⚡ 30-Second Brief
The News: Tesla software version 2025.38.12 is now rolling out to the fleet, including legacy vehicles from 2013, confirming continued firmware support for the oldest Tesla owners.
Why It Matters: The 2025.38 branch brings practical improvements like new scroll wheel shortcuts, higher-resolution dashcam footage, and 3D navigation maps—all available to vehicles spanning over a decade of production.
Source: @teslascope on X
📊 What Changed
Tesla's 2025.38.12 update represents the latest subversion in the widely-deployed 2025.38 branch, which began its broad rollout in October 2025. Here's what separates this release from previous versions:
| Feature | Before 2025.38 | After 2025.38.12 |
|---|---|---|
| Left Scroll Wheel | Basic quick access menu | Expanded shortcuts including Bioweapon Defense, Mute Navigation, Music Light Sync |
| Dashcam Viewer | Standard resolution, basic timestamps | Higher resolution streaming via app, street names in event details |
| Navigation Maps | Flat 2D building outlines | Detailed 3D buildings and cityscapes (Premium Connectivity) |
| Driver Profiles | Open access | Optional phone key requirement before selection |
| Grok AI Assistant | Limited regional availability | Now available in Canada (Beta, requires Premium Connectivity or Wi-Fi) |
🚦 Owner's Action Plan
Essential Actions
- Check your vehicle compatibility: Navigate to Software in your Tesla's touchscreen. If you're on FSD v14 (2025.32.8.5), you won't receive this update yet—it's compatible with legacy FSD v13.2.9 (HW4/AI4) or v12.6.4 (HW3).
- Update your Tesla app: To access higher-resolution dashcam streaming, ensure you're running Tesla App version 4.49.5 or later on your mobile device.
- Enable Wi-Fi for faster downloads: Connect to Wi-Fi before initiating the update to avoid cellular data charges and ensure stable installation.
Recommended Actions
- Explore new scroll wheel shortcuts: After installation, press the left scroll wheel to access the expanded quick access menu. Customize which shortcuts appear for your most-used features.
- Test dashcam improvements: Trigger a manual Dashcam save (honk icon) and review footage via the mobile app to experience the higher-resolution streaming.
- Enable driver profile security: If you share your vehicle, navigate to Safety & Security > Driver Profile Access and enable phone key requirement.
Informational
- If you have Premium Connectivity, the 3D buildings feature will activate automatically in navigation—no manual setup required.
- Apple Music users will see folder organization and expanded artist pages upon next login.
- Cybertruck owners and AP4-equipped vehicles will notice side cameras (B-Pillar) now record to Dashcam and Sentry footage.
⚠️ FSD Compatibility Note: If you're enrolled in the FSD v14 early access program (2025.32.8.5), you will not receive 2025.38.12. Tesla typically staggers releases to avoid conflicts between major FSD revisions and mainline software branches.
🎯 Vehicle Eligibility Breakdown
According to verified rollout data, the 2025.38 branch supports an exceptionally wide range of hardware configurations:
- Legacy Hardware (HW0 - HW2.5): Model S and Model X vehicles from 2013-2018 are confirmed receiving this update, as evidenced by Teslascope's detection on a 2013 vehicle.
- HW3 (FSD Computer): Model 3, Model Y, and refreshed S/X with Autopilot 3.0 hardware qualify, running compatible FSD v12.6.4.
- HW4/AI4 (Latest Hardware): All 2023+ Model 3/Y Highland, Cybertruck, and newest S/X Plaid vehicles with FSD v13.2.9 compatibility.
This broad compatibility window demonstrates Tesla's commitment to maintaining software parity across its fleet, even for vehicles approaching 13 years of service life—a rarity in the automotive industry.
📰 Deep Dive: Why This Update Matters
Tesla's 2025.38.12 release is more than a routine maintenance update—it's a statement about long-term ownership value. While most automakers abandon software support for vehicles after 3-5 years, Tesla continues pushing meaningful feature enhancements to cars from its earliest production runs.
The practical implications are significant. The expanded scroll wheel functionality addresses a common UX complaint: burying frequently-used controls deep in menu trees. Quick access to Bioweapon Defense Mode (a surprisingly popular feature for air quality-conscious owners) or instant navigation muting improves daily usability without requiring owners to take their eyes off the road.
The dashcam improvements carry real-world security benefits. Higher-resolution footage streamed via the mobile app means clearer license plate capture and better evidence quality for insurance claims. The addition of street names to event timestamps transforms dashcam footage from a simple recording tool into a contextual security log—especially valuable for owners who park in urban environments or use Sentry Mode extensively.
Perhaps most notable is Tesla's continued investment in legacy hardware support. The fact that a 2013 Model S—equipped with first-generation Autopilot hardware and a drastically different infotainment architecture—receives the same core feature set as a 2025 Cybertruck underscores the company's software-first philosophy. This approach directly translates to residual value: pre-owned Teslas maintain software feature parity in ways that traditional automakers cannot match.
For owners still on FSD v12.6.4 or v13.2.9, this update provides a clear upgrade path without forcing adoption of the still-beta FSD v14 branch. Tesla's decision to maintain parallel release tracks—one for cutting-edge FSD development, another for stable mainline features—gives owners control over their risk tolerance while ensuring no one is left behind on security patches or quality-of-life improvements.
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