Ever wondered if your Tesla could moonlight as a WiFi hotspot for all your gadgets? Well, let’s rev up the excitement: Teslas might not support this feature just yet, but they sure do have some electrifying tricks up their sleeves!
These sleek machines connect to the digital world via a built-in cellular modem or your phone’s hotspot, perfect for streaming your favorite tunes and downloading updates on the go. While Teslas offer both standard and premium connectivity options, turning your car into a WiFi source for devices like laptops or tablets isn’t in the cards just yet. But don’t hit the brakes! There’s a whole world of connectivity possibilities and innovative alternatives waiting for you to explore.
Get ready to dive into the world of Tesla tech and unleash the full potential of your futuristic ride!
The Future of Using Your Tesla as a Wi-Fi Hotspot
The details are still murky, and while Tesla is in discussions with internet providers to allow drivers to access free internet, there’s no guarantee this will materialize soon.
Remember, talks about turning Teslas into Wi-Fi hotspots have been floating around since as early as 2016.
That said, we can at least hope for such possibilities and keep our fingers crossed that it actually happens.
Some of the Internet Service Providers that Tesla is currently in talks with include Orange, Comcast, and AT&T, among others.
Your car’s firmware would need to determine whether the selected network is among the partnered firms before you can gain access to these networks.
So, what if you could use your Tesla as a hotspot? Is it something you really need, and what benefits would this feature bring?
Let’s explore some advantages that would come with using your Tesla as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Internet Access for Devices via Tesla WiFi Hotspot
One benefit of using your Tesla as a Wi-Fi hotspot would be the ability to connect your smart devices or laptops to the internet. This assumes that the data connection would be strong enough while you’re in your car.
This would allow you to browse the web, check emails, and stream your favorite music, movies, or podcasts—all without consuming data from your smartphone.
“But wouldn’t I be driving?” you might ask. While these features seem to mainly benefit passengers and might only help the driver in certain situations, like heavy traffic, that’s not entirely the case.
On a similar note, check out this related article that I wrote about How To Resolve Tesla Model 3 WiFi Issues. It covers the subject in detail.
As Tesla continues to develop self-driving technology, and with the future leaning towards autonomous cars, having a strong data connection to connect your devices would be handy.
You could even hold a virtual meeting from the comfort of your car! Essentially, your vehicle would become an extension of your home.
Accordingly, you can still enjoy reliable and strong internet even when you’re away from the house, giving you access to your online accounts and more.
Reduce Strain on Your Smartphone by Using Tesla Hotspot WiFi
Teslas require an internet connection to collect data. For this reason, Tesla recommends using your phone as a mobile hotspot to facilitate software updates and other functions if you don’t have access to alternative Wi-Fi signals or don’t want to pay for the premium connectivity package.
With your Tesla acting as a Wi-Fi hotspot, you wouldn’t have to use your phone’s mobile hotspot for your Tesla or other devices. This also applies to other smart devices with tethering capabilities like iPads and tablets.
One of the main drawbacks of using your smart device as a hotspot is that it drains your phone’s battery. This means that using your Tesla as a hotspot would give you a significant advantage.
Possible Steps for Tesla Wi-Fi Hotspot
The Tesla as a Wi-Fi hotspot option would essentially be an expansion of the current built-in connectivity features in these cars, although the functionalities provided are limited. I’ll go into greater detail on these shortly.
Connecting to your Tesla as a Wi-Fi hotspot would ideally involve the following steps:
- Turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot from your car’s dashboard or the Tesla app.
- Enable Wi-Fi on your smart device or laptop.
- Search for the Tesla network from your device and click to connect to it.
- Enter your Tesla’s login password, and you’re connected!
From a practical standpoint, you would use your Tesla the same way you use your phone as a mobile hotspot. Because Teslas have a touchscreen, adjusting these settings should be straightforward.
How to Update Tesla Vehicle Software
You need a reliable internet connection to update your Tesla’s software. If you’re unsure of the different ways you can facilitate this process, you’ll be pleased to learn that Tesla offers several options.
Premium Connectivity and Tesla Hotspot
As hinted above, most Teslas have the Premium Connectivity option. Premium Connectivity is a feature for Teslas that you can purchase from the Tesla app or your car’s touchscreen.
It is available for Model 3, S, X, and Model Y Teslas and supports software updates, internet browsing, video streaming, navigation, and other features. After a free trial, you’ll have to pay $10 per month for the service.
While Premium Connectivity offers many perks, it doesn’t turn your Tesla into a Wi-Fi hotspot. So, unfortunately, you can’t use Tesla internet as a hotspot even with this package.
| Pros | Cons |
| Supports streaming media and music | May incur higher fees if you use too much data while driving |
| Offers live traffic visualization | Premium service costs $10 per month |
| Access to satellite-view maps | |
| Offers access to Caraoke |
Use a Mobile Hotspot to Update Your Tesla
If the premium option isn’t for you, you can use your mobile phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect your Tesla to its network. This means your Tesla will use your phone’s internet to download any software updates.
Of course, you’ll need a data package with enough data to handle the updates.
Spare a couple of minutes for this video on how to use your phone as a mobile hotspot for your Tesla.
| Pros | Cons |
| Alternative to Premium Connectivity | Drains your phone’s battery life |
| Easy and fast to set up | The size of system updates may require a significant data bundle |
| Use on a need-to basis to manage data usage |
