“Highland” is what Model 3 owners actually call the 2024 refresh: it’s the codename Tesla used internally and the term that stuck on Reddit and the forums. If you searched “Model 3 Highland lock sound” instead of “2024 Model 3 lock sound,” this is the page for you. Same car, same Boombox feature, slightly different hardware than the pre-refresh, and a few install gotchas worth knowing.
Does the Highland support custom lock sounds?
Yes. Every Highland Model 3 ships with the external pedestrian speaker and the Boombox feature enabled. Tesla introduced the AMD Ryzen MCU on the Highland, which means the infotainment is faster but the Boombox flow is identical to earlier Model 3s. You need a USB drive and a properly named WAV file.
Find sounds for your Tesla
Every sound works on any Tesla with the external speaker.
What you need
- An empty FAT32-formatted USB drive
- A WAV file named exactly
LockChime.wav - Software version 2023.44 or later (every Highland already exceeds this)
USB format requirements
The Highland is fussier than older Model 3s about USB drives:
- File system: FAT32. exFAT works on most firmwares but FAT32 is the safe default.
- Folder structure: Create a folder named
Boomboxin the root of the drive. - Filename:
LockChime.wav, exact case, no spaces, no copies (e.g.LockChime (1).wavwill be ignored). - Audio specs: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit PCM WAV. Avoid 48 kHz and 24-bit: the Highland’s higher-fidelity speaker hardware can play them back, but Boombox processing prefers the standard.
Step-by-step install on the Highland
- Format the drive. On macOS use Disk Utility → MS-DOS (FAT). On Windows use File Explorer → Format → FAT32.
- Create the Boombox folder in the drive’s root.
- Copy your
LockChime.wavinto/Boombox/LockChime.wav. - Insert the drive into a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars).
- On the touchscreen, tap Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound and set it to your custom file.
- Lock the car with the key card or app and listen.
Picking a lock sound for the Highland
Custom lock sounds work on the refreshed Model 3 (see above). We have no published speaker specifications for it, so there is no sound type we can say suits it better. Preview a few, and see the Model 3 picks or browse the full lock sound library.
Volume and calibration
If your sound clips or distorts on lock, lower its level with the audio converter and re-export. We don’t have a source for a Highland-specific level.
Highland-specific issues
FAQ
Is the Highland Model 3 the same as the 2024 Model 3?
Yes. “Highland” is the name owners and forums use for the 2024+ Model 3 refresh.
Why won’t my LockChime.wav play on the Highland?
In order, check: (1) drive is FAT32 or exFAT, not NTFS; (2) folder is named exactly Boombox at the top level of the drive; (3) file is named exactly LockChime.wav with no (1) or copy suffix; (4) WAV is 44.1 kHz, 16-bit.
Can I reuse the same USB drive from my old Model 3?
Yes, the file structure is identical.
More guides: Full installation walkthrough · LockChime.wav format reference · USB format: FAT32 vs exFAT · Pre-refresh 2024 Model 3 guide · Troubleshooting
