What sounds can you customize on a Tesla?
Two Tesla sounds are user-customizable, but they work very differently:
Lock chime: fully custom
This is the sound that plays through the external pedestrian-warning speaker when you lock your car. You can replace it with any WAV file you want. Name it LockChime.wav, drop it on a USB drive at Boombox/LockChime.wav, and select it in Boombox. This is where all the creative customization happens.
Horn: built-in options only
Tesla's Fart Mode (found in Toybox) lets you swap the honk for fart sounds and a small set of other built-ins. Unlike the lock chime, the horn does not accept custom WAV files: you're limited to what Tesla ships. If you want creative sound customization, the lock chime is where to focus.
The rest of this guide covers the lock chime, the custom audio feature that accepts any sound you bring.
Where to find Tesla sound effects
The catch with most sources: they hand you an MP3 or a random WAV that isn't sized or named right. Tesla needs a file named exactly LockChime.wav. Anything else and the car ignores it.
The TeslaLockSound library has over 900 sounds (memes, game sounds, movie clips, music hooks, sci-fi, horror, and more) and every file downloads already named LockChime.wav and formatted to the recommended 44.1 kHz / 16-bit WAV spec. You can preview every sound in the browser before downloading.
How to install a custom Tesla sound effect
The install takes about two minutes. You need a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT and a front data port (not the rear ports; those are power-only).
Put the file on the USB drive
Boombox at the root of the USB drive. Place your LockChime.wav inside it. The full path should be Boombox/LockChime.wav. There is no Locked/ subfolder: that path does not work.Select it in Boombox
For a full walkthrough with model-specific port notes and troubleshooting steps, see the Tesla lock sound installation guide.
Which Tesla models support custom sound effects?
Custom lock sounds require an external pedestrian-warning speaker. Tesla added this to different models at different times. The feature itself turned on with software 2023.44 (Tesla's 2023 Holiday Update): virtually every Tesla on current software already has it.
| Model | Supported builds |
|---|---|
| Model Y | All model years |
| Model 3 | Built September 2019 or later |
| Model S | 2021 refresh or later |
| Model X | 2021 refresh or later |
| Cybertruck | All |
If you don't see the Lock Sound option in Toybox → Boombox, go to Controls → Software and update to the latest version.
Frequently asked questions
What sound effects can I add to my Tesla?
Anything you can put in a WAV file: memes, movie clips, game sounds, music snippets, voice lines, sound effects. The only constraints are the filename (must be LockChime.wav), duration (1–5 seconds recommended), and format (WAV). Browse our library for 1,430+ ready-to-install options across every category.
What file format does Tesla use for sound effects?
Tesla requires a WAV file named exactly LockChime.wav. For clean playback, the recommended specs are 44.1 kHz sample rate, 16-bit depth, 1–5 seconds long, and under 1 MB. The USB drive needs to be formatted as FAT32 or exFAT. APFS and NTFS are not supported.
Can you change the Tesla horn sound?
Sort of. Tesla's Fart Mode (Toybox) lets you swap the honk for a fart sound or a handful of other built-in options. It does not accept custom WAV files: only the lock chime does. If you want to load your own audio, the lock chime is the feature to use.
Does the lock sound reset after a Tesla update?
Not usually. The setting persists across software updates as long as the USB drive stays plugged in. A small number of users report needing to reselect USB after a major update. If your custom chime stops playing, go to Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound and confirm USB is still selected.
Written by
Tesla Lock Sound Team
Editorial