The Tesla Model 3 is known for its cutting-edge technology and innovation, but with so many features packed into the software, it’s easy to overlook some of the best ones.
Ever wonder if there are hidden features in your Tesla that could make your drives more fun or efficient? You’re not alone.
This guide reveals hidden features and tips for Tesla Model 3 owners to enhance personalization, performance, and overall driving experience.
1. Choose Your Drive Mode Adventure
Ever wondered how to make your Tesla Model 3 adapt to different driving conditions? It’s all about choosing the right drive mode for the situation.
Joe Mode is a lifesaver if you have little ones in the backseat. It lowers the volume of chimes and alerts, giving you a quieter cabin. Just go to Controls > Safety & Security to turn it on.
Sport Mode ramps up the excitement with enhanced responsiveness and acceleration, while Chill Mode provides a smoother, more relaxed ride, ideal for city streets. Activate both through Controls > Driving > Acceleration.
For tricky road conditions, Slip Start helps by allowing the wheels to spin more freely for better traction in snow, mud, or sand. Creep Mode mimics a traditional automatic transmission, making slow movements in heavy traffic easier.
Both features can be activated via Controls > Driving.
2. Navigate Your Infotainment Options
Set your preferred media source to play automatically at startup by adjusting the Media Source settings.
Seamlessly link streaming services through your Tesla’s interface and use Voice Commands for hands-free control by pressing the steering wheel button. For added fun, try Caraoke to sing along with on-screen lyrics.
Personalize your infotainment experience by creating Customizable Media Shortcuts, and rearrange your screen layout by long-pressing apps and widgets to fit your preferences.
3. Tailoring Your Lighting Experience
Want to make your Tesla Model 3’s lighting work for you? Start by setting the mood with Ambient Interior Lighting through Controls > Lights > Ambient Lights.
When parking in dark areas, the Headlight After Exit option keeps your path illuminated. For automatic adjustments based on traffic and lighting, turn on Auto High Beams in the same menu.
In foggy weather, use the Fog Light Control for better visibility. Customize your Daytime Running Lights (DRL) for appearance and energy efficiency via Controls > Lights > Daytime Running Lights.
As you approach or leave your car, Puddle Lights illuminate the ground, and Welcome Lights greet you with a light show, both accessible through Controls > Lights.
For a cozy cabin experience while watching movies, activate Theater Mode Lighting to dim the interior lights and optimize your experience.
4. Schedule and Go
With the Scheduled Departure feature in your Model 3, you can make sure your car is ready when you are. You can set location-based schedules, customizing preparation times for different locations like home or work.
Access this through Controls > Schedule and choose Current Location, Home, or Work. Set preconditioning and charging times for each location, and your Model 3 will remember these settings for convenience.
To optimize energy use, go to Controls > Charging > Scheduled Charging and define specific start and stop times for charging.
5. Temperature Control for Parked Teslas
If you want to keep your Tesla from getting too hot while it’s parked, use the Cabin Overheat Protection feature. To turn it on, go to Controls > Safety & Security > Cabin Overheat Protection on your screen.
You can pick between using the air conditioning or a gentler method to keep the car cool. This helps protect the interior from extreme heat and makes sure you come back to a comfortable car.
For quick relief on a hot day, press and hold the AC icon on your touchscreen to activate full air conditioning. Press and hold again to turn it off, and adjust the settings to find your ideal comfort level.
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6. NFC Solutions
Your Model 3 can use NFC tags for added convenience. These affordable tags, which you can buy online, can be programmed to perform tasks with a simple tap.
Place NFC tags in handy spots around your car, such as the dashboard or near the door. Use a third-party app to program each tag for specific actions, like opening the charging port or unlocking the frunk.
Link each NFC tag to a function in the app. Once programmed, tapping your smartphone against the tag will trigger the assigned action.
7. Make the Most of Your Tesla App
Your Tesla mobile app has a handy feature that can make controlling your Model 3 even easier. By default, the app shows four icons for quick access to common functions. But did you know you can add a fifth icon?
Here’s how: Press and hold one of the quick icon areas in the app. This brings up more control options. Pick the function you use most, like starting the HVAC or opening the charge port.
Drag your chosen icon to the top right corner of the screen. You might need to try a few times as the menu expands to accept the new icon.
8. Match Your Tesla's Look
Want your Tesla’s digital appearance to match its real-world look? The Car Color Customizer in your Tesla app lets you do just that. Whether you've got a custom paint job or wrap, you can update your car’s color on the app.
To use it, open the Tesla app and go to ‘Settings,’ then select ‘Car Color Customizer.’ You’ll see a range of colors to choose from.
Slide through the options until you find a color that matches your Tesla's actual appearance. Once you select it, your car’s digital image updates to reflect the new color.
9. Fine-tune for Tire Upgrades
Got new tires for your Model 3? Make sure your Tesla is updated with the new tire info to keep your mileage and range calculations accurate. After changing your tires, you can update the settings directly from your car.
Head to the 'Service Menu' in your Tesla's main settings, then find 'Wheel Configuration.' Here, you can select the type and size of your new tires. This update helps your Tesla’s software adjust its energy use and range predictions to match your new setup.
By keeping your Tesla in the loop, you ensure that your performance metrics are spot-on and that your car responds well to different road conditions.
10. Mastering Sentry Mode & Dashcam
Your Tesla Model 3’s Sentry Mode and Dashcam features have practical settings you might find useful. Set up Sentry Mode by going to Controls > Safety & Security > Sentry Mode on your touchscreen.
You can keep it on always, activate it in new or unfamiliar locations, or set it to ignore familiar places like 'Home' or 'Work' to save battery.
