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Tesla Introduces Convenient New Way to Unlatch Charging Cable in Software Update 2025.20

chrisdh79 | 2025-06-05 13:49 | 327 views

Comments (86)
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[deleted] 2025-06-05 13:52

I'm glad Tesla are paying attention to the third-party!

Supergeek13579 2025-06-05 14:00

This is awesome! Pretty much every J1772 charger I have to do this awkward dance where I push the lever, but then use both hands to pull the adapter out while unplugging the handle. If you just unclick the J1772 handle and leave the adapter in your car it’ll *always* be locked in my car by the time I get the handle hung up and end my charge session.

FlyingDaedalus 2025-06-05 14:01

I LOVE IT. We have a 3rd party charging system in our rental. Since i own this car (6 years), i always need to pull out my phone, open the app, press unlock. Now i can finally do that. And btw i anyway open the rear left door because i put my bag in there.

Suitable_Switch5242 2025-06-05 14:02

For J1772 I do this: 1) Push lever, wait for car to stop charging and unlock charge port 2) Release lever so it grabs the adapter again 3) Pull both out of car 4) Remove adapter from charging cable

quizzicalbear 2025-06-05 14:12

So does the rear door unlatch regardless of whether we want it to or not?

catsRawesome123 2025-06-05 14:15

Why’d it take THIS LONG to implement lol

lawrence1024 2025-06-05 14:18

Is this with a j1772 or a European type 2 plug? With my j1772 at home, pressing the latch button on the handle causes the car to unlatch. It's pretty convenient, and by just letting go of the latch button before pulling out, the adapter comes out with the handle. So I assume you're talking about a type 2 cable? Do they not have a button to unlatch? How do you unlatch on non Teslas?

brutal_maximum 2025-06-05 14:23

Is that small button next to charging port gone in newer Teslas? In older X I can press that to release

FlyingDaedalus 2025-06-05 14:23

Yes Type 2, i have charger exactly looking like that at home: [https://www.goingelectric.de/stromtankstellen/photos/97bf80305543b603d8c736a78652daff/600/338/](https://www.goingelectric.de/stromtankstellen/photos/97bf80305543b603d8c736a78652daff/600/338/) Maybe there is a button i dont know about......

lawrence1024 2025-06-05 14:28

I see, I've never handled a type 2 plug in real life so I'm just curious. Do you know what the unlatching procedure is supposed to be and why it's less convenient on a Tesla than other cars? Teslas in Europe have native type 2 so I don't understand why it wouldn't be integrated properly.

mrandr01d 2025-06-05 14:34

Do you pull the handle hard enough to open/unlatch the door? Cuz that seems just as annoying as having to get my phone out.

jonas_man 2025-06-05 14:34

Looks like the new ones dont have it :(

Snowmobile2004 2025-06-05 14:36

No, just pull the handle out and hold it, not enough to open the door

Anal_Herschiser 2025-06-05 14:37

I'm not sure I like this solution. You have to wait 3 seconds as well as opening and closing one of the doors.

FiddleTheFigures 2025-06-05 14:39

Wow this is great. Hope they do it with the drivers door and the frunk next!

mrandr01d 2025-06-05 14:42

Oh, nice

hutacars 2025-06-05 14:43

Same. I thought that was the obvious way. I read the article and am just as confused as before as to how this new method is beneficial.

FearTheClown5 2025-06-05 14:43

I wonder if they'll start adding more features from enhautos s3xy line of products. I don't know think there's really anything the s3xy Commander does that Tesla couldn't implement. Definitely recommend the s3xy Commander even if you don't want the buttons, it does so much more right now, but it is interesting to see Tesla add a feature that's been available via the Commander.

Wi11iamSun 2025-06-05 14:49

lol just tell me how to do this with X 🤣

kingofnexus 2025-06-05 14:53

Need to hold handle out for 3 seconds which sounds like a deliberate action as opposed to just opening the door normally (which would be like a second).

woalk 2025-06-05 14:53

Most cars have an unlatch button on the key. Tesla cars don’t have a key.

hEddie1 2025-06-05 14:54

You pull the handle out and hold just before the unlatch stage

Khaswi 2025-06-05 14:56

I’m almost certain there is a reason and I’m just asking if anyone here knows that reason…. But why not just have it unlatch when the car is unlocked?

FlyingDaedalus 2025-06-05 14:58

i think tesla wallchrargers have unlock buttons on the type2 variants

cadnights 2025-06-05 15:03

I settled on doing this too after a few awkward first times charging at L2 chargers. It seems easier than the rear door handle method, but the article talks about how it's good for 3rd-party chargers that don't have unlatch levers. I've never encountered any like that though

quizzicalbear 2025-06-05 15:05

So the door handle can distinguish between a half and full pull? That would make sense then.

Ascending_Valley 2025-06-05 15:12

or S - I'm glad they added it, but holding something for 3 seconds will take almost as long as opening my app.

sillysnowbird 2025-06-05 15:25

same i even tried reading it out loud to see if i “get it” but this just sounds like more work???? than just pulling everything out at once and then taking the adapter off the cord? i don’t understand what this is going to help lol

wdean13 2025-06-05 15:36

anybody else getting false warning from parking sensors after last update?

