Install vehicle software updates safely
Modern cars can receive over-the-air feature and bug-fix updates, an approach Tesla helped popularize across the industry. Start an update while safely parked,…
Modern cars can receive over-the-air feature and bug-fix updates, an approach Tesla helped popularize across the industry. Start an update while safely parked, allow enough time for the car to be unavailable, and use reliable Wi-Fi when the maker recommends it.
Why a car update needs more planning than a phone update
An over-the-air update can fix bugs, improve features, or address software problems without a dealer visit. But a car is not a phone you can keep using while it restarts. During installation it may be unavailable, and some familiar settings can change. Preparing properly, by parking safely, allowing enough time, and following the maker's guidance, turns a convenient update into a calm routine instead of an unwelcome surprise before a journey you need.
What to do, step by step
- Read the update notes in the car or the maker's app so you know what is changing.
- Park safely where the car can stay put, and never start an update when you need to drive soon.
- Follow the maker's guidance on charge or battery level, and on using reliable Wi-Fi when recommended.
- Start the update, leave the car as instructed, and do not interrupt it partway through installation.
- Afterwards, check that it completed, and re-check familiar settings and driver aids before your next trip.
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