If you’re a proud Tesla owner, you’re likely familiar with the convenience of the Tesla app, which allows you to control various aspects of your electric vehicle from your smartphone.
From checking the battery status to controlling the climate inside your car, the Tesla app offers a seamless way to stay connected with your vehicle.
However, it can sometimes run into connectivity issues. If you find yourself in a situation where your Tesla app is not connecting to your car, don’t worry – there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of fixing a Tesla app that’s not connecting to your car.
How to Fix a Tesla App That’s Not Connecting to Car?
1. Reboot Phone & Car
Sometimes, all it takes to resolve connectivity issues between your Tesla app and your car is a simple reboot. Start by turning off your smartphone and then turning it back on. This can help clear any temporary glitches or bugs that may be affecting the app’s performance.
Next, reboot your Tesla car. To do this, follow these steps:
- Sit inside your Tesla car.
- Press and hold both the brake pedal and the two scroll wheel buttons on the steering wheel simultaneously.
- Keep holding them for about 10 seconds.
- The car’s touchscreen will go dark, and the Tesla logo will appear.
- Release the buttons and wait for the car to restart.
Once both your phone and car have been rebooted, try connecting to your Tesla app again. In many cases, this simple step can resolve the issue and restore the connection.
If that didn’t work, try this-
- Go to Controls > Safety > Turn Off
- Wait 5 minutes.
- Turn on the car and check if it fixes the issue.
2. Check Connectivity
Before diving into more advanced troubleshooting steps, it’s essential to ensure that your phone and your Tesla car have a stable internet connection.
The Tesla app relies on an active internet connection to communicate with your vehicle. Plus, you will need to have your phone’s Bluetooth turned on and paired with the car.
Here are some things to check:
Phone Data or Wi-Fi: Make sure your phone is connected to either mobile data or a Wi-Fi network with a strong and stable signal.
Tesla Car Connectivity: Ensure that your Tesla car is within range of a cellular signal or Wi-Fi network. Tesla vehicles are equipped with cellular connectivity, but they can also connect to Wi-Fi networks if available.
Bluetooth: Confirm that Bluetooth is enabled on both your phone and your car. Bluetooth is used for initial communication and authentication between the app and the car.
Airplane Mode: Check that your phone is not in airplane mode, as this will disable both mobile data and Wi-Fi.
Firewall or Security Software: If you have security or firewall software on your phone that restricts app connections, make sure the Tesla app is allowed to access the internet.
3. Update the App & Tesla Firmware
Outdated software can often lead to compatibility issues and connectivity problems. To ensure that your Tesla app and your car’s firmware are up to date, follow these steps:
Update the Tesla App:
- Open your device’s app store (App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android).
- Search for “Tesla” in the search bar.
- If an update is available, you’ll see an “Update” button next to the app. Tap on it to install the latest version.
Update Tesla Firmware:
- Sit inside your Tesla car.
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network, if available, to speed up the download process.
- On the car’s touchscreen, go to Controls > Software.
- If there’s a firmware update available, you’ll see an option to download and install it. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
After updating both the app and the car’s firmware, restart your phone and try connecting to the Tesla app again.
4. Reinstall the App
If updating the app didn’t solve the problem, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling the Tesla app. This can help clear any corrupted files or settings that might be causing the connectivity issue.
Here’s how to do it:
On iOS (iPhone or iPad):
- Locate the Tesla app on your home screen.
- Press and hold the app icon until it starts to wiggle.
- Tap the “Remove App” or “X” icon in the upper-left corner of the app icon.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
- Visit the App Store, search for “Tesla,” and reinstall the app.
On Android:
- Open the “Settings” app on your Android device.
- Scroll down and select “Apps” or “Application Manager,” depending on your device.
- Find and tap on the Tesla app.
- Select “Uninstall” if available.
- Once uninstalled, go to the Google Play Store, search for “Tesla,” and reinstall the app.
After reinstalling the app, open it and attempt to connect to your Tesla car once more.
5. Use a VPN
In some cases, network restrictions or regional issues can prevent the Tesla app from connecting to your car. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help bypass such limitations.
Here’s how to use a VPN on your smartphone:
- Download and install a reputable VPN app from your device’s app store.
- Open the VPN app and follow the setup instructions.
- Connect to a VPN server in a region where Tesla services are known to work well. Typically, all over the USA, Canada, and Europe.
Once the VPN connection is established, open the Tesla app and try connecting to your car. If the issue is related to network restrictions, using a VPN can often resolve it.
VPN can also be used to solve issues with Tesla app stuck on connecting as well.
6. Contact Tesla Support
If you’ve tried all the above steps and your Tesla app is still not connecting to your car, it’s time to get in touch with Tesla’s customer support.
Tesla’s customer support team is knowledgeable and can provide you with specific guidance and assistance for your situation.
You can contact them through the following methods:
- Tesla App: If you have access to the Tesla app, you can submit a support request through the app itself. Open the app, go to “Help,” and select “Contact Tesla Support.”
- Tesla Website: Visit Tesla’s official website and navigate to the “Support” section, where you can find contact information and options for reaching out to customer support.
- Tesla Service Center: You can also contact your nearest Tesla service center for assistance. They may be able to provide in-person help or guide you through additional troubleshooting steps.
Remember to provide as much detail as possible about the issue you’re experiencing when contacting Tesla support. This will help them diagnose and resolve the problem more effectively.
Final Words
Connectivity issues between your Tesla app and your car can be frustrating, but they are usually solvable with the right troubleshooting steps.
Start with the basics, such as rebooting your phone and car, checking connectivity, and updating software.
If those steps don’t work, reinstall the app, consider using a VPN, and, if all else fails, reach out to Tesla support for assistance.
With a little patience and persistence, you can enjoy the convenience of your Tesla app once again.