For convenient dashcam access, add its icon to your touchscreen dock. Tap the icon to save video clips directly to your onboard memory. To quickly capture footage, enable the option to link dashcam recording to your horn.
Go to Controls > Safety > Dashcam and turn on 'capture footage on honk.' This way, honking will automatically save footage, making it easier to document incidents.
Explore whether the Tesla Model 3 is equipped with a 360-degree camera for better parking and safety.
11. Tesla Manual Overrides
Even with all the high-tech features, it’s good to know how to handle things if something goes wrong. If you can't open the charge port due to a power issue, use the manual release strap in the trunk near the port.
To restart an unresponsive touchscreen, press and hold both scroll wheel buttons on the steering wheel until the system reboots. Alternatively, go to Controls > Safety & Security > Power Off on the touchscreen to reset the car’s systems.
In the rare case of complete power loss, Tesla has a manual exit option. There’s a small lever inside the door panel that you can pull to release the lock mechanism. Push the door outward to exit.
Just be careful not to force it, as the window doesn’t lower automatically with this manual method, which might cause damage to the window or door trim.
12. Safeguard Your Mirrors
Your Tesla Model 3 offers Mirror Auto-Tilt, which tilts your side mirrors down when you shift into reverse to improve curb and obstacle visibility.
To activate it, go to Controls > Mirror > Auto-Tilt on your touchscreen. This feature is especially useful for tight parking in city areas.
Auto-Fold automatically folds your mirrors when you park and lock your vehicle, protecting them from bumps. To activate it, go to Controls > Mirror > Auto-Fold on your touchscreen. This feature helps keep your mirrors safe and functional.
13. Security with PIN Features
Use the Glovebox PIN feature to secure your valuables with a four-digit code. Set it up by going to Controls > Safety & Security > Glovebox PIN and entering your PIN. This is useful when leaving your car with others, such as a valet.
The PIN to Drive feature stops unauthorized use by requiring a PIN before driving. Activate it via Controls > Safety & Security > PIN to Drive.
If the touchscreen isn’t working, restart it. If that fails, bypass PIN to Drive using Keyless Driving in the Tesla app.
14. Streamlining Lock Features
Model 3 simplifies access with Passive Entry, unlocking the car automatically when you approach with your paired device. Activate it via Controls > Locks.
Use Walk-Away Door Lock to automatically lock the car when you move out of Bluetooth range. The Tesla app also lets you lock your car remotely and customize Smart Summon Locking Behavior.
You can also activate the Lock Confirmation Sound to hear when your car locks, enable Unlock via Key Card Only for added security and set up Car Left Open Notifications to alert you if your car is left unsecured.
Get troubleshooting tips if your Tesla Model 3’s auto-lock feature is not functioning properly.
15. Quiet Calls, Custom Horns
Customize your Tesla's horn sound by going to Controls > Safety & Security > Horn Sound. Choose from Tesla’s options or upload your own to replace the standard beep.
You can also personalize notification sounds for various alerts, such as parking sensors or reminders. Use your Tesla mobile app or vehicle settings to set these custom sounds so they fit your style.
For a quieter experience during calls, enable Silent Mode for Phone Calls. This feature automatically lowers media volume or mutes alerts when a call comes in via Bluetooth, helping you stay focused on your conversation.
16. Window Controls Made Simple
Manage your Tesla’s windows with ease. Start by calibrating them: close the door and fully raise and lower each window twice.
Activate Automatic Window Roll-Up on Lock via Controls > Locks so windows roll up with Walk-Away Door Lock for added security. Use the Vent Windows function in the Tesla app to lower and raise all windows remotely for ventilation.
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17. Maximizing Safety Features
Your Tesla is equipped with key safety features including Emergency Lane Departure Avoidance. Activate this in Controls > Autopilot to stay in your lane, with alerts or automatic steering if needed.
You can also activate automatic Emergency Braking to detect potential collisions and engage the brakes to help prevent accidents.
For added awareness, turn on the Blind Spot Collision Warning Chime in Controls > Autopilot. This chime alerts you if another vehicle enters your blind spot.
You can also adjust Traffic-Aware Cruise Control settings in Autopilot > TACC Follow Distance to control how close you stay to the car ahead.
Learn about the collision avoidance features in the Tesla Model 3 and how they enhance safety.
18. Exploring Easter Eggs
Your Tesla Model 3 has some fun surprises to make your drives more enjoyable.
For a splash of color, activate Rainbow Road by tapping the Autopilot stalk down four times quickly. This turns your navigation into a colorful path with playful cowbell sounds.
On chilly evenings, cozy up with Romance Mode by tapping the Tesla "T" for a virtual fireplace and romantic music. If you want to add a bit of humor, try Emissions Testing Mode to play fart sounds from any seat.
For a bit of festive cheer, switch to Santa Mode during the holidays for holiday music and sleigh visuals. Mars Mode changes your navigation display to an interplanetary theme, while TRAX Music Studio lets you create your own tunes.
You can also brighten your charging sessions with Rainbow Charge Port, which activates vibrant colors by pressing the charging handle button ten times.
From Sketchpad drawings to singing along with Caraoke or exploring Star Wars-inspired The Force mode, these Easter eggs add extra fun to your Tesla experience.
Maximize Your Tesla Model 3 Experience
Your Tesla Model 3 is packed with features designed to enhance your driving experience. From customizing your drive modes to discovering hidden Easter eggs, there’s a lot to explore.
By utilizing these lesser-known features, you can add convenience and fun to every journey. Dive into these tips and make the most of your Model 3’s capabilities.
For more tips, check out our guide on 10 things every Tesla Model 3 owner should know.