Bluetooth
Bluetooth® Compatibility
Before using your phone or other Bluetooth device with Model S, you must pair it. Pairing sets up Model S to communicate with supported Bluetooth-capable devices. You can pair up to ten Bluetooth phones. Unless you've specified a specific phone as a Priority Device, or if the phone specified as Priority Device is not within range, Model S always connects to the last phone that was used (provided it is within range). To connect to a different phone, see Switching Between Paired Devices.
Pairing a Phone or Bluetooth Device
Pairing allows you to use your Bluetooth-capable phone hands-free to make and receive phone calls, access your contact list, recent calls, etc. It also allows you to play media files from your phone. Once a phone is paired, Model S can connect to it whenever the phone is within range.
- To pair a phone or a Bluetooth device, sit inside Model S and ensure the touchscreen is on.
- Unlock your phone and enable Bluetooth (typically in Settings on your phone). NoteOn some phones, this may require you to go to Bluetooth Settings for the remainder of the procedure.
- On the touchscreen, touch to automatically start Bluetooth scanning for new devices.
- Wait for your phone to be listed and touch .
- Check that the number displayed on your phone matches the number on the touchscreen. Then, on your phone, confirm that you want to pair.
- If prompted on your phone, specify whether you want to allow Model S to access your personal information, such as calendar, contacts and media files (see Importing Contacts and Recent Calls). When paired, Model S lists your phone under .
To change the settings of a paired device, go to
and expand the dropdown next to the device's name.If you are experiencing issues importing or connecting to Bluetooth, see Troubleshooting Bluetooth for more information.
You can toggle Reduce Fan Speed During Calls so the fan speed automatically lowers when you are on a call. Auto must be enabled in your climate controls (see Operating Climate Controls.
Importing Contacts and Recent Calls
Once a phone is paired, go to Phone, Calendar, and Web Conferencing). Before contacts can be imported, you may need to either set your phone to allow syncing, or respond to a popup on your phone to confirm that you want to sync contacts. This varies depending on the type of phone you are using. For details, refer to the documentation provided with your phone.
and expand the dropdown next to the device's name to specify whether you want to allow access to your phone’s contacts, recent calls and text messages. If you allow access, you can use the phone app to make calls and send messages to people in your list of contacts and on your recent calls list (seeIf you are having trouble importing contacts or pairing with Bluetooth, see Troubleshooting Bluetooth for more information.
Disconnecting or Unpairing a Bluetooth Device
If you want to disconnect your phone or Bluetooth device, but keep it paired, touch Disconnect in your phone's Bluetooth settings dropdown on the touchscreen ( ). If you no longer want to use your device with Model S, touch Forget Device and follow the instructions. Once you forget a device, you must pair it again if you want to use it with Model S (see Pairing a Phone or Bluetooth Device).
Switching Between Paired Devices
Model S automatically connects to a phone that you designated as Priority Device. If you have not set a phone as a priority, Model S connects to the last phone to which is was connected, provided it is within operating range and has Bluetooth turned on. If the last phone is not within range, it attempts to connect with the next phone that it has been paired with.
To connect to a different phone, touch Connect. If the phone you want to connect to is not listed, you must pair the phone. See Pairing a Phone or Bluetooth Device.
. Select the phone you want to connect to, then touchWhen connected, the Bluetooth settings screen displays the Bluetooth symbol next to the phone's name to show that Model S is connected to the phone.
Troubleshooting Bluetooth
Your vehicle uses Bluetooth and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to seamlessly connect your smartphone to Model S. Due to several potential factors, Bluetooth or BLE may sometimes disconnect or experience issues in the pairing process. Connecting to Bluetooth allows your vehicle to use phone functions such as audio, phone calls, calendars, text messages, etc.
BLE is used for passive functions like phone key.
Try the following to troubleshoot Bluetooth, starting with your smartphone.
Smartphone Troubleshooting
Bluetooth may not connect due to settings and updates on your smartphone:
- Enable Bluetooth on your phone. If already enabled, disable and re-enable Bluetooth again.
- Ensure Airplane Mode is turned off.
- Charge your phone; if your phone battery is too low, it may not support Bluetooth functions.
- Pair your device properly. If already paired, try unpairing and re-pairing again.
- Update your phone to the latest software provided by the manufacturer.
- Check that your vehicle's sound system is selected as the audio output source.
- Ensure your phone's settings allow for Bluetooth (ex: data is turned on or you are connected to Wi-Fi).
- Turn your phone off and on again.
- Ensure location permissions set to “Always On” for the mobile app.
Tesla Mobile App Troubleshooting
Check the Tesla mobile app:
- Confirm the Tesla mobile app is up to date on software.
- Verify you're logged into the Tesla mobile app while using your phone key.
- Ensure the Tesla app is running in the background.
- Double check that you have completely set up your profile in the mobile app and properly configured your settings.
Vehicle Troubleshooting
Your vehicle's settings may affect its ability to pair with your smartphone:
- Charge Model S: If the vehicle Battery is too low, you may lose Bluetooth function.
- Update vehicle software and make sure it is always up to date. Check for new software updates by navigating to .
- Restart the touchscreen. See Touchscreen.
- Reboot your vehicle.
If Bluetooth still does not work, unpair from your vehicle AND smartphone. Then try re-pairing both again.
For BLE phone key issues, when in the vehicle, navigate to
and remove your phone as "Phone as Key". Then set it back up again. But only do this while you are in the vehicle and have a reliable back up key available (such as a key card).