The Ultimate Guide to Tesla Shortcuts and Tips You May Not Know (Updated)

By Kevin Armstrong
You can jump to any section of a song by tapping anywhere on the progress bar
You can jump to any section of a song by tapping anywhere on the progress bar
Not a Tesla App

Tesla vehicles are known for their cutting-edge technology, making the driving experience enjoyable and efficient. In this article, we will delve into Tesla tips and tricks that can further enhance your experience. While some of these tips may be specific to the Model 3 and Model Y, many are applicable across the Tesla lineup.

Automatically Start FSD With Full-Screen Visualizations

You can choose to automatically start visualizations in full screen
You can choose to automatically start visualizations in full screen
Not a Tesla App

If you love the Tesla's full-screen visualizations, you can choose to automatically go to full-screen every time you start Autopilot. Although the option isn't obvious, it's available in settings. Simply go to Controls > Autopilot and enable 'Expanded Full -Self-Driving Visualization.'

Now every time you start FSD, visualizations will automatically shift into full-screen mode. Likewise, if you've enabled this option before and didn't understand why visualizations were always full-screen, you can simply disable it.

To exit the full-screen visualizations, you can similarly swipe left near the top of the screen. Even a small swipe near the driver will suffice.

Easily Close an App

You can quickly swipe down from the very top of the screen to close an app
YYou can quickly swipe down from the very top of the screen to close an app
Not a Tesla App

There are various ways to close an open app, however, one of the easiest allows you to close an app without taking your eyes off the road. Everyone knows that you can swipe down on most apps to close them, however, what some owners don't realize is that you don't have to swipe down from exactly the top of the app.

Instead, your finger can actually start off screen -- so you can touch the very top of the monitor, and start a swiping motion downward. The app will still register it as a downward swipe and close, letting you keep your eyes on the road.

The only gotcha with this method is that there can't be any status icons in the between your finger and the open app. For example, you can't swipe your finger downward and go over the current time or temperature. It has to be an empty space. This has replaced my favorite method of closing an app.

Use the Maps Icon for Two Features

The new maps icons has two features
The new maps icons has two features
Not a Tesla App

As of update 2024.14, you can now add a new Maps icon to the dock through the all apps menu. The purpose of the nav icon is to give you a consistent, one-tap access to get back to the vehicle's navigation screen. While it's useful, it also has an addition purpose. If you're already viewing maps, you can tap the icon to essentially hide the maps and enable full-screen visualizations.

Reveal a Dropdown of Audio Sources

Jump to another audio source by tapping the app's icon
Jump to another audio source by tapping the app's icon
Not a Tesla App

This is a nice little hidden feature in Tesla's audio apps. From within any audio app, you can jump to any other audio source by tapping the app's icon. Tapping the icon will reveal a dropdown of all audio sources that haven't been hidden in audio settings.

Jump to Section in Song

When playing audio and you want to jump to a specific part of a song or podcast, you don't need to drag the progress bar. Instead, you can just tap anywhere on the progress bar to jump to that part.

Display Alternate Routes

You can tap the next turn display to show alternate routes
You can tap the next turn display to show alternate routes
Not a Tesla App

When navigating to a location, you can tap the next turn module near the top of the screen to have the vehicle display any alternate routes to your destination.

The alternate routes view is similar to the ones displayed at the beginning of your drive, however, they're determined by your current location. This could be useful to circumvent construction or blocked roads.

As an alternative, you can also tap the compass icon at the top right of the display, which will also bring up alternate routes.

Set Cruise Control to Current Speed

You can tap the speedometer or speed limit sign to set your Autopilot speed
You can tap the speedometer or speed limit sign to set your Autopilot speed
Not a Tesla App

While on Autopilot, you can tap the speedometer to set the maximum Autopilot speed to your current speed. This is useful if you want to maintain your current speed without manually adjusting it.

Auto Set Cruise Control to Speed Limit

Similarly, you can tap the speed limit sign to set the maximum speed to the speed limit plus your preferred offset. Again, this helps maintain a safe and legal speed while using Autopilot.

