Viewing your Tesla Model Y's Dashcam footage directly on your phone has become incredibly convenient thanks to recent updates to the Tesla mobile app! No more fiddling with USB drives and computers if you just need a quick look. Let's dive into how you can do it.
Step 1: Ensure You're Ready for Remote Viewing
Hey there, Tesla owner! Ready to unlock the power of your phone to view those important Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips? Before we get started, let's make sure you have everything in place. Think of it as a pre-flight check for your digital journey!
Sub-heading 1.1: Confirming Your Tesla App Version
First things first, you'll need the latest version of the Tesla mobile app installed on your smartphone. Tesla continuously improves its app, and the Dashcam Viewer feature was rolled out in app version 4.39.5 or newer, with Android support arriving in version 4.43.5. Head over to your phone's app store (App Store for iOS, Google Play Store for Android) and make sure your Tesla app is up-to-date.
Sub-heading 1.2: Checking Your Vehicle's Hardware
The remote viewing feature requires your Model Y to have an MCU 2 (Intel) processor or higher. Most newer Model Ys will have this, but if you have an older model, you can verify this by going to Controls > Software on your Tesla's touchscreen and looking at "Autopilot Computer."
Sub-heading 1.3: Premium Connectivity is Key
This is a crucial requirement: Premium Connectivity is necessary to stream Dashcam and Sentry Mode footage directly to your phone. If you don't have it, you'll still be able to view footage via the USB drive on the car's screen or a computer, but not remotely on your phone. Premium Connectivity costs $9.99 per month in the U.S. (prices may vary by region).
Sub-heading 1.4: Internet Connection for Your Tesla
Your Model Y needs to be connected to either cellular data or Wi-Fi for the Dashcam Viewer to work. The footage isn't streamed from a cloud server; instead, it's streamed directly from your vehicle to your phone. So, if your car is in an area with poor connectivity (like an underground garage), you might experience limitations.
Sub-heading 1.5: USB Drive for Storage
While you're viewing on your phone, remember that the footage is still saved locally on a properly formatted USB flash drive plugged into your Tesla. Ensure you have one inserted, preferably in the glovebox USB port, as some center console USB ports may only support charging. The USB drive should have a minimum storage capacity of 64 GB and a sustained write speed of at least 4 MB/s.
Step 2: Enabling "View Live Camera from Mobile App" in Your Tesla ⚙️
Now that your phone and car are ready, let's enable the necessary setting within your Model Y.
Sub-heading 2.1: Accessing Safety & Security Settings
Get into your Model Y and ensure it's in Park.
On the touchscreen, tap the Car icon (Controls) in the bottom left corner.
Navigate to Safety & Security.
Sub-heading 2.2: Activating the Live Camera Feature
Look for the option that says "View Live Camera via Mobile App" and ensure it's enabled. This setting allows your Tesla to stream the camera feed to your phone.
Step 3: Accessing the Dashcam Viewer on Your Phone
With all the prerequisites met and settings enabled, you're just a few taps away from viewing your footage!
Sub-heading 3.1: Launching the Tesla App
Open the Tesla app on your smartphone.
Scroll down to the "Security & Drivers" section.
Sub-heading 3.2: Opening the Dashcam Viewer
Tap on "Dashcam Viewer".
Wait a few moments for your phone to connect to the vehicle. This connection is live, directly between your phone and your car.
Sub-heading 3.3: Navigating and Managing Your Clips
Once connected, you'll be able to:
Browse through available clips from both Dashcam and Sentry Mode recordings. These are typically organized by timestamp.
View footage from different camera angles by selecting the respective cameras within the viewer interface.
Scrub through the timeline by dragging the position indicator to pinpoint specific moments.
Save 30-second clips directly to your phone's photo library. This is a fantastic feature for quickly sharing important moments. The app will save 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after your selected point.
Delete clips from your USB drive directly through the app.
Step 4: Understanding Viewing Limits and Best Practices ⏱️
While the remote viewing feature is incredibly useful, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Sub-heading 4.1: Streaming Limitations
To prevent excessive data consumption, Tesla has implemented streaming limits. Depending on your region, video streaming from your vehicle to the app may be limited to approximately 15 minutes or 1 hour of cumulative usage per day.
Sub-heading 4.2: Data Storage and Overwriting
Remember that Dashcam and Sentry Mode footage is continuously recorded and overwritten on your USB drive unless you manually save it. If you see something important, make sure to save the clip via the in-car viewer or the mobile app, or by honking your horn (if "Save dashcam clip on honk" is enabled).
Sub-heading 4.3: Optimizing Your USB Drive
For the best performance, ensure your USB drive meets Tesla's recommendations: minimum 64 GB, sustained write speed of at least 4 MB/s, and formatted as exFAT, MS-DOS FAT (for Mac), ext3, or ext4 (NTFS is currently not supported).
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to format a USB drive for Tesla Dashcam?
You can format it in your Tesla by inserting the drive and navigating to Controls > Safety > Format USB Drive, or manually format it on a computer to exFAT, MS-DOS FAT, ext3, or ext4, and create a TeslaCam folder.
How to save Dashcam footage manually in Tesla?
You can manually save the last 10 minutes of footage by touching the Dashcam icon on the touchscreen while driving, using a voice command like "save dashcam video," or by pressing the horn if the "On Honk" setting is enabled.
How to enable Sentry Mode on Tesla Model Y?
In your Tesla, go to Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode and turn it "On." You can also enable/disable it via voice commands or the Tesla mobile app.
How to view Live Camera in Sentry Mode on my phone?
With Premium Connectivity, enable Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode > View Live Camera via Mobile App on your touchscreen. Then, in the Tesla app, go to Security > Sentry Mode > View Live Camera.
How to troubleshoot if Tesla Dashcam is not recording?
Ensure a properly formatted USB drive is inserted in the glovebox USB port, Dashcam is enabled in Controls > Safety > Dashcam, and the Dashcam icon on your touchscreen shows "RECORDING" or "AVAILABLE."
How to tell if my Tesla Model Y has MCU 2 or higher?
On your Tesla's touchscreen, go to Controls > Software and check the "Autopilot Computer" information.
How to download saved Dashcam clips to my computer?
Remove the USB drive from your Tesla, insert it into a computer, and navigate to the TeslaCam folder to access SavedClips.
How to get Premium Connectivity for my Tesla?
You can subscribe to Premium Connectivity directly through your Tesla account online or via the Tesla app.
How to disable Sentry Mode at specific locations?
In your Tesla, go to Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode and select "Exclude Home," "Exclude Work," or "Exclude Favorites" to prevent Sentry Mode from automatically enabling in those areas.
How to switch between camera angles in the Dashcam Viewer on the app?
Once you're in the Dashcam Viewer in the Tesla app, you'll see options to switch between different camera views (front, side, rear, cabin) within the interface.
