Tesla is giving its long-standing in-car entertainment suite a major game-like overhaul. First introduced the better part of a decade ago in 2018, the Caraoke app turns casual cabin sing-alongs into a fully featured rhythm game, and it just got even better.
Tesla has redesigned the Caraoke app as part of the Summer 2026 feature drop, which was announced last week and started rolling out to consumer vehicles over the weekend with software update 2026.26.
Live Scoring Hits the Touchscreen
The updated interface takes heavy inspiration from popular music games like Rock Band. Instead of simply displaying scrolling text on screen, the new layout overlays lyric timing bars and pitch indicators right above the words.
You can start a Caraoke session by opening the Media Player (if it’s minimized to a thin bar, you’ll have to expand it by dragging it upward) and selecting Caraoke in the source list. Alternatively, you can also launch the Caraoke app from the App Launcher at the bottom of your screen for faster access. Next, simply select a song and tap on Sing Now to begin.
The highlight addition of this new Caraoke app is live scoring. As you sing, a live score updates continuously in the top-left corner of the display. Once a song wraps up, the screen presents a comprehensive performance breakdown detailing your overall score, longest note streak, and the percentage of notes hit accurately. High scores are also saved directly to your Tesla profile so you can keep track of your top performances.
To complement the software, Tesla has been selling the official CaraokeMic on the Tesla Shop since 2024. The $215 accessory includes a pair of wireless microphones designed to connect directly to the car. “Grab the mic, queue up your favorite songs and take your karaoke game to the next level. The CaraokeMic works with your favorite media apps on both the front and rear touchscreens,” the store listing reads.
While the accessory is currently out of stock on the Tesla Store, interested buyers can sign up for restock notifications.
Hardware Support and Upcoming Features
The revamped Caraoke app requires an AMD Ryzen infotainment processor along with Tesla’s Premium Connectivity subscription. Intel-powered vehicles, meanwhile, retain the older, lyric-only Caraoke app. Furthermore, live scoring features are restricted to when the vehicle is in Park to prevent driver distraction.
Back in 2024, references in Tesla's software code suggested that a "Recording Studio" feature for Caraoke was also in development. While it hasn't materialized yet, the app redesign paves the way for it. If introduced, a future update could allow owners to capture live cabin camera footage during singing sessions and export recordings straight to the Tesla mobile app for social media sharing.
