Tesla Holiday Software Update (2025.44): 19 Undocumented Features Revealed
Tesla’s holiday update unveiled several major features, including Grok with Navigation Commands, vehicle telemetry accessible in the Dashcam Viewer, custom vehicle wraps, and more. It should be no surprise that owners are enthusiastic about the expanded functionality and personalization these additions provide.
Tesla’s holiday update introduced major additions — Grok with Navigation Commands, vehicle telemetry in the Dashcam Viewer, custom vehicle wraps — plus numerous smaller enhancements.
Unsurprisingly, the year’s largest release also included many undocumented changes: we counted 19 in total. The Dashcam Viewer received especially useful upgrades, including zoom and improved filters. Below is a summary of every notable improvement.
Car Wash Mode Notification
When you approach a car wash, the vehicle now displays a reminder that makes it easy to enable Car Wash Mode. This is part of broader Car Wash Mode redesigns in the update.
V4 Supercharger Visualization
The vehicle display now includes a dedicated visualization for V4 Superchargers. The Supercharger visual library already covered mobile connectors, Wall Connectors, v2 and v3 Superchargers, and a generic third‑party charger icon; V4 was the only major type missing until now.
Parking Brake
The option to enable the emergency (parking) brake from Controls > Safety has been removed. You can still engage the parking brake using the gear stalk or the Park icon on the touchscreen.
Express Lanes
Some vehicles now support Express Lanes—faster lanes that may impose fees based on occupancy, vehicle type, and time of day. A toggle to include or avoid Express Lanes appears in navigation settings where supported. Availability varies as Tesla continues to test the feature.
Supercharger Live Maps Show Exact Models
Supercharger Site Maps now present a real‑time 3D rendering of each site and indicate which vehicle model occupies each stall: original Model Y, new Model Y, Cybertruck, or non‑Tesla. The maps also show stall availability, location, handicap accessibility, and which stalls are pull‑throughs.
Wrap & License Plate Icons
Controls > Software now displays a photo of your selected license plate and a wrapping‑paper icon beneath the vehicle visualization. Tapping the wrap icon opens vehicle visualization options. The wrap icon replaces the old colored square that launched the Colorizer feature.
New Wheel Options
The new 18" Prismata (Model 3) and 18" Aperture wheels (Model 3/Model Y) are now selectable in vehicle visualization for all models. To view or change wheels, go to Controls > Service and select Tires and Wheels.
Camera Visibility Warning Improvement
When a camera visibility warning appears, the display now labels the specific camera and overlays the camera view, so you know exactly which lens to clean. Labels include Front (under the windshield) and Fascia (front bumper camera).
Dashcam Viewer Zoom Support
Dashcam Viewer now supports pinch‑to‑zoom and panning while viewing recordings, letting you inspect details more closely. Note: this feature is limited to vehicles equipped with Tesla’s AMD Ryzen infotainment processor.
Switch to Bluetooth Prompt
If your phone is playing audio while connected via Bluetooth, the vehicle will prompt you to switch the audio source to Bluetooth so playback continues through the car’s speakers. This reduces the second of silence drivers sometimes experience when switching from phone audio.
Boomerang Fu Removed
The game Boomerang Fu has been removed and replaced with SpaceX Docking Simulator. Boomerang Fu’s license likely expired following last year’s holiday release.
Air Suspension Controls
Air suspension controls for Model S and Model X (2021 and newer) have been moved into the main Controls section, rather than a separate Suspension tab. 2026 models already used this layout; 2025 and older vehicles retain the more detailed Suspension menu.
New Visualizations with Unreal Engine
The enhanced visualizations introduced on 2026 Model S and Model X are now available on all 2021+ Model S and Model X vehicles. You can freely rotate the vehicle visualization in Controls, view improved instrument cluster graphics, and interact with the parked vehicle module (pan and zoom to open doors and trunk).
Favorites on the Map
Favorites, Home, and Work locations are now pinned directly on the map. Home and Work icons appear in the Navigate box with your top two suggestions underneath. Pinned favorites make it easier to orient the map and spot nearby saved locations such as friends’ homes or restaurants.
Car Wash Mode Redesign
Car Wash Mode now displays the vehicle visualization on the right with the preparation checklist on the left. Checklist items turn red if a setting (window, trunk, etc.) prevents safe car wash operation. The “Enable Free Roll” control is more prominent, simplifying how to put the car into neutral.
Dashcam Filters
Dashcam Viewer now organizes recordings into more granular categories (e.g., Honk, Manual Save, Handle Pull) for both Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips. The system automatically categorizes footage based on what triggered each clip and also provides a tool to view the exact telemetry data associated with each recording.
View Dashcam Storage
You can now view the storage usage of your Dashcam USB drive, including how much space Dashcam recordings are using and the drive’s total capacity.
To view Dashcam storage, navigate to Controls > Safety and scroll down to Dashcam.
Hebrew language support
Hebrew is now available as a touchscreen language. To change it, put the vehicle in Park and go to Controls > Display > Touchscreen Language.
Service Mode improvements
Thermal Control Components panel added
A new Thermal Control Components panel in Service Mode supports thermal NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) diagnosis. It enables individual control of thermal components, target setting, and operating-range sweeps with real‑time feedback. The panel also includes a 3D static view of the heat pump showing the radiator, blower motor, louver, and pumps.
Models: Model S (2021+), Model 3 (Heat Pump), Model X (2021+), Model Y, Cybertruck
Airbag panel update — disarm and resistance checks
The Airbags panel now includes a routine to disarm the airbags, eliminating the need to disconnect the low-voltage (LV) battery when diagnosing the Safety & Restraints system. After disarming, you can tap individual components (airbags, pretensioners) to view resistance readings.