Open Music Selection

Tap the album art to open or close the large music panel, making it easy to access and control your music while driving.

Jump to Audio Settings

You can adjust audio settings by volume control in the launcher
You can adjust audio settings by volume control in the launcher
Not a Tesla App

To quickly adjust audio settings, such as balance and equalizer, tap the volume button in the bottom right corner of the screen, then tap the levels icon.

Quickly Close Open Apps

Many apps can be swiped down to be closed, however, you don't have to swipe down from the very top of the app. If the app is already scrolled to the top, you can swipe down on any non-interactive part of the app, or white space to close the app.

You can also simply close all apps or menus by using a simple voice command such as "show map" or by tapping the icon for the open app.

One-Touch Access to Calendar

Tap the clock to quickly open your calendar, keeping your schedule at your fingertips.

Quickly Navigate Home

Swipe down on the navigate button to quickly navigate to your home or work, making your daily commute seamless.

Jump Back to Maps

In a Model 3 or Model Y, if your map is covered either with an app or menu, you can tap the navigation box that appears next to your speedometer to quickly jump back to the map screen and minimize any open apps.

Turn Off Climate

To turn off the climate system, hold down the climate temperature button.

Quickly Open Climate Screen

Swipe from anywhere in the launcher to open the climate window, giving you quick access to climate controls.

Unsync Passenger Temperature

Sync cabin temperature for the driver and passenger by pressing the climate arrows and choosing "split." Alternatively, use the voice command "sync climate" or "unsync climate" to control temperature settings.

Charging Menu

Tap the battery icon to jump to the charging menu, allowing you to monitor and adjust charging settings.

Switch Between Miles and Percentage

Tap the range to switch between displaying miles and percentages, providing a customizable view of your remaining charge.

Details on Indicator Lights

Indicator lights that appear on the left can also be tapped to access the appropriate menu. For example, tapping the headlights icon brings up light settings, while the low tire pressure icon opens the tire pressure menu.

You can tap on the indicator lights to go to the appropriate menu
You can tap on the indicator lights to go to the appropriate menu
Tesla

Adjust Wiper Speed

Pressing the button on the left stalk will wipe the windshield once and bring up wiper settings so you can easily adjust them. As of update 2023.12, you'll also be able to use the left scroll wheel once the wiper settings are on the screen to easily adjust between wiper settings.

Disable Auto Highbeams

Flicking your high beams stalk also brings up light settings, giving you quick access to headlight controls.

Temporarily Enable Blind Spot Monitor

Whether or not you use Tesla's blind spot cameras when your turn signal is enabled, you can tap the turn signal icon on the screen to either temporarily enable or disable the blind spot camera. This is especially useful for drivers who choose not to use the blind spot camera, but would occasionally like to view what's beside them.

Heated Mirrors

If your mirrors are fogged up or have snow or frost on them, you can turn on your heated mirrors by enabling the rear window defroster.

Voice Commands

To open the glovebox, use the voice command "open glovebox" or tap the car icon on the touchscreen, followed by the glovebox icon.

Many more useful voice commands are available on our voice commands page.

These Tesla shortcuts and tips can enhance your driving experience by providing quick access to essential functions and settings.

Tesla Robotaxi Improvements: Reduce Wait Time By Predicting Demand and Scale Operators

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Just over a week into the Robotaxi launch, Tesla began laying the groundwork for a more scalable remote supervision model, which will be key to achieving success with the Robotaxi Network.

About a week ago, Elon Musk posted on X that Tesla will likely reach the crucial safety threshold to enable this shift within a month or two. While that means at least another month of in-vehicle Safety Monitors, it does provide us with a timeline of what to expect.

This timeline came in response to a question about Tesla’s plans for the ratio of autonomous vehicles to remote supervisors. The more vehicles that a single human can supervise, the better, especially if that number can be reduced to something drastic, like a 100:1 ratio. A single human operator would be able to manage an entire city of Robotaxis, which will be critical to make the Robotaxi Network turn a profit.

While Tesla works towards that ambitious future, it is also taking immediate steps to improve the current user experience during the Austin pilot program, where 15-minute wait times have become the norm.

