How to keep your Tesla
windows open when parked
Short answer: If the windows close when you walk away, Close Windows on Lock is on. Turn it off under Controls > Locks, or let the car lock first and then tap Vent in the Tesla app.
Two ways to leave the windows open
Option 1: Turn off Close Windows on Lock
On the car's touchscreen, go to Controls > Locks and switch off Close Windows on Lock. After that, the windows stay wherever you leave them when the car locks, including when Walk-Away Door Lock locks it for you.
Option 2: Lock first, then tap Vent in the Tesla app
Close Windows on Lock acts at the moment the car locks. If you walk away, let the car lock, and then tap Vent on the Controls screen of the Tesla app, the windows open to the vent position and stay there. This is also how remote venting services work: they send the vent command to a car that's already parked and locked.
Why do my Tesla windows close when I lock the car?
Because Close Windows on Lock is turned on. Tesla's owner's manual describes it plainly: when it's enabled, the vehicle automatically closes the windows when it locks. That includes locking with the phone key as you walk away, the key card, or the app.
It's a sensible default for most people, since it stops you from walking away with a window down. It just gets in the way when you want to leave the windows cracked on purpose.
Get a reminder if you forget to close them
The car can send a notification to the Tesla app when a window is left open. Turn it on under Controls > Locks > Car Left Open Notification, then choose Doors & Windows. It's worth enabling if you turn off Close Windows on Lock.
Before you leave them open
Rain
Tesla doesn't close vented windows when it starts to rain. Once they're open, they stay open until someone taps Close.
No timer
There's no built-in way to vent until a certain time. Windows vented at noon are still vented at midnight unless you close them.
It's on you
Tesla's manual is explicit that it's your responsibility to make sure the windows are closed after locking the car. Leave them cracked where you're comfortable with a small gap, like a driveway or a work garage.
Never for people or pets
A cracked window is not a safe way to leave a child or a pet in the car. Use Dog Mode for pets, and never leave a child in a parked car.
Vent and close on a schedule the weather sets
VentMode handles option 2 for you. It vents a parked Tesla when it's hot (70°F by default) and dry, closes the windows when rain shows up in the current conditions or the 3-hour forecast, and closes them every evening at the hour you pick. It connects through Tesla's official Fleet API and never sees your Tesla password. $4.99/month or $29.99/year, with a 7-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep my Tesla windows open when I lock the car?
Turn off Close Windows on Lock under Controls > Locks on the touchscreen. With it off, the windows stay where you left them when the car locks. Or let the car lock first and then tap Vent in the Tesla app; the windows open to the vent position and stay open.
Why do my Tesla windows roll up when I walk away?
Close Windows on Lock is enabled. When the car locks, including by Walk-Away Door Lock, it closes any open windows. Switch the setting off under Controls > Locks if you want the windows to stay open.
Can I vent my Tesla windows after the car is locked?
Yes. Tap Vent on the Controls screen of the Tesla app. The windows open slightly and stay open until you tap Close. Close Windows on Lock only acts at the moment the car locks, so it doesn't undo a vent sent afterward.
Will my Tesla close the windows if it rains?
No. Tesla has no rain-triggered close for open or vented windows. They stay open until you close them from the app or the car. A third-party service can close them based on the forecast.
How do I get notified if I leave a Tesla window open?
Turn on Controls > Locks > Car Left Open Notification and choose Doors & Windows. The Tesla app will then notify you when a window is left open.
Related: What does Vent do in the Tesla app? · Tesla window venting, explained
Want the windows vented on hot days and closed before rain, without touching the app?
VentMode is not affiliated with Tesla, Inc.