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Issue With Phone Key Card? Tesla Model 3

Discussion in 'Model 3' started by CarFoxSuperior, Feb 27, 2021.

  1. CarFoxSuperior

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2020
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    In the past, I was able to unlock my Tesla Model 3 without opening the Tesla app. Recently, I've noticed my phone key card started only letting me open my Tesla while using the app. I'm not sure why all of a sudden it stopped working, has anybody else ever experienced this? Or have any solutions to fix this issue. Please comment below! (I have an iPhone 11. )
     
  2. jtr1331

    jtr1331 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2021
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Orange County
    Try going to settings > tesla app towards bottom > location/always on, bluetooth/on, background app refresh/on

    No idea if it will work or if its the problem, just brainstorming.
     
    • Like x 2
  3. S&B's M3

    S&B's M3 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Location:
    Texas
    My S9 Note works perfectly. Now, opening the charge port without the phone or car on is a whole 'nother story.
     
  4. jjrandorin

    jjrandorin Moderator, Model 3, Tesla Energy Forums

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2018
    Messages:
    7,114
    Location:
    Riverside Co. CA
    Your not supposed to be able to open the charge port without the phone or the car on (so that someone else cant unplug you).
     
  5. S&B's M3

    S&B's M3 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2021
    Messages:
    22
    Location:
    Texas
    I hear ya, but since 48.35.5, all I have to do is walk up with my phone in my pocket, and I can press the door and it opens.
     
  6. bo3bdar

    bo3bdar Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2021
    Messages:
    7
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Car has been a little glitchy as far as I'm concerned. I've been locked out of my car twice because my phone stopped working as access. One time closing the Tesla app and restarting it worked to get back in. The other time nothing worked, but I keep my second, uh, key in my wallet and had it outside the car. I don't trust the phone by itself, so I carry the card key as a backup.

    I think these glitches might have happened after an update. The more updates I get, the fewer I want.
     
    • Like x 1
  7. jjrandorin

    jjrandorin Moderator, Model 3, Tesla Energy Forums

    Joined:
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    Messages:
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    Location:
    Riverside Co. CA
    Thats how its supposed to work...

    you said "open the chargeport without the phone" so I thought you ment "without the phone in your possession". You dont have to open the tesla app to push the charge port button, but it sometimes takes a couple presses on mine for the car to wake up (as long as I have the phone in my possession).

    Maybe when you said "without the phone" what you ment was "without using the phone to open the tesla app"?
     
  8. natman316

    natman316 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2020
    Messages:
    92
    Location:
    Bay area
    I’ve noticed more issues using phone as a key after the latest update as well. Might give in and go for a fob at some point....
     
  9. vogz

    vogz Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2019
    Messages:
    232
    Location:
    Batavia, IL
    On the rare occasion that I've had an issue, simply cycling bluetooth off and back on in the phone settings clears it right up. It's probably happened 3 times in the last year. It's a bluetooth issue, not a Tesla issue per se.
     
    • Like x 1
  10. CarFoxSuperior

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2020
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Hey, I actually tried this before and it still doesn't work. Thanks for the suggestion!
     
  11. CarFoxSuperior

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2020
    Messages:
    13
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    I guess it's a good thing you carry your key card with you haha.
     
  12. bo3bdar

    bo3bdar Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2021
    Messages:
    7
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Didn't work for me on my second failure. I even rebooted the phone and it didn't fix the problem.

    For whatever reason the phone had been disconnected from the car, and was no longer a 'key'. It happened the next day after an update, which is why I don't trust the updates. Tesla seems to do superficial QA and apparently doesn't even try to fix this sort of 1/1000 scenario.
     
  13. Phlier

    Phlier Bluebird

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2019
    Messages:
    1,282
    Location:
    Utah
    My wife started having this problem a few months ago. It ended up being that she would force quit (swipe up) on the Tesla app every night.

    Once the Tesla app is open on your phone, and the car functionality is working, don’t ever close the app. When you’re not using the Tesla app, just leave it open in the background. Short summary: if you have to get to the app by launching it from the icon, you’re doing it wrong. :)

    Ever since she has left the Tesla app open, she hasn’t had anymore problems.
     

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