Solving for Wait Times

According to Eric E, one of Tesla’s principal engineers on Robotaxi, the current 15-minute wait times are a classic logistics challenge. The supply of vehicles is lower than the current demand for rides. To solve this, there’s a two-pronged solution for Tesla.

First, Tesla is directly increasing supply by hiring more Safety Monitors/Vehicle Operators in Austin, even hosting an on-site hiring event.

Second, Tesla is working to make FSD and the Robotaxi fleet management software faster and smarter. This means they are utilizing the data from the pilot to better orchestrate the fleet by predicting demand and pre-positioning vehicles in prime locations to reduce wait times. After dropping someone off, the vehicle can start traveling to areas of higher demand, even if someone hasn’t booked a ride yet.

Next Up: Remote Supervision

These immediate fixes are all in service of that much larger goal. Scaling the Robotaxi Network isn’t just about having more cars; it’s about increasing the number of vehicles a single human can safely supervise remotely, which is a requirement for Robotaxi to turn a profit.

Elon’s comments give us this timeline. A more flexible and favorable ratio of 3:1 (although still far from the ideal 100:1) is likely to be achieved within a few months.

Tesla is committed to safety, as evidenced by the safety monitors in the vehicle. A single incident could not only tarnish the public’s view of the Robotaxi Network but could also halt Tesla’s operations altogether.

The data gathered from more Robotaxis on the road is crucial to the whole project. Tesla is gathering more data and issuing newer FSD builds specific to the Robotaxi.

As FSD requires less remote oversight per mile driven autonomously, Tesla can safely increase the number of vehicles per remote supervisor, moving the service closer to its ultimate goal.

Tesla has laid out an aggressive roadmap for the Robotaxi Network and its next few phases. We’ll have to wait and see just how this goes over the next few months, and whether they feel comfortable enough to increase the geo-fence and remove safety monitors.

Tesla to Integrate xAI's Grok Into Optimus, Helping Bring the Robot to Life

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Following the recent news of Grok being almost ready for Tesla vehicles, Elon Musk confirmed on X that the next major step is with Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid Robot. xAI’s advanced Grok models will eventually serve as the voice and brain for Optimus. This will be a convergence of Musk’s two biggest AI ventures — Tesla and xAI.

This will combine a physically humanoid robot - the brawn - with the new brains, Grok. This integration is more than just giving Optimus a voice - it suggests that Tesla is thinking ahead and possibly intends to use Grok to understand the environment around Optimus, while FSD will handle the robot’s movements.

A Symbiotic Relationship

The combination of Optimus and Grok creates a relationship where each component plays to its strengths.

For years, Tesla’s robotics team has been focused on the immense challenge of physical autonomy. Optimus learns complex tasks by observing humans, basically training itself through video by watching humans. This helps Optimus develop the physical dexterity needed to work in the real world. This is the brawn - the ability to navigate, manipulate objects, and perform useful work.

Grok provides the conversational brain. It adds a layer of natural language understanding, reasoning, and interaction. Instead of needing a computer, a specialized app, or pre-programming commands to give Optimus instructions, a user will be able to simply talk to it in a natural way. This makes Optimus infinitely more approachable and useful, especially for tasks in a dynamic environment, such as work or at home.

xAI and Tesla

Viewed from a different perspective, this move isn’t just about upgrading one product. It is the clearest evidence that xAI and Tesla are collaborating together to build a single, unified AI platform. Musk’s biographer, Walter Isaacson, believes Tesla and xAI will merge. Seeing Tesla and xAI both play critical roles in creating Optimus makes us believe that it may very well be the case.

Transformation to a Humanoid Robot

The confirmation of Grok in Optimus is one of the most significant milestones for the project to date. While Optimus’s ability to walk and work (and dance) is already an incredible engineering feat, it has all been physical abilities so far. Adding the ability to interact with Optimus in a human-like way will transform Grok from a machine to a true, general-purpose humanoid robot.

The ability to understand nuanced requests, ask clarifying questions, and respond intelligently is what will ultimately make Optimus a daily fixture in our lives.

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