How to Reboot Your Tesla

Try these reset steps before making a service appointment.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Jun 6, 2024 | 3 min read

Tesla

Rebooting a car is a subject that most drivers are likely unfamiliar with, but vehicles — especially electric vehicles — are increasingly dependent on software in order to function. Modern automobiles can have more than 100 computers controlling various systems and functions, and just like your home computer or mobile phone, your car can sometimes benefit from a reboot.

Tesla is one of the best-known EV names in the world, so it's no surprise the reboot procedure for its vehicles is already fairly well established. If you're new to Tesla, this guide will help you through the reboot process and explain to you when and why you might want to consider it.

Reasons to Reboot Your Tesla

In general, a reboot is recommended for Tesla owners when their vehicle begins to exhibit persistent, repetitive problems that aren't easily solved any other way. It's similar to why you'd reboot a computer or phone. Restarting gives its software a clean slate, which can fix issues. In addition, a Tesla reboot also erases any data in its cache, which can also address glitches.

Problems that prompt a reboot can be something as simple as a frozen touchscreen, features that aren't operating correctly, or error codes recurring despite no obvious problems detected. Although an unresponsive touchscreen might seem like a minor issue, it can effectively lock you out of much of a Tesla's functionality. This makes knowing how to reboot the car that much more important.

Steps to Reboot Your Tesla

There are three levels to a Tesla reboot.

For frozen touchscreens, the most common procedure is known as the soft reboot. To do this, simply hold down on the two scroll wheels on the steering wheel until the screen goes black. After a short period — between 30 and 45 seconds — the Tesla logo will appear, and then the system will be usable again.

While this type of reset can be performed while driving, it will turn off many safety and convenience features while the system is down and is not recommended.

If problems persist, you can also try power-cycling the car. This means shifting into Park, selecting Power Off from the vehicle's touchscreen, and then sitting inside the EV for two minutes without touching handles, pedals, or buttons — anything that might engage the car's systems and wake it up.

The third method for rebooting a Tesla is called a hard reboot. This requires disconnecting the vehicle's 12-volt battery, waiting for the energy in the car's system to dissipate, and then reconnecting it again. This is a more involved procedure that Tesla does not recommend doing at home unless you have experience working on EVs.

How To Tell if Your Tesla Reboot Worked

You'll know immediately if your reboot addressed any problems with your Tesla. Simply try to use the features that were causing problems. If your touchscreen now works, your error codes are cleared, and all systems seem to be performing as expected, then those are all signs that your reboot was effective.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.