Oh, the joy of a Tesla! They're brilliant machines, but sometimes you just need to keep that door open, right? Perhaps you're loading groceries, cleaning the interior, or just want easy access. While Teslas are designed with security in mind, there are several ways to manage their locking behavior to suit your needs. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understand Tesla's Default Locking Behavior (and why it might frustrate you!)
First things first, it's crucial to understand how your Tesla prefers to lock itself. Teslas are equipped with a "Walk-Away Door Lock" feature, which automatically locks the doors when you exit the vehicle with your phone key or key fob and walk a certain distance away (typically around 10 feet). While this is a fantastic security feature, it can be a nuisance when you want the car to stay unlocked.
Have you ever found yourself juggling bags, only to realize your Tesla has already locked itself the moment you stepped away? It's a common Tesla owner experience!
Step 2: Disabling Walk-Away Door Lock for Convenience
The most direct way to keep your Tesla unlocked is to disable the Walk-Away Door Lock feature, either temporarily or permanently for specific locations.
2.1: Temporarily Disabling Walk-Away Door Lock
If you just need your car unlocked for a short period, you can:
Keep your phone key or key fob inside the vehicle: If your Tesla detects an authenticated key (your phone with the Tesla app or your key fob) inside the car, it will not automatically lock, even if you walk away.
Important Note: Be mindful of security risks if you leave your key inside an unlocked car in a public place!
Leave a door or trunk ajar: If any door (including the front or rear trunks) is not fully closed, the car won't engage the Walk-Away Door Lock. This is useful for short tasks like detailed cleaning.
Use the touchscreen to manually unlock: While inside the car, you can tap the lock icon on the touchscreen to unlock all doors. This will keep them unlocked until you manually lock them again or the car's automatic locking mechanisms kick in after a period of inactivity without a key present.
2.2: Permanently Excluding "Home" from Walk-Away Door Lock
This is a popular option for many Tesla owners, especially if you park your car in a secure garage or driveway at home.
Setting up your Home Location:
On your Tesla's touchscreen, navigate to Navigation.
Hold down the "Home" icon (or set your home address if you haven't already).
Excluding Home from Auto-Lock:
On the touchscreen, go to Controls > Locks.
Scroll down to Walk-Away Door Lock.
Check the box for "Exclude Home".
Once enabled, your Tesla will no longer automatically lock when parked at your designated home location, even if you walk away with your key.
Step 3: Utilizing Specific Tesla Modes for Unlocked Access
Tesla offers various modes that inherently keep the vehicle unlocked or provide controlled access, serving different purposes.
3.1: Camp Mode ️
Camp Mode is designed for overnight stays in your Tesla, and it disables the walk-away door lock. This ensures you have continuous access to the cabin without the car locking itself.
How to activate Camp Mode:
With your Tesla in Park, tap the fan icon on the bottom bar of the touchscreen.
Swipe up on the climate control panel.
Select "Camp Mode" from the options.
Benefits: Keeps climate control, interior lighting, and USB ports active, making it ideal for relaxing or sleeping in the car.
Consideration: While Camp Mode keeps the doors unlocked, it also keeps some systems running, which will draw power from your battery.
3.2: Dog Mode
While primarily for pets, Dog Mode also keeps the car unlocked and maintains a comfortable cabin temperature. It displays a message on the large screen to assure passersby that your pet is safe and the climate control is on.
How to activate Dog Mode:
Tap the climate icon at the bottom of the touchscreen.
Swipe up and select "Dog Mode".
Set your desired temperature.
Benefits: Ensures your pet's comfort and prevents the car from locking, while also communicating to others that the car is safe.
Consideration: Similar to Camp Mode, it consumes battery power to maintain climate control. The car will send a notification to your phone if the battery drops below 20%.
