The front screen in your Tesla is the command center. There are few other controls in the car. That’s why it can be alarming when it won’t respond or goes dark. This happened to me while driving down the highway. However, I had looked up how to fix a frozen Tesla screen in advance.
How to Fix Frozen Tesla Screen
If your Tesla screen is frozen, press and hold the two scroll buttons on the driving wheel. After a few seconds, it should go black and then you’ll see the Tesla logo appear. This starts the process to reset the screen.
I’ve rebooted the screen many times (most often to test how it works). Sometimes I’ll get an all-blue screen, or it’ll go all-black. But the outcome has been the same. After roughly 30 seconds, it’ll reboot and be working again. Although, the time to reboot can vary quite a bit. I might have waited close to a minute a few times.
Is it Safe to Reset a Tesla Screen While Driving?
You can continue to drive the car as usual, but you won’t be able to see the speed on the screen. This is a bit jarring and to play it safe, I tend to slow down when resetting the screen.
If you’re using autopilot, the car will continue to use speed controls, as well as keep you in your lane. However, it’s still good to be prepared to take over at any time. Tesla officially recommends parking before trying to reset your screen. And this makes sense due to the risk of severe damage and injury, even if it’s not likely to happen.
Why is My Tesla Screen Frozen?
My Tesla screen froze for the first time while driving down the highway. I’m not sure what caused this due to the many functions running behind the screen. It’s hard to isolate and recreate the issue.
Here are a few reasons why a Tesla screen might freeze…
- Software Updates
- Music Streaming Issues
- System Overload
With many updates throughout the year, a lot is changing under the hood. And it’s generally positive change, but it can lead to unexpected issues. There have been a few issues that have prompted me to reset my screen. One time my music controls wouldn’t work and another time, I couldn’t adjust the screen brightness. That one was annoying at night. But resetting the screen fixed the problems.
What to Try If the Screen Won’t Come Back
If the scroll-button reset doesn’t bring the screen back, try it again. Hold both buttons a full 10 seconds until the Tesla logo appears. Sometimes the first attempt doesn’t always take.
If it’s still dead, walk away. Lock the car and leave it alone for 15 minutes or more. It can fall into a deep sleep, which power-cycles more than the quick reboot does. When you come back, press the brake to wake it up.
You can also check for a software update from the Tesla app on your phone. An overdue update can cause these glitches. If the screen stays black after all of that, schedule service through the app. At that point it’s likely hardware, not software.
Whatever the cause, I hope you’re now prepared when your Tesla screen freezes. It’s easy to reset your screen while driving or when parked. Tesla engineers have designed many great safety features (is it safe to charge in the rain?). Safety is just one of many reasons we’re seeing more Teslas on the roads.
Protect Your Tesla Screen: Top Tesla Accessories
You’re tapping that display every single drive, so it’s worth keeping the glass in good shape. A tempered glass screen protector guards against scratches from rings and keys. A matte one can also cut glare and hide fingerprints. I compared the top options in my Best Tesla Model Y Screen Protector guide. It’s worth a look while you’re thinking about your screen.
Here are related Tesla guides:
Did you get a good price on your Tesla? I put together a chart on the Tesla Model Y price history. Feel free to check out that article and comment on any of my videos.