Guides · Tips and tricks

Lesser-known Tesla tips for Model Y and Model 3 (2026)

Fifteen useful Tesla features many owners miss: Car Wash Mode, trunk height, mirrors that fold at saved places, the door-opening warning, Glovebox PIN, dashcam encryption, a custom scroll button, restarting the screen and more, with 2026 menu paths.

Last verified 25 September 2026 against Tesla’s owner’s manuals and support pages

Short answer

Fifteen useful features from Tesla’s current manuals that many owners miss, grouped as around the car, safety and security, and screen and charging. Menu paths are from 2026 software; some features depend on your model, equipment and market.

Around the car

  1. Car Wash Mode · Controls › Service. Closes the windows, locks the charge port and disables wipers, Sentry Mode, walk-away locking and parking chimes. For automatic washes, Enable Free Roll keeps the car in Neutral. Tesla notes car-wash damage is not covered by the warranty.
  2. Trunk opening height. Stop the powered liftgate where you want it, then follow the on-screen prompt or hold the button under the liftgate until it chimes. Save it as your default or for a place such as a low garage.
  3. Hands-Free Trunk · Controls › Locks. Stand behind the car with your phone key in a front pocket and the trunk opens. It needs a phone with Ultra Wideband and the phone key upgraded in the Tesla app.
  4. Mirrors that fold at saved places. Fold the mirrors at a location and tap Save Location; they will fold there automatically.
  5. Phone Left Behind Detection · Controls › Locks. A chime and a message if a phone key stays in the car after everyone has left. It needs an Ultra Wideband phone; Tesla says not to rely on it.

Safety and security

  1. Door-opening warning. With Blind Spot Warning Light on (Controls › Safety), the door does not open on the first press if something, such as a cyclist, is approaching; press again to override. Always look before opening.
  2. Blind Spot Warning Accent Lights · Controls › Lights (2026 software). The interior accent lights turn red as an extra blind-spot cue.
  3. Glovebox PIN and Valet Mode · Controls › Safety. Valet Mode limits speed to 70 mph (113 km/h) and locks the frunk and glovebox; a Glovebox PIN keeps your own access.
  4. Encrypt Dashcam Recordings · Controls › Safety (2026 software). Tesla recommends it: encrypted clips play only on the recording car or with the linked Tesla account.
  5. Sentry Mode Clip Length · Controls › Safety › Sentry Mode (2026 software). Choose how long Sentry recordings are.

Screen, comfort and charging

  1. Joe Mode · Controls › Safety. Lowers non-critical chimes for sleeping passengers.
  2. Your own scroll-button shortcut · Controls › Display › Scroll Button Function (Scroll Wheel Function on older software). Sets what a long press of the left scroll button does.
  3. Screen Clean Mode · Controls › Display. Darkens and locks the touchscreen while you wipe it.
  4. Restart the touchscreen. In Park, hold both scroll buttons until the screen goes black. For a full power cycle, use Controls › Safety › Power Off and wait two minutes without touching anything.
  5. Charge settings per location · Controls › Charging. Set a charge limit or current for this location and the car remembers it, for example a lower current on a shared home circuit.

Questions

How do I restart the Tesla touchscreen?

In Park, press and hold both scroll buttons on the steering wheel until the touchscreen turns black; it restarts on its own. For a full power cycle, use Controls › Safety › Power Off and wait two minutes.

Can I use Car Wash Mode in an automatic car wash?

Yes. Turn on Car Wash Mode, then Enable Free Roll so the car stays in Neutral for the conveyor. Car Wash Mode ends above 15 km/h or when you tap Exit.

Why do some of these tips not appear on my car?

Several depend on the model, build date, equipment, market and software version. Hands-Free Trunk and Phone Left Behind Detection also need a phone with Ultra Wideband.

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.

Keep reading

20 Tesla settings worth changing, with 2026 menu paths 10 things to do with your new Tesla in the first days What drains a parked Tesla, and what to switch off
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