Like all cars, Tesla’s electric vehicle lineup is not without its flaws. One of the most common problems is a broken touchscreen panel that prevents you from accessing all of your controls or playing your favorite PC game while parked at a Supercharger.
In fact, a broken Tesla screen stops most of the action, as almost all of its functions (aside from actual driving) are tied to the giant touchscreen. This makes your Tesla difficult to live with, as all of its fancy features are virtually useless until the problem is fixed.
However, all is not lost as Tesla had the foresight to make this a solvable problem that doesn’t require a trip to the nearest dealer. If you’ve encountered a frozen Tesla screen, here’s how to reset your Tesla’s screen and regain access to all your controls.
Tesla
How to reset the display on a Tesla
Most problems that arise with a Tesla’s infotainment system can be resolved with just a simple reset of the infotainment system. Luckily, this is pretty easy and the process is the same no matter what Tesla model you have.
Note that you will not be able to see anything on the screen during the reset process, such as: E.g. your speed, or even just being able to hear your turn signals. For this reason, we recommend stopping and not driving during the reset process.
To reset your Tesla’s infotainment, follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Put the car in park.
Step 2: Press and hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel until the screen goes black.
Step 3: After 30 seconds, the Tesla logo should appear and the infotainment system should restart. You can then use the display as intended.
Tesla
Restart the Tesla itself
Sometimes just resetting the infotainment system isn’t enough to get your Tesla back in shape – instead, you’ll need to restart the car’s systems as well. Assuming you still have access to the vehicle’s software, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Make sure you are parked and in a safe place for a few minutes. Close all doors.
Step 2: Go to Controls > Security.
Step 3: Press the key Turn off Button.
Step 4: Wait a few minutes without touching anything while your car restarts its systems. Be patient! Even things like pressing the brake pedal or opening a door can interrupt this process.
Step 5: After waiting two minutes, press the brake pedal to wake up the car.
Hard restart your Tesla without using the screen
If you don’t have access to your Tesla’s software and need to perform a hard reset, the method varies slightly depending on the model. Follow the instructions below to hard reset your Tesla.
Step 1: Park the car in a safe place and close all doors.
Step 2: If you have a Model S or X, press and hold the brake pedal, both scroll wheels, and both steering wheel buttons. If you have a Model Y, press and hold the brake pedal and both scroll wheels. Press and hold all buttons until the screen reappears.
You should now be able to use your Tesla as usual. However, if this is not possible, you will need to make an appointment with Tesla for the repair.
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