Tesla's Holiday Update: Unpacking The Massive Amount of Undocumented Changes [Updated]

You can now tap a Supercharger's amenities icons

Not a Tesla App

Tesla usually packs a bunch of smaller, undocumented changes into every update, and this year’s holiday update isn’t any different. In fact, the holiday update contains massive improvements under the hood, especially for vehicles with the Intel Atom processor. The undocumented changes in this update are just as good as the features themselves, and for some owners, they may be even more of a gift than what Tesla has outlined in the release notes.

The improvements include a seamless transition from WiFi to cellular data, eliminating dead zones, as well as hardware video decoded, which improves the Dashcam, Sentry Mode and lowers CPU usage, even while the vehicle is in use. However, there are many more. In total, we found eleven undocumented changes in this year’s holiday update.

Come with us as we go through each feature that may have gone under the radar.

Update: Since we originally published this article, there have been an additional two undocumented changes found. They’re listed below.

Explicit Audio Content

The explicit content setting now applies to Apple Podcasts in addition to the 'Streaming'

Not a Tesla App

In the Audio Settings Options section, Tesla lets you block explicit content. Until now it only applied to the music service Tesla calls ‘Streaming,’ which is Slacker. However, with update 2023.44.30, this now applies to the new Apple Podcasts app as well. Unfortunately, it still does not apply to other streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music yet.

More Wheel & Tire Options

New wheel options

Roz_420

Under the Wheel & Tire section, you can now select from additional wheel options. Tesla has added two new Gemini wheel options. Although the metallic aero wheels are only available in China, you can now select them from the Wheel & Tire menu in other regions as well. This will update your vehicle’s visualizations on screen and in the app to show these wheels instead of the vehicle’s default wheels.

The other new option introduced is the Gemini Cap Kit wheel option, which is the same Gemini wheel, but with the covers removed and with the bolt covers, known as the cap kit added.

Switching your wheels in these menus will cause the infotainment system to restart.

Improved Transition to Cellular

Tesla has improved their transition from Wi-Fi to cellular connections

Not a Tesla App

Even if your vehicle is connected to WiFi, it will now immediately connect to cellular data once the vehicle is put into drive or reverse.

Previously, if a vehicle was connected to WiFi, it would often not have an internet connection for a period of time until the cellular connection was established.

The transition from WiFi to cellular now appears to be instant. Tesla may be activating the cellular connection as you enter the car, instead of waiting until the vehicle is put into drive.

Improved Reverse Functions

These has made two improvements to the vehicle while in reverse

Not a Tesla App / KeaganGigatexas

There are two improvements to reverse in this update when the vehicle is in reverse.

The vehicle's visualization will now display reverse lane markers when the vehicle is in reverse, indicating the vehicle's path.

For vehicles equipped with ultrasonic sensors, the update brings an innovative feature - the distance to objects behind the vehicle will now dynamically change based on the steering wheel's position (video). For example, if the steering wheel is centered and will go straight backward, then the distance to an object will be for the object behind the vehicle. However, if the steering wheel is turned, then the distance will be for the object that is in the vehicle's direction.

View Supercharger Amenities on Map

When viewing details about a Supercharger in the vehicle, the amenity icons are now buttons that can be tapped to view the locations on the map. Before, Tesla would show you what type of amenities were nearby, but you can now view the exact shops or stores.

Autopilot / FSD Beta Strike Reset

FSD Beta strikes have been reset in the holiday update

Not a Tesla App

With the holiday update, FSD Beta strikes have been reset for everyone. This gives everyone a clean slate when using the updated system that now applies to FSD Beta and Autopilot use.

If your vehicle has a cabin camera, you’ll lose access to Autopilot and FSD Beta after accumulating five strikes. If your vehicle doesn’t have a cabin camera, then you’re limited to three strikes.

Cabin Camera Privacy

You can now view the features the cabin camera is used for

Not a Tesla App

You can now view which Tesla features have access to the cabin camera. Simply navigate to Controls > Software > Cabin Camera.

The vehicle will display all features that are enabled and have access to the vehicle's interior camera.

Dashcam Icons

Tesla has made various improvements to the vehicle's Dashcam feature

Not a Tesla App

The dashcam now features an icon that is more informative. The dashcam icon will now display these states:

Saving / Loading: This icon features a gray badge with arrows letting you know the dashcam is saving or retrieving footage to the USB drive.

Saved Footage: After successfully saving footage to the USB drive, a green checkmark badge will now briefly appear on the dashcam icon.

Error / Not Recording: If there is an error with your dashcam, USB drive or recording is turned off, there will be a gray badge with an 'X' that signifies that the dashcam is not actively recording.

Paused: A red pause badge shows up on the dashcam's icon if the dashcam is temporarily not recording, like if the Dashcam Viewer is actively being used.

Automatic Wipers

Windshield wipers no longer need to be set to Auto while in Autopilot

Not a Tesla App

Automatic windshield wipers can now be turned off, even while Autopilot or FSD Beta is enabled.

Previously, you could change the time interval between wipes, but you could not turn off the wipers completely.

Dashcam Viewer Improvements

Tesla's Dashcam viewer is now much faster

Not a Tesla App

Thanks to hardware video decoding, the Dashcam Viewer is now faster and more responsive. When scrubbing the progress bar, video is now smoother and jumps around less.

Tesla Theater Improvements

Thanks to hardware decoding, Tesla's video services are also seeing improved performance

Not a Tesla App

Similar to the Dashcam Viewer improvements, Tesla Theater is now much faster and smoother as well. Improvements are noticed while browsing content, playing content and minimizing Tesla Theater.

