What is key pairing and why do I need it?
Key pairing establishes a secure connection between your Tesla and the Sentry Driver service, enabling real-time telemetry.
When you set up Sentry Driver, you may be asked to complete a key pairing process. This is a one-time setup that authorizes the app to receive real-time data from your vehicle.
How key pairing works:
- Tap “Install Encryption Key” in the app to open Tesla’s official key installation page
- Sign in with your Tesla account and approve the key
- Account owners can approve remotely
- If you’re listed as a “driver” on the account, you’ll need to be near the vehicle and approve on the car’s touchscreen
- Once approved, your vehicle can securely send telemetry data to Sentry Driver
- Return to the app - it will show your vehicle as paired and ready for monitoring
The Sentry Driver app guides you through this process during setup. If your vehicle is already key-paired from a previous setup, you won’t need to do it again.
Why it’s required:
Tesla’s Fleet Telemetry system uses end-to-end encryption. Key pairing establishes the cryptographic trust needed for your vehicle to securely send data to Sentry Driver. Without this, we cannot receive real-time telemetry from your car.
Benefits of key pairing:
- Real-time driving alerts and notifications
- Live location tracking during drives
- Accident detection capabilities
- Speed limit and driving behavior monitoring
Note: Key pairing is separate from adding your phone as a Tesla key. Both are recommended for full functionality - phone key for driver presence detection, and app key pairing for real-time telemetry.