car icon).
Go to Display Settings: Within Controls, tap on "Display."
Enable Screen Clean Mode: You'll see an option for "Screen Clean Mode." Tap on it to enable.
Screen Darkens and Disables: The touchscreen will darken and become temporarily unresponsive, allowing you to wipe it down without unintended inputs.
Exit Screen Clean Mode: Follow the on-screen instructions to exit this mode. This usually involves holding a specific area of the screen or pressing a button.
Step 4: Powering Off the Entire Vehicle (Deep Sleep/Manual Shutdown)
This method completely powers down the vehicle's systems, more akin to turning off a computer. It's useful for more serious troubleshooting or when you genuinely want the car to be "off" for an extended period without constant background activity (though Tesla's automatic sleep mode is designed for this).
4.1: When to Use Power Off
If your touchscreen is completely unresponsive even after a soft reset.
If the vehicle is exhibiting unusual behavior that a simple restart doesn't fix.
When performing maintenance or installing aftermarket accessories.
4.2: The Power Off Procedure
Shift into Park (P): As always, ensure your vehicle is in Park.
Navigate to Controls: On your touchscreen, tap "Controls."
Go to Safety & Security: Tap "Safety & Security."
Select Power Off: You will see a "Power Off" option. Tap it.
Wait for Shutdown: The screen will go blank, and you will hear a click as the main contactors disengage. Do not touch the brake pedal or open a door for at least 2-5 minutes to allow the electronics to fully reset.
Wake Up the Vehicle: To power the Tesla back on, simply press the brake pedal or open a door.
Crucial Information: Using "Power Off" through the touchscreen does not prevent the Tesla from turning back on if a valid key (phone key, key card, or key fob) is active and within range when you press the brake or open a door. For a complete, deep power down where the car absolutely won't restart from a key, you would need to disconnect the 12-volt battery, which is a more involved process and generally not recommended for casual use.
Step 5: Automatic Sleep Mode – The Default Power Saver
Your Tesla is designed to conserve energy automatically. When you exit the vehicle with your key (phone or fob) and close all doors and the trunk, the car will automatically enter sleep mode after a short period (typically 10-30 minutes). In this state, it consumes very little power, reducing "phantom drain" on the battery.
5.1: Ensuring Efficient Sleep Mode
Minimize App Interactions: Frequently checking the Tesla app wakes the car up, preventing it from entering deep sleep. Limit unnecessary app interactions.
Disable Sentry Mode (if not needed): Sentry Mode consumes a significant amount of power. If you're parked in a secure location, consider turning it off via
Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode.Consider "Always Connected" (Older Models/Specific Settings): Some older Teslas or specific settings might have an "Always Connected" option under
Controls > Display > Energy Saving. Disabling this can help reduce cellular data consumption and assist in deeper sleep, though modern Teslas manage this more autonomously.Cabin Overheat Protection: If parking in a climate-controlled garage, you might temporarily disable Cabin Overheat Protection to save energy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about managing your Tesla's screen:
How to turn off Tesla screen while driving?
You cannot fully turn off or restart the Tesla screen while driving for safety reasons, as it displays crucial driving information. The car must be in Park to perform any screen restart or power-off functions.
How to fix a frozen Tesla touchscreen?
The first step is almost always to perform a soft reset by holding down both scroll buttons on the steering wheel until the screen goes black and restarts. If that doesn't work, try the full vehicle "Power Off" from the Safety & Security menu.
How to put Tesla in sleep mode manually?
You don't manually "put" a Tesla into sleep mode in the same way you power off. Instead, ensure you exit the vehicle with your key, close all doors, and avoid interacting with the app. The car will automatically enter sleep mode after a period of inactivity.
How to prevent phantom drain on Tesla?
The most effective ways are to ensure your car enters sleep mode (by avoiding app interactions and turning off Sentry Mode when not needed) and keeping your battery charged to an appropriate level (e.g., not constantly at 100% or very low).
How to access "Screen Clean Mode" on my Tesla?
Go to
Controls > Displayon your touchscreen, and you will find the "Screen Clean Mode" option there.
How to power cycle my Tesla for a full system reboot?
Shift into Park, navigate to
Controls > Safety & Security > Power Off. Wait 2-5 minutes without touching anything, then press the brake pedal or open a door to power it back on.
How to adjust Tesla screen brightness?
Go to
Controls > Display. You'll find a brightness slider there, and you can also set the display mode to "Auto" for automatic adjustments based on ambient lighting.
How to change the language on my Tesla touchscreen?
Go to
Controls > Display > Touchscreen Language. Note that the vehicle must be in Park, and the screen will briefly restart when you change the language.
How to factory reset a Tesla?
A factory reset erases all personal data and settings. This is usually found under
Controls > Service > Factory Reset. Be extremely cautious, as this will wipe your data.
How to restart the instrument panel in older Model S/X?
For older Model S/X with a separate instrument panel, you might need to press the top two buttons on the steering wheel (Voice Commands and Next) for 15-30 seconds until that screen turns black. This is separate from the main touchscreen reboot.
Learn more about managing your Tesla's screen by watching this video:
