Phone key issues since latest app update

[FloridaSun]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 and wife has a Samsung Note 20 Ultra, both running Android 13. Tesla App 4.15.1-1483. Car id a 2022 Model X Plaid.
Since the latest app update, phone key only works 5 percent of the time. I granted all pernissions to the app and all optimization/power savings is off on the phone. Both phones work as key card via NFC but not as phone key most of the time. Reset car and phones multiple times, uninstalled and re-installed app and phone key and still the same issue. Re-installing the key was also a challenge as car couldn't connect to the phone. It works about 5% of the time. It is most definitely related to the latest app update. Anyone here with a Samsung Fold 4 or Note 20 Ultra experiencing thr same issue?

 

[FloridaSun]

Sometimes, without any changes, it starts working again. Very weird.

 

[rbowlesusa]

I had an update on my Galaxy Fold 3 yesterday morning and now my phone key will not work. I tried airplane mode on/off, cleared cache/data, removed car from phone and phone from car, deleted app reinstalled. what weird is it shows it as a phone key in the car but on my phone, it still shows I need to set up phone key. It's connected-on Bluetooth. I can use the phone, listen to music from my phone. I can unlock the doors through the app, but it will not unlock my doors when walking up to it and will not lock the doors when I walk away. I was able to set my wife's iPhone up as a phone key, so it is definitely my phone, and it did not have any problems prior to the update on my phone yesterday morning.

 

[Art VandeIay]

both running Android 13

This is the culprit...

It's not an issue with the Tesla app or the phone itself, it's an issue with Android 13.

With Android 13, Google added built-in support for Bluetooth LE which messed up the complete Bluetooth API. It's not only affecting Teslas but smartwatches, Fitbits, smart locks and a whole bunch of devices.

Unfortunately there's not much OEM's can do, as the problem is rooted in the Operating System, so Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, etc have to wait for Google to deploy the patch.

There are a few workarounds but they only offer a temporary solution.

You can find out more Here in this thread.

 

[rbowlesusa]

I spoke with Samsung and they had me go to a local shop they contract with. I am going to have them revert back to the prior version of the software for now until they can get a fix in.

 

[FloridaSun]

This is the culprit...

It's not an issue with the Tesla app or the phone itself, it's an issue with Android 13.

With Android 13, Google added built-in support for Bluetooth LE which messed up the complete Bluetooth API. It's not only affecting Teslas but smartwatches, Fitbits, smart locks and a whole bunch of devices.

Unfortunately there's not much OEM's can do, as the problem is rooted in the Operating System, so Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, etc have to wait for Google to deploy the patch.

There are a few workarounds but they only offer a temporary solution.

You can find out more Here in this thread.

It has to be a combination of both. My phone key worked fine om Android 13 until my latest Tesla app update.

 

[Osmoove]

It has to be a combination of both. My phone key worked fine om Android 13 until my latest Tesla app update.

Same here. My phone worked perfectly fine with the car until the Christmas update from Tesla. I can still connect to Bluetooth for all other functions except the key. Tesla Support said they have received multiple complaints this week specifically with the Samsung fold but do not currently have a fix.

 

[FloridaSun]

Same here. My phone worked perfectly fine with the car until the Christmas update from Tesla. I can still connect to Bluetooth for all other functions except the key. Tesla Support said they have received multiple complaints this week specifically with the Samsung fold but do not currently have a fix.

Same here. Bluetooth works fine for audio.

 

[Bugbok]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 and wife has a Samsung Note 20 Ultra, both running Android 13. Tesla App 4.15.1-1483. Car id a 2022 Model X Plaid.
Since the latest app update, phone key only works 5 percent of the time. I granted all pernissions to the app and all optimization/power savings is off on the phone. Both phones work as key card via NFC but not as phone key most of the time. Reset car and phones multiple times, uninstalled and re-installed app and phone key and still the same issue. Re-installing the key was also a challenge as car couldn't connect to the phone. It works about 5% of the time. It is most definitely related to the latest app update. Anyone here with a Samsung Fold 4 or Note 20 Ultra experiencing thr same issue?

