Get Opening and Closing -> Keys Guide for Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

Keys

◦ Your phone's general Bluetooth settings are

Three Types of Keys

enabled.

Model Y supports three types of keys:

◦ Bluetooth is enabled within your phone's settings

for the Tesla mobile app. For example, on your

phone, navigate to Settings, choose the Tesla

mobile app, and ensure the Bluetooth setting is

turned on.

• Phone key - You can set up your personal phone as a

"phone key" that communicates with Model Y using

Bluetooth. A phone key supports automatic locking

and unlocking.

◦ Access to your location is enabled. Open the Tesla

mobile app in your phone's settings and select

Location > Always. For the best experience, keep

the mobile app running in the background.

• Key card - Tesla provides a key card that

communicates with Model Y using short range radio-

frequency identiﬁcation (RFID) signals. The key card

is used to "authenticate" phone keys to work with

Model Y and to add or remove other key cards,

phone keys, or key fobs. Unlike the phone key and

key fob, the key card does not support automatic

locking and unlocking. In situations where your phone

key has a dead battery, or is lost or stolen, use your

key card to unlock, drive, and lock Model Y.

◦ Allow Mobile Access is enabled on the vehicle

touchscreen (Controls > Safety > Allow Mobile

Access).

NOTE: Model Y communicates with your phone using

Bluetooth. Keep in mind that your phone must have

enough battery power to run Bluetooth and that

many phones disable Bluetooth when the battery is

low.

• Key fob - The key fob (if equipped) allows you to

press buttons to open the front and rear trunks, and

unlock, lock, and drive Model Y. The key fob also

supports automatic locking and unlocking, if available

in your region (see Passive Locking and Unlocking on

page 12) and can be used as a backup to your phone

key.

4. While sitting inside the vehicle with a key card handy,

open the Tesla mobile app and touch Set Up Phone

Key on the main screen, or navigate to Security > Set

Up Phone Key. Follow the prompts on the mobile app

and vehicle touchscreen to set up your phone key.

Model Y supports a total of 19 keys, which can include

phone keys, key cards, and up to four key fobs.

To view a list of keys that can currently access Model Y,

or to remove a phone key, touch Controls > Locks (see

Managing Keys on page 13).

CAUTION: Remember to bring a key with you

when you drive. Although you can drive Model Y

away from its key, you will be unable to power it

back on after it powers oﬀ.

Model Y can connect to three phone keys

simultaneously. Therefore, if more than three phone keys

are detected and you want to authenticate or pair a

diﬀerent phone, move the other connected phone key(s)

out of range or turn oﬀ its Bluetooth setting.

Phone Key

Once a phone has been authenticated, it no longer

requires an internet connection to be used as a phone

key for Model Y. However, to use the phone hands-free,

access your phone's contacts, play media from it, etc.,

you must also pair it and connect it as a Bluetooth

device (see Pairing a Bluetooth Phone on page 133).

Using your phone as a key is a convenient way to access

your Model Y. As you approach, your phone's Bluetooth

signal is detected and the doors unlock when you pull a

door handle. Likewise, when you exit and walk away with

the phone key, doors automatically lock (provided the

Walk-Away Door Lock feature is turned on; see Walk-

Away Door Lock on page 15).

Some smartphones with NFC capability can be used to

lock/unlock your vehicle, just like using a key card.

Ensure the Tesla mobile app is correctly paired to your

vehicle and enable the NFC function on your phone.

Once enabled, simply hold the phone to the driver's side

door pillar to lock or unlock the door. Refer to your

smartphone's instructions for speciﬁc information on

how to do this.

Before you can use a phone to access Model Y, follow

these steps to authenticate it:

1. Download the Tesla mobile app to your phone.

2. Log into the Tesla mobile app using your Tesla

account username and password.

NOTE: You must remain logged in to your Tesla

account to use your phone to access Model Y.

Key Card

NOTE: If multiple vehicles are linked to your Tesla

account, you must ensure that the vehicle you want

the mobile app to access is currently selected on the

mobile app.

