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Tesla Dashcam Icon Meanings and Controls

A red recording indicator means capture is active; other overlays show available, paused, busy, or saved states. Use the icon to save footage before it is overwritten.

The Tesla dashcam icon shows whether the built-in recording feature is active and lets you save recent footage. Tesla's current Model 3 manual describes separate states for recording, available, paused, busy, and saved, each with a distinct indicator on the camera symbol.

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Common questions

Questions before you buy

What does the red dot on the Tesla dashcam icon mean?

Tesla identifies the red-dot state as recording. Touching the icon saves footage, while pressing and holding it pauses recording.

What does the green check on the Tesla dashcam icon mean?

The green check indicates that footage has been saved. Tesla organizes saved clips by timestamp for viewing on the parked vehicle's touchscreen or on a computer.

Why does the Tesla dashcam icon show busy?

Busy means the system is loading, saving, or overwriting footage. Tesla warns that footage is not captured while the dashcam is in that state.

How do I save Tesla dashcam footage?

In Manual mode, touch the Dashcam icon to save the recent clip to the configured USB drive. Tesla also documents Auto and On Honk save options, subject to their settings and limitations.

Where is the Tesla dashcam icon?

Tesla places the Dashcam app in the app launcher and allows it to be added to the bottom bar. The precise interface can vary with vehicle and software version.