I also have the exact issue on my brand new Model X and Samsung Fold 4. I am not able to Set Up Phone Key. It fails and states its unable to connect.

However, I was able to Set Up Phone Key on my wife's Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Both are running Android 13). So it may be a Samsung Fold 4 issue?

I've been sending Tesla the bug report logs from the phone but no luck. I even factory reset the phone and no luck.

 

[FloridaSun]

I also have the exact issue on my brand new Model X and Samsung Fold 4. I am not able to Set Up Phone Key. It fails and states its unable to connect.

However, I was able to Set Up Phone Key on my wife's Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Both are running Android 13). So it may be a Samsung Fold 4 issue?

I've been sending Tesla the bug report logs from the phone but no luck. I even factory reset the phone and no luck.

My wife's Note 20 Ultra works like 20% of the time and my Fold 4 maybe 5% of the time.. All started with the latest APP update. It was working fine before the latest APP update and both phones were running Android 13 before that update, so it's not just Android 13's fault. I wish that I could roll back to my previous version of the Tesla app. That one worked fine.

 

[Art VandeIay]

I wish that I could roll back to my previous version of the Tesla app.

This would actually help a lot!
I'm not pointing any fingers, but someone on this thread does software development for a cellphone manufacturer from South Korea and is currently troubleshooting the Bluetooth LE disaster with Google.

It would help a lot if you could rollback to a previous Tesla app and report back if that helped with the Phone Key Issue.

I can send you ANY previous version of the Tesla app or I can point you to a secure website where you can download them from.
How comfortable are you with installing an APK file on your phone?

 

[rbowlesusa]

I also have the exact issue on my brand new Model X and Samsung Fold 4. I am not able to Set Up Phone Key. It fails and states its unable to connect.

However, I was able to Set Up Phone Key on my wife's Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (Both are running Android 13). So it may be a Samsung Fold 4 issue?

I've been sending Tesla the bug report logs from the phone but no luck. I even factory reset the phone and no luck.

I have the fold 3 and it's not working

 

[FloridaSun]

This would actually help a lot!
I'm not pointing any fingers, but someone on this thread does software development for a cellphone manufacturer from South Korea and is currently troubleshooting the Bluetooth LE disaster with Google.

It would help a lot if you could rollback to a previous Tesla app and report back if that helped with the Phone Key Issue.

I can send you ANY previous version of the Tesla app or I can point you to a secure website where you can download them from.
How comfortable are you with installing an APK file on your phone?

I have installed .APK files before. I did follow instructions to do so and if I recall correctly I used a .APK install software for that.

 

[Art VandeIay]

I have installed .APK files before. I did follow instructions to do so and if I recall correctly I used a .APK install software for that.

If you are willing to give it a go, I wrote some steps for you to follow. Best case scenario you get the Phone Key working perfectly again and you provide me with a data point. Worst case, it still doesn't work and you get back to the Play Store version of the app and wait until it gets fixed on a future update...

1.- You first need to open the Play Store and click on your profile icon on the upper right corner. There, click on: Manage apps & device.
2.- Next, click on the Manage tab on the upper left, next to the Overview tab.
3.- Find the Tesla app by scrolling on the list of apps and click on it.
4.- Click on the 3 doted menu on the upper right corner and unselect the Enable auto update, or just leave it unselected if that's the case.
5.- Next, click the Uninstall button under the Tesla logo and close the Play Store.
6.- Now, navigate to: Tesla, Inc. APKs on your device's web browser and download whatever older Tesla app version you like.
7.- Make sure you download the "nodpi" version. This way, you don't need to download any additional apps to install it.