3.3: Valet Mode (with caution!) ️
Valet Mode limits the car's functionality and restricts access to personal information. While it's not designed to keep the car unlocked for general use, it does allow a valet to operate the car without full access to your settings or maximum performance. Interestingly, once Valet Mode is enabled, the vehicle can be driven without a PIN, meaning the valet can get in and out of the car easily.
How to activate Valet Mode:
With your Tesla in Park, tap your driver profile icon at the top of the Controls screen.
Select "Valet Mode".
You'll be prompted to create a 4-digit PIN (if it's your first time).
Benefits: Useful when someone else needs temporary, restricted access to your vehicle.
Limitations: This mode doesn't keep the car explicitly unlocked for extended periods if the valet walks away. It's more about restricting features for another driver.
Caution: While it affects locking behavior for the valet, it's not a direct "keep unlocked" feature for typical daily use.
Step 4: Understanding Key Fobs and Phone Keys
Your Tesla's primary "keys" are your phone key (via the Tesla mobile app) and the key fob (if you have one). Both offer automatic locking and unlocking.
4.1: Phone Key Considerations
Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone.
Ensure location access is set to "Always" for the Tesla app.
Keep the Tesla app running in the background for optimal performance.
If your phone's battery dies, it won't function as a key.
If you leave your phone inside the vehicle with Bluetooth enabled, the car might not lock automatically, even if you press the lock icon on the mobile app. This can be a way to keep it unlocked, but again, be aware of security.
4.2: Key Card as a Manual Override
The key card does not support automatic locking or unlocking. You must tap it against the driver's side door pillar to unlock or lock the car. This means if you only use the key card, your Tesla won't automatically lock when you walk away. This can be a useful workaround if you frequently need to leave your car unlocked and don't want to rely on the phone key.
Step 5: Leveraging the Tesla Mobile App
The Tesla mobile app provides remote control over your vehicle, including locking and unlocking.
Remote Unlocking: You can simply open the Tesla app and tap the unlock icon to remotely unlock your car from anywhere with a network connection.
Customizing Quick Actions: You can often customize the quick action icons in your app to include a lock/unlock toggle for easy access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to keep my Tesla from locking when I'm at home?
You can exclude your home location from the Walk-Away Door Lock feature via Controls > Locks > Exclude Home on your Tesla's touchscreen.
How to leave my dog in the Tesla safely without it locking?
Activate Dog Mode through the climate menu on your Tesla's touchscreen or the mobile app. This will keep the car unlocked and maintain a comfortable cabin temperature.
How to make sure my Tesla stays unlocked while I'm camping?
Turn on Camp Mode from the climate controls on your Tesla's touchscreen. This disables the Walk-Away Door Lock and keeps essential systems running.
How to prevent my Tesla from locking if I leave my phone inside?
If your paired phone (as a phone key) is left inside the vehicle with Bluetooth enabled, the Tesla will detect it and typically will not auto-lock.
How to open a Tesla door if it's locked and I have no key?
You can use the Tesla mobile app to remotely unlock your vehicle if you have an internet connection and your phone is paired.
How to ensure my Tesla doesn't lock when I'm loading groceries?
Keep your phone key or key fob inside the vehicle, or leave one of the doors/trunks slightly ajar until you're done.
How to manually unlock all doors in my Tesla from the inside?
While sitting inside, tap the lock icon on your Tesla's touchscreen.
How to use the key card to keep my Tesla unlocked?
The key card doesn't support automatic locking. If you only use the key card to enter and exit, your Tesla will not auto-lock when you walk away, requiring you to manually tap the card to lock it.
How to know if my Tesla is locked or unlocked?
The lock icon on your touchscreen will indicate the status. Also, if the mirrors are folded, it usually signifies the car is locked.
How to secure my Tesla if I'm intentionally leaving it unlocked in a safe area?
Even if unlocked, features like Sentry Mode (which records suspicious activity) and PIN to Drive (requiring a PIN to start the car) can add layers of security.
You can find more detailed information on Tesla's locking features and other functionalities in this video:
