Setup Guide

1. Register your car

1. On first launch the app asks for your VIN. The 17-character VIN is under Controls → Software on the car's screen, or in the Tesla app's vehicle details.
2. Tap Register and start. To look around without a car, tap Explore without a car — every screen shows sample values, and you can register the car later in Settings.
3. Allow location access. The speedometer runs on the phone's GPS; location is processed on the device only.

2. Sign in to Tesla (Connected plan)

Vehicle telemetry and remote commands (destinations from the app to the car, after-blow, battery away from the car, alerts) need a Tesla account. If you only want the Bluetooth link, tap Start without signing in to skip.

1. Tap Sign in with Tesla and approve on Tesla's sign-in page. Your password is entered only on Tesla's page; the app never sees it.
2. After signing in, in the car open Settings → Tesla → Vehicle key and tap Register in the Tesla app. The Tesla app opens with the virtual-key pairing screen.
3. Approve the card that appears on the car's screen. This is done once; use Registered · check again in the app to confirm.

3. Register the Bluetooth vehicle key

This is the screen after sign-in. A direct Bluetooth link reads speed, battery, temperature, gear and the car's destination in real time, with no server. It works on the free plan too.

1. In the car, tap Register this phone as a key. Bluetooth only reaches within a few metres of the car.
2. When the car's screen asks for a key card, hold your card key on the console reader behind the cup holders.
3. When the status turns to Connected, tap Go to the cluster. From now on it connects automatically whenever you get in.

Not next to the car right now? Tap Later. You can do this anytime under Settings → Tesla → Direct Bluetooth.

4. Supported cars and requirements

iPhone: iOS 17 or later.

Bluetooth link: car software 2024.38 or later. All Model 3/Y support the Bluetooth command protocol; Model S/X only from model year 2021. Older S/X run on GPS speed and telemetry (Connected plan).

Connected plan: Tesla account and virtual key. The car needs its own internet connection for telemetry.

Per Tesla policy the car's navigation is started and ended on the car's screen. A destination sent from the app starts after you tap Start on the car; to end the car's guidance, tap Cancel on the car.