Guide
Control your Tesla by text message
Your Tesla already speaks SMS. Text a short command from any phone — your iPhone, an old flip phone, a borrowed one — and your car replies in seconds. No app to install, no account to log into, nothing to open. Just a text.
Every command you can text
| Text this | Your Tesla does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| STATUS | Lock state, charge %, cabin temperature and climate | S |
| BATTERY | Charge level, range and whether it’s charging | B |
| LOCK | Locks the doors | LOCK |
| UNLOCK | Unlocks the doors — PIN required | UNLOCK 1234 |
| CLIMATE | Pre-heats or cools the cabin to a temperature | C 72 |
| HONK | Honks the horn | HONK |
| FLASH | Flashes the lights to find it in a lot | FLASH |
| PANIC | Sounds the alarm | PANIC |
| HELP | Texts back the full command list | ? |
Single letters work too, so a status check is just S.
How it works
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01
Link your Tesla
A one-time, car-only sign-in on Tesla’s own site. No password ever touches TesSMS.
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02
Verify your number
We text you a code. That number becomes your remote — only it can command your car.
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03
Text a command
Send STATUS, LOCK, or CLIMATE — your Tesla answers in seconds.
Why text your Tesla instead of opening the app?
Any phone works
A dead phone, a borrowed one, a flip phone, your kid’s phone. If it can send a text, it can talk to your car.
It’s faster
Texting “S” beats unlocking your phone, finding the app and waiting for it to load.
Works where data doesn’t
A text gets through on a weak signal that would stall an app.
No app to share
Let a partner lock the car without handing over your Tesla login.
Is it safe?
Yes — and the design leans on Tesla, not just our word for it. Only a verified number can command your car, unlocking requires a PIN that only you know, and Tesla’s platform won’t let any app drive your car or reach your account — those capabilities don’t exist in the API, so they can’t be granted.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need the Tesla app?
- No. TesSMS works entirely over text — you never have to open or install an app to control your car.
- Does it work on any phone?
- Yes. Any phone that can send an SMS works, smartphone or not. Nothing to download.
- What if my car is asleep?
- It wakes automatically. The first command after the car has been idle for a while just takes a few extra seconds.
- Is unlocking secure?
- Yes. Unlocking is gated behind a PIN you set, so a spoofed text can’t open your car. Only your verified number can send commands at all.
- Which Teslas are supported?
- Any Tesla with Fleet API access — Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X and Cybertruck.
- What does it cost?
- It’s free during beta.
Text your Tesla in about five minutes
Link your Tesla, verify your number, and send your first command. Free during beta.
Get set up →