Feeling a bit of a glitch in your Tesla's matrix? Don't worry, it happens to the best of us! Just like any advanced computer, your Tesla's touchscreen can sometimes benefit from a good old-fashioned reboot. This guide will walk you through the process of performing a scroll wheel reset, which is often the first and most effective step in resolving minor infotainment issues.
Step 1: Prepare for the Reset – Safety First!
Before you initiate any kind of reset, safety is paramount. This isn't a procedure you want to perform while cruising down the highway.
 |
| How To Scroll Wheel Reset Tesla |
Sub-heading: Find a Safe Spot
Pull over: Make sure your Tesla is completely stopped and in a safe location. This means no active traffic, no precarious parking spots.
Engage Park (P): Ensure your vehicle is securely in Park. You'll want to see the "P" illuminated on your display. This prevents any accidental movement during the reset process.
Close all doors: While not strictly necessary for the scroll wheel reset, it's good practice to have all doors closed. This helps ensure all systems are in a stable state.
Step 2: The Scroll Wheel Reset – The "Soft Reboot"
This is the most common and often successful method for resolving touchscreen unresponsiveness, lagging, or other minor glitches. It effectively reboots the infotainment system without powering down the entire vehicle.
Sub-heading: Locate the Scroll Wheels
Identify the buttons: On your Tesla's steering wheel, you'll find two scroll wheels – one on the left and one on the right. These are the key to your reset.
QuickTip: Return to sections that felt unclear.
Sub-heading: The Action
Press and hold both scroll wheels: Simultaneously press and hold down both scroll buttons on the steering wheel. Don't just tap them; you need to maintain continuous pressure.
Brake pedal (optional but often recommended): While some sources state that pressing the brake pedal isn't strictly necessary for a scroll wheel reset, many owners and even some Tesla service instructions suggest holding it down concurrently. It doesn't perform a "deeper" reset, but it ensures you're stationary and reinforces the car's parked state. There's no harm in holding it down.
Wait for the screen to go black: Keep holding the buttons (and brake, if you choose) until the touchscreen in the center of your dashboard goes completely black. This usually takes about 10-15 seconds.
Release and wait for the Tesla logo: Once the screen is black, release both scroll wheels (and the brake). After a few seconds, the Tesla logo should appear on the screen, indicating that the system is restarting.
Allow for full restart: Be patient. It can take approximately 30 to 45 seconds for the touchscreen to fully restart and become functional again. Avoid pressing any other buttons or touching the screen during this time.
Step 3: Verify and Troubleshoot ️
Once your screen is back up, it's time to check if the issue has been resolved.
Sub-heading: Test Functionality
Check responsiveness: Tap around the screen. Does it respond normally?
Verify features: Test any features that were previously glitching, such as navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, or media playback.
Camera functionality: Ensure your backup camera and any other camera views are displaying correctly.
Sub-heading: When a Soft Reset Isn't Enough
If the scroll wheel reset doesn't resolve your issue, or if your screen remains completely unresponsive, you might need to consider a more comprehensive power cycle or even a factory reset.
Power Cycling the Vehicle (Full Soft Reboot):
Ensure the car is in Park and all doors are shut.
On the touchscreen, navigate to Controls > Safety & Security > Power Off.
Confirm your choice to shut down the vehicle completely.
Crucially, do not touch anything (doors, brake, steering wheel) for at least 2-5 minutes. This allows the car's systems to fully power down.
After the waiting period, press the brake pedal to turn the car back on.
This is a more thorough restart and can resolve more persistent issues.
Factory Reset (Last Resort):
Be extremely cautious with this option. A factory reset will erase all personal data, settings, and profiles from your vehicle, returning it to its original factory state.
This is typically found under Controls > Service > Factory Reset.
Only perform a factory reset if you've exhausted all other troubleshooting steps and are prepared to reconfigure your entire vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tesla Resets
QuickTip: Short pauses improve understanding.
How to reset Tesla screen?
To reset the Tesla touchscreen, press and hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel until the screen goes black, then release and wait for it to restart.
How to power cycle a Tesla?
To power cycle a Tesla, park the car, go to Controls > Safety & Security > Power Off on the touchscreen, wait 2-5 minutes without touching anything, then press the brake pedal to turn it back on.
How to know if my Tesla needs a reset?
Your Tesla might need a reset if the touchscreen is unresponsive, lagging, frozen, displaying a blank screen, experiencing connectivity issues (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), or if certain features aren't working as expected.
How to reset Tesla Model S/X instrument panel?
QuickTip: Read section by section for better flow.
For older Model S/X, in addition to the scroll wheel reset for the main screen, you can reset the instrument panel by pressing the top two buttons on the steering wheel (voice command and next song/favorite button) for 15-30 seconds until the screen turns black.
How to perform a "hard reset" on a Tesla without using the screen?
If the screen is completely unresponsive, park the car, press and hold the brake pedal, both scroll wheels, and for Model S/X, both steering wheel buttons (above the scroll wheels) until the screen comes back on. For Model 3/Y, it's just the brake pedal and both scroll wheels.
How to reset only the steering wheel functions?
The scroll wheel reset primarily reboots the touchscreen. There isn't a separate reset specifically for only the steering wheel buttons, but the infotainment reset often resolves related issues.
How to fix a "phantom touch" issue on a Tesla screen?
A scroll wheel reset is often effective in resolving phantom touch issues, where the screen registers touches that weren't made.
QuickTip: Skim fast, then return for detail.
How to troubleshoot a Tesla screen that won't turn on after a reset?
If your screen doesn't turn on after a scroll wheel reset, try a full power cycle. If the issue persists, it may indicate a hardware problem, and you should contact Tesla service.
How to clear trip data on a Tesla?
To clear trip data, navigate to Controls > Trips on your touchscreen and select "Reset" for the desired trip computer.
How to improve Tesla touchscreen performance?
Regularly performing a scroll wheel reset can help maintain optimal touchscreen performance, especially if you notice minor lags or glitches. Also, ensure your software is up to date.
This video shows how to perform a quick scroll wheel reset on your Tesla's touchscreen:
 |
This page may contain affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
💡 Breath fresh Air with this Air Purifier with washable filter.
