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 Tesla Lock Sound library has 2,690+ sounds (memes, game sounds, movie clips, music hooks, sci-fi, horror, and more) and every file downloads already named LockChime.wav as a WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit); most files are under the recommended 1 MB. You can preview every sound in the browser before downloading.
How to install a custom Tesla sound effect
The install takes three steps. You need a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT and a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars; rear ports only charge).
Copy to USB
Copy LockChime.wav onto a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive at Boombox/
LockChime.wav. There is no Locked/ subfolder: that path does not work.Plug into your Tesla
Plug the drive into a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars). Open Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB.
Lock the car
The new sound plays from the external speaker when the car locks.
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 need the car’s external pedestrian-warning speaker (Model 3 built September 2019 or later, Model S and Model X from the 2021 refresh, every Model Y and Cybertruck) and software 2023.44 or later.
| Model | Supported builds |
|---|---|
| Model 3 | Built September 2019 or later |
| Model Y | All model years |
| Model S | The 2021 refresh or later |
| Model X | The 2021 refresh or later |
| Cybertruck | All |
Check first: does Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound exist in your car? If it does, you are set. If it does not, update your software from Controls → Software, then look again. If it still is not there, your car likely predates the external speaker.
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 2,690+ ready-to-install options across every category.
What file format does Tesla use for sound effects?
The car needs 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