One of the best things about owning a Tesla is how convenient it is to get in and out of your vehicle. With features like Phone Key and Walk-Away Door Lock, you rarely need to think about locking or unlocking your car.
But what if you park your Tesla inside your garage and want it to stay unlocked?
Maybe you frequently grab something from the center console, load groceries, clean the interior, or retrieve items from the trunk. Having to carry your phone or key card every time can become inconvenient.
Fortunately, Tesla has a built-in feature that allows you to keep your vehicle from automatically locking when parked at home.
It’s called Exclude Home, and setting it up only takes a few minutes.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to keep your Tesla unlocked in your garage, how to configure your Home location, what to do if the setting isn’t working, and a few security considerations every Tesla owner should understand.
Can You Keep Your Tesla Unlocked in Your Garage?
Yes! Tesla offers a setting that prevents Walk-Away Door Lock from automatically locking your vehicle when it’s parked at your designated Home location.
Normally, when you exit your Tesla and walk away with your phone key, the vehicle automatically locks.
However, enabling Exclude Home tells your Tesla not to perform that automatic locking action while it’s parked at Home.
This means you can park in your garage, walk into your house, and return to your Tesla without having to unlock it again—as long as the vehicle was left unlocked and hasn’t been locked through another method.
Important: Exclude Home prevents automatic walk-away locking. It doesn’t permanently force your Tesla to remain unlocked or automatically unlock a vehicle that was manually locked.
Step 1: Set Your Home Address in Your Tesla
Before enabling Exclude Home, make sure your Tesla knows where Home is located.
The feature relies on your saved Home destination to determine when automatic locking should be excluded.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Sit inside your Tesla and turn on the touchscreen.
- Open the navigation search interface.
- Locate the option to set or edit your Home destination.
- Enter your home address.
- Save the location.
Depending on your Tesla’s software version, you may be able to set Home through the navigation favorites or by selecting the Home shortcut.
Once saved, your Tesla can use that location for navigation and supported location-based settings.
Tip: If you recently moved, update your Home address before configuring Exclude Home.
Step 2: Open Your Tesla’s Lock Settings
Next, open the settings that control automatic door locking.
From your Tesla touchscreen:
Controls → Locks → Walk-Away Door Lock
You’ll see the option for Walk-Away Door Lock along with any available location-based exclusions.
Walk-Away Door Lock is the feature that automatically locks your Tesla when you exit the vehicle and walk away with your authenticated key.
Step 3: Enable Exclude Home
Within the Walk-Away Door Lock settings, look for:
Exclude Home
Enable the checkbox or toggle next to this option.
That’s it!
With Exclude Home enabled, your Tesla should no longer automatically lock when you walk away from the vehicle at your saved Home location.
You can continue using Walk-Away Door Lock at other locations.
For example:
- At home: Your Tesla remains unlocked when you walk away, unless another locking action occurs.
- At work: Your Tesla can automatically lock when you leave.
- At the grocery store: Your Tesla can automatically lock when you walk away.
- At a restaurant: Your Tesla can automatically lock when you leave the vehicle.
This gives you the convenience of an unlocked Tesla at home without disabling automatic locking everywhere.
Step 4: Test the Setting in Your Garage
After enabling Exclude Home, it’s a good idea to test it.
- Drive your Tesla home.
- Park inside your garage.
- Exit the vehicle normally through the driver’s door.
- Close all doors and the trunk.
- Walk away with your phone key.
- Wait long enough for Walk-Away Door Lock to normally activate.
- Return to the vehicle without your phone key and test whether the door opens.
If the door opens, the vehicle remained unlocked as intended.
If it doesn’t, check your Home location and lock settings.
You should also test automatic locking away from home to make sure it still works where you want it.
What If Your Tesla Still Locks in the Garage?
If you’ve enabled Exclude Home but your Tesla continues to lock automatically, there are several things worth checking.
1. Verify Your Saved Home Address
Your Tesla needs to recognize that it’s parked at Home.
If the saved address is incorrect or the vehicle’s location estimate places it outside the recognized Home area, the exclusion may not activate.
Check your saved Home destination and make sure it matches your actual location.
2. Check That Exclude Home Is Enabled
Open:
Controls → Locks → Walk-Away Door Lock
Confirm that Exclude Home is selected.
If you’ve changed vehicle profiles or recently adjusted settings, verify that the desired configuration is still active.
3. Make Sure You’re Testing Automatic Locking
Exclude Home is specifically designed to prevent Walk-Away Door Lock.
If you manually lock the vehicle through the Tesla app, touchscreen, or another supported method, Exclude Home won’t automatically reverse that action.
4. Check for Software Updates
Tesla periodically changes and improves vehicle software.
If you’re experiencing unusual locking behavior, check whether a software update is available.
You can review software information through the vehicle’s Software settings.
5. Check the Vehicle’s Actual Lock Status
Sometimes drivers assume the car has locked because the mirrors folded or a sound occurred.
Check the lock icon on the touchscreen or confirm the door’s actual status.
Mirror folding and door locking are separate features, even though they can operate together.
Can You Keep Your Tesla Unlocked at Home but Locked Everywhere Else?
Yes, and that’s one of the biggest benefits of Exclude Home.
You don’t need to turn off Walk-Away Door Lock entirely.
Instead, leave Walk-Away Door Lock enabled and select Exclude Home.
