Camp Mode
Keeps climate and power on for people sleeping in the car; Sentry Mode, the alarm and walk-away locking are inactive.
Tesla software · Locking
Walked away and your Tesla stayed unlocked?
How Walk-Away Door Lock works, the six situations in which Tesla says it will not lock, the modes that switch it off, and the lock settings around it.
Short answer
Walk-Away Door Lock locks the car when your phone key (or a paired key fob or authenticated Apple Watch) leaves Bluetooth range. It stays unlocked if Home is excluded and you are at Home, a key is still inside, a door or trunk is not fully shut, the phone key’s Bluetooth is off, a key lingered nearby for several minutes after you got out, or you did not leave through the driver door. The key card never locks automatically. Camp Mode, Car Wash Mode and Halloween’s Trick or Treat switch it off.
How it works
WhereControls›Locks›Walk-Away Door Lock
Six reasons it stays unlocked
- Exclude Home is on and the car is parked at your saved Home.
- A key is inside: a phone key or fob is detected in the car.
- Something is open: a door or trunk is not fully closed.
- Bluetooth is off for the phone key.
- You lingered: a key stayed nearby for several minutes after you got out. Walk-away locking then stays off until after your next drive.
- Another door: the driver did not get out through the driver door.
Careful
A paired phone left inside with Bluetooth on works like keys left in an unlocked car: the door opens when someone pulls the handle, even after you locked it in the app.
Modes that switch it off
Car Wash Mode
Closes windows and locks the charge port, but turns off walk-away locking, Sentry Mode and the wipers.
Trick or Treat (Halloween)
Trackers report that Sentry Mode, the alarm and walk-away locking are off while it runs.
The lock settings around it
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Lock Confirmation Sound | Adds a sound when the car locks (lights always flash). The sound itself can be changed in Toybox › Boombox. |
| Driver Door Unlock Mode | The first unlock opens only the driver door, and only with the key on the driver side. |
| Unlock on Park | Unlocks every door when you shift into Park. |
| Drive-away locking | Automatic: all doors and trunks lock above 8 km/h. |
| Car Left Open Notifications | Tells you in the app if a door, trunk or window is open or the car is unlocked. |
| Child Lock | Rear doors only: Both, Left or Right. |
Always check it yourself
Tesla is clear that making sure the car is locked is ultimately your responsibility, even with Walk-Away Door Lock on. Look for the flash, check the app, and never test locking with a child or animal inside.
Questions
Why does my Tesla not lock when I walk away at home?
Most likely Exclude Home is on under Controls › Locks › Walk-Away Door Lock. It keeps the car unlocked at your saved Home address.
Does the key card lock the car when I walk away?
No. The key card never locks or unlocks automatically; only a phone key, key fob or authenticated Apple Watch does.
At what speed do Tesla doors lock automatically?
Above 8 km/h (5 mph) all doors and trunks lock automatically.
Sources
Tesla documentation
Tracker reports and press
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.
