Last Updated: April 21, 2026
💡 Want your Tesla to unlock automatically, start heating before your morning commute, or open the charge port when you get home? With Tessie’s automation feature, you can schedule one-off or recurring actions that run in the background, even if your phone is off.
👉 Try Tessie with my referral link – this unlocks full features, including automation and battery insights, and applies the best available discount or lifetime offer.
This article shows you exactly how to set up these automations inside the Tessie app, using the same format you’ll see when creating your own.
What Are Tessie Automations?
What You Need to Set Up Tessie Automations
- A connected Tessie account linked to your Tesla.
- A clear trigger, such as time, location, charging status or battery percentage.
- An action you want Tessie to run, such as preconditioning, charging control or an alert.
- The right Tessie plan for advanced automations. If you are unsure, check my Tessie Basic vs Pro comparison.
Tessie automations let you set up if-this-then-that style rules for your Tesla, using real-time data like battery %, time, location, and charging status.
These automations run in the cloud, so they’ll still trigger even if:
- Your phone is off
- You’re logged out of the app
- You’re using multiple devices
Think of it as your car getting smarter – without paying for a home charger upgrade.
🔄 Tessie Automation Triggers (What Can Start an Automation?)
You can build automations using these triggers:
- 📍 Location: Arriving or leaving a saved location
- 🔋 Battery %: Above, below, or exactly a % value
- 🕒 Time: Specific time of day or relative times
- 🔌 Charging: Starts, stops, or is plugged in
- 🚗 Driving status: When the car starts/stops driving
- ☀️ Climate: Cabin temperature
- ⚡ Power source: Grid, solar, etc (via API or Home Assistant)
- 🔁 Scheduled: Repeating daily or weekly
- 💤 Idle: Car not in use for X minutes
✅ Tessie Automation Actions (What Can It Do?)
Once a trigger occurs, you can set Tessie to perform any of these actions:
- 🔓 Open or close the charge port
- ❄️ Turn on/off climate control or set cabin temp
- 🪟 Vent or close windows
- 🔋 Limit charge to X%
- 🚗 Unlock or lock the car
- 🧊 Start seat/steering wheel heating
- 🔌 Enable or disable Sentry Mode
- 🌡️ Precondition the cabin
- 🔕 Send a push notification to your phone or watch
Here are some powerful (and fun) automations to help you get started:
One-Time Automations (Run Once Then Disappear)
☀️ Preheat Your Tesla Before Work
One-time
Runs once and disappears
- Action: Start climate/preconditioning
- Time: 07:15
- Date: Tomorrow
- Location: Home
- Notification: ✅ On
Warm the cabin before your commute – no app needed on the day.
🔌 Auto-Open Charge Port When You Get Home
One-time
Runs once and disappears
- Action: Open the charge port
- Time: 18:10
- Date: Today
- Location: Home
- Notification: ❌ Off
Prepares your car for charging as soon as you arrive.
🔓 Unlock Doors as You Arrive at Work
One-time
Runs once and disappears
- Action: Unlock doors
- Time: 08:00
- Date: Today
- Location: Work
- Notification: ✅ On
Saves a few taps if you always unload gear at the same time.
🛣️ Set Full Charge Before a Trip
One-time
Runs once and disappears
- Action: Set charge limit to 100%
- Time: 04:45
- Date: Friday
- Location: Home
- Notification: ❌ Off
Ideal for early getaways when you want a full battery.
Recurring Automations (Repeat Daily or Weekly)
🔁 Daily Cabin Preconditioning
Recurring
Repeats every weekday
- Action: Start climate/preconditioning
- Time: 07:30
- Date: Monday to Friday
- Location: Home
- Notification: ✅ On
Keeps your car toasty and windows defrosted before work, every day.
🛡️ Auto-Enable Sentry Mode at Night
Recurring
Repeats daily
- Action: Enable Sentry mode
- Time: 22:00
- Date: Every day
- Location: Anywhere
- Notification: ✅ On
Great for security overnight, especially if parked on-street.
🔋 Weekend Charge Limit Change
Recurring
Repeats every weekend
- Action: Set charge limit to 90%
- Time: 12:00
- Date: Saturday + Sunday
- Location: Home
- Notification: ❌ Off
Adjusts your charge target when you're likely to drive further.
🔐 Auto-Lock at Work End-of-Day
Recurring
Repeats every weekday
- Action: Lock doors
- Time: 18:00
- Date: Monday to Friday
- Location: Work
- Notification: ✅ On
A failsafe to make sure your Tesla is locked before heading home.
💡 The Tessie Automations I Actually Use on My Model 3
After getting my Tesla Model 3 Long Range in April 2026 and switching to Octopus Intelligent Go, I set up a recurring Tessie automation to open the charge port and begin charging at 00:30 each night – right at the start of the cheap-rate window at around 7p/kWh. I also have a weekday preconditioning automation so the cabin is warm before I leave, regardless of the weather. These run in the cloud, so they fire even when my phone is off. Tessie automations have genuinely made living with an EV more effortless day to day.
Steven | Tesla Model 3 LR owner, Octopus Intelligent Go customer
Why I Recommend Tessie
Tessie is one of the most useful Tesla companion apps available, especially for UK owners using Octopus Go or those who track energy usage closely. If you are still deciding whether to trust the app, read my full Is Tessie app safe breakdown.
- Fully compatible with the 2026 Model 3 Highland and Model Y Juniper
- Works across iPhone, Android, smartwatches, and web
- Cloud-powered automations that run whether or not your phone is nearby
- Detailed battery insights, trip stats, and charging analysis
👉 Get started with Tessie using this referral link – it applies the best available offer and supports my site.
Useful next reads
Want to try these automations yourself? Tessie lets you build smart Tesla schedules, charging rules and alerts from your phone. Try Tessie with the current referral discount, or compare plans in my Tessie Pro vs Basic guide.
Tesla App vs Tessie Automations
| Task | Tesla app | Tessie |
|---|---|---|
| Basic scheduled charging | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced automation rules | Limited | Stronger |
| Battery and charging alerts | Limited | Yes |
| Location/time-based routines | Limited | Yes |
| Detailed history and logs | Limited | Yes |
If those extra rules are what you came here for, start with Tessie here and use the automations below as your first setup ideas.
Useful Tessie Guides Next
- Tessie discount code and current referral offer
- Full Tessie app review for UK Tesla owners
- Is Tessie safe to use with your Tesla?
I’m Steven, founder of MoneyAppReviews. I test money apps, referral programs, and EV tools in real life before I write about them. I drive a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range, use Octopus Intelligent Go for home charging, and regularly track costs, savings, and app performance over time. I focus on practical, evidence-based reviews that help people decide what is actually worth using, not just what pays the highest commission.