If you updated your Tesla and the custom lock sound stopped playing, work through these fixes in order. This applies to any software version: we could not find a Tesla release note that describes a lock sound change in 2026.9.1 or any other build, so we do not name a version as the cause.
What we know
Owners report a custom sound going silent or reverting after some updates. We have no Tesla statement on why. Your LockChime.wav is normally still on the USB drive; the car may simply no longer be pointing at it. The three fixes below cover the usual causes.
Looking for a new lock sound?
Browse 2,290+ Tesla-ready sounds, free to preview and download.
Fix 1: Re-select your sound (30 seconds)
- Go to Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound
- If the source no longer says USB, choose USB again
- Select
LockChime.wavfrom your USB drive - Lock the car from your phone to confirm
Fix 2: Reboot the screen
If re-selecting doesn't stick (the sound plays once, then goes silent again):
- Shift into Park
- Hold both steering wheel scroll buttons until the touchscreen turns black. The Tesla logo appears after a few seconds, and the restart takes about 30 seconds (Tesla's owner's manual)
- After the restart, re-select your sound per Fix 1
Fix 3: Re-check the USB drive
- Remove the USB drive from the car
- On a computer, verify
Boombox/LockChime.wavexists and plays - Re-insert the drive into a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars)
- Wait 30 seconds, then re-select your sound in Boombox settings
The drive should be formatted as FAT32 (32 GB or smaller) or exFAT. Full USB format guide
Quiet instead of silent?
If the sound plays but at a lower level, that is a different problem. See our quiet lock sound guide, or raise the level of the file with the audio converter (Loud preset, up to +6 dB of gain).
For the pattern across updates, see Tesla Lock Sound Resets After Update.
---
Need a new sound while you're re-setting things up? Browse 2,290+ free Tesla lock sounds: every download is a ready-to-use LockChime.wav. For the full troubleshooting playbook, see our 7-fix guide.