Automatic Emergency Braking, Now Required

If you have Autopilot or FSD enabled in settings, then AEB is now required

Not a Tesla App

Automatic Emergency Braking, which can help stop your vehicle for perpendicular dangers, or in reverse, must now remain enabled if your vehicle is set up to use Autopilot or FSD Beta, even if they are not active.

Ability to Turn Off Automatic 911 Calling

Automatic 911 calling is an optional feature

Not a Tesla App

With this update, your vehicle will automatically call 911 if airbags are deployed and your phone is actively connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth.

The vehicle shows a countdown in such as situation, which allows you to cancel the call, however, the feature is optional and can be turned off by navigating to Controls > Safety > Automatic 911 Call.

The holiday update appears to have been a massive clean up by Tesla, where they not only improved performance but included many quality-of-life features. This is resulting in a smoother experience for owners and hopefully leaves some additional bandwidth for additional features in the future.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla May Improve Car Wash Mode With Window Alerts

Not a Tesla App

There are a few features to keep in mind when taking your Tesla through a car wash, but Tesla’s Car Wash Mode makes it easy by enabling or disabling several features for you. These settings don’t only prevent damage to your vehicle, such as locking the charge port door so that it doesn’t automatically open when a cleaning brush touches it, but they also improve the experience by recirculating the air in the vehicle to prevent cleaning chemical smells from coming in.

Car Wash Mode makes it easy by giving you a checklist of items and their real-time status, alerting you of any important items, such as your trunk being open.

When activated from Controls > Service > Car Wash Mode, it performs a list of actions:

• Automatically closes all windows

• Locks the charge port door to prevent accidental opening

• Disables automatic windshield wipers

• Turns off Sentry Mode

• Disables the walk-away door lock

• Silences Parking Sensor chimes

• Enables easy access to the Fold Mirrors and Free Roll options (you can also put your vehicle in neutral through the gear stalk)

What About Your Windows?

While Car Wash Mode monitors more than a handful of items, it doesn’t continuously check the status of your windows. When you first enter Car Wash Mode, the vehicle will automatically roll up any open windows. However, it won’t alert you if a window has been lowered after Car Wash Mode was enabled. This could spell disaster for your vehicle's interior, as one user found out.

Lincoln posted a video on X, demonstrating what happened to his friend and requesting that Tesla add open windows to the list of flags in Car Wash Mode.

Tesla’s Troy R. Jones, VP of North America Sales and Service, noticed the post and decided to take action, offering to pass on the suggestion to the vehicle software team.

Good recommendation. Sharing with the team. Thanks

— Troy Jones (@troyrjones) April 21, 2025

Potential Improvements

While Troy’s response doesn’t confirm the feature being added in a future update, it’ll at least be put in front of the software team to potentially address.

Tesla could add this window-specific solution in several ways. Tesla could add this as another on-screen flag while the vehicle is in Car Wash Mode, simply alerting the driver that there’s a window open. However, they could also go one step further and lock the rear windows to prevent accidental opening while Car Wash Mode is enabled.

In case of an emergency, Tesla could present an on-screen button that pops up when a user tries to open a window while Car Wash Mode is activated, letting the driver override Car Wash Mode.

We’re interested to see what Tesla would do here, as these little quality-of-life changes really improve the end-user experience. What else would you like to see added to Car Wash Mode?

Follow

Follow

Follow

Houston Neighborhood Offers a Glimpse of the Future With Tesla-Powered Smart Homes

Not a Tesla App

Tesla offers a range of home energy products — from the widely used Wall Connector to the Powerwall and the innovative Solar Roof. Now, for the first time, a unique residential development in Houston, Texas, combines all of these technologies — and more — to move toward energy self-sufficiency.

Self-Sufficient

This community, located in Oaks of Shady Acres and built by Utopia Homes, consists of just 11 townhomes, each designed using Tesla technology to be self-sufficient. Utopia has equipped the homes with Solar Roofs, Powerwalls, and Wall Connectors to complete the entire ecosystem.

Tesla’s Solar Roof replaces traditional roofing materials while doubling as a clean energy source during daylight hours. The best part is that it mimics the look of conventional shingles while improving durability and longevity. Any excess energy generated is stored in the home’s Powerwall 3 units, providing power when the sun is down.

Tesla's Solar Roof

Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s Universal Wall Connector, which can charge any EV equipped with either a NACS or CCS port (through a J1772 adapter). If you added on a Cybertruck with Powershare (more vehicles will support Powershare in the future), you’d have a backup system that would last an extremely long time on batteries alone.

A Powerwall 3 stores about 13.5 kWh of energy, while a Cybertruck has a battery pack of 123 kWh, which is roughly equivalent to about nine Powerwalls. In addition, the Cybertruck could be used as a “mobile battery pack,” which can get additional energy from Superchargers and bring it back to the home if there’s an extended power outage.

Utopia markets these homes with “100% energy security,” - but they’re still grid-connected. However, they appear to have made quite a point with this - as many people in Texas, with its notoriously unstable electricity grid - were excited to get into these homes. 

Sadly, these homes still include a gas range, so they’re not entirely green and disconnected. This likely comes down to the fact that powering an induction range alongside a heat pump in the winter could draw more energy than Powerwall 3 is capable of outputting instantaneously.

Attention Getters

These 11 homes attracted a lot of attention - according to a broker working on Utopia’s team, they had requests to see or buy these homes coming from across the country. Priced around $544,900, these homes are about $150,000 higher than Houston’s median list pricing for similarly sized townhomes, but the benefits are clear for many buyers who will recoup these additional costs over the home’s life.

Utopia has acknowledged the demand for Tesla-powered and future-proofed homes like these and is already planning to build more in the future. This is an excellent showcase of what an electric-powered future could look like, and we’re excited to see more of these types of homes and neighborhoods in the future.

Follow

Follow

Follow