Phone as Key Issues

[jomo25]

As someone who is waiting for his delivery date, I’m curious: is the “phone as a key” working correctly for ANYBODY?

Works great for me normally.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a Tesla app-wide issue right now. I wasn’t able to access either the 3 or X via the app since last night.

Amazingly, the phone-as-key was still working for the 3 even with that issue.

BUT, when I still couldn’t access either car to pre-cool today (its hot again in PHX), i thought it was an issue with my login and I logged out of the app. Since it’s a TESLA issue (i confirmed by calling service), I can’t log back in now, and now I can’t open the 3 with the phone since its not logged into the app.

So, if I hadn’t logged out, it would likely continue to work (as it does for my wife’s Phone at the moment, since she didnt’ log out). But because I logged out and cant log back in, it isnt working.

Links to other threads about the Tesla app issue: App / API outage? (2018-04-21), App Connection down?

 

[jomo25]

So, if you have a 3, leave the app on the 3, and DON’T logout of the Tesla app until the current app issue is fixed.

Else, you will definitely not be able to use the phone to open and start the car. Will have to use the card.

 

[azred]

Works great for me normally.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a Tesla app-wide issue right now. I wasn’t able to access either the 3 or X via the app since last night.

Amazingly, the phone-as-key was still working for the 3 even with that issue.

BUT, when I still couldn’t access either car to pre-cool today (its hot again in PHX), i thought it was an issue with my login and I logged out of the app. Since it’s a TESLA issue (i confirmed by calling service), I can’t log back in now, and now I can’t open the 3 with the phone since its not logged into the app.

So, if I hadn’t logged out, it would likely continue to work (as it does for my wife’s Phone at the moment, since she didnt’ log out). But because I logged out and cant log back in, it isnt working.

Links to other threads about the Tesla app issue: App / API outage? (2018-04-21), App Connection down?

I did the same thing as of course I had no idea it was a systemwide issue until I looked at this thread. Bluetooth should still work to open and start car, but once we logged out we were sunk. Maybe this will be the final straw for Tesla to fork over key fobs.

 

[N5329K]

Maybe this will be the final straw for Tesla to fork over key fobs.
It might depend on what EM knows, what he believes possible, and what he's being told. There's been plenty written about the "Elon Distortion Field" and how it's deflects facts a brilliant guy like EM would normally take action on. Distortion fields are useful when you're setting high goals that others believe are unattainable. No, we're going to do them.
They are dangerous when evidence contrary to your own beliefs bounce off.
For example...
Robin

 

[cellogig]

Maybe they are finally addressing the phone key issue with this shut down of the app on the phones.
And will roll out a new fix.

 

[N5329K]

Maybe they are finally addressing the phone key issue with this shut down of the app on the phones.
And will roll out a new fix.

That would be great news.
Robin

 

[dhrivnak]

I have found a work around for my iPhone. I normally carry the phone in the back pocket and as such it frequently fails as my body is between the phone and the door handle. If I rotate my hips, or have the phone in my hand it has always worked. Again sometimes in the back pocket starting can be an issue, but if in my front pocket or in the dock I have never had a problem.

 

[CatB]

This is *not* good.
I am chaperoning a youth trip 2.5 hours from DC.
Car plugged in and charging, and I can’t get in the door.
Tesla is say “we tell people to bring the key as a backup” - um... No. Not what they said when I picked up the car...

And there is no way for them to resolve this. I now get to pay my niece (thank heavens she’s house-sitting for me, so she can get to the key and isn’t too far away) to drive the key to me...

So, looks like I have to keep the key in my wallet, and the phone is not really a key - which, tbh, it was a pretty poor key in the best of circumstances because I would constantly have to pull my phone out and unlock the car through the app anyway.

Second the motion to deliver WORKABLE key fobs to all M3 owners. Yesterday. Maybe in 2-3 years they’ll have debugged this issue, but for right now, this is *not* working.

 

[cellogig]

Maybe they are finally addressing the phone key issue with this shut down of the app on the phones.
And will roll out a new fix.

That would be great news.
Robin

I think I might be correct.

Tested the app and so much better connectivity with my iPhone

 

[CatB]

FYSA, App now working for me.

 

[bnsfengineer]

If I restart my phone it will work when it won't connect. Pain in the butt.

 

[jsmay311]

I think I might be correct.

Tested the app and so much better connectivity with my iPhone

To clarify, the theory here is that Tesla purposely shut down their servers and disabled their app for all Tesla owners (including S&X) so that they could roll out software updates for the Model 3, despite having existing methods for doing so that DON'T needlessly disrupt the app for everyone?

 

[HumanGenome]

You could run out of battery, misplace your smartphone, have issues with it, have the Tesla app not function, etc. Why would you not bring your primary key with you when driving?

Redundancy people!

 

[cellogig]

To clarify, the theory here is that Tesla purposely shut down their servers and disabled their app for all Tesla owners (including S&X) so that they could roll out software updates for the Model 3, despite having existing methods for doing so that DON'T needlessly disrupt the app for everyone?

Not being a tech person, so it is possible for Tesla to update the app to fix connectivity.

I am not consistent on updating apps and iPhone updates. iPhone updates I always press remind me later.

So tesla probably shut the app down to update everyone instead of relying on us to do it ourselves.

Also many of us have a couple of vehicles listed on our Tesla apps.

 

[SDKoala]

This thread gets much more traffic, so I wanted to link to a post I just created that might get buried in a place where people won't see it: A Model 3 phone key workaround using Tasker on Android to reset Bluetooth automatically

I've figured out that at least for me toggling the phone's Bluetooth radio on/off reliably gets the phone to connect to the car and allows the phone key to work. I'm hoping people can test it out. I can't do it myself right now because my car is still stuck at the service center, but I'm really hopeful this workaround will address the phone key bugs we're all having on our Androids.

 

[cellogig]

First time ever. My drivers side car door opened for the first time after one try. This was after the car was sitting over night.

 

[Zythryn]

Love the phone as key setup.
I didn’t realize what a pain carrying around a fob is. Now that I have experienced not needing to have it, I will never do back.
So to the people that asked if anyone has had good luck with it. Yes, I have.

The thread title is all about problems with the phone as key setup, so, most responses are negative experiences.
And yes, Tesla has, and continues to make improvements to the system.

I don’t think the outage had anything to do with upgrades to the phone as key system.
And I don’t think they will ever get every single person happy with it.
I empathize with those for which the system isn’t working smoothly.

 

[Krugerrand]

I did the same thing as of course I had no idea it was a systemwide issue until I looked at this thread. Bluetooth should still work to open and start car, but once we logged out we were sunk. Maybe this will be the final straw for Tesla to fork over key fobs.

Why would you need a key fob? There’s a keycard for just this situation. Carry a keycard on your person as backup or carry a fob...no diff except for the shape of the items.

 

[Krugerrand]

Second the motion to deliver WORKABLE key fobs to all M3 owners. Yesterday. Maybe in 2-3 years they’ll have debugged this issue, but for right now, this is *not* working.

This makes no sense. You have a WORKABLE key CARD. No need for a key FOB.

Did you not plan that a day might come where you damaged your phone? Lost it? Or some other? Common sense people.

 

[landis]

Carry a keycard on your person as backup or carry a fob...no diff except for the shape of the items.

And IMHO the keycard is a much more convenient form factor for a backup. Put it in my wallet and mostly forget about it. Net one less thing to pick up every day.