Depending on market region, vehicle
configuration, options purchased, and software version, your vehicle may not be
equipped with Sentry Mode or the
features may not operate exactly as described. It is your sole responsibility to
consult and comply with all local regulations and property restrictions regarding
the use of cameras.
When enabled, your vehicle's cameras and sensors (if equipped) remain powered on and ready to record suspicious activity around your vehicle when Model S is locked and in Park. Think of Sentry Mode as an intelligent vehicle security system that alerts you when it detects possible threats nearby.
If a threat is detected, Sentry Mode pulses the headlights, sounds the alarm, and
displays a message on the touchscreen indicating that the cameras may be recording to
inform individuals outside of the vehicle. You will receive an alert on your phone
through the mobile app and footage of the event is saved to USB drive (if
installed).
Sentry Mode is disabled by default. You can use voice commands or the Tesla mobile app to easily enable or disable Sentry Mode. To enable Sentry Mode using voice commands, say "Keep Tesla safe," "Keep my car safe," "Sentry on," or "Enable Sentry" (see Voice Commands).
Sentry Mode requires your Battery to be at least 20% charged. If the Battery falls below 20%, Sentry Mode turns off and the mobile app sends you a notification. Power consumption may increase when Sentry Mode is active.
Note
Software updates cannot be installed when Sentry Mode is turned on.
CAUTION
Do not rely on Sentry
Mode to protect Model S from all possible security threats.
Sentry Mode uses many factors to determine whether to activate the security alarm. All
impacts may not be detected and the alarm may not activate in all situations. While it
may help deter some threats, no security system can prevent all attacks.
How to Use Sentry Mode (Camera + App)
Sentry Mode requires a properly
formatted USB drive inserted in your vehicle's USB port (Tesla recommends using
the glovebox USB port, if equipped) to store and retrieve footage. Vehicles
manufactured from approximately 2020 are equipped with a pre-formatted USB drive
in the glove box. There are two ways to format the USB drive:
Insert the USB drive into
the USB port and navigate to Controls > Safety > Format USB
Drive. Your vehicle automatically formats the USB drive for
you.
With your vehicle in Park, enable Dashcam by navigating to Controls > Safety > Dashcam.
Touch Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode > On. Once enabled, the Sentry Mode icon in the Controls tab turns red.
When enabled, Sentry Mode is idle, ready to sound the alarm and save a recording of the security event if triggered. The clip length of the recording can be customized (touch Safety > Sentry Mode > Sentry Mode Clip Length). See Viewing Video Recordings for information on viewing footage.
To manually enable/disable Sentry Mode until the next drive, touch the Sentry Mode icon in Controls. Sentry Mode is Off when the icon is no longer red.Turn Sentry Mode Off in Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode to disable for more than one drive cycle.
How to Use Sentry Mode (App Only)
When Sentry mode is enabled and a security event is detected but without a USB drive plugged into a USB port, your vehicle alerts you through the mobile app, without any camera recordings.
Sentry Mode Settings
Exclude specific locations
In Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode, you can determine if you want Sentry Mode to not enable in certain locations (see Home, Work, and Favorite Destinations for more information):
Exclude Home: Sentry Mode does not automatically enable at the location set as Home in your Favorites list.
Exclude Work: Sentry Mode does not automatically enable at the location set as Work in your Favorites list.
Exclude Favorites: Sentry Mode does not automatically enable at any location in your Favorites list.
Note
To recognize a location listed as Home, Work, or a Favorite, Model S must be parked within approximately 500 meters of the saved location.
To set up your Home or Work location, touch Navigate > Set Home/Set Work. To set up a Favorite, touch the star when viewing an address on the map. Manually turning Sentry Mode on or off using the touchscreen or the mobile app overrides your Home, Work, or Favorite exclusion preferences until the next time you drive.
Set Sentry Mode Clip Length
If Sentry Mode is configured to capture camera recordings of security events using a properly formatted USB drive, you can customize the recording length on your touchscreen (touch Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode > Sentry Mode Clip Length).
Set Camera-Based Detection
When Camera-Based Detection is enabled, Sentry Mode uses the vehicle’s external cameras in addition to vehicle sensors to detect a security event while parked. If disabled, your vehicle only saves clips to the USB drive if a physical threat is detected. To adjust, touch Controls > Safety > Sentry Mode > Camera-Based Detection.
View Live Camera
Note
View Live
Camera requires premium connectivity and version 4.2.1 (or
newer) of the Tesla mobile app installed on a phone that has been paired as
a key to Model S.
When Sentry
Mode is enabled, use the mobile app to remotely view the area surrounding
Model S as seen through the
exterior cameras. To enable, touch Controls > Safety > Sentry
Mode > View Live
Camera via Mobile App on the touchscreen to see what Sentry Mode records in
real-time. Ensure there are no occupants in the vehicle and all doors are
locked. Then, on the mobile app, navigate to Safety > Sentry
Mode > View Live
Camera.
When View Live
Camera is actively in use, Model S periodically flashes
its exterior lights and displays a message on the touchscreen to notify
others that the area surrounding the vehicle is being viewed through the
cameras.
View Live Camera is limited to approximately 15
minutes of cumulative usage per day.
Note
If Dog and Sentry are enabled
at the same time, Sentry defaults to Disable Sentry Sounds
to protect your pet.
Note
Video quality can
vary depending on network connectivity. No audio is captured.
Note
The live camera
feed is fully encrypted and cannot be accessed by Tesla.
