Trunk Auto Open Height

Trunk Auto Open Height

Set the perfect opening height and enable hands-free auto open. Two features every owner should know.

GUIDES

Tesla Model Y Trunk Auto Open: Height Setting & Hands-Free Setup

Quick answer: Two things you can set up: (1) Trunk height — open trunk → push down to desired height → hold the close button 3 seconds → chime confirms. (2) Hands-Free auto open — go to Controls > Locks > Hands-Free > enable Hands-Free Trunk. Then just stand behind your car and the trunk opens by itself.

The Tesla Model Y trunk opens to full height by default — great in a parking lot, a disaster in a low garage. And if you have a Juniper, you can also set the trunk to open automatically when you walk up to it with your hands full. Here's how to set up both.

Last updated: March 2026 · 5 min read

Method 1: The Physical Button (Easiest)

This is the most reliable method and works on every Model Y, including the Juniper. No software version requirement.

1

Make sure your Model Y is in Park.

2

Open the trunk using any method — touchscreen, Tesla app, key fob, or the button under the rear handle.

3

Wait for the trunk to fully open, then manually push it down to the height you want. For a garage, leave at least 2-3 inches of clearance above the trunk when fully open.

4

Find the close button on the underside of the liftgate (the same button you press to close it).

5

Press and hold that button for about 3 seconds. You'll hear a confirmation chime — that means the height is saved.

6

Close the trunk and open it again to verify. It should stop at your new height.

💡 Pro tip: Don't force the trunk down too quickly — move it slowly and smoothly. The electric struts resist fast movements and you could trigger a safety stop.

Method 2: Touchscreen Pause

If you don't want to physically push the trunk, you can use the touchscreen to pause it mid-travel.

1

Open the trunk from the touchscreen.

2

While the trunk is moving up, tap the pause button on the touchscreen to stop it at your desired height.

3

The touchscreen will show options to save this height. Tap "Save as Default" or "Save for This Location" (if available on your software version).

New: Location-Based Trunk Height (2025.14+)

Starting with software update 2025.14, Tesla added a smart feature: your Model Y can remember different trunk heights for different locations. This means you can have a lower height at home (for your garage) and full height everywhere else.

How it works:

  • •Set a trunk height while parked at a specific location (like your garage)
  • •Save it as a location-specific height — the car uses GPS to remember
  • •When you're at that location, the trunk opens to the saved height
  • •Everywhere else, it uses your default height (or full open if you haven't set one)
💡 Pro tip: This is perfect if you park in a tight garage at home but want full trunk access at Costco. Set a conservative height at home and leave the default at max everywhere else.

Hands-Free Trunk: Auto Open When You Walk Up

This is the feature from that viral video — you walk up to the back of your Model Y, stand still for a couple of seconds, and the trunk opens by itself. No buttons, no phone tapping. Tesla calls it "Hands-Free Trunk" and it uses ultra-wideband (UWB) to detect your phone's position relative to the car.

How to enable it:

1

On the touchscreen, go to Controls > Locks.

2

Find the "Hands-Free" section.

3

Toggle on Hands-Free Trunk. It's off by default.

4

Optional: Enable "Exclude Home" if you don't want it triggering in your garage while you're working nearby.

How to use it:

  • •Have your phone on you (it's your key)
  • •Walk to within 2.5–3 feet of the rear of the car
  • •Stand still — you'll hear two chimes as a warning
  • •Stay still and the trunk opens automatically
  • •Walk away during the chimes to cancel

Which cars & phones support it:

Supported Models

  • • 2026 Model Y Juniper and later
  • • 2024 Model 3 Highland and later
  • • 2021 Model S/X and later
  • • All Cybertrucks

Supported Phones

  • • iPhone 11 and later (except SE & 16e)
  • • Google Pixel 6 and later
  • • Samsung S21+ and later
  • • Most flagship Androids with UWB
⚠️ Important: Pre-2025 Model Y (non-Juniper) does NOT support Hands-Free Trunk — the older hardware doesn't have UWB. This is a Juniper / newer model feature only.
💡 Pro tip: Turn on "Exclude Home" if you spend time near the back of your car in the garage (loading stuff, working on projects). Otherwise the trunk will pop open every time you stand behind it for a few seconds.

All the Ways to Open Your Model Y Trunk

While we're at it, here are all the ways you can open the rear trunk — some of these aren't obvious to new owners:

📱

Tesla App

Tap the trunk icon in the app

🖥️

Touchscreen

Controls > Trunk from the display

🔑

Key Fob

Double-click the rear trunk button

👆

Exterior Button

Press the switch under the rear handle (key required nearby)

🗣️

Voice Command

"Open the trunk" or "Open the boot"

⌚

Apple Watch

Via the Tesla app on your watch

Troubleshooting

Trunk won't stay at the set height

Make sure you held the button long enough — you need to hear the chime. If it still resets, try a full vehicle reboot (hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel for 10 seconds) and set the height again.

Trunk opens and immediately closes

This usually means the latch isn't releasing properly. Check if the trunk is misaligned or if something is blocking the latch mechanism. A service appointment may be needed.

Height resets after software update

Some owners report the saved height resets after OTA updates. Just re-do the process — it takes 30 seconds.

Related Articles

→ First 7 Things to Do After Getting Your Model Y Juniper→ 10 Must-Have Accessories for Model Y Juniper→ Home Charging Guide: Wall Connector vs NEMA 14-50

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