Tesla (TSLA) electric cars are unique in many ways compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and even other EVs. One such differentiating feature is the Tesla Defrost Mode.
Defrost Mode lets Tesla car owners melt snow and ice accumulated on the exterior of the vehicle. Although this is not a new feature as we posted here a few years ago — the thing with Teslas is that they keep improving over time — thanks to the free over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
So, the ability to defrost snow and ice off of Tesla vehicles has also improved over the years. Also with every new model, the automaker constantly applies the latest engineering tweaks to make features perform even better.

Whether you own an EV or an ICE car, knowing tips and tricks for cold weather is essential to go through this harsh time of the year. For Tesla owners, the automaker has introduced features to easily sail through the rough winter season.
The Defrost Mode helps Tesla owners remotely melt thick snow from their vehicles. This can easily be done remotely using the Tesla mobile app (see How To below).
The following videos show how efficiently the Defrost Mode feature works. All Tesla cars have a glass roof. So, in addition to the windshield and side windows, the entire roof is also cleared from snow using the Tesla Defrost Mode feature.
It is recommended to activate the Defrost Mode for 20 minutes before you plan to start to drive the Tesla vehicle. Let’s watch how well this feature removes ice and snow from a Tesla.
Use Tesla defrost mode to melt snow. $TSLA pic.twitter.com/dOb7bGZnph
— TeslaDashCam (@TeslaCamera) February 9, 2025
How to Use Tesla Defrost Mode
To activate Tesla Defrost Mode, open your Tesla phone app (iOS or Android) and tap the Climate/Fan icon then tap the Defrost Car (Defrost Truck on Cybertruck) option (see screenshot below).
This will start the cabin heating process. However, Defrost Mode is different from cabin preconditioning which is used for mild hot and cold weather to regulate the temperature of Tesla car’s cabin.
The Defrost Car option is more intense and focuses on melting the snow from the outside of the vehicle.


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More Tesla Tips and Tricks
- Defrost Mode lets you remotely melt snow from your Tesla in just minutes (videos & how to guide)
- Here’s how to pair Apple Watch with your Tesla, unlock it and send commands remotely
- Tesla HW4 cameras can melt snow to clear the Autopilot FSD Vision
- Upcoming Tesla app feature lets you visually identify service issues in advance
- Cybertruck rust or just dust — and how to fix the issue
- Here’s how far the Tesla Cybertruck goes while towing 11,000 lbs in cold weather conditions on a single charge
- Here’s how to access the Cybertruck tow hitch — watch it haul a 3,000lbs Brawley EV
- Watch the Tesla Cybertruck front bumper camera washer in action and how it works