When you are unable to unlock your Tesla with your iPhone the main question you are asking yourself is, why? You are not the first person you have run into this issue and there are a few reasons why you can not unlock your Tesla with your iPhone.
How is the charge on your iPhone? Are you connected to your Tesla via Bluetooth on your iPhone? Have you updated the Tesla app in a while? These are all possible reasons why you can not unlock your Tesla using your iPhone.
Read below to see how you can solve this issue yourself.
Why Is Tesla Not Unlocking With iPhone?
1. iPhone Has No Power
The first thing to consider when your Tesla is not unlocking with your iPhone is the percentage of your iPhone’s battery. If the battery is low on your iPhone this may cause the background app not to work, like the Tesla app.
It could even affect your Bluetooth connection on your iPhone, if your iPhone’s battery is low this can disconnect your Bluetooth to conserve power.
Overall having low power on your iPhone is not only bad for your phone but also bad for the devices that are connected to your iPhone. When your iPhone reaches below 20 percent it will stop certain apps from running in the background.
Fix – Charge Your iPhone
1. Charge your iPhone if you notice that your iPhone’s battery is low and it is not unlocking your Tesla. Making sure that your iPhone’s battery has full power will help keep your apps working at optimal levels. Charge your iPhone and check to see if doing this will unlock your Tesla via the iPhone. If this does not work there are a few other things that you can try to get your iPhone to unlock your Tesla.
2. If this does not work and your iPhone is charged try to restart your iPhone. Turn it off and wait a few minutes before you turn your iPhone back on. This can refresh your iPhone and might solve this issue. Once your iPhone is back on try to see if you can unlock your Tesla using your iPhone.
2. Issue With iPhone Bluetooth
Now in order to unlock your Tesla with your iPhone you need to be connected via Bluetooth. If your iPhone’s Bluetooth is disabled it will not connect to your Tesla. Your Bluetooth is the main connection between your iPhone and your Tesla.
When this feature is disabled this could be the main reason behind why you are unable to unlock your Tesla using your iPhone. Check to see that one of your iPhones is fully charged and two that your iPhone’s Bluetooth is enabled.
Fix – Enable Your iPhones Bluetooth
If you are unable to unlock your Tesla using your iPhone check to see if your iPhone’s Bluetooth is enabled. If your Bluetooth is disabled on your iPhone, turn it on and connect to your Tesla.
If your Bluetooth is already enabled try disabling it, waiting a few minutes, and enabling the Bluetooth again. This might refresh the connection between your iPhone and your Tesla.
3. iPhone Not Compatible With Tesla Model
Another common reason why you are not able to unlock your Tesla with your iPhone could be that your iPhone is not compatible with the Model of Tesla you own. There are certain generations of iPhones that are not compatible with certain Tesla Models.
If you have not been able to connect to your Tesla at all via your iPhone this may be due to your iPhone not being compatible with your Model of Tesla. A lot of users have stated this as being the issue with why you are unable to unlock your Tesla with your iPhone.
Fix – Check to See if Your iPhone is Compatible With Your Tesla Model
If you are not able to unlock your Tesla with your iPhone and the battery on your iPhone is fully charged and your iPhone’s Bluetooth is enabled. There could be a chance that your iPhone is not compatible with the Model of Tesla you own.
Apple does state that the iPhone 11 and older are able to connect to your Tesla. So if you own an older generation of iPhone you may not be able to connect the device to your Tesla to use as a phone key.
Even the Apple Watch Series 6 and older can be compatible with your Tesla Model, again if you own an older series of Apple Watch you may not be able to connect your Apple Watch to your Tesla.
4. Tesla App is Out of Date
Have you checked for any updates on your Tesla app? If your Tesla app is out of date this can cause issues with the app. Since you need to be logged into the Tesla app and be connected to Tesla via Bluetooth in order for you to be able to unlock your Tesla using your iPhone.
When the Tesla app is out of date certain features on the app may malfunction due to bugs/glitches that may be present in your Tesla app software. Updating your Tesla app may solve the issue of why you are unable to unlock your Tesla using your iPhone.
Fix – Update Tesla App
1. Go into the Apple Store to check to see if your Tesla app needs to be updated. When you are in the Apple Store go under the settings, and under the update options scroll and see if you see the Tesla app as an option.
If your Tesla app needs to be updated, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update.
Once the Tesla app is updated, open up the app to make sure that your iPhone is connected to your Tesla via Bluetooth. Try to unlock your Tesla with your iPhone to see if this solves the problem.
2. Another thing you can try is to refresh your Tesla app and clear any bugs/glitches that may be causing this issue. Is clearing the cache on the Tesla app, go into your iPhone setting, under the app options scroll down till you see the Tesla App, and tap on that.
When you are in your Tesla app you will want to go into the storage option. Once in the storage option you will see the clear cache option, tap on that to see if this solves the issue.
Also, check to see if your iPhone needs to be updated, this could also be what is causing this issue. You can check for software updates under the settings on your iPhone. Follow the on-screen instruction to update your iPhone, once the update is complete check to see if you can unlock your Tesla using your iPhone.
5. iPhone is in Back Pocket
Is your iPhone in your back pocket? Yes, this could be the reason why you are unable to unlock your Tesla using your iPhone.
If your iPhone is in your back pocket this could block your iPhone from the Tesla’s range and prevent you from being able to unlock your Tesla. If your iPhone is blocked this will block the signal that is needed to unlock your Tesla.
As previously stated when your iPhone is in your pocket or even your handbag this can block the signal and this is why your Tesla can not unlock with your iPhone.
Fix – Take iPhone Out of Pocket
If your iPhone signal is blocked from your Tesla, and you are unable to unlock your Tesla with your iPhone. This could be due to your iPhone being in your back pocket or inside your handbag.
Thankfully this is an easy fix, either move your iPhone to a front pocket or hold your iPhone in your hand for a better signal. If your iPhone is in a handbag pull the device out of the bag and hold it in your hand.
With all that being said, when you can not unlock your Tesla with your iPhone, this could be due to different reasons. Your iPhone battery could be low, the Bluetooth could be diable. Maybe you need an update on the Tesla app or your iPhone.
If none of these steps have solved the issue, there could be a chance that your iPhone is not compatible with your Model Tesla, this is more common with older series of iPhones or Apple Watches.
Remember you can always contact either the Tesla Customer Support or the Apple Customer Support to report the issue.