Tips and Tricks for Tesla's v11 update

Tesla's v11 update was received with mixed feelings. It's split about 50/50 whether you love the update or hate it. There doesn't seem to be much in between.

The UI is cleaner and better organized, but it comes at the expense of quick access to many settings.

Tesla's v11 UI

Some things we'll all just need to get used to. For example, checking your tire pressure in a card-like view will likely not be something that Tesla adds back.

While in other areas we'll certainly see Tesla make some needed updates.

Until the next update, there are a few tips that could make v11 a little easier to use.

Climate

You don't need to tap the temperature to access the climate controls. You can access them at any time by swiping up anywhere from the app launcher.

Once you have the climate open, you can close it by waiting for it to timeout, or by swiping down anywhere in the screen except the vent area, which would aim the direction of the vent instead.

Minimizing Apps

Unfortunately in version 11, Tesla replaced a lot of buttons with sliders, which are less than ideal to use while driving.

Each app used to have a close button, but they have mostly been removed. Apps are now closed by swiping downward in the app.

However, if you prefer you can still close an app with a single tap. It's not as obvious as a close button, but you can tap the app's icon to close it. The music app which has multiple states may require multiple taps on the app icon as the app cycles through its various sizes.

Dismissing Alerts

Tesla now displays various alerts on the bottom left of the screen for the Model 3 and Model Y. This is used for HomeLink, blind spot camera, seat belt warnings, phone calls, and more.

If you receive multiple alerts at once, they can sometimes hide other information you'd like to interact with such as your phone or HomeLink.

Any of these alerts that show up on the bottom left corner can be dismissed by swiping downward. This lets you dismiss HomeLink or another alert if you're trying to interact with another alert that is underneath.

HomeLink

HomeLink is contextually aware and the controls will show up based on the location you have set for your garage door or gate. However, if you use Auto-Open, it's not very obvious how to cancel it if the garage door is already open.

Underneath the HomeLink buttons, you'll see a word named Activate or Cancel. That will be the action performed when you tap the garage door button.

So when pulling up to your garage, you'll initially see Cancel underneath the garage door button, with the number of feet before the garage door will auto-open. Tapping on the button will cancel the automatic opening of your garage.

This solution isn't very intuitive and we hope Tesla will revisit this.

Customizable Launcher

The customizable launcher in v11 is a welcome addition, although it shouldn't remove options that owners had access to before.

We believe Tesla will be adding more options to the app launcher, including seat heaters and window defrost in the future, however for now we have to deal with what we have.

The app launcher will always contain shortcuts to Controls, Volume, and cabin temperature.

Five additional apps will be shown before the driver and passenger temperatures. If you customize 2, then the other 3 will automatically show recently used apps.

You can customize up to 4, as one will always be reserved for a recently used app.

This also means that regardless of which app you're using, the icon for the app will always be the launcher. This lets you quickly close the app by tapping on the app's icon.

Quick Access to Wipers and Headlights

Some of the actionable alerts that can show up on the bottom left portion include windshield wipers and headlights.

In a Model 3 or Model Y, you can quickly adjust these without having to navigate into Controls.

You can tap the end of the left stalk to have the wipers' speed come up on the display.

Similarly, you can flick your high beams to get light controls to come up on the display, which will then let you adjust your fog lights, auto high beams, and regular headlights.

Music

The music app was one of the few apps that received a visual overhaul with the v11 update.

But did you know that it also includes a new Up Next feature that lets you view upcoming songs when you're playing a playlist?

If you tap the button to the left of the search icon, your player will take up about half the screen and it'll show some additional information. You can pick from Up Next, Recents and Favorites and Sources. Recents/Favorites and Sources are now only accessible in this view.

Save Dashcam

The Dashcam icon has been removed from the top of the screen, leaving us without a quick way of saving any Dashcam footage.

However, you can still easily save Dashcam footage by using the "Save Dashcam" voice command. There are many voice commands you can use to make it easier to access features you used before.

Keep the Seat Heater On

Since the seat heaters are now part of the climate view, it makes it more difficult to use them in certain scenarios.

You can still keep your seat heater on and the climate system off. This could be useful if you're running on an extremely low state of charge.

To do so, open the climate system and choose your seat heater temperature. Auto seat heaters will need to be turned off.

You can then power off the climate system and your seat heater will remain on. You can also use the app to turn on just your seat heater if you prefer.

Version 11 of Tesla's UI is a step forward in some cases and a step back in others. It's reassuring to know that Tesla is working on updates to overcome the shortcomings in v11.

You shouldn't expect the UI to go back to the way it was in v10, but you should expect to regain some lost functionality, such as the ability to keep seat heaters in the app launcher or quickly save Dashcam footage.

Check out a fan-created concept of Tesla's app launcher.

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Tesla to Reportedly Launch Robotaxi Network on June 12th

A concept of what the UI in the Robotaxi may look like

@dkrasniy

According to a report from Bloomberg (paywall), Tesla is planning to launch its Robotaxi network in Austin on June 12th. Bloomberg’s source noted that the date was still in flux, but this is the date Tesla is being planned around.

While the Robotaxi network may launch on June 12th, it’ll be exclusive to Tesla employees initially, allowing Tesla to iron out any issues.

The taxi network isn’t expected to open up to the public until late June at the earliest. During Tesla’s Q1 2025 Earnings Call, Elon stated that the Robotaxi service would only be available to the public in late June or early July.

