Tesla App / Model 3
Set up the Tesla app and phone key
Begin with account access. Then pair your phone as a key while you are near the car.
1. Sign in and find your car
Install the official Tesla app and sign in to your Tesla account. In the car, enable Controls → Safety → Allow Mobile Access. Tesla app manual.
If you bought from a third party and the car is missing, open the app menu and select My Products → Add Product. Follow Tesla’s ownership-claim prompts, including the VIN and requested documents. Ownership transfer is different from a driver invitation. Tesla ownership instructions.
Submit ownership documents only through Tesla’s official process. This guide does not collect account information or documents.
2. Pair your phone key
- Update the app and turn on Bluetooth.
- Stand near the vehicle, open the app, and select the car.
- Choose Set Up beside Phone Key and follow the pairing prompts.
Tesla’s phone-key setup guide covers phone permissions and troubleshooting. Have a working key card with you during setup and keep it as a backup.
3. Give another driver their own access
Use Security → Add Driver and follow the invitation prompts. The other driver uses their own Tesla account. Manage or remove access through Security → Manage Drivers. Tesla app manual.
Our suggested first check
With the key card available, verify that the car appears in the correct account and that phone-key pairing completes. Keep a note of any error message. If account access fails, resolve ownership or the invitation first; repeating Bluetooth pairing addresses a different step.
Next: Control your Tesla from your phone →
Documentation-based guide. Menu names and available functions vary with software, region, and vehicle equipment. Not tested on our project car yet.