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| Tesla Phone Key feature. |
The annual Tesla Holiday Update is always an eagerly anticipated event, a digital stocking filled with fun and functional treats. The 2025 release is no different, bringing back festive classics like enhanced Santa Mode with new winter animations and a merry lock chime. But nestled among the seasonal cheer is a feature many owners have been practically begging for: the "Phone Left Behind Chime."
For years, the nightmare scenario has played out for countless drivers: you walk away from your Tesla, doors lock, and a sinking realization hits—your phone is still sitting in the charging pad or the center console. Until now, preventing this relied on memory alone. The new chime, activated from Controls > Locks > Phone Left Behind Chime, solves this with elegant simplicity. If you exit and close the door while your smartphone remains inside, the car will issue a clear, audible alert to save you from the hassle.
How the Forgotten Phone Alert Works
The feature is cleverly powered by a combination of technologies to ensure broad compatibility. Initially, Tesla’s Phone Key functionality leveraged Ultra Wideband (UWB) connectivity, which was exclusive to newer iPhones for precise location tracking. Earlier this year, however, Tesla expanded UWB support to select Android devices, like the powerful Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (currently seeing holiday discounts of up to 30% on Amazon) and the latest Google Pixel models.
The system first uses this UWB connectivity to determine if a paired phone key is still inside the cabin. But Tesla didn’t stop there. For those with older iPhone or Android devices that lack UWB, the car performs a second check: it probes the wireless charging pad. If it detects a device drawing power, it will still trigger the chime. This dual-method approach means the benefit extends to a vast majority of users, regardless of their phone's age or brand.
As Tesla showcased in a recent social media post, the update is packed with both practicality and holiday spirit.
The alert itself is designed to be helpful, not intrusive. The chime sounds for just a few seconds immediately after the last occupant exits and the doors are closed, giving you a timely warning before you've gotten more than a few steps away.
Beyond this headline feature, the 2025 Holiday Update continues Tesla's tradition of blending useful improvements with lighthearted seasonal joy. The new vehicle visualizations on the massive center screen feature festive touches, while Santa Mode gets fresh animations to delight passengers young and old. It’s this combination—solving real-world annoyances like a forgotten phone while continuing to build a unique and engaging ownership experience—that keeps the Tesla software updates so highly anticipated year after year.
For owners, enabling the new chime is a quick trip into the settings menu for a bit of priceless peace of mind. It’s a small addition that exemplifies Tesla’s user-driven approach: listening to years of feedback and delivering a simple, smart solution that makes the connected car experience just a little more seamless.