June 12th is actually much sooner than we expected, so this is an excellent sign for Tesla, who typically pushes back events for finishing touches. The Robotaxi event, for example, was originally scheduled for August 8th but was rescheduled for October 10th.

The NHTSA recently reached out to Tesla, inquiring about how they’d handle certain scenarios, such as adverse weather conditions. This is a good sign that Tesla is satisfying those requirements.

Testing Happening Now

According to Bloomberg’s report, Tesla has already been operating test vehicles using FSD Unsupervised without a safety driver this week. A test engineer was in the passenger seat but did not intervene or provide any input.

Tesla has already been doing preliminary testing with employees in Austin and Los Angeles, but those have been with relatively small internal groups for the most part.

You get tired.

FSD Supervised does not

— Tesla (@Tesla) May 28, 2025

Start Small and Slow

Tesla plans to launch the service with approximately 10 Model Y taxi vehicles initially, providing an opportunity to gather data and user feedback. According to Elon, in the weeks following the launch, Tesla will expand the program to more vehicles, with it hitting several thousand by late 2025.

Tesla recently started the Early Access Program for FSD users in Texas. It’ll be interesting to see how Tesla leverages these users to gather more data or help expand the program when Tesla is finally ready to provide FSD Unsupervised to vehicle owners.

Reducing Variables

There are a ton of moving parts involved in launching an autonomous taxi network, including insurance, cleaning, charging, and more. There’s no doubt Tesla is eliminating as many variables as possible, such as automated charging. While the Robotaxi will support wireless charging, these Model Ys are expected to be charged manually since Tesla hasn’t built the “snake” charger, and Model Ys don’t support wireless charging.

Tesla already has at least some Robotaxi code built into the Tesla app, so it seems like they’re lining up all the pieces.

While Tesla has been relatively focused on California and Texas, we’ve also spotted some Robotaxi mules making their way around Boston and New Hampshire, meaning that Tesla is already thinking about expansion or at least finding out what it’ll take.

We may just be a couple of months away from seeing a Robotaxi revolution in some American cities. While expanding to additional cities with varying weather conditions may be slow, Tesla will be out there proving what they’ve been promising since 2016.

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Tesla Adds Real-Time Charging Alerts With iOS Live Activities -- More Coming

Geonardo10inchi

Tesla has updated its Tesla app for iPhones to version 4.45.0 and it adds a really helpful feature — Live Activities.

If you’re not familiar with Live Activities on iPhone, they’re essentially an interactive notification that displays real-time information. So, instead of receiving a notification that says that your vehicle has started charging, it’ll display real-time charging information.

What It Displays

Live Activities are displayed on your lock screen or Notification Center. With Tesla’s first implementation, it’ll display a variety of charging information when you’re Supercharging, such as the time until charging is complete, your current range, and the estimated cost.

The Live Activity will also display a photo of your vehicle with the color you’ve selected in the Colorizer feature, along with a charge meter, allowing you to easily see how much your vehicle is charged. The meter will be grayed out according to the charge limit you have set in your vehicle.

The “Charge” label of the notification shows your current range and will display percentage or distance, depending on which metric you use in your vehicle.

In all, the feature will display all of these details:

• Time left to charge completion

• Charge/range in miles or percentage

• Estimated cost

• Current Supercharger powe

• Current Supercharger speed in miles/km

• Total energy added in kWh

The battery meter is also different for the Cybertruck, featuring the same slashes for the meter as the vehicle uses inside the car.

triduchuynh

What It Will Support in the Future

Tesla may soon support Live Activities for more than just Supercharging. While the feature doesn’t support home charging, or other third-party fast charging, there are other areas that will receive this real-time information.

One that is not often used but is just as crucial as Supercharging is roadside assistance. Tesla could add a Live Activity that keeps you updated without having to open the Tesla app. It could give you the current status, such as help dispatched or offer an ETA when help will arrive.

Tesla will soon introduce a Supercharger queue system, which will be utilized when Superchargers are at full capacity. When you arrive at a Supercharger, you’ll be able to join the queue so that you don’t have to line up your vehicle to form a line physically. Instead, you’ll join the queue and be notified when it’s your turn to charge, letting you relax or eat until it’s your turn. This will be especially useful when there’s a long wait at a Supercharger.

Code for Tesla’s virtual Supercharger queue system is already being added to the Tesla app, and Live Activity support will be included according to code found in a recent Tesla app.

What It Supports

Dynamic Island

Geonardo10inchi

The Live Activity is great, but what happens if you’re not on your lock screen? If your phone includes a Dynamic Island (iPhone 14 Pro and later, iPhone 15 and later, but not the iPhone 16e or the iPhone SE), then the Tesla app also shows a circular indicator with your current charge percentage and the estimated time remaining until charging is complete

Apple Watch

JohnH2k23

The Apple Watch is also receiving support for Live Activities in this update as well. It’ll display the same information as the dynamic island, letting you know how many more minutes you have until charging is complete.

Android Support

While Live Activities has been an iPhone feature for years, Android will be offering similar capabilities in an upcoming OS release. Android 16, currently in beta testing and expected to be released in Q2, will add support for rich notifications similar to Live Activities.

Adding live notifications for Supercharger is a great addition that we hope Tesla will support on Android soon after the feature is released.

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