AutomaticTreat 2025-06-05 16:01

But I don't have any door handles.

TechMonitorXO 2025-06-05 16:08

This always worked for me, except I would just click the lever instead of holding and releasing it

european_web 2025-06-05 17:06

It’s not the same as opening the app. The app relies on the interwebs and there’s quite a noticeable lag before the command reaches the car. Pulling the handle is instant. I’ve been using this for a long time with enhanced commander and it’s great.

GoSh4rks 2025-06-05 17:13

> The app relies on the interwebs Unlocking doesn't. I would be surprised if stopping charging does? If you are in BT range.

Ambitious5uppository 2025-06-05 17:20

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Juice805 2025-06-05 17:41

I don’t trust the lever to hold tight enough to the adapter and not leave it behind in the car I always end up pulling from the adapter

Useful-Future-9680 2025-06-05 17:41

I would assume it’s so you can enter and exit the car without interrupting the charging session.

Khaswi 2025-06-05 17:43

It’s a good thought but the lock mechanism doesn’t stop the charge though. At least it doesn’t for mine.

Useful-Future-9680 2025-06-05 17:47

Rest of the world has type 2 plugs, so yeah, it’ll just help everyone that’s not in North America.

Useful-Future-9680 2025-06-05 17:52

It’s a real PITA at all but Tesla branded level 2 chargers. You either have to open the car and do it from the screen, or open the app and do it in there. I have a widget on my Lock Screen so at least it’s a tiny bit easier. This will remove the need to get my phone out so should be a welcome improvement.

Ok_Priority458 2025-06-05 18:01

Opening the door doesn't unlock the charge port.....so on a non tesla charger you would need to enter the car and unlock charge port from the screen or use your phone app. You dont want the charge port to open everytime you open the rear door so 3sec. Would be ok... I'm using this feature on the sexy button app/commander as well as open frunk 3sec with driver side door

David-El 2025-06-05 18:21

I find it funny that the thumbnail picture shows a right side door when the feature specifically mentions the left rear door.

TiltSoloMid 2025-06-05 19:11

That's a neat QoL improvement. Other cars have dedicated buttons at the charge port to unlock. A feature I've been missing

Matt_NZ 2025-06-05 20:37

For those of us using Type 2, there is no unlock leaver on non-Tesla handles. You have to open the app to stop charging and unlock the port to release the cable. This new way prevents having to do that

hutacars 2025-06-05 21:27

Oh, interesting. I was under the impression Type 2 was supposed to be vastly superior to everything we have in the US. Even just holding the door handle seems cumbersome. In that case, I’m glad NA is adopting NACS!

Matt_NZ 2025-06-05 21:49

Type 2 is still superior to Type 1. We don’t have to worry about some asshole unlatching our cables and it’s also a smaller connector. You’ll probably have this same issue when third party chargers adopt the NACS connectors and don’t have the button on the handle too 😉

casino_r0yale 2025-06-05 22:16

Been doing this forever with the S3XY buttons, glad it’s finally built in

TurbulentDinner8264 2025-06-05 22:33

Judging by [this video towards the bottom](https://www.notateslaapp.com/news/2790/tesla-adds-third-party-charge-cable-release-shortcut-in-update-202520), it seems like the rear door does have to open in order to get this to work.

TurbulentDinner8264 2025-06-05 22:38

As someone who’s using a non-Tesla L2 charger at home, this is neat as I’m always using the adapter and won’t need to fumble around my phone all the time. Would be nice if they also add an Apple Watch button to unlock the charge port lock from there.

Ok_Avocado4227 2025-06-06 00:06

So pressing the button on the handle you still have to grab is too hard?

squizzi 2025-06-06 00:18

Low priority stuff I imagine. There's tons of little papercuts in the software I work on that we'll do "one day when we get time" which is rare.

[deleted] 2025-06-06 01:51

>…and Mobile Connector all have buttons to stop the charge session and unlatch the cable. My mobile connector button only opens the charge port. It does not unlock it when charging/charged. I have tried everything. It’s not really a huge deal once a week. But this is a nice update. Previous update gave me headlights that now follow the curve in the road : )

SmooK_LV 2025-06-06 05:43

Type 2 doesn't have latch. For all cars it locks on the car side.

SmooK_LV 2025-06-06 05:47

to safely disconnect the charge cable. lock essentially tells the car it's safe to charge

Present-Ad-9598 2025-06-06 09:10

I’ve never once used a third party charger so I didn’t know people had to unlatch from the touchscreen 😭

junktrunk909 2025-06-06 12:02

No it's a 3 second hold of the handle. It's not likely someone would do that otherwise.

lawrence1024 2025-06-06 14:54

Yeah, I'm just surprised that it doesn't have a button like NACS does. Oh well, it is really Tesla's fault for not putting a button next to the charge port to make it easy for the user to unlatch. Since type 2 is designed for user input to be handled by the car, it's really a fail that Tesla doesn't give the user a way to interact easily.

