Tesla Phone Key Not Working Android 13: How to Fix It?

Tesla phone key is a feature that allows you to use your smartphone as a key for your Tesla vehicle. You can unlock, lock, start, and drive your car with just your phone and the Tesla app.

However, some Tesla owners have reported that their phone keys stopped working after updating their Android devices to Android 13. This article will explain why this happens and how to fix it.

Why Does Tesla Phone Key Not Work with Android 13?

Android 13 is the latest version of Google’s operating system for smartphones and tablets.

It was released in September 2022 and introduced many new features and improvements, such as improved privacy controls, redesigned widgets, adaptive sound, and more.

However, Android 13 also changed the way Bluetooth works on Android devices. Bluetooth is the wireless technology that enables the communication between your phone and your Tesla car.

Android 13 added built-in support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which is a more efficient and power-saving version of Bluetooth that is used by many smart devices, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart locks, and more.

Unfortunately, this change also messed up the Bluetooth API (Application Programming Interface), which is the set of rules and protocols that apps use to interact with Bluetooth devices.

As a result, many apps that rely on Bluetooth functionality, including the Tesla app, experienced compatibility issues with Android 13 devices.

Some of the common problems that Tesla owners faced after updating to Android 13 include:

• The phone key not working at all or working sporadically
• The phone key not being able to unlock or start the car
• The phone key being added more than once or not being recognized by the car
• The phone key not working when the phone is in airplane mode or low battery
• The phone key not working when the app is not running in the background or logged in

These problems are not caused by the Tesla app or the car itself but by the Android 13 update. Therefore, the solution is not to contact Tesla support or service but to troubleshoot the phone and the app.

How to Fix Tesla Phone Key Not Working Android 13?

There are several steps that you can take to fix the Tesla phone key not working Android 13 issue. Here are some of the most effective ones:

1. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone and your car. You can check this by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping on the Bluetooth icon. You can also go to Settings > Bluetooth and make sure it is turned on.

2. Make sure you have the latest Tesla software updates installed on your car and your app. You can check this by going to Software on your car’s touchscreen and tapping on Check for Updates. You can also go to the Google Play Store and update the Tesla app if there is a new version available.

3. Make sure your phone is not in airplane mode or low battery mode. These modes can interfere with the Bluetooth connection and prevent the phone key from working.

You can check this by swiping down from the top of your screen and tapping on the airplane mode or battery-saver icons. You can also go to Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane Mode or Settings > Battery > Battery Saver and make sure they are turned off.

4. Make sure your phone and your car are correctly paired and synced. You can check this by going to Settings > Bluetooth on your phone and tapping on your car’s name.

You should see a message that says Connected for calls and audio. You can also go to Locks on your car’s touchscreen and make sure your phone is listed as a key.

5. If the problem persists, try forgetting and re-pairing your phone and your car. To do this, go to Settings > Bluetooth on your phone and tap on the gear icon next to your car’s name.

Then, tap on Forget Device. Next, go to Locks on your car’s touchscreen and tap on the trash icon next to your phone’s name. Then, tap on Add Phone Key and follow the instructions on the screen to pair your phone again.

6. If the problem still persists, try rebooting your phone and your car. To do this, turn off and turn on your phone by holding down the power button and selecting Power Off or Restart.

Then, reboot your car by holding down both scroll wheels on the steering wheel until the screen goes black and then comes back on.

If none of the above steps work, try setting up your phone as a key again via the Tesla app. To do this, go to the Security section of the app and tap on the image of the key card.

Then, tap on Set Up Phone Key and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.

What If Tesla Phone Key Still Does Not Work?

If you have tried all of the above steps and your Tesla phone key still does not work with Android 13, you may have a more serious issue that requires professional assistance.

In that case, you should contact Tesla support or service and explain your situation. They may be able to help you troubleshoot further or provide you with a replacement phone key.

Alternatively, you can use the key fob or the key card that came with your car as a backup option. The key fob is a small device that you can attach to your keychain and use to unlock, lock, and start your car.

The key card is a thin plastic card that you can tap on the door pillar or the center console to unlock and start your car. Both of these options are reliable and secure, but they are not as convenient as the phone key.

Conclusion

Tesla phone key is a great feature that allows you to use your smartphone as a key for your Tesla vehicle.

However, it may not work properly after updating your Android device to Android 13 due to some compatibility issues with Bluetooth.

To fix this problem, you can try some of the troubleshooting steps mentioned in this article, such as enabling Bluetooth, updating software, re-pairing devices, rebooting devices, or setting up the phone key again.

If none of these steps work, you can contact Tesla support or service for help or use the key fob or key card instead.

We hope this article was helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.