WiFi Guide and Troubleshooter for Tesla Vehicles – TeslaTap (2024)

Our Tesla WiFi guide shows you the why and how of WiFi along with troubleshooting tips and tricks. (Jan-2023 update).

• Why Connect to WiFi
• Requirements
• Making a Connection
• Antenna
• Technical
• Testing inYour Vehicle
• Testing WiFi
• Oddities
• Troubleshooting
• Recommended WiFi Routers
• Recommended Extenders

• 2.4 GHz WiFi (All Model 3/Y and S/X cars built after Feb-2018 have 5 GHz support as well).
• Must use WPA or WPA2 security, or no security (The obsolete WEP standard is not available)
• Allows a VPN with UDP without a short timeout (see technical below for explanation)
• WiFi must have an internet connection

We’ve identified a minor Tesla bug that if your password has a single quote symbol, the password will be rejected. This should be an allowable password character and we’ve laboriously confirmed all other symbols on a US keyboard work fine in a password.

Most Tesla sales offices and service centers have free WiFi. Many Superchargers also now have free WiFi. These local networks connects automatically without needing any entry. If your vehicle is in for service and has an open service order, and the vehicle needs a new update, the update is normally downloaded automatically while at service.

When the vehicle is connected via WiFi, at the top of the main display the five-bar cellular signal strength indicator changes to the WiFi icon with arcs for signal strength indication.

You can try any of these three easy tests:

• Maps – Move the map to a new location or zoom out. The gray areas should fill in quickly.
• Music – Select Streaming and select a category to play. Confirm the music plays.
• Web – Select the browser and enter a site like Tesla.com or TeslaTap.com. The site should display, although the page loading can be quite slow, especially on older vehicles with MCU1.

Weak Signal

Many owners find they get a weak signalin the Tesla from a home router. Typically, the router is far away from the garage and the signal must penetrate many walls, greatly reducing the signal level. If the tests above are slow or erratic, you may want to improve the signal to yourvehicle.Solutions to consider include:

• Move the location of your WiFi Router
  If you can move the WiFi router closer to the vehicle, it should increase the signal strength. Often hard to do, so one of the other solutions may be required.
• Get a new WiFi router
  If your router is more than a few years old and/or a bottom end cheap router, it likely performs poorly in general. Most routers that are provided by your Internet provider are also usually bottom end devices that will contribute to the problem. Look for a premium WiFi router that connects to your internet connection. Note that there are different connection types – DSL, cable modem or Ethernet to your internet equipment. See below for ourrecommendations.
• Get a WiFi Extender (also called repeater or booster)
  These devices are located halfway between the router and your Tesla. It picks up your WiFi signal and then re-transmits it – extending the range of your WiFi. The device only needs a power plug – no other wires are necessary, although most also provide one or more router ethernet ports. See below for ourrecommendations.
• Move your vehicle to a better position
  You may get some improvement by just moving the vehicle. Position the vehicle so that the rightside mirror is closer to your router.

Doesn’t work or you never get updates

Here’s our list of possible fixes:

• Reboot
  If WiFi had been working fine, but just stops working, try a reboot in the Tesla. Press in both scroll wheels for about 15 seconds, until the main display goes black. A reboot takes less than 120 seconds, but WiFi may take some additional time to get reestablished – less than 4 minutes.
• Remove and Reconnect
  Go into the vehicle and select the antenna icon at the top of the display and go into WiFi. Remove your current connection, reconnect and enter the password.
• Use 2.4 GHz WiFi (S/X built prior to March-2018)
  Most WiFi routers use 2.4 GHz or a mix of 2.4 and 5 GHz. If your router is set to only accept 5 GHz or perhaps a setting of “N only”, the vehicle will not connect. Change the router’s settings to allow 2.4 GHz. Newer high-end routers allow both 2.4 and 5 GHz communications at the same time, which may be beneficial for your situation. Model S and X built after February 2018 include hardware and software to support 5 GHz, as does all Model 3s and Model Ys.
• Change Router Band
  On your router, check if the router is set to a congested or non-supported band. The Tesla hardware support bands 1-11, the standard in the USA. Some countries allow additional bands that Tesla cannot use, so if you’re outside the USA, be sure to use bands 1-11. Due to reduced interchannel interference, channels 1, 6 and 11 can often be a bit more reliable than other channels.
• Use WPA/WPA2
  On your router, confirm your WiFi is set up for WPA or better WPA2. If you are using the obsolete and insecure WEP standard, the vehicle will not connect. It will connect if you have no security, but we don’t recommend anyone leave a WiFi router set to No security. It’s not an issue for your vehicle, as all communications are encrypted.
• Unblock VPN connections
  While most routers have no problems with VPNs, some may have an option to block/allow VPNs or it has a firewall that blocks a VPN. Check your router to see if there is a VPN blocking option and set it so it does not block VPNs. VPNs use port 1194. Some routers have a firewall that blocks everything other than ports 21, 80 and 443. Allow port 1194 as outgoing. Note this is not the PC’s firewall, which doesn’t matter. This is a setting within the router itself and does not affect the security of your network.
• Change UDP timeouts
  Some routers have a short UDP timeout that can screw up Tesla updates and downloads. If you can find UDP timeouts (not all routers have this option), for Unreplied and Assured, set the values to 60 seconds.
• Switch to a Guest Network
  Most routers today offer a guest network option with a separate SSID WiFi Name. Some complex home systems that have aDLNA server in the network (even if wired), seem to cause connection problems with the Tesla and/or make the Tesla keep connecting and disconnecting. A guest network connection on a separate IP, without any DLNA servers, often makes it all work.

Auto connects at one place, but not another place

For example, it works at home, but will not auto-connect at your summer cabin. Check if both locations use the same WiFi SSID name. Only the details from one SSID name can be saved. If this is the case, change one of the WiFi SSID names so that they are not the same.