Tesla provides you with two Model Y key cards, designed

to ﬁt in your wallet.

3. Ensure:

MODEL Y Owner's Manual

OwnersManuals2.com

Keys

To use a key card to unlock or lock Model Y, position the

card as shown and tap it against the card reader located

just below the Autopilot camera on the driver's side

door pillar. When Model Y detects the key card, the

exterior lights ﬂash, the mirrors unfold or fold (if Fold

Mirrors is on), the horn sounds (if Lock Conﬁrmation

Sound is on), and the doors unlock or lock.

NOTE: If enabled, Walk-Away Door Lock (see Walk-

Away Door Lock on page 15) operates only when you

walk away using a phone key or passive key fob. When

you walk away carrying your key card, Model Y does not

automatically unlock/lock.

CAUTION: Always carry your key card with you in

your purse or wallet to use as a backup in case

your authenticated phone has a dead battery, or is

lost or stolen.

NOTE: You may need to physically touch the center

console or driver's side door pillar with the key card, and

you may need to hold it against the transmitter for one

or two seconds.

Key Fob

If you have purchased the key fob accessory, you can

quickly familiarize yourself with this key by thinking of it

as a miniature version of Model Y, with the Tesla badge

representing the front. The key has three buttons that

feel like softer areas on the surface.

Once inside, power up Model Y by pressing the brake

pedal within two minutes of scanning the key card (see

Starting and Powering Oﬀ on page 55). If you wait

longer than two minutes, you must re-authenticate by

placing the key card near the card reader located behind

the cup holders on the center console. When your key

card is detected, your two minute authentication period

restarts.

1. Front trunk - Double-click to unlatch the front trunk.

2. Lock/Unlock All - Single-click to lock doors and

trunks (all doors and trunks must be closed). Double-

click to unlock doors and trunks.

3. Rear trunk - Double-click to unlatch the rear trunk.

Hold down for one to two seconds to open the

charge port door.

Once inside, power up Model Y by pressing the brake

pedal within two minutes of pressing the unlock button

on the key fob (see Starting and Powering Oﬀ on page

55). If you wait longer than two minutes, you must press

the unlock button again, or place the key fob near the

card reader located behind the cup holders on the

center console. When your key fob is detected, the two

minute authentication period restarts.

When approaching or leaving Model Y carrying the key

fob, you do not need to point the key fob at Model Y as

you press a button, but you must be within operating

range.

Opening and Closing

OwnersManuals2.com

Keys

Radio equipment on a similar frequency can aﬀect the

key. If this happens, move the key at least one foot

(30 cm) away from other electronic devices (phones,

laptops, etc.).

To replace the key fob battery:

1. With the key fob placed button side down on a soft

surface, release the bottom cover, using a small ﬂat-

bladed tool.

In the event that the key fob's battery is dead, you can

still use it to drive the vehicle by scanning the key fob on

the card reader located on the driver's side door pillar

(like the key card).

Instructions for changing the battery are provided in

Replacing the Key Fob Battery on page 12.

NOTE: You can use the same key fob with multiple

Model Y vehicles provided you authenticate it (see

Managing Keys on page 13). However, key fob works

with only one Model Y at a time. Therefore, to use a key

fob for a diﬀerent Model Y, touch its ﬂat side against the

card reader on the driver's side door pillar.

NOTE: Model Y supports up to four diﬀerent key fobs.

CAUTION: Protect the key from impact, high

temperatures, and damage from liquids. Avoid

contact with solvents, waxes, and abrasive

cleaners.

2. Remove the battery by lifting it away from the

retaining clips.

Passive Locking and Unlocking

Locking and unlocking Model Y with your key fob is

conveniently hands-free. Although you must be carrying

a paired key fob, there is no need to use it. Model Y has

sensors around the vehicle that can recognize the

presence of a key fob within a range of approximately

six feet (two meters). Therefore, you can keep your key

fob in your pocket or purse and simply pull on the door

handle to unlock. When carrying your key fob with you,

you can also open the trunk without having to use the

key by pressing the liftgate's exterior door handle. If

Walk-Away Door Lock is enabled, Model Y automatically

locks when you exit and the key fob is no longer in range

(see Walk-Away Door Lock on page 15). Passive locking

and unlocking is automatically enabled when you pair

your key fob to Model Y.

