How to Install a Custom Lock Sound on Tesla Model 3 & Model Y (Full Guide)
Model 3 and Model Y are by far the most popular Teslas on the road — and the most common cars people want to customize with a lock sound. This guide is specifically for Model 3 and Model Y owners, covering the differences between Highland and pre-Highland, the USB port situation, and every step from download to hearing your sound play.
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Before You Start: What You Need
- A Tesla Model 3 or Model Y with firmware 2024.20 or later
- A USB drive formatted as FAT32 (≤32GB) or exFAT (larger drives)
- A lock sound file — already named
LockChime.wav
Don't have a sound yet? Browse Model 3 sounds or Model Y sounds — every download is a ready-to-use LockChime.wav.
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Step 1: Know Your USB Port
This is the #1 thing that trips people up, especially Highland owners.
Pre-Highland Model 3 (2017–2023) & All Model Y
Your data-capable USB ports are in the center console (the front pair, under the phone charger area). The rear seat USB ports work too but can be less reliable. Either the USB-A or USB-C port works.
Highland Model 3 (2024+)
The center console USB-C ports are charge-only — they cannot transfer data. Your data USB port is in the glovebox. Open the glovebox, plug the USB into the port inside, and close it. The Boombox menu will detect it.
This catches 90% of Highland owners who think their lock sound "isn't working." It's not a firmware issue — it's a port issue.
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Step 2: Prepare the USB Drive
Format the USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT:
On Mac: Open Disk Utility → Select USB → Erase → Format: MS-DOS (FAT32) or ExFAT
On Windows: Right-click USB in File Explorer → Format → File System: FAT32 or exFAT → Quick Format → Start
On your phone: You can't format a USB from a phone. Use a computer or ask a friend.
Full USB format guide with screenshots →
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Step 3: Create the Folder and Copy the File
On your formatted USB drive:
- Create a folder called
Boombox(capital B, no spaces) - Copy your
LockChime.wavfile into this folder
Your USB should look like this:
USB Drive/
└── Boombox/
└── LockChime.wav
Important: The filename must be exactly LockChime.wav. Not lockchime.wav, not Lock Chime.wav, not LockChime (1).wav. Exact match.
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Step 4: Plug In and Select
- Insert the USB into the correct port (center console for pre-Highland/Model Y, glovebox for Highland Model 3)
- On the touchscreen, tap Toybox → Boombox
- Tap the folder icon to browse USB contents
- Select
LockChime.wav— it will play a preview
If Boombox doesn't appear in Toybox, your firmware may be too old. Go to Controls → Software to check — you need 2024.20 or later.
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Step 5: Test Your Sound
- Get out of the car with your phone
- Close the door
- Walk a few steps away
- The car will auto-lock and play your custom sound
If it plays the stock chime instead, the USB wasn't detected properly. Try unplugging and re-inserting, or scroll-wheel reboot (hold both scroll wheels for 10 seconds).
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Model 3 vs Model Y: Any Differences?
Functionally, no. Both models use the same Boombox system, the same firmware, and the same external speaker. The differences are minor:
| Feature | Model 3 | Model Y |
|---------|---------|---------|
| Speaker position | Front bumper, lower center | Front bumper, lower center |
| Speaker volume | Identical | Identical |
| Highland USB port | Glovebox only | Console (no Highland Y yet) |
| Sound quality | Same | Same |
The only meaningful difference is the Highland Model 3's USB port location. If you have a Model Y, you don't need to worry about glovebox ports.
Model Y recommended sounds →---
Single-Speaker Limitation
Both Model 3 and Model Y have one external speaker under the front bumper. This means:
This is the same speaker that plays the legally-required pedestrian warning sound. It's designed for safety notification, not high-fidelity audio. Sounds that are bright and mid-range (1kHz–4kHz) cut through best.
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Troubleshooting (Model 3 & Y Specific)
"I plugged in the USB but Boombox doesn't show my file"
Boombox (capital B) and the file is LockChime.wav (exact)"Sound played once, now it's silent"
This usually happens after a firmware update resets your Boombox settings. Re-select the sound in Toybox → Boombox. If it keeps resetting, see Lock Sound Resets After Update.
"Sound is really quiet"
Tesla's 2026.8 update added volume normalization. Your file might be getting reduced in volume. Use the audio converter with the "2026.8 Boost" preset, or see the quiet lock sound fix guide.
"USB keeps disconnecting"
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Want an Unlock Sound Too?
Add a second file called UnlockChime.wav to the same Boombox folder:
USB Drive/
└── Boombox/
├── LockChime.wav
└── UnlockChime.wav
The unlock sound plays when the car unlocks as you approach. Full unlock sound setup guide →
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Next Steps