8.- Once its finishes downloading. Go to your My Files app on your phone and click on Internal Storage and then Download. The Tesla app installer should be right there, click on it and hit Install.
9.- Once its done installing, you can delete the Tesla app installer by pressing and holding on the file and clicking Delete on the bottom right of the screen.
10. Open the Tesla app, Sign back in and configure all your settings as you had them before. Don't forget to grant the Tesla app all the required permissions for it to operate correctly.


Whenever you feel the need to return everything back to the way it was, just perform steps 1 through 4 again, but this time add the checkmark back to the Enable auto update on the Tesla app in the Play Store, this will allow the app to continue updating with every new release of the app.

 

[kriskros91]

Wow was about to post a new thread but found this thread. Have the same problem with my Samsung Z Fold 4 not pairing correctly with my 2022 Model X Plaid. This problem doesn't seem to happen with my 2021 Model Y Performance at all. I've done everything including reinstalling the Tesla app, upgrading to Tesla app version 4.16 and even drove to a service center who seemed clueless about this issue.

I'll keep tabs on this thread.

 

[kriskros91]

If you are willing to give it a go, I wrote some steps for you to follow. Best case scenario you get the Phone Key working perfectly again and you provide me with a data point. Worst case, it still doesn't work and you get back to the Play Store version of the app and wait until it gets fixed on a future update...

1.- You first need to open the Play Store and click on your profile icon on the upper right corner. There, click on: Manage apps & device.
2.- Next, click on the Manage tab on the upper left, next to the Overview tab.
3.- Find the Tesla app by scrolling on the list of apps and click on it.
4.- Click on the 3 doted menu on the upper right corner and unselect the Enable auto update, or just leave it unselected if that's the case.
5.- Next, click the Uninstall button under the Tesla logo and close the Play Store.
6.- Now, navigate to: Tesla, Inc. APKs on your device's web browser and download whatever older Tesla app version you like.
7.- Make sure you download the "nodpi" version. This way, you don't need to download any additional apps to install it.
View attachment 887870
8.- Once its finishes downloading. Go to your My Files app on your phone and click on Internal Storage and then Download. The Tesla app installer should be right there, click on it and hit Install.
9.- Once its done installing, you can delete the Tesla app installer by pressing and holding on the file and clicking Delete on the bottom right of the screen.
10. Open the Tesla app, Sign back in and configure all your settings as you had them before. Don't forget to grant the Tesla app all the required permissions for it to operate correctly.


Whenever you feel the need to return everything back to the way it was, just perform steps 1 through 4 again, but this time add the checkmark back to the Enable auto update on the Tesla app in the Play Store, this will allow the app to continue updating with every new release of the app.

Downgrading app to 4.14 was not successful in making my phone communicate with the car.

 

[Art VandeIay]

Downgrading app to 4.14 was not successful in making my phone communicate with the car.

Thank you so much for trying this out!!!
Just to confirm, are you running Android 13 on your Z Fold 4?

 

[kriskros91]

Thank you so much for trying this out!!!
Just to confirm, are you running Android 13 on your Z Fold 4?

Yes newest Z Fold 4 update. Android 13 build BVK3

 

[Bugbok]

Thank you Art for the instructions.

So I reverted back to version Tesla 4.14.4-1455 (11/30/2022) and at 1st it didn't work.

Then I tried pairing the Fold 4 as a Bluetooth 1st and then going into the reverted Tesla app to add a Phone Key and bingo it worked!

I'll report back if it stops working again but I also disabled the auto update.

 

[Art VandeIay]

and at 1st it didn't work

I believe that starting with 4.14.4 (I might be wrong on this one) and for newer versions, Tesla added the "Nearby Devices" permission request on the app.
This HAS TO BE ENABLED in order for the app to work correctly, but some older versions of the app don't have it.

Just make sure to check the "Nearby Devices" permission is enabled (if the app version you downloaded from the .APK has it).

To check, go to your device's: Settings -> Apps -> Tesla -> Permissions
Or just press and hold the Tesla app icon and click on App info.