Tesla has unwrapped an overdue gift in its 2025 Holiday Update and for many drivers, it’s a lifesaver. The long-requested Phone Left Behind Chime is finally here, offering an audible alert when someone forgets their iPhone or Android inside the car.

Tesla’s chime alerts you when you forget your phone

Hidden among festive updates like new Santa Mode animations and winter vehicle visuals, this new feature stands out as both practical and long overdue. Once enabled, the Phone Left Behind Chime plays a short alert if the car detects a phone still inside after the doors close and the last occupant leaves.

You can activate the feature via:
Controls → Locks → Phone Left Behind Chime

While Tesla originally tied phone detection to Ultra Wideband (UWB) support a feature first available for iPhones, the system now works for modern Android devices too, including the Galaxy S25 Ultra and newer Pixel models.

No UWB? No problem

Even better, you don’t need UWB to use the chime. Tesla’s software update also checks the wireless charging pad to see if a phone was left behind, regardless of UWB compatibility. That means older iPhones or Android phones without UWB can still trigger the reminder.

It’s a smart, thoughtful addition one that solves a real-world annoyance without requiring the latest hardware.

A small feature that fixes a big problem

Tesla drivers have long shared stories about forgetting their phones on the wireless charging pad, only to realize it too late. With this new update, Tesla has finally addressed the issue, using a combination of proximity tech and simple logic.

It’s a quiet fix, but an impactful one and for once, forgetting your phone doesn’t mean losing it.