Your Tesla can then continue using automatic locking when parked away from your designated Home location.
This is especially useful for owners who park inside a private garage but want their vehicle to lock automatically in public parking areas.
Does Exclude Home Work With Tesla Model 3 and Model Y?
Yes. Tesla documents Exclude Home for Model 3 and Model Y, including earlier and refreshed Model Y versions.
The feature is also documented for supported Model S and Model X vehicles.
Tesla Cybertruck supports an Exclude Home setting as well.
However, the exact menu appearance and available options may vary by model year, hardware, and software version.
If you don’t see the setting exactly as described, consult the owner’s manual for your specific vehicle.
Is It Safe to Leave Your Tesla Unlocked in the Garage?
That depends on your garage and security situation.
If your Tesla is parked inside a secure, attached garage with controlled access, leaving it unlocked may be convenient.
However, leaving any vehicle unlocked creates additional security risks.
Before enabling Exclude Home, consider the following:
Garage Security
Make sure your garage door closes properly and that unauthorized visitors cannot easily access the garage.
Personal Belongings
Avoid leaving valuables, important documents, spare keys, or sensitive items inside an unlocked vehicle.
Children and Pets
An unlocked vehicle may be accessible to children or pets.
Never allow children to play unattended inside a vehicle.
Home Security
If your garage is attached to your home, consider whether vehicle access could expose garage door controls or other items that affect home security.
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Shared Parking
If you park in an apartment garage, shared parking structure, or open carport, leaving your Tesla unlocked may not be advisable.
Our recommendation: Use Exclude Home only when you understand the risks and have appropriate security measures in place.
Does Exclude Home Turn Off Sentry Mode?
Not necessarily.
Walk-Away Door Lock and Sentry Mode are separate Tesla features.
Exclude Home in the lock settings controls automatic locking behavior.
Sentry Mode has its own settings and may offer a separate option to exclude Home.
That means you should review both settings independently.
If you want your Tesla to remain unlocked in your garage but still use Sentry Mode, check your vehicle’s Sentry Mode configuration.
Keep in mind that Sentry Mode consumes battery energy and does not guarantee protection against theft or damage.
Will My Tesla Automatically Unlock When I Arrive Home?
No.
Exclude Home is not an automatic unlocking feature.
It prevents Walk-Away Door Lock from locking the vehicle when you leave it at Home.
If your Tesla is already locked, it remains locked until you unlock it through an authorized method.
For example, if you manually lock your Tesla in the garage, enabling Exclude Home doesn’t automatically unlock it.
Does Exclude Home Affect Charging?
No. Exclude Home is a door-locking preference, not a charging setting.
Your Tesla can charge at home whether its doors are locked or unlocked.
You can continue using scheduled charging, charging limits, and compatible home charging equipment normally.
You don’t need to leave your Tesla unlocked to charge it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop my Tesla from locking in my garage?
Go to Controls → Locks → Walk-Away Door Lock and enable Exclude Home. Make sure your Home address is saved correctly.
Can I keep my Tesla unlocked only at home?
Yes. Keep Walk-Away Door Lock enabled and select Exclude Home. Your Tesla can continue automatically locking when you walk away at other locations.
Why does my Tesla still lock at home?
Your Home location may be incorrect, Exclude Home may not be enabled, or the vehicle may have been locked manually or through another action.
Does Exclude Home work on a 2026 Tesla Model Y?
Tesla documents Exclude Home for the refreshed Model Y. Menu appearance may vary depending on software version.
Will my Tesla stay unlocked overnight?
If the vehicle is left unlocked and no other locking action occurs, Exclude Home prevents the normal walk-away locking action at Home. However, it’s not a guarantee that the vehicle can never become locked.
Does leaving my Tesla unlocked drain the battery?
The Exclude Home setting itself is not a significant battery-consuming feature. Other vehicle functions, such as Sentry Mode and climate controls, can consume energy while parked.
Can I still lock my Tesla manually at home?
Yes. Exclude Home does not prevent you from manually locking your vehicle.
Do I need my phone to open the door when Exclude Home is enabled?
If the vehicle remains unlocked, you can generally open the door without presenting a phone key. However, unlocking the doors and authorizing the vehicle to drive are different functions.
Final Thoughts: Make Tesla Ownership More Convenient at Home
Tesla’s Exclude Home feature is one of those small settings that can make everyday ownership more convenient.
If you frequently access your Tesla while it’s parked in a secure garage, preventing automatic walk-away locking can save you the trouble of retrieving your phone or key card every time.
The setup is simple:
- Save your Home location.
- Open Controls → Locks.
- Keep Walk-Away Door Lock enabled.
- Turn on Exclude Home.
- Test the setting in your garage.
With this configuration, you can enjoy convenient access at home while retaining automatic walk-away locking at other locations.
Just remember that leaving your Tesla unlocked is a personal security decision. Consider your garage’s accessibility and your household’s needs before enabling the feature.
At MyTeslaSavings.com, we share practical Tesla tips, maintenance guides, accessory recommendations, and free calculators to help owners get more from their vehicles.
Sometimes the most useful Tesla upgrades aren’t accessories at all—they’re settings you already have.
Disclaimer: Tesla settings and vehicle behavior may change with software updates. Consult your vehicle’s current owner’s manual for model-specific instructions. Always verify your vehicle’s security status when necessary.
