Guides · Control Center and Lock Screen
Tesla controls in Control Center and on the Lock Screen
Add Tesla door controls to iPhone Control Center and the Lock Screen on iOS 18 or later. How to add them, what each control does and why the iPhone must be unlocked.
Last verified 25 September 2026 · Handlefree 1.0 · Content revised 1 November 2026; earlier checks retain their dates
Short answer
On iOS 18 or later, apps can add buttons to Control Center and the Lock Screen. Handlefree offers one control per door. Open Control Center, tap +, choose Add a Control and search for Handlefree. Each control opens Handlefree and sends exactly that door once.
Free or Pro: The driver-door control is free. Controls for the front passenger and rear doors are part of Handlefree Pro (€19.99 once, 7-day free trial).
If the control only opens the app
Opening Handlefree can be part of the authenticated system-control flow. It does not by itself mean a vehicle command was sent. Beside the parked car, check the named action, any setup or verification prompt, Holiday Mode and the displayed result. If the same action works in the app but not from the system control, reselect the intended action and check the app version. Do not repeatedly tap without checking the door.
Add a door to Control Center
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
- Tap + in the top-left corner, then Add a Control.
- Search for Handlefree and choose a door: driver, front passenger, rear driver-side or rear passenger-side.
- Tap the new button beside your car. Handlefree opens, sends the request once and shows the result.
Add it to the Lock Screen
- Touch and hold the Lock Screen, then tap Customize and choose Lock Screen.
- Tap one of the controls at the bottom to remove it, then tap the empty slot.
- Search for Handlefree and pick a door.
The iPhone still needs to be unlocked before the command is sent.
How it behaves
- Each control always targets the same named door; nothing can change its destination later.
- The request is sent once. If the car cannot be reached, Handlefree says so and does not retry.
- Holiday Mode blocks the controls.
- Test and confirm each door in the app before relying on its control.
Tesla’s own controls
Tesla’s app added Control Center controls for iOS 18 with app version 4.38.0 in October 2024, according to Drive Tesla: lock and unlock, climate on or off, charge port open or close, frunk, flash the headlights, honk and the fart sound. The current list depends on the Tesla app version. Handlefree’s controls add separate buttons for each door.
Check your vehicle before relying on a shortcut
Read the compatibility evidence and its limits. Artwork is not a compatibility test. Keep a working physical key available.
Questions
Why does the control open the app?
Handlefree sends vehicle commands only from the main app, so it can authenticate you and show the result. The control is a fast way to start that one command.
Do I need iOS 18?
Yes. Control Center and Lock Screen controls from apps require iOS 18 or later. On iOS 17, use Shortcuts or the Action Button.
Sources
Tesla features change with software updates; check the linked source for your car. Handlefree is independent and not affiliated with Tesla, Inc. Use vehicle controls only beside your parked car with the area clear.
