Have you ever wondered what exactly your Tesla's cameras are capturing, whether it's during your daily commute or when Sentry Mode is triggered? Viewing that footage on your car's touchscreen is convenient, but for a more detailed review, editing, or sharing, getting it onto your PC is the way to go. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, from preparing your USB drive to playing your footage like a pro. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Prepare Your TeslaCam USB Drive
Before you can view any footage, you need to ensure your Tesla's USB drive is properly set up for recording. If you've already been recording with Dashcam and Sentry Mode, great! If not, or if you're experiencing issues, this step is crucial.
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| How To View Tesla Dashcam Footage On Pc |
1.1 USB Drive Requirements: The Basics
Tesla Dashcam and Sentry Mode require a specific type of USB drive to function optimally. Here's what you need to know:
Minimum Storage Capacity: A minimum of 64 GB is recommended, but opting for a larger drive (128 GB, 256 GB, or even 500 GB SSD) is highly advisable, especially for extensive Sentry Mode use. Video footage can consume a significant amount of space.
Sustained Write Speed: This is often overlooked but critical. Tesla requires a sustained write speed of at least 4 MB/s. Many standard USB drives might have high peak write speeds but fail to maintain them, leading to corrupted or missing footage. Look for drives specifically rated for "endurance" or those with consistently high write speeds.
USB Version Compatibility: Both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 compatible drives work. If using a USB 3.0 drive, ensure it also supports USB 2.0.
Proper Formatting: This is where many users encounter issues. Tesla supports exFAT, MS-DOS FAT (for Mac), ext3, or ext4 formats. NTFS is currently not supported.
1.2 Formatting Your USB Drive: Two Methods
Method A: Formatting Directly in Your Tesla (Recommended)
This is the easiest and most foolproof way to prepare your drive, as your Tesla will automatically create the necessary folders.
Insert the USB Drive: Plug your USB drive into one of the front USB ports. For newer Teslas (manufactured after approximately November 1, 2021), the glovebox USB port is typically the designated port for data functions like Dashcam and Sentry Mode, while center console ports might be charging-only. For older models, the front center console ports generally work.
Access Controls: On your Tesla's touchscreen, tap Controls.
Navigate to Safety: Select the Safety tab.
Format USB Drive: Scroll down and tap Format USB Drive.
Confirm: Confirm the action when prompted. Be aware that this will erase all existing data on the drive. Your Tesla will format the drive as exFAT and automatically create the
TeslaCamfolder (andTeslaTrackModeif applicable).
Method B: Formatting on Your Computer
If you can't format in your Tesla or prefer to do it on your PC, follow these steps:
QuickTip: Revisit key lines for better recall.
Connect USB Drive: Insert the USB drive into your computer's USB port.
Choose a Format:
For Windows: You'll typically need to format as exFAT. While Windows' built-in formatter might offer FAT32, it often has limitations for drives larger than 32GB. For larger drives or if you encounter issues, consider using a third-party tool like EaseUS Partition Master or Ridgecrop Consultants' GUIFormat (for FAT32).
Open File Explorer, right-click on the USB drive, and select "Format."
Choose "exFAT" from the "File system" dropdown.
You can keep the "Allocation unit size" as default.
Give it a "Volume label" (e.g., "TESLACAM").
Check "Quick Format" and click "Start."
For Mac: Use Disk Utility.
Open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility).
Select your USB drive from the sidebar (ensure you select the drive itself, not just a volume under it).
Click "Erase."
For "Format," choose MS-DOS (FAT) or exFAT.
For "Scheme," select Master Boot Record.
Give it a "Name" (e.g., "TESLACAM") and click "Erase."
Create the TeslaCam Folder: Crucially, after formatting, you must create a new folder named TeslaCam (case-sensitive!) in the root directory of the USB drive. This folder is where your Tesla will save all footage.
Step 2: Safely Remove the USB Drive from Your Tesla
This is a critical step to prevent file corruption. Never just pull the USB drive out of your Tesla while it's recording.
Pause Dashcam Recording: On your Tesla's touchscreen, long-press the Dashcam icon (it's usually a camera icon in the app launcher or on the bottom bar if you've customized it). The icon should change from red (recording) to gray (paused).
