6 Quick Ways to Lock a Tesla Model 3, Y, S, or X

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Locking methods & safety features to keep you & your car protected

Co-authored by Audra Fordin and Devin McSween

Last Updated: May 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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Locking with the Touchscreen (Inside)

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Automatic Locking

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With the App (Outside)

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With a Key Card (Outside)

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With a Fob (Outside)

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Using Voice Commands (Inside)

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Keeping Your Tesla Secure

Whether you have a Tesla Model 3, Y, S, or X, there are several easy ways to lock and secure your vehicle. To lock your car from the inside, tap the lock icon on the top of the touchscreen. To lock it from the outside, simply walk away from your car or use your Tesla app, key card, or key fob. In this article, we’ll explain all of the different ways to lock your car and share safety features you can enable to keep your car protected.

Locking a Tesla

Lock your Tesla from the inside by pressing the lock icon on the top of the touchscreen. When your car is locked, the lock icon is closed. To automatically lock your car, enable the “Walk-Away Door Lock” feature on the touchscreen and walk away from your car while carrying your phone or key fob.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Using the Touchscreen to Lock from the Inside

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Tap the lock icon on the top of your Tesla’s touchscreen. Look for the lock icon at the very top of the touchscreen next to the current time. Your car is locked when the lock icon is closed, and unlocked when the icon is open.^{[1]
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- If you press the lock icon before getting out of your Tesla, the doors and truck will stay locked when you get out of the car.
- If you have a Model 3 or Y, you can also press the lock icon on the car visualization screen when your Tesla is in park.
- This is generally the quickest way to lock your Tesla.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Automatic Locking

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Walk away from your car while carrying your phone key. All Tesla models have an automatic locking feature called Walk-Away Door Lock. When you walk away from the car while carrying your phone key or key fob, the doors and trunk lock.^{[2]
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- Use your Tesla’s touchscreen to set up Walk-Away Door Lock: Press the car icon to open “Controls,” select “Locks,” and tap “Walk-Away Door Lock.”
- When the doors and trunk automatically lock, the exterior lights flash.
- Set up other confirmations to let you know the doors are locked:
  - Side mirror folding: Press Controls > Mirrors > Mirror Auto Fold.
  - Lock sound: Press Controls > Locks > Lock Confirmation Sound.
- If you check “Exclude Home,” your Tesla will not automatically lock when you park at the location you have chosen as “Home.”
All Tesla models come with Drive Away Locking. Your car automatically locks when you start driving at least 5 mph (8 kph).^{[3]
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There are some instances when your Tesla will not auto-lock. Tesla recommends checking that your car is locked, even when using the Walk-Away Door Lock feature. Your car will not lock if:^{[4]
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- You leave your phone key or key fob in the car.
- You don’t fully close the doors or trunk.
- Your phone’s Bluetooth is off. Auto-lock works through Bluetooth technology.
- If you’re driving, you don’t get out of the driver’s side door.
- “Exclude Home” is checked and you park at your “Home” location.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Using the Tesla App to Lock from the Outside

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Open the Tesla app and tap the lock icon. In the app, look for the lock icon below the image of your car. Simply press the lock icon to lock your car.^{[5]
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- When the lock icon is closed, your car is locked.
- When the lock icon is open, your car is unlocked.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Using Your Key Card to Lock from the Outside

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Tap your key card against the pillar on the driver’s side door. Look for the black pillar between the driver’s side window and the passenger’s window. Simply press the key card about ⅓ of the way up the pillar.^{[6]
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- When your Tesla locks, the exterior lights flash.
- Enable other confirmations to let you know your Tesla is locked:
  - Side mirror folding: Press Controls > Mirrors > Mirror Auto Fold.
  - Lock sound: Press Controls > Locks > Lock Confirmation Sound.
- Tesla gives you 2 key cards when you buy your car. These cards use RFID signals to lock and unlock your car. They’re also used to set up your phone key.

Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Using a Key Fob to Lock from the Outside

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Click the center button once. If you have a key fob for your Tesla, simply press down on the button on the center of the fob once. Your car’s exterior lights will flash to let you know it is locked.
- To unlock your car, click the center button twice.
- If the exterior lights flash 3 times, your car didn’t successfully lock because the doors or trunk are open.
- Note: The key fob is an optional add-on that does not come with your car. To order a key fob, go to Tesla’s website.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Using Voice Commands to Lock from the Inside

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Press the voice command button and say, “Lock doors.” All Tesla models have a built-in language processor that allows you to say commands to activate controls and features. How you access voice commands depends on your Tesla model:^{[7]
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- Model S and X: Press the voice button on the right side of the steering wheel.
- Model 3 and Y: Press the scroll button on the right side of the steering wheel. Or, press the microphone button on the touchscreen.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Keeping Your Tesla Secure

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Set up “Car Left Open Notifications” on the Tesla touchscreen. Tesla will send you a phone notification if your car doors, windows, or trunk are left open, or if your car is left unlocked. To set it up:^{[8]
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- Tap “Controls,” “Locks,” and then “Car Left Open Notifications” on the touchscreen.
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Enable the security alarm on the Tesla touchscreen. The security alarm feature will blast a sound and flash the lights if your car is opened without your phone key, key card, or fob. To set it up:^{[9]
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- Press “Controls,” “Safety & Security,” and then “Security Alarm” on the touchscreen.
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Create a PIN in order to drive your car. The PIN to Drive feature requires you (or any other driver) to enter a unique, 4-digit number on the touchscreen before you can drive your car. To set it up:^{[10]
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- Tap “Controls,” “Safety & Security,” and then “PIN to Drive” on the touchscreen.
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Set up Sentry Mode on your Tesla’s touchscreen. In Sentry Mode, your Tesla continuously checks for motion around the car. If it senses a threat, the cameras outside the car start recording and you get a notification on your phone.^{[11]
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- To set up Sentry Mode: Tap “Controls,” “Safety & Security,” and then “Sentry Mode” on the touchscreen.
- Depending on the severity of the threat, your car alarm may start.
- Note: Sentry Mode turns off when your car battery drops below 20%. You will get a phone notification when this happens.
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Make sure your Tesla software is updated. Tesla regularly sends out software updates to fix bugs and add new features to your car. To ensure your car is operating at its peak performance, update its software when you receive a notification on the touchscreen.^{[12]
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- Notifications about software updates also appear on your Tesla phone app.
- To manually check for updates, go to “Controls” and then “Software” on the touchscreen.
- Make sure your Tesla app is kept up to date, too.

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Tips

All Tesla models have a child-lock feature to prevent children from opening the doors from the inside. To turn the Child-Protection Lock on, tap “Controls,” “Vehicle,” and then “Child-Protection Lock” on your car’s touchscreen.

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All Teslas have an optional “Unlock on Park” feature that unlocks all of the doors when you park your car. If this feature is enabled, turn it off by tapping “Controls,” “Lock,” and then “Unlock on Park” on your car’s touchscreen.

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Set up your Tesla so only the driver’s side door unlocks when you approach the car or use your key. To enable this feature, press “Controls,” “Locks,” and then “Driver Door Unlock Mode” on the touchscreen.

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Warnings

Always double-check that your car is locked, especially when using the Walk-Away Door Lock feature. In some instances, the doors and trunk will not automatically lock.

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