Tesla software · Stuck updates
Tesla update stuck at 50 or 60 %? What to do
First work out whether the download or the installation is stuck. They need different steps: Wi-Fi and patience for a download, no interruptions for an installation.
Short answer
A stuck update is one of two things. If the car still drives and the update is downloading, it is waiting for Wi-Fi: keep the car parked on a reliable Wi-Fi network without a sign-in page, and give it time. If the car is installing, it cannot be driven and the progress can sit at one number for a while: do not interrupt it. Tesla’s manual gives about 30 minutes, and some updates take longer. If the screen reports an unsuccessful update, Tesla says to wait for the next update to be sent. If the car is not usable normally, contact Tesla Support with the message, build and time.
Download or installation?
| What you see | Stage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Green arrow, the car drives normally | Downloading | Needs Wi-Fi in most cases. Driving away can interrupt it if Wi-Fi drops. |
| Yellow download icon | Waiting for Wi-Fi | An update is available, but the car has no Wi-Fi. |
| Yellow clock | Ready | Nothing is stuck: tap it to install now or set a time. |
| Installation screen, car in Park, cannot drive | Installing | Leave it running. About 30 minutes; some updates take longer. |
| A message that the update was unsuccessful | Failed | Tesla says to wait for the next update to be sent to the car. |
Stuck while downloading
WhereControls›Wi-Fi
- The car’s Wi-Fi, not your phone’s. Check that the car itself is connected, and that the signal is good where it is parked.
- No sign-in pages. Tesla’s manual says networks that need a web sign-in, as in hotels or cafés, are not supported.
- Stay parked. A download can stop if the car drives off and loses Wi-Fi.
- Give it time. Downloads rarely stall for good, and you cannot force a new build.
If a download stays stuck, a German guide suggests restarting the touchscreen (in Park, hold both steering-wheel scroll buttons) and, if that does not help, a service request in the Tesla app under Service, category Software. Only while downloading: never during installation.
Stuck while installing
- Do not interruptThe car stays in Park and cannot be driven. Let it finish, even if the number does not move for a while.
- Allow more than 30 minutesTesla’s manual says about 30 minutes, and some updates take longer.
- Did it not start?Updates do not install while Keep Climate On, Dog Mode or Camp Mode is active. A scheduled install is cancelled if you are driving at that time.
Never start or wait out an installation while someone in the car relies on the climate, and do not try to drive or restart the screen mid-install.
If it says the update failed
Tesla’s current manual says to wait for the next update to be sent to the car; older manuals said to contact Tesla. If the car is not usable normally, contact Tesla Support from the Tesla app and give the exact message, the build and the time. There is no going back to an older version.
Questions
Why is my Tesla update stuck at 60 %?
First check whether it is downloading or installing. A download waits for Wi-Fi; an installation can stay on one number for a while. Tesla’s manual gives about 30 minutes for an installation, and some take longer.
Can I drive while a Tesla update is installing?
No. The car must be in Park and cannot be driven until the installation finishes.
My Tesla says the update failed. What now?
Tesla’s manual says to wait for the next update to be sent to the car. If the car is not usable normally, contact Tesla Support with the message, build and time.
Can I cancel a Tesla update?
A German guide reports that an installation can be cancelled within two minutes of starting. After that, let it finish.
Sources
Tesla documentation
Summaries in our own words, not Tesla’s release notes. Features depend on model, hardware, market and software version; the notes in your car take precedence. Release dates are when public trackers first listed a build, and their country data are samples. Handlefree is independent and not affiliated with Tesla, Inc.
