Set up Phone Key and Walk-Away Door Lock
4 min read · Updated Oct 22, 2026 · By VoltCoach
Use your phone as your key, and know why the doors sometimes will not lock.
Your phone can be your car key. Tesla also offers key cards and key fobs as backups.
Set up Phone Key
- Download the latest Tesla app and turn on Bluetooth.
- Stand near the car, open the app, choose your car, and tap Set Up next to Phone Key.
- If setup fails, you may be too far away. The app can walk you through setting up with a backup key card instead.
- Choose whether your phone unlocks all doors or just the driver's door.
To add a key card or fob, go to Controls, Locks, Keys, Add Key and scan the new key on the reader. Confirm by scanning a key that is already paired.
Walk-Away Door Lock
It locks the doors and trunk when you walk away carrying your phone key or a paired fob. You can turn it on or off under Controls, Locks.
It may not work if a door or trunk is open, Bluetooth is off, a key is detected inside the car, a person is inside, you did not exit through the driver's door, or Exclude Home is active at home.
If it is not working
- Phone Key needs Bluetooth. Bags and clothing can block the connection, so hold the phone in your hand when approaching.
- Set the Tesla app's location permission to Always Allow, and turn off airplane mode and power-saving mode.
- Leaving your phone in the car stops the doors from locking.
- Some other Tesla apps can interfere with Phone Key.
- Phone Key is not supported on 2012-2020 Model S and 2015-2020 Model X.
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