If you own a Tesla with Autopilot Hardware 2.5 or newer, you have access to a valuable feature called Sentry Mode. This feature records video footage from your car’s cameras, providing you with an extra layer of security and peace of mind. However, viewing these Sentry Mode events on your phone can be a bit challenging without the right tools and knowledge.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps to easily view Sentry Mode events on your phone. Whether you use an iOS or Android device, we have you covered. By the end of this article, you will have all the information you need to watch and manage your Sentry Mode videos conveniently.
What You’ll Need
Before we dive into the process, let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need to get started:
A Tesla with Autopilot Hardware 2.5 or newer: Sentry Mode is available on all Teslas built in or after August 2017.
A mobile app: There are a few options available, but we recommend using SentryView for iOS or Connect Drive for both iOS and Android devices.
Storage: You will need a compatible storage device to save the Sentry Mode videos. We’ll discuss various options later in this guide.
Now that you have a clear idea of what you need, let’s move on to the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Formatting the Storage Unit
To begin, you’ll need to format your storage unit properly and create a specific folder for your TeslaCam videos. Follow these instructions to format your storage unit:
Connect the USB stick or SD card reader to your computer.
Open the Disk Utility app on your Mac by pressing Command + space and searching for “Disk Utility.”
In the Disk Utility app, select the storage unit and choose the MS-DOS (FAT) format option.
Click on “Erase” to confirm the formatting process.
Once the formatting is complete, go to Finder, select your storage unit, and create a folder named “tesla teslacam”.
If you prefer a pre-formatted and ready-to-use solution, you can consider purchasing an iOS or Android bundle from PureTesla.
Step 2: Connecting the Storage to Your Car or Phone
Now that your storage unit is formatted and ready, it’s time to connect it to your car or phone. Follow these steps:
Connect the USB stick or the USB adapter (with the MicroSD card) to your Tesla.
Ensure that your Tesla recognizes the storage unit and that Sentry Mode is turned on.
Let your Tesla record some videos using Sentry Mode.
After recording the videos, safely disconnect the USB stick or adapter from your Tesla.
Plug the storage unit into your mobile device using the appropriate connector.
Step 3: Using the SentryView App
For the purpose of this guide, we will focus on using the SentryView app, which is available for iOS devices. Here’s how the app works and what you can expect:
Open the SentryView app on your iPhone or iPad.
The app has two main video folders: “Recent videos” and “Saved videos”.
In the “Saved videos” folder, you can find the last hour of Sentry Mode videos saved in one-minute clips.
The app visualizes videos from all four cameras (front, back, and two laterals) simultaneously.
You can delete videos directly from the app.
While SentryView is a great option for iOS users, Android users can utilize the Connect Drive app from SanDisk. However, note that Connect Drive does not display videos from the same timestamp in parallel like SentryView does.
Pros of Using the SentryView App:
- Immediate access to saved Sentry Mode videos.
- Simultaneous visualization of videos from all cameras.
Cons of Using the SentryView App:
- Difficult to find videos from the most recent events when opening the app.
- Lack of highlighting for Sentry Mode event clips.
- Missing folder organization for Sentry Mode events.
- Videos are displayed from oldest to newest.
- Inability to save videos directly on your phone.
Despite these limitations, the SentryView app remains a popular choice for Tesla owners to view their Sentry Mode videos conveniently.
Other Storage Options
If you prefer not to connect your storage unit directly to your phone, there are alternative solutions available. One such option is the SSD Extreme by PureTesla, which offers 500GB of storage. This option provides the best capacity and reliability for storing your Sentry Mode videos.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily view Sentry Mode events on your phone. Remember to ensure that your Tesla has the necessary hardware, choose a compatible mobile app, and format your storage unit correctly. The SentryView app for iOS devices offers a convenient way to watch your Sentry Mode videos, while the Connect Drive app is a suitable alternative for Android users.
Now that you have all the information you need, you can enjoy the added security and peace of mind that Sentry Mode provides.