CricTic 2025-06-06 15:16

I pull the handle and use it to open the door. It opens immediately. How do you hold the handle for 3 seconds without the door opening?

junktrunk909 2025-06-06 15:33

The door will open I assume. You just keep holding the handle open. I dunno, seems pretty dumb to me, but just a hack to get it to unlock I guess without other steps. I never really appreciated how convenient the button on their charger is until now.

mrandr01d 2025-06-06 16:21

Interesting. That'd be real annoying for whoever is sitting there.

Durendal_et_Joyeuse 2025-06-06 18:17

Why wouldn’t you just yank the adapter out right away after pulling the charger cable out?

Tesla0ptimus 2025-06-06 18:25

Yep it definitely seems more sensitive when backing up near obstacles

goodvibezone 2025-06-06 20:53

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

falcorethedog 2025-06-07 04:39

Oooooh. No I didn’t know this

farmyohoho 2025-06-07 07:15

I got a home charger for free from my electric company. This is a huge comfort improvement

xylarr 2025-06-07 07:38

Cue burnt out door latch solenoids 😝

Aytewun 2025-06-07 19:41

I didn’t understand the use case for this before reading more into the notes. I’ve only ever used Tesla superchargers outside of home. This sounds useful for many

ai_bot_account 2025-06-07 21:19

I’m using an extension cable because the cable on my wall connector is only 10 feet long and it’s on the right wall of the garage, not the left where the car’s charge port is (there is another wall connector on the left wall to charge the car on that side, I know, first world problems but anyway). The button on the extension cable does nothing. My car is an S so the door handle trick doesn’t work either apparently.

Artistic_Okra7288 2025-06-08 00:01

For J1772 what I do is I crack open my driver door then I disconnect the charger cable and immediately pull out the J1772 adapter. The charger port cover starts to close as I pull out the adapter but I can usually time it right.

mcsmik 2025-06-08 12:32

I’ve done exactly that with the enhauto commander but turned it off after eh winter when the door handle got stuck open and my frunk opened after I got into the car meaning I had to go and close it

european_web 2025-06-08 15:15

I should be within BT range when I stand where the charging inlet is. It’s pretty slow. I have a enhanced commander with the handle operation enabled, it’s instant! Even if the car isn’t awake.

thkrmr 2025-06-08 18:33

Why just the rear passenger door, it's convenient, I've already used it. But I'm getting in to drive, but as well let me use either the passenger door handle for this or the driver door handle.

Main_Bank_7240 2025-06-09 19:00

USA here, i have a non tesla type2 charger and i use the adapter to connect to car. I never use my phone or reach into vehicle to disconnect. I use the switch on the charging cable.

Maceonline 2025-06-10 12:24

I park next to a fence to charge 😂 - I really wish this was an option for both back doors. Or even the boot

_yourmom69 2025-06-10 15:03

Same, this is the correct way. Makes it a non-issue, and is super simple.

cjwaldo27 2025-06-10 23:34

WOW. I've owned this car for almost a year and just learned it does this you just saved me so much headache wow thank you!

pw5a29 2025-06-12 04:06

Would the rear door open with this action?

TheTingGoSkrrrrraaaa 2025-06-12 06:14

The alpitronic hypercharger (IONNA) I used had the button on the NACS connector, I just assumed it was part of the standard at this point.

Matt_NZ 2025-06-12 06:24

And some Type 2/CCS2 cables have the button…but as NACS rolls out via more third parties, there will probably be some that will skimp on the button because only Tesla uses them.

ForeignRice 2025-06-12 21:27

I have one, please share tips :)

tly_alex 2025-06-13 03:21

also curious how model X would work

lioncat55 2025-06-13 16:41

How is Type 2 smaller than Type 1? You have more pins to support 3 phase AC. As for someone unlatching the cable, it's up to the car if it want's to release the connector. On my car, you can't unplug the Type 1 connector unless the car is unlocked.

bluecow829 2025-06-14 16:33

It does not seen to work for my Y. Is this feature available in US?

Successful_Soky 2025-06-15 06:30

How can I disable this feature? It is really anoying when I park at charger and my kids going in and out of car and still stoppig charging...

johnnyknox123 2025-06-17 11:37

You can do this already by creating a shortcut on your iphone, Go to "all shortcuts"on your phone, scroll to the bottom to see "Tesla". Click the ">" icon to see all the Tesla shortcuts. Click the ... on the shortcut called "Stop Charging Tesla" and click "new shortcut". This will duplicate the shortcut. Find the duplicate shortcut you just made and click the "..." In this next window click "i" at the bottom, and then check the radio button to "show in apple watch" You can then add that shortcut to your watch as a complication

supplex 2025-07-20 21:21

There are type 2 chargers that have a button on it to unlock it and also open the charger. Bought one myself and wouldn’t even think of going back to opening my app to unlock it :)

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