Models: Model S (2021+), Model 3, Model X (2021+), Model Y, Cybertruck
Tesla is expected to roll out its first software update of 2026 within the next couple of weeks.
Unsurprisingly, the year’s largest release also included many undocumented changes: we counted 19 in total. The Dashcam Viewer received especially useful upgrades, including zoom and improved filters. Below is a summary of every notable improvement.
Car Wash Mode Notification
When you approach a car wash, the vehicle now displays a reminder that makes it easy to enable Car Wash Mode. This is part of broader Car Wash Mode redesigns in the update.
V4 Supercharger Visualization
The vehicle display now includes a dedicated visualization for V4 Superchargers. The Supercharger visual library already covered mobile connectors, Wall Connectors, v2 and v3 Superchargers, and a generic third‑party charger icon; V4 was the only major type missing until now.
Parking Brake
The option to enable the emergency (parking) brake from Controls > Safety has been removed. You can still engage the parking brake using the gear stalk or the Park icon on the touchscreen.
Express Lanes
Some vehicles now support Express Lanes—faster lanes that may impose fees based on occupancy, vehicle type, and time of day. A toggle to include or avoid Express Lanes appears in navigation settings where supported. Availability varies as Tesla continues to test the feature.
Supercharger Live Maps Show Exact Models
Supercharger Site Maps now present a real‑time 3D rendering of each site and indicate which vehicle model occupies each stall: original Model Y, new Model Y, Cybertruck, or non‑Tesla. The maps also show stall availability, location, handicap accessibility, and which stalls are pull‑throughs.
Wrap & License Plate Icons
Controls > Software now displays a photo of your selected license plate and a wrapping‑paper icon beneath the vehicle visualization. Tapping the wrap icon opens vehicle visualization options. The wrap icon replaces the old colored square that launched the Colorizer feature.
New Wheel Options
The new 18" Prismata (Model 3) and 18" Aperture wheels (Model 3/Model Y) are now selectable in vehicle visualization for all models. To view or change wheels, go to Controls > Service and select Tires and Wheels.
Camera Visibility Warning Improvement
When a camera visibility warning appears, the display now labels the specific camera and overlays the camera view, so you know exactly which lens to clean. Labels include Front (under the windshield) and Fascia (front bumper camera).
Dashcam Viewer Zoom Support
Dashcam Viewer now supports pinch‑to‑zoom and panning while viewing recordings, letting you inspect details more closely. Note: this feature is limited to vehicles equipped with Tesla’s AMD Ryzen infotainment processor.
Switch to Bluetooth Prompt
If your phone is playing audio while connected via Bluetooth, the vehicle will prompt you to switch the audio source to Bluetooth so playback continues through the car’s speakers. This reduces the second of silence drivers sometimes experience when switching from phone audio.
Boomerang Fu Removed
The game Boomerang Fu has been removed and replaced with SpaceX Docking Simulator. Boomerang Fu’s license likely expired following last year’s holiday release.
Air Suspension Controls
Air suspension controls for Model S and Model X (2021 and newer) have been moved into the main Controls section, rather than a separate Suspension tab. 2026 models already used this layout; 2025 and older vehicles retain the more detailed Suspension menu.
New Visualizations with Unreal Engine
The enhanced visualizations introduced on 2026 Model S and Model X are now available on all 2021+ Model S and Model X vehicles. You can freely rotate the vehicle visualization in Controls, view improved instrument cluster graphics, and interact with the parked vehicle module (pan and zoom to open doors and trunk).
Favorites on the Map
Favorites, Home, and Work locations are now pinned directly on the map. Home and Work icons appear in the Navigate box with your top two suggestions underneath. Pinned favorites make it easier to orient the map and spot nearby saved locations such as friends’ homes or restaurants.
Car Wash Mode Redesign
Car Wash Mode now displays the vehicle visualization on the right with the preparation checklist on the left. Checklist items turn red if a setting (window, trunk, etc.) prevents safe car wash operation. The “Enable Free Roll” control is more prominent, simplifying how to put the car into neutral.
Dashcam Filters
Dashcam Viewer now organizes recordings into more granular categories (e.g., Honk, Manual Save, Handle Pull) for both Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips. The system automatically categorizes footage based on what triggered each clip and also provides a tool to view the exact telemetry data associated with each recording.
View Dashcam Storage
You can now view the storage usage of your Dashcam USB drive, including how much space Dashcam recordings are using and the drive’s total capacity.
To view Dashcam storage, navigate to Controls > Safety and scroll down to Dashcam.
Hebrew language support
Hebrew is now available as a touchscreen language. To change it, put the vehicle in Park and go to Controls > Display > Touchscreen Language.
Service Mode improvements
Thermal Control Components panel added
A new Thermal Control Components panel in Service Mode supports thermal NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) diagnosis. It enables individual control of thermal components, target setting, and operating-range sweeps with real‑time feedback. The panel also includes a 3D static view of the heat pump showing the radiator, blower motor, louver, and pumps.
Models: Model S (2021+), Model 3 (Heat Pump), Model X (2021+), Model Y, Cybertruck
Airbag panel update — disarm and resistance checks
The Airbags panel now includes a routine to disarm the airbags, eliminating the need to disconnect the low-voltage (LV) battery when diagnosing the Safety & Restraints system. After disarming, you can tap individual components (airbags, pretensioners) to view resistance readings.
Models: Model S (2021+), Model 3, Model X (2021+), Model Y, Cybertruck
Tesla is expected to roll out its first software update of 2026 within the next couple of weeks.
