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14 Easy Fixes for a Tesla Phone Key Not Working

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A quick guide to troubleshooting a faulty Tesla phone key connection

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: February 10, 2025 Fact Checked

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Is your Tesla phone key not working normally, or does it randomly disconnect? When it doesn't work, you'll need to use the card to get into your Tesla, which can be frustrating to deal with. Follow this guide to get troubleshooting help to solve the issue and use your phone as a key again.

Quickly Fix a Phone Key Not Working with Tesla

The most common fix for a Phone Key that isn't working or frequently disconnects with a Tesla is to toggle Bluetooth. You can also restart the Tesla app, re-pairing your phone and car, and check that "Phone Key" is enabled in the Tesla app.

1

Make sure Bluetooth is on.

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You can touch the Bluetooth icon in Control Center for iPhones and Quick Settings for Android to enable it .

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2

Restart Bluetooth.

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If Bluetooth is on but your phone key isn't working, turn it off by tapping the icon in Control Center (iPhone) or Quick Settings (Android), then turn it back on.

3

Close and reopen the Tesla app.

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Many Tesla owners find that restarting the app fixes phone key problems. Be sure to completely close the app before reopening it:
- - To completely close an app on iPhone , swipe up (or double tap the Home button if you have an older iPhone), then swipe up on the app to close it.
  - To completely close an app on Android , swipe up (or tap the three-line icon at the bottom of your screen) to open the list of recently used apps, then swipe or tap the x to close an app.

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4

Check that the phone key is on.

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Open the Tesla app on your phone, tap Security & drivers and make sure "Phone Key" is on. This might reset whenever the app updates. ^{[1]
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Research source}

5

Reboot your phone.

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Sometimes a simple "turn it off, then back on" fixes everything. Generally, this should ultimately fix the phone key problem for many people. But if that's not the case for you, there are more troubleshooting steps that you can try!
- On iPhone X and newer, press and hold the right-side button and either Volume button simultaneously. Slide right on the power-off slider. Press the side button again to turn it back on.
  - On iPhone SE, 8, or earlier, press and hold the side button, then slide left on the power-off slider. Press the side button again to turn it back on. ^{[2]
    X
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- On an Android, press and hold the side button and slide the power slider to turn off your phone. Press the side button again to turn it back on.
- While you're in Control Center (iPhone) or the Quick Settings Panel (Android), you can also look to ensure Airplane Mode is off.

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6

Make sure NFC is enabled.

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NFC has a smaller range than Bluetooth and is more reliable, but you need to touch the phone to the car's driver-side pillar (like a key card). You can turn on NFC using Control Center (iPhone) or in Quick Settings (Android) . ^{[3]
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Research source}

7

Make sure you're logged in.

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The page to sign in usually pops up as soon as you open the app if you're not signed in to an account.

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8

Check your phone charge.

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If Bluetooth isn't working, your phone key won't work, either. Plug your phone into power to charge it above at least 25% , as many phones will automatically enable low power mode when they reach critically low power levels.

9

Ensure location is on.

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The Tesla app uses location permissions to communicate with your car. So if location isn't allowed, or if it's off, your phone key won't work. Follow these steps to manage location settings for your iPhone or Android:
- iPhone: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Tesla App and toggle it on. ^{[4]
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- Android: Go to Settings > Location > App permissions (if the toggle isn't on here, enable it) > Tesla App > Allow all the time . ^{[5]
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  - For Android and iPhone, the app should always be running in the background so you can use your Tesla.

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10

Update your phone and the mobile app.

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Outdated software can cause lots of issues, like your phone key not working. In Settings , you can find out if your iPhone or Android need an update.
- You can update the app by looking in the App Store or Google Play Store , even though those updates are usually automatic.

11

Update your Tesla's software.

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You can get software updates over the air by going to Controls > Software on your car's touchscreen. ^{[6]
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Research source}

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12

Remove and re-add your phone key.

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This might solve any BLE issues causing your phone key to disconnect or not work. Make sure you're inside the car when you do this since this step will prevent you from using your phone as a key for the moment.
- Use a key fob or key card to get access to your car in the meantime.
- At your car's touchscreen, go to Controls > Lock and remove your "Phone as Key." Then set your "Phone as Key" again.

13

Unpair and re-pair your Bluetooth connection.

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Your current pairing may not be working properly. You can unpair and re-pair your phone and car in Bluetooth settings. On iPhone, tap > Forget this Device ^{[7]
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Research source} , on Android, tap Unpair .
- You want to make sure you're inside the car and using the touchscreen before unpairing your phone. Unpairing your phone will lock you out of your car.
  - To pair your car and phone, sit in your car with Bluetooth enabled on your iPhone or Android and make sure the car's touchscreen is on.
  - Tap the Bluetooth icon on the car's screen and tap Add New Device > Start Search .
  - Tap your phone on the car's screen and confirm the random numbers on the screen with those on your phone.
  - If prompted, tap Allow on your phone to let the car use your contacts and make calls. ^{[8]
    X
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14

Make sure your phone has internet access.

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Make sure you have Wi-Fi or mobile data enabled on your iPhone or Android and that the app can use them if it seems like the app isn't connecting to the car .

15

Contact support.

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Open the Tesla app on your phone, and tap Service > Ask a Question .

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Note that water is frequently the culprit of Bluetooth interruptions in the house, so it's common that your phone in your back pocket will not work or keep disconnecting; your body is composed of a lot of water (up to 60% ^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. government agency responsible for conducting scientific research on the nation's land, natural resources, and natural disasters
Go to source} ) and that can prevent your phone key from working reliably.

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About This Article

Reviewed by:

Jason Shackelford

Auto Technician

This article was reviewed by Jason Shackelford and by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience.

How helpful is this?

Co-authors: 3

Updated: February 10, 2025

Views: 777

Categories: Car Maintenance and Repair

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 777 times.

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