Wait Briefly: Wait for about 10-15 seconds after the icon turns gray to ensure all current recordings are saved and the drive is no longer being actively written to.
Remove USB Drive: Safely remove the USB drive from your Tesla's USB port.
Step 3: Connect the USB Drive to Your PC ️
Now that your USB drive is safely out of your Tesla, it's time to connect it to your computer.
Insert into PC: Plug the USB drive into an available USB port on your desktop or laptop.
Allow Detection: Your computer should recognize the drive and typically display it under "This PC" (Windows) or on your desktop/Finder sidebar (Mac).
Step 4: Locate Your TeslaCam Footage
Once the drive is connected, you'll need to navigate to the correct folder to find your video clips.
Open the USB Drive: Double-click on the newly recognized USB drive icon.
Find the TeslaCam Folder: Inside the drive, you will see a folder named TeslaCam. Double-click to open it.
Understand the Folder Structure: Inside
TeslaCam, you'll find several sub-folders:RecentClips: This folder contains up to the last 60 minutes of continuous driving footage. It's constantly overwritten, so if you want to keep a clip, you need to save it (either in the car or by moving it to your PC).
SavedClips: This is where footage you manually saved (by tapping the Dashcam icon or honking) is stored. These clips are not overwritten by the car.
SentryClips: This folder holds recordings triggered by Sentry Mode events (e.g., someone getting too close to your car while parked). These are also not overwritten automatically unless space runs out.
Each of these folders will contain subfolders named with timestamps (e.g.,
2025-07-12_17-05-30). Inside each timestamped folder, you'll find four video files for that event, corresponding to the different cameras:front.mp4rear.mp4(for vehicles manufactured after approximately February 2018)left_repeater.mp4right_repeater.mp4
Step 5: View Your Tesla Dashcam Footage on PC
Now for the fun part – watching your recordings!
5.1 Using Standard Media Players
QuickTip: Stop scrolling, read carefully here.
Most modern operating systems come with built-in media players that can handle MP4 files.
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Windows: Windows Media Player, Films & TV, or VLC Media Player.
Mac: QuickTime Player or VLC Media Player.
Simply double-click on any .mp4 file to open it in your default media player. Keep in mind that you'll be viewing each camera's footage separately using this method.
5.2 Specialized TeslaCam Viewers (Highly Recommended)
While standard players work, specialized TeslaCam viewers offer a much better experience by synchronizing all four camera feeds into a single, cohesive view. This is incredibly helpful for understanding the full context of an event.
TeslaCam for Windows (Microsoft Store App): There's a free app called "TeslaCam" available on the Microsoft Store. It's designed to automatically find your
TeslaCamfolder and display all videos in a single, synchronized view.Search for "TeslaCam" in the Microsoft Store.
Download and install the app.
Launch the app; it should automatically detect your USB drive and display the footage.
TeslaCam Video WebApp Player: This is a browser-based viewer that works on most systems (though Firefox and Safari are often recommended for H.265 video, which newer Teslas with HW3 might use).
Go to
sentrycam.videoin your web browser.Click "Browse" or "Choose Files" and select your
TeslaCamdirectory (or a specific sub-directory).The videos from all cameras should automatically play side-by-side. You can click on any camera view to enlarge it.
VLC Media Player: While not a dedicated TeslaCam viewer, VLC is a powerful, free, and open-source media player that can play almost any video format, including the MP4 files from your Tesla. If you encounter issues with other players (especially with H.265 codecs on Windows 10), VLC is often the solution. You can download it from
videolan.org.
5.3 Troubleshooting Playback Issues
"Video is distorted or only part of each video frame recorded": This usually indicates a USB drive with insufficient sustained write speeds. The drive can't keep up with the data from all four cameras. Consider upgrading to a faster, more reliable USB drive or SSD.
"No dashcam recording" or "No longer recording video":
Ensure Dashcam is enabled in your Tesla's settings (Controls > Safety > Dashcam).
Check that the
TeslaCamfolder exists and is correctly named on your USB drive.Verify the USB drive is formatted to a compatible file system (exFAT, FAT32, ext3/4). NTFS will not work.
