Reset a Frozen Infotainment Screen

Last updated: June 12, 2026

When the touchscreen in your Tesla Model Y (2020–Present) freezes, blacks out, ignores your taps or keeps glitching the maps and media, the answer is almost always a quick soft reboot. The Model Y shares the Model 3’s minimalist layout — a single 15-inch landscape display and no instrument cluster — so a hung screen feels worse than it is. The drive system stays powered the whole time, and a reboot using the two steering-wheel scroll wheels takes about 15 seconds.

Reboot the Touchscreen With the Scroll Wheels

1. Put the car in Park — the reboot will not run while driving.
2. Keep your foot off the brake pedal throughout, as pressing the brake can interrupt the reboot.
3. Press and hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel at the same time, pressing each one inward.
4. Keep holding for about 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes completely black.
5. Release when the white Tesla “T” logo appears.
6. Give it about 30 seconds to finish loading — maps, media and climate return on their own.

It Is Safe — No Data Is Lost

This soft reboot only restarts the display computer. It does not wipe driver profiles, navigation favourites, Autopilot settings, paired phones or any saved data. Tesla service recommends it as the first step for any touchscreen issue, and it is perfectly safe to perform while parked. The Model Y keeps the climate system, locks and drive system running throughout, so you won’t lose cabin heating or air-conditioning settings.

If a Soft Reboot Isn’t Enough: Power Off

For freezes that keep returning, do a deeper power-down:

1. With the car in Park, tap ‘Controls’ > ‘Safety’ > ‘Power Off’.
2. Confirm, then leave the car untouched for 2 to 3 minutes — don’t open a door, touch the screen, or press the brake.
3. After the wait, press the brake pedal (or open a door) to wake the car.

This fully shuts the vehicle’s computers down and clears deeper hangs a scroll-wheel reboot can’t reach.

If It Stays Frozen

• Hold the buttons longer — a stubborn hang can need 20–30 seconds before the screen goes dark.
• Use the Power Off method above and give the car its full 3-minute rest.
• Check for a software update after the screen returns — an interrupted update can trigger repeat freezes.
• Report it via the Tesla app — under ‘Service’, describe the fault; persistent freezing can point to a failing display memory unit Tesla can diagnose remotely.

Don’t Reboot While Driving

Reboot only when parked. While driving, the Model Y’s single screen shows your speed, gear and Autopilot status, so blacking it out on the move is unsafe — pull over and select Park first. If the screen freezes mid-drive the car stays fully drivable; reboot once you have safely stopped.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will rebooting delete my profiles or Autopilot settings?

No. The scroll-wheel reboot only restarts the touchscreen software. Driver profiles, navigation favourites, Autopilot and Full Self-Driving settings, and paired phones are all preserved.

Does the Model Y reboot the same way as the Model 3?

Yes — both share the same single central display and the same two-scroll-wheel reboot. Hold both wheels until the Tesla logo reappears.

Can I reboot while charging or with passengers in Camp/Dog Mode?

You can reboot while charging. Avoid rebooting if Camp Mode or Dog Mode is keeping the cabin climate on for occupants, as the screen and climate briefly drop out during the restart.

My Model Y screen keeps going black — is it failing?

Occasional black screens are usually software hangs cleared by a reboot. Frequent recurrences can indicate a display unit fault — log it in the Tesla app so Tesla can check it remotely.

Do I need my foot on the brake?

No — keep your foot off the brake during the hold. Pressing it can cancel the reboot.

If a warning or fault message remains after the screen restarts, you can decode the stored code on autodtcs.com.