Model 3 / Everyday controls

Tesla Model 3: how to demist and defrost the windshield

2 min readReviewed 25 October 2026

2024+Tesla software 2026.32North America

CHECK YOUR CARTesla Model 3 2024+; North America online owner's manual, software 2026.32, checked 25 October 2026.

Clear ice from the glass before using the wipers.

THE QUICK ANSWER

Open climate controls and touch the windshield icon once for defogging, twice for defrosting and a third time to restore the previous settings.

Step by step

1Open climateTouch the displayed cabin temperature.
2Choose the needed modeUse one tap for mist or the next tap for frost.
3Check visibilityWait until the glass is clear; tap again when you want previous climate settings restored.

Tick steps as you go. Your progress stays in this tab.

Is the rear-window heater the same control?+

No. It has its own defroster control.

SOURCES & SCOPE

Written from the official references below, reviewed on 25 October 2026. This is a source-based guide, not a claim of hands-on vehicle testing.

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