Best Tessie Automations for Tesla Owners: Smart Charging, Alerts and Schedules
Last Updated: 1 November 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.
👉 Check Tessie’s current signup offer. This is my referral link; check the plan, trial terms and renewal price shown before subscribing.
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.
Tessie Automations for Tesla Owners: What They Are and How They Work
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.
- Tessie Pro or Fleet for automations; standard Tessie does not include them. Compare the official plan features or 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?)
Tessie’s automation guide distinguishes timed routines from event-triggered ones. Pick the type first, then choose the action.
- Repeating: a time and selected days, with an optional location condition.
- One-time: a date and time, optionally restricted to a location.
- Arrival or departure: when you park or leave.
- When plugged in: when the vehicle is connected.
- Sentry movement or alarm: when the relevant Sentry event occurs.
Other rules may need an integration, such as Shortcuts, IFTTT or the API. Do not assume every battery, temperature or solar condition appears in Tessie’s own automation screen.
✅ 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.
🔌 Open the Charge Port at a Set Time
One-time
Runs once and disappears
- Action: Open the charge port
- Time: 18:10
- Date: Today
- Location: Home
- Notification: ❌ Off
Opens the port at the chosen time if the location condition is met. Use an arrival automation if you want parking to trigger it instead.
🔓 Unlock Doors at a Scheduled Time
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
An extra reminder to lock the car; check the automation history rather than relying on it as a failsafe.
💡 My Earlier Model 3 Setup
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
A note on that earlier setup: the times and tariff price above are historical. If Octopus controls your charging, follow its current schedule rather than copying a fixed start time from this example. Tessie’s charging comparison also explains the scheduling already built into newer Tesla software.
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.
- Check individual feature support for your Model 3 Highland or 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
👉 See Tessie’s signup options. Check the offer displayed for your account; a referral link does not guarantee a discount.
Want to try these automations yourself? Tessie lets you build smart Tesla schedules, charging rules and alerts from your phone. Check the current Tessie offer, 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 examples above as 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.
