Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked about Sentry Pro. Whether you're looking to solve a query or learn more about our products, we've compiled a comprehensive list of questions and answers to help.

From basic inquiries to specific details, our FAQ page is designed to provide immediate assistance and enhance your experience. Browse through the categories below to find the information you need quickly and easily.

If you have a question that isn't answered here, please feel free to reach out to us directly. We're here to help!

    • Sentry Pro offers three subscription options, all of which come with a free 7-day trial period:

      • Monthly subscription: $5.99/month
      • Annual subscription: $49.99/year (saving over $22 compared to monthly)
      • Lifetime purchase: $166.65 $99.99 (one-time payment that permanently unlocks all Pro features) - Currently 40% off as a limited-time promotion!

      The prices listed above are for US customers. Prices may vary in other regions due to local currency exchange rates, app store pricing, and applicable taxes. For the most accurate pricing in your location, please check the app store listing directly.

      To put the cost in perspective: Sentry Pro’s subscription cost is minimal compared to the electricity consumed by running Sentry Mode. A typical 8-hour Sentry Mode session can use around 3-5 kWh of energy, which depending on your electricity rates, could cost more than a full week of Sentry Pro subscription.

      There is absolutely no excuse not to use Sentry Pro if you’re already utilizing Sentry Mode and appreciate the peace of mind it offers.

      Sentry Pro is highly secure and places a strong emphasis on user privacy for several reasons:

      Direct Authentication with Tesla: Sentry Pro users authenticate directly with Tesla, ensuring that the app itself never accesses or stores your Tesla account login credentials. This means your password and any sensitive account information remain private and are not handled by the app.

      No Personal Data Collection: The app is designed to operate without collecting personal data such as names, emails, passwords, or phone numbers. Your interaction with Sentry Pro is kept anonymous, significantly reducing the risk of personal data exposure.

      Privacy-First Approach: Sentry Pro’s development and operational framework prioritize user privacy. The app safeguards your information by not collecting or storing data beyond what is necessary to provide its services, adhering to a principle of minimal data usage.

      Officially Licensed Developer: As an officially licensed Tesla application developer, Sentry Pro and its developer company, Sentry Brain S.M.P.C., meet the security and privacy standards set by Tesla. This official recognition ensures that the app adheres to practices that protect user data and maintain application integrity.

      Encrypted Notifications: Notifications sent to your device are processed in a manner that ensures they are secure and private.

      In conclusion, Sentry Pro’s architecture and operational protocols are meticulously crafted to ensure that your use of the app is secure and your data remains private. With direct authentication, minimal data collection, and a privacy-first approach, Sentry Pro stands out as a secure option for Tesla owners looking to enhance their vehicle’s security through comprehensive Sentry Mode notifications.

      Sentry Pro takes your privacy seriously and only requests permissions that are absolutely necessary for providing you with a seamless experience:

      Required permissions:

      • Vehicle Information: This permission allows Sentry Pro to access basic information about your Tesla vehicle, such as model type and Sentry Mode status. We simply access Sentry Mode information in real-time and never collect or store any of it. No information is shared with third parties. This permission is essential for the app to function properly and provide you with accurate monitoring.

      Optional permissions:

      • Vehicle Commands: This permission enables Sentry Pro to automatically activate Sentry Mode on your behalf when needed, saving you the hassle of manually enabling it through the Tesla app. Rest assured, we only send commands that you’ve explicitly authorized, and you maintain complete control over this feature at all times.

      • Vehicle Location: Sentry Pro respects your privacy and does NOT need your vehicle’s location data to function. This permission should remain set to ‘Denied’ as our app is designed to work without tracking where your car is. We believe your location information should stay private.

      • Profile Information: This permission allows us to send you important email notifications only when there are potential issues with your vehicle that require your attention. We value communication but will never spam you or share your contact information with any third parties.

      You can easily review and adjust these permissions at any time through the app settings. Your privacy and security are our top priorities.

      No, Sentry Pro does not access or store any video feed from your vehicle. This is by design to maintain the highest level of privacy. When Sentry Mode is activated and records video, Sentry Pro will only notify you that video is being recorded. You can then use the official Tesla app to view the recorded video feed. This approach ensures that your vehicle’s video data remains secure and private, only accessible through Tesla’s official channels.

      No, you don’t need multiple subscriptions. One Sentry Pro subscription allows you to monitor and protect multiple Tesla vehicles from the same app. Simply add each vehicle to your account through the app’s vehicle management interface, and you’ll be able to seamlessly enjoy full protection and monitoring capabilities for all your vehicles.

      When you already have a subscription you need to tap on:

      “Restore purchases”

      at the bottom of the subscriptions screen. Tapping on “Subscribe” will result in a error as you already have a subscription!