The USB drive might be full, especially with Sentry Mode events. Regularly transfer important clips and delete old ones to free up space.
Always pause Dashcam before removing the drive to prevent corruption.
"Videos won't play on my PC (especially newer Tesla models)": Teslas with Hardware 3.0 (HW3) may record videos using the HEVC (H.265) video codec, which some older players or operating systems might not natively support.
On Windows 10, you might need to install the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store.
Use a media player known for broad codec support, like VLC Media Player.
Try viewing the footage in Firefox or Safari browsers if using a web-based viewer.
Step 6: Manage and Archive Your Footage ️
Once you've viewed your important clips, it's a good idea to manage them to free up space on your Tesla's USB drive and keep your data organized.
Transfer Important Clips: Copy and paste or drag-and-drop any
SavedClipsorSentryClipsyou want to keep permanently from your USB drive to a dedicated folder on your computer's hard drive or an external backup drive.Delete Old Footage:
From your PC: You can simply delete the timestamped folders within
RecentClips,SavedClips, orSentryClipsfrom your USB drive.From your Tesla (for Dashcam/Sentry Mode footage): You can delete all Dashcam and Sentry Mode footage directly from the Tesla's touchscreen by going to Controls > Safety > Delete Dashcam Clips.
Reformat Periodically: If you encounter consistent issues or just want a fresh start, you can reformat the USB drive using the Tesla's in-car formatting tool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to format a USB drive for Tesla Dashcam?
QuickTip: Absorb ideas one at a time.
You can format the USB drive directly in your Tesla by going to Controls > Safety > Format USB Drive, which is the easiest method. Alternatively, you can format it on your PC as exFAT, MS-DOS FAT (for Mac), ext3, or ext4, and then create a top-level folder named TeslaCam.
How to safely remove the USB drive from my Tesla?
Always pause Dashcam recording by long-pressing the Dashcam icon on your Tesla's touchscreen until it turns gray, then wait about 10-15 seconds before physically removing the USB drive.
How to identify different camera views in Tesla footage?
Each saved event in the TeslaCam folder will contain timestamped subfolders, and inside each, you'll find four video files: front.mp4, rear.mp4 (if supported by your vehicle), left_repeater.mp4, and right_repeater.mp4.
How to play all four Tesla camera views simultaneously?
Use a specialized TeslaCam viewer app, such as the "TeslaCam" app from the Microsoft Store for Windows, or the web-based sentrycam.video player, which are designed to synchronize and display all four camera feeds at once.
How to troubleshoot if my PC isn't playing Tesla videos?
Ensure you have a media player that supports H.265 (HEVC) codec, such as VLC Media Player. On Windows 10, you might need to install the HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Also, confirm the USB drive is formatted correctly.
Tip: Look out for transitions like ‘however’ or ‘but’.
How to save specific clips from the Tesla Dashcam?
While driving, tap the Dashcam icon on your Tesla's touchscreen, or if enabled, honk the horn. This saves the most recent 10 minutes of footage to the SavedClips folder on your USB drive.
How to distinguish between Dashcam and Sentry Mode footage?
Dashcam footage is primarily found in RecentClips (overwritten hourly) and SavedClips (manually saved), while Sentry Mode recordings are located in the SentryClips folder.
How to check my USB drive's write speed for Tesla Dashcam?
You can use disk benchmarking tools on your PC to test the sustained write speed of your USB drive. Look for drives with a consistent write speed of at least 4 MB/s, though higher is better.
How to ensure my Tesla always records Dashcam footage?
Always use a USB drive that meets Tesla's requirements (minimum 64 GB, sustained 4 MB/s write speed, correct format). Ensure Dashcam is enabled in your car's settings and that the USB drive is properly inserted into the designated port (often the glovebox port for newer models).
How to free up space on my Tesla Dashcam USB drive?
Regularly transfer important SavedClips and SentryClips to your PC for long-term storage. For RecentClips, they are automatically overwritten, but for saved footage, you'll need to manually delete files from the USB drive via your PC, or use the "Delete Dashcam Clips" option in your Tesla's safety settings.
Here's a video that can help you understand how to download Tesla Dashcam footage:
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