Three Types of Keys
Model 3 supports three types of keys:
• Phone key - You can set up your personal
phone as a "phone key" that
communicates with Model 3 using
Bluetooth. A phone key supports
automatic locking and unlocking.
• Key card - Tesla provides a key card that
communicates with Model 3 using short
range radio-frequency identification
(RFID) signals. The key card is used to
"authenticate" phone keys to work with
Model 3 and to add or remove other key
cards, phone keys, or key fobs. Unlike the
phone key and key fob, the key card does
not support automatic locking and
unlocking. In situations where your phone
key has a dead battery, or is lost or stolen,
use your key card to unlock, drive, and
lock
Model 3.
•
Key fob - The key fob (if equipped) allows
you to press buttons to open the front
and rear trunks, and unlock, lock, and
drive
Model 3. The key fob also supports
automatic locking and unlocking, if
available in your region (see
Passive
Locking and Unlocking on page 10) and
can be used as a backup to your phone
key.
Model 3 supports a total of 19 keys, which can
include phone keys, key cards, and up to four
key fobs.
CAUTION:
Remember to bring a key
with you when you drive. Although
you can drive Model 3 away from its
key, you will be unable to power it
back on after it powers o.
Phone Key
Using your phone as a key is a convenient
way to access your
Model 3. As you approach,
your phone's Bluetooth signal is detected and
doors unlock when you press a door handle.
Likewise, when you exit and walk away with
the phone key, doors automatically lock
(provided the
Walk-Away Door Lock feature
is turned on; see Walk-Away Door Lock on
page 14).
Before you can use a phone to access Model
3, follow these steps to authenticate it:
1. Download the Tesla mobile app to your
phone.
2. Log into the Tesla mobile app using your
Tesla account username and password.
NOTE: You must remain logged in to your
Tesla account to use your phone to access
Model 3.
NOTE: If multiple vehicles are linked to
your Tesla account, you must ensure that
the vehicle you want the mobile app to
access is currently selected on the mobile
app.
3. Ensure:
◦
Your phone's general Bluetooth
settings are enabled.
◦
Bluetooth is enabled within your
phone's settings for the Tesla mobile
app. For example, on your phone,
navigate to Settings, choose the Tesla
mobile app, and ensure the Bluetooth
setting is turned on.
◦
Access to your location is enabled.
Open the Tesla mobile app in your
phone's settings and select Location
> Always. For the best experience,
keep the mobile app running in the
background.
◦
Allow Mobile Access is enabled on the
vehicle touchscreen (
Controls >
Safety > Allow Mobile Access).
NOTE: Model 3 communicates with your
phone using Bluetooth. Keep in mind that
your phone must have enough battery
power to run Bluetooth and that many
phones disable Bluetooth when the
battery is low.
4. While sitting inside the vehicle with a key
card handy, open the Tesla mobile app
and touch
Set Up Phone Key on the main
screen, or navigate to Security > Set Up
Phone Key. Follow the prompts on the
mobile app and vehicle touchscreen to
set up your phone key.
To view a list of keys that can currently access
Model 3, or to remove a phone key, touch
Controls > Locks (see Managing Keys on
page 11).
Keys
8 MODEL 3 Owner's Manual