Tesla 2026.8 Update: What Actually Changed for Lock Sounds

Short answer: nothing that Tesla lists. The 2026.8 release notes (published March 2026 on notateslaapp.com) do not mention Boombox, lock sounds, USB audio or speaker volume. The same is true of the 2026.2 notes and the 2026.14 notes.

What this means for your LockChime.wav

Nothing in those release notes says the custom lock sound feature changed. The setup is the one on our guide: a WAV file named exactly LockChime.wav, on a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive, selected under Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound. Custom lock sounds have been available since Tesla's 2023 Holiday Update (software 2023.44).

We have not found a Tesla release note, for 2026.8 or any other 2026 build, that adds a separate unlock sound or scheduled sound profiles. There is no UnlockChime.wav feature that we can find. Earlier versions of this article claimed otherwise; those claims were retracted and are not repeated here.

If your lock sound stopped after an update

Release notes do not describe every internal change, so a missing note is not proof that nothing happened to your car. We have no Tesla source on why a sound stops after an update, so treat these as ordinary troubleshooting steps:

1. Go to Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound and check the sound is still selected. Re-select your file if it is not.
2. Re-insert the USB drive in a port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars) and confirm Boombox/LockChime.wav is on it.
3. If the car rejects the file, re-export it with our audio converter, which writes a 44.1 kHz, 16-bit WAV.
4. If the sound plays but is quieter than you want, raise the level of the file with the converter (Loud preset or positive gain), or download a fresh copy from the sound library.

For the full list of fixes, see Tesla Lock Sound Resets After Update and the troubleshooting guide.

File format

The only hard requirement is a WAV file named exactly LockChime.wav. Recommended settings for clean playback (our recommendation, not an official Tesla requirement):

• 44.1 kHz sample rate
• 16-bit PCM
• 1 to 5 seconds
• Under 1 MB

FAQ

Did Tesla 2026.8 change custom lock sounds?

Not according to the 2026.8 release notes, which list nothing about Boombox or lock sounds.

Will my existing LockChime.wav still work after 2026.8?

We have no reason to expect otherwise. If it stops working after any update, check that the sound is still selected under Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound and that the USB drive is still in place.

Can I set a separate unlock sound?

No. We have found no Tesla release note or setting for an unlock sound. Your LockChime.wav plays when you lock.

My lock sound got quieter. How do I fix it?

Raise the level of the file with the audio converter, or download a fresh copy from the library.