      This is an indication confirming that the app is functioning correctly, and you will receive notifications when Sentry Mode is activated in your car.

      The Tesla app automatically activates Sentry Mode to access the video feed, prompting the system to notify you of this activation, even if no external event has triggered it.

      If you would like to verify whether you will receive notifications when someone walks by your car, you can test this by approaching the car until Sentry Mode is activated. Ensure you do not have your phone with you, as its presence will prevent Sentry Mode from activating, recognizing that you are not a threat. Alternatively, you can have someone else trigger the activation.

      Sentry Pro enhances the functionality of Tesla’s Sentry Mode by managing all monitoring from the server side, eliminating the need to keep the app running in the background on your device. The system receives Sentry events directly from Tesla and sends notifications to you. This allows for efficient communication and timely alerts about your vehicle’s status without draining your mobile device’s resources.

      To avoid overwhelming users with notifications, Sentry Pro has a conservative notification strategy. If Sentry Mode is activated consecutively without a 15-second pause between activations, Sentry Pro will treat this as a single continuous event and will not send multiple notifications. This approach helps keep the number of notifications manageable while ensuring you’re informed of significant events. We are considering adding a sensitivity setting to allow users to receive notifications for every Sentry Mode activation, though we aim to maintain simplicity to avoid confusing users.

      If your Tesla is parked in a location like an underground parking lot where mobile coverage is low, Sentry Pro might not be able to communicate with your car. In such cases, if the server cannot establish communication with the vehicle for over two minutes, Sentry Pro will notify you of the service disruption. This feature ensures you’re aware of potential monitoring interruptions due to connectivity issues.

      When the Tesla app automatically triggers Sentry Mode to access the video feed, Sentry Pro will notify you of this activation even if no external event has initiated it. Currently, there is no way for Sentry Pro to differentiate between automatic and event-driven activations of Sentry Mode. This notification acts as a confirmation that Sentry Pro is operational and monitoring your vehicle, providing an extra layer of reassurance about your vehicle’s security status.

      If you appreciate the benefits of Sentry Mode, Sentry Pro could be highly valuable, especially considering it is priced as a fraction of the cost of the power Sentry Mode consumes. While we acknowledge our bias, we believe Sentry Pro offers significant enhancements by providing streamlined notifications and added functionality.

      Direct Telemetry in Sentry Pro is a cutting-edge system designed for immediate and accurate data transmission between your vehicle and Sentry Pro. It’s based on an advanced framework which ensures that you receive prompt notifications and detailed system diagnostics like battery temperatures and service alerts.

      How Secure is Sentry Pro’s Direct Telemetry?

      • End-to-End Encryption: Sentry Pro utilizes industry-standard End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) for all data transmitted, ensuring that your vehicle’s data remains confidential and secure from the point of transmission to the reception at our servers. This encryption method guarantees that no third party can intercept your data.

      Is Direct Telemetry Energy Efficient?

      Yes, Sentry Pro’s Direct Telemetry system is designed to be highly energy efficient, ensuring that it does not impact your vehicle’s battery life.

      What Are the Requirements for Using Direct Telemetry with Sentry Pro?

      • Vehicle Firmware: Your vehicle must have a firmware version of 2023.20.6 or later installed.
      • Virtual Key: This feature requires the use of a Virtual Key. This key is installed to your vehicle to allow Sentry Pro to receive data from your vehicle. You will be prompted to install this key in the Sentry Pro app.
      • Compatibility: Please note, legacy models of Sentry Pro (pre-2021) are not supported with this latest update.

      Troubleshooting Virtual Key Installation

      If the Tesla app doesn’t launch after pressing Finish Setup, try the following solutions:

      For All Users:

      For iOS Users:

      1. Ensure Safari is set as your default browser in iOS Settings
      2. When the webpage loads, look for and tap the blue “Open” button at the top (might be hidden and you need to scroll up)

      For Android Users:

      1. Install Firefox browser if not already installed
      2. Open the link in Firefox
      3. Tap the menu (three dots) and select “Open in app”

      If issues persist, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Tesla app.

      If you continue to experience issues, please contact our support team for further assistance.

      This behavior only occurs on Model S and Model X vehicles manufactured before 2021 that use Tesla’s legacy API. For these vehicles, the official app needs to activate Sentry Mode to receive the live video feed, which isn’t distinguished by an activity-related activation. Hence, Sentry Pro will send you a notification.

      For these legacy vehicles, this is actually a good method to verify that notifications are functioning, especially if you park in an area with a potentially poor network connection for the vehicle.

      Yes, you can use Sentry Pro on multiple mobile devices simultaneously. To do this, simply authorize the app with the same Tesla account on each device. You will receive notifications on all authorized devices.