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Tesla Lock Sound

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 USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars), and enable it in Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB. It takes about 2 minutes.

Updated May 20, 2026

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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 Tesla Lock Sound is pre-encoded to the exact Tesla spec.

Install in 2 minutes

  1. Copy to USB

    Download your sound. Every file arrives named LockChime.wav in 44.1 kHz, 16-bit WAV, the recommended spec for clean playback. On a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive, create a folder named Boombox and place LockChime.wav inside it. Full path: Boombox/LockChime.wav. The only hard Tesla requirement is a WAV file named LockChime.wav.

    Do not rename an .mp3 file to .wav: the bytes inside are still MP3, and the car will reject or distort the audio. macOS: Disk Utility → Erase → MS-DOS (FAT) or ExFAT. Windows: right-click the drive → Format → FAT32 or exFAT. The car does not read NTFS or APFS. The filename is case-sensitive: capital L and capital C.

  2. Plug into your Tesla

    Insert the drive into a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars; rear ports only charge). Give the car a few seconds to index the drive. Open Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB.

  3. Lock the car

    Lock the car to hear it.

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

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.

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). Tesla Lock Sound files are already in this exact format, no conversion needed.

Which Tesla models support custom lock sounds in 2026?

Model 3 (built September 2019 or later), Model Y (all years, including the 2025 Juniper refresh), Model S (the 2021 refresh or later), Model X (the 2021 refresh or later), and Cybertruck (all) support Boombox-driven custom lock chimes via USB. The car must be on the Holiday Update (software 2023.44 or newer; most cars are on 2026.x by now). Earlier Model S/X units 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) The file is in the wrong place. Use Boombox/LockChime.wav. If the car still does not see it, try LockChime.wav at the top level of the drive, which also works. (3) Filename capitalization is wrong; must be exactly LockChime.wav. (4) The USB port does not carry data; use a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars; rear ports only charge).

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

Cybertruck (2024+) uses the same Boombox/LockChime.wav workflow and the same data-port rule applies: use a port that carries data. If your drive's plug doesn't fit, use a small adapter. After inserting the drive, navigate Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB on the touchscreen. See the full Cybertruck guide at /guide/cybertruck.

Are Tesla Lock Sound files safe to use on my car?

Every sound on Tesla Lock Sound is pre-formatted to the recommended spec (WAV, 44.1 kHz, 16-bit PCM, 1–5 seconds). 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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