Although you can use the same key fob with multiple

vehicles, it can only be paired to one vehicle at a time.

To activate a paired key fob to a diﬀerent vehicle, touch

the ﬂat side onto the driver's side door pillar and click

any button on the key fob to conﬁrm.

3. While avoiding touching the battery's ﬂat surfaces,

insert the new battery (type CR2032 ) with the ‘+’

side facing up.

NOTE: For increased security, passive locking and

unlocking disables after being stationary for ﬁve minutes

while within vehicle range when the vehicle is not in use

(for example, you are standing outside your vehicle). In

this situation, you must shake or press a button on the

key fob to re-enable passive locking and unlocking.

NOTE: Wipe the battery clean before ﬁtting and

avoid touching the battery's ﬂat surfaces. Finger

marks on the ﬂat surfaces of the battery can reduce

battery life.

NOTE: CR2032 batteries can be purchased from any

retailer that sells batteries.

Replacing the Key Fob Battery

4. Holding the bottom cover at an angle, align the tabs

on the cover with the corresponding slots on the key

fob, then press the cover ﬁrmly onto the key fob until

it snaps into place.

Under normal use, the accessory key fob has a battery

that lasts for up to one year, depending on key fob

version and selected vehicle settings. When the battery

is low, a message displays on the touchscreen.

MODEL Y Owner's Manual

OwnersManuals2.com

Keys

When you no longer want a key to access Model Y (for

example, you lost your phone or key card, etc.), follow

these steps to remove it.

5. Test that the key fob works by unlocking and locking

Model Y.

WARNING: Key fob batteries contain a chemical

burn hazard and should not be ingested. The key

fob contains a coin cell battery. If the coin cell

battery is swallowed, it can cause severe internal

burns within two hours and can lead to death.

Keep new and used batteries away from children. If

the battery compartment does not close securely,

stop using the product and keep it away from

children. If you think batteries might have been

swallowed or placed inside any part of the body,

seek immediate medical attention.

1. On the touchscreen, touch Controls > Locks.

2. In the key list, ﬁnd the key that you would like to

delete and touch its associated trash icon.

3. When prompted, scan an authenticated key card or

key fob on the card reader to conﬁrm the deletion.

When complete, the key list no longer includes the

deleted key.

NOTE: Model Y requires at least one authenticated key

card or key fob at all times. If only one key card remains

on the key list, you cannot delete it.

Managing Keys

To display a list of all keys (phone keys, key cards, and

key fobs) that can access your Model Y, touch Controls

> Locks. An icon displays next to each key to indicate

whether the key is a phone key, key card, or key fob. Use

this list to manage keys that have access to your Model

Y. To add or delete keys, see Adding and Removing Keys

on page 13.

Model Y supports up to 19 keys. When you reach this

limit, you must delete a key before adding a new one.

NOTE: You can use the same key for more than one

Model Y. This prevents you from having to deal with

multiple keys when you switch vehicles. If you customize

the name of an authenticated key card or key fob on one

Model Y (by touching the pencil icon), any other Model

Y to which the key card or key fob is authenticated also

displays the changed name.

Adding and Removing Keys

To add a new key card or key fob:

NOTE: When adding a key fob, ensure it is at room

temperature. Pairing a key fob that is very cold can be

unsuccessful.

1. On the touchscreen, touch Controls > Locks > Keys >

Add Key.

2. Scan your new key card or key fob on the card reader

located behind the cup holders on the top of the

center console. After the new key card or key fob is

recognized, remove it from the card reader.

3. Scan a key card or key fob that has already been

paired to the vehicle to conﬁrm new key pairing.

4. When complete, the key list includes the new key.

Touch the associated pencil icon to customize the

name of the key.

Removing a key:

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Opening and Closing -> Keys for Your Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

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