We’ve all been there. You get into your high-tech EV, ready to hit the road, and the screen is frozen, the backup camera won’t pop up, or the navigation looks like it’s stuck in 2005.
It’s the downside of driving a “computer on wheels”—sometimes, you just need to turn it off and back on again. Here is exactly how to perform a soft and hard reboot on the three big players: Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid.
1. Rivian (R1T & R1S)
Rivian’s software is beautiful but can be temperamental after a big OTA update.
The Soft Reset (Standard Reboot)
Use this if an app (like Spotify) crashes or your Bluetooth is acting wonky.
- The Move: Hold down the far left and far right buttons on the steering wheel thumb controls.
- The Wait: Hold for about 15 seconds. Once the screens go dark, let go.
- Result: This just restarts the “brains” of the screens while you’re parked.
The Hard Reset (Full System Reboot)
Use this if the truck is throwing “service required” errors or the HVAC isn’t responding.
- The Move: Hold the far left button on the steering wheel AND the Hazard Light button (on the ceiling) at the same time.
- Pro Tip: Don’t do this more than once an hour. It captures a diagnostic log for Rivian, so it’s a heavy lift for the car’s computer.
2. Tesla (Model 3, Y, S, X)
Tesla basically invented the “steering wheel reset,” and it’s remarkably reliable.
The Standard Two-Scroll Reset
This fixes 99% of Tesla glitches (frozen maps, no sound, etc.).
- The Move: Press and hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel.
- The Wait: Keep holding until the Tesla “T” logo appears on the center screen.
- Note: You can actually do this while driving (the screen will go dark, but the car will still drive/steer), but for safety, always do it while parked.
The “Power Off” (Deep Reset)
If the scroll wheels didn’t work, you need to power-cycle the whole car.
- The Move: Go to Controls > Safety > Power Off.
- The Rule: Don’t touch anything (pedals, doors, or screen) for at least 2 to 5 minutes. Sit still and let the car’s contactors click off. Once you tap the brake, it wakes back up.
3. Lucid (Air)
Lucid’s “DreamDrive” and dual-screen setup are complex, and sometimes the Pilot Panel (the lower screen) needs a nudge.
The Infotainment Reset
Lucid has a specific “hidden” way to refresh the software without leaving the driver’s seat.
- The Move: On the steering wheel, hold the Next Track button and the Back button simultaneously.
- The Wait: Hold for about 15–20 seconds.
- Result: The Glass Cockpit and Pilot Panel will cycle.
The “Logo Tap” (Software Reset)
Some versions of Lucid software allow a reset by tapping the Lucid Logo at the top of the screen several times or holding the software version number in the settings menu. However, the steering wheel method is your most reliable “emergency” fix.
The “Master Fix”: The Sleep Cycle
If you’ve tried the buttons and the screen is still a brick, there is one final human-proven trick: The Sleep Cycle.
- Unplug the car.
- Get out, lock it, and take your phone/key fob far enough away so the car “discards” the connection (usually 50+ feet).
- Leave it alone for 30 minutes.
When you walk back, the car will have completely shut down its high-voltage contactors and cleared the cache. This is often more effective than any button combination.
Final Thoughts
Don’t panic when your EV glitches. It’s usually just a software loop that needs a break. If a Hard Reboot doesn’t fix it, jump on your app and ping service—at least you’ll know you tried the “pro” steps first.
Which EV are you driving, and which reset worked for you? Drop a comment below and help a fellow owner out!