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Tesla Lock Sound
A single white USB-C drive on a dark surface with a faint Tesla-blue light beam emerging from it — Tesla lock sound install

/ install · May 20, 2026

Tesla Lock Sound Guide — Change, Download & Install (2026)

The Tesla lock chime is a customizable WAV file the car plays through its external speaker every time you lock it. Tesla calls the feature Boombox. To change yours: download a ready-made LockChime.wav, place it on a FAT32 / exFAT USB stick at Boombox/LockChime.wav, insert into a front data port, then enable it in Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound → USB. Average time: 60 seconds.

Browse 1,800+ free WAVs →6-step install →

/ common mistake

Why renaming an MP3 to .wav doesn't work

Some older tutorials (including the most-cited install how-to on Google) tell you to just rename your downloaded MP3 to LockChime.wav and copy it onto the USB. This is wrong, and it's the #1 reason people report “my Tesla still plays the Light Cycle chime.”

A filename extension is a label. It does not change what's inside the file. An MP3 renamed to .wav is still MP3-compressed audio. Tesla's Boombox feature expects an uncompressed RIFF / PCM WAV at 44.1 kHz, 16-bit. When it reads a fake .wav, you get one of three failure modes:

  • Silent ignore — the car falls back to Light Cycle and the USB option in Boombox stays greyed out.
  • Distorted playback — the speaker tries to play the MP3 bytes as raw PCM samples and you get a burst of static.
  • Inconsistent unlocks — the chime plays the first time, then the car caches a corrupted asset and goes silent.

The fix: Either re-encode the audio with a tool that actually transcodes (Audacity: Export As WAV → 16-bit PCM, 44.1 kHz), use our in-browser LockChime.wav converter, or skip the conversion entirely and download a sound that's already in the right format. Every WAV on TeslaLockSound is pre-encoded to the exact Tesla spec.

/ six steps

The 60-second install

  1. Download a real WAV file (don't rename an MP3)

    Download LockChime.wav from TeslaLockSound.com. The file is already an uncompressed RIFF/PCM WAV at 44.1 kHz, 16-bit. Do not rename a .mp3 file to .wav — the bytes inside are still MP3 and the Tesla will reject or distort the audio.

  2. Format the USB as FAT32 or exFAT

    On macOS: Disk Utility → Erase → MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT. On Windows: right-click drive → Format → FAT32 or exFAT. NTFS and APFS will not be read by the car's Boombox feature.

  3. Create the Boombox folder

    At the root of the USB drive, create a folder named exactly 'Boombox' (capital B). Some firmware versions treat the folder name as case-sensitive.

  4. Place LockChime.wav inside Boombox

    Copy LockChime.wav into the Boombox folder. Final path: Boombox/LockChime.wav. Filename is case-sensitive — capital L and capital C.

  5. Insert into a front data USB port

    Use a front USB port — glovebox or center console depending on model. Rear ports are power-only and will not work. Cybertruck: center console. Model 3/Y: glovebox or front USB-C. Model S/X: center console USB-C.

  6. Activate in Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound

    On the Tesla touchscreen, navigate Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then change the source from Default (Light Cycle) to USB. Lock the car once to verify.

Want the long-form, illustrated walkthrough? Open the full install guide — it includes a model/year confidence matrix and a 7-step troubleshooting flow.

/ per model

Model-specific install pages

The Boombox feature works the same on every supported Tesla, but the USB port location and a few quirks differ. Each model guide covers the port placement, software version requirement, and the most common failure mode for that platform.

/ faq

Frequently asked questions

Can I just rename my MP3 to .wav for a Tesla lock chime?

No. Renaming a .mp3 to .wav does not convert the file. The bytes inside are still MP3-encoded, and Tesla expects an uncompressed RIFF/PCM WAV. The car will either silently ignore the file, fall back to the default Light Cycle chime, or play distorted noise. You must re-encode the audio to WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit PCM, 1–5 seconds, mono or stereo). TeslaLockSound files are already in this exact format — no conversion needed.

Which Tesla models support custom lock sounds in 2026?

Model 3 (2017+), Model Y (2020+ including the 2025 Juniper refresh), Model S (2021+ refresh), Model X (2021+ refresh), and Cybertruck (2024+) all support Boombox-driven custom lock chimes via USB. The car must be on software version 2023.44.25 or newer (most cars are on 2026.x by now). Pre-2019 Model S/X may not support it because they lack the external Pedestrian Warning Speaker.

What's the exact file format a Tesla expects for a lock chime?

WAV format (RIFF, uncompressed PCM), 44.1 kHz sample rate, 16-bit depth, mono or stereo, 1–5 seconds in duration, named LockChime.wav (case-sensitive), placed at Boombox/LockChime.wav on a FAT32 or exFAT formatted USB drive.

Where exactly does the file go on the USB drive?

At the root of the USB drive, create a folder named Boombox (capital B), then place LockChime.wav inside it. The final path is Boombox/LockChime.wav. This is case-sensitive on some firmware versions, so use Boombox and LockChime.wav exactly.

Why is the LockChime.wav not showing up under USB in my Tesla?

Four causes account for almost every case: (1) USB filesystem is NTFS or APFS — must be FAT32 or exFAT. (2) Path is wrong — must be Boombox/LockChime.wav, not just LockChime.wav at root. (3) Filename capitalization is wrong — must be exactly LockChime.wav. (4) USB port is power-only — use a front data port (glovebox or center console depending on model).

How do I install a custom lock sound on a Cybertruck?

Cybertruck (2024+) uses the same Boombox/LockChime.wav workflow but the supported USB ports are in the center console. Use a USB-C drive or a USB-A-to-C adapter. After inserting the drive, navigate Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound → USB on the touchscreen. See the full Cybertruck guide at /guide/cybertruck.

Are TeslaLockSound files safe to use on my car?

Every sound on TeslaLockSound is pre-formatted to Tesla's published specification (WAV, 44.1 kHz, 16-bit PCM, 1–5 seconds, volume-normalized). Audio files cannot harm the vehicle — Boombox is a first-party Tesla feature designed exactly for this. As with any vehicle customization, use at your own discretion.

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