FAQ Tesla lock sound FAQ: install answers and fixes
File format, USB setup, which cars work, and the legal side. Looking for a sound instead? The library has 2,360+ free Tesla lock sounds. If your question isn't here, email caleb@teslalocksound.com.
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Before you start
Short answers to what people ask before installing. The full answers are further down.
Do I need an app or paid tool to install a Tesla lock sound?
No. Download a WAV, copy it to a USB drive, and pick it under Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound. Browse the library
What exact USB path works?
Boombox/LockChime.wav: a folder called Boombox with the file inside. If the car does not pick the file up from Boombox/, try putting LockChime.wav at the top level of the drive instead. Both locations work. See the USB steps
Can I use MP3 for Tesla lock sounds?
No. The car only plays a WAV named LockChime.wav. 44.1 kHz, 16-bit is the recommended setting. Download a ready WAV
Which USB format should I use: FAT32 or exFAT?
Either works. If the same drive also holds Dashcam footage, exFAT is usually easier. FAT32 or exFAT, in detail
How long can a Tesla lock sound be?
1–5 seconds is the recommended length. Shorter is kinder to everyone else in the parking lot. How long a lock sound can be
Can I install lock sounds over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi?
No. The car only reads a lock sound from a USB drive. Open the 2-minute install guide
How should I safely test a new lock sound?
Try it at low volume first. Turn it up once you know the car found the file. Troubleshooting checklist
Model-specific install help
Getting started
What is Tesla Lock Sound?
A free library of lock sounds for Teslas with Boombox. Download one, copy it to a USB drive, and it replaces the default lock chime.
Is Tesla Lock Sound free to use?
Yes. Every sound in the library is free to download.
Do I need special software to use these sounds?
No. You need a USB drive to carry the file. The car does the rest under Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound.
Is Tesla Lock Sound affiliated with Tesla?
No. Tesla Lock Sound is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla, Inc. Tesla is a trademark of Tesla, Inc.
Sound file formats and specs
What audio format do Tesla lock sounds need to be?
A WAV file named exactly LockChime.wav. For clean playback the recommended settings are 44.1 kHz, 16-bit, 1–5 seconds and under 1 MB. Every sound in the library, and anything from the converter, already uses them.
How long should a lock sound be?
1–5 seconds is the recommended length. Tesla does not publish a limit, but a long clip gets old fast when it plays every time you lock the car.
Can I convert my own audio files?
Yes. The free converter at teslalocksound.com/convert trims your clip, sets the volume and saves it as LockChime.wav, all in your browser. Sounds from the library are already in the right format.
What is the ideal volume level for lock sounds?
Loud enough to hear across a driveway, not so loud that it crackles. The Quiet, Normal and Loud presets in the converter at teslalocksound.com/convert set the level for you.
Can I use MP3 files for Tesla lock sounds?
No. The car only plays WAV. The free converter at teslalocksound.com/convert turns an MP3 into a LockChime.wav in your browser, with trim, volume and fades. Sounds from the library are already WAV.
What's the maximum file size for lock sounds?
Tesla does not publish a limit. Under 1 MB is the recommended size, and a WAV of 1–5 seconds fits under it.
Is 24-bit audio supported for Tesla lock sounds?
16-bit WAV is the recommended setting. If you have a 24-bit file, run it through teslalocksound.com/convert or export a 16-bit WAV from any audio editor. Every file in the library is already 16-bit.
What audio software do you recommend for editing Tesla sounds?
Our free editor at teslalocksound.com/convert trims, fades, sets loudness, and exports a Tesla-ready LockChime.wav in the browser. For a desktop app, Audacity (free, audacityteam.org) and GarageBand (Mac) both export 44.1kHz 16-bit WAV.
Installing custom lock sounds
How do I install a custom lock sound on my Tesla?
Put LockChime.wav in a folder called Boombox on a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive (Boombox/LockChime.wav), plug the drive into the car, and open Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB. The install guide walks through each step.
What file system should my USB drive use?
FAT32 or exFAT. The car may not read a drive formatted as NTFS.
Does the folder structure matter?
Yes. Create a folder called "Boombox" on the root of your USB drive and put "LockChime.wav" inside it. Path: Boombox/LockChime.wav
Can I have multiple custom sounds?
Tesla plays exactly one custom lock sound: Boombox/LockChime.wav on your USB drive. Keep multiple sounds in other folders and swap by copying a different file into Boombox/ as LockChime.wav. The car reads whichever file is named LockChime.wav. The "USB swap pack" download on your saved-sounds page packages this for you.
How long does it take to install a custom lock sound?
About 2 minutes: download the sound, copy it to a USB drive in the Boombox folder, plug it in, and pick it in Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound.
Can I transfer sounds to my Tesla via Bluetooth or WiFi?
No. Custom lock sounds require a USB drive formatted as FAT32 or exFAT, with the file at Boombox/LockChime.wav. Wireless transfer is not supported.
Troubleshooting lock sound issues
After an update: Custom lock sound stopped working? See the fix
My custom sound isn't playing. What should I check?
Verify the file is named exactly LockChime.wav inside a Boombox folder (path: Boombox/LockChime.wav), the file is WAV format (44.1kHz, 16-bit), and the USB is formatted as FAT32 or exFAT. Try a different USB port or drive and re-select the sound under Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB.
The sound is distorted or too quiet. How do I fix it?
Distortion means the level is too hot; too quiet means it needs normalizing. Open the sound in our editor at teslalocksound.com/convert and use the Quiet/Normal/Loud presets. They normalize loudness with a built-in clipping guard. Or pick a ready-made sound from the library.
My sound stopped working after a software update.
Updates can reset custom sound settings. Re-insert your USB and re-select your sound under Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB. Your file should still be compatible.
Tesla doesn't recognize my USB drive. What should I do?
Format to FAT32 or exFAT (NTFS is not supported). Try a different USB port or drive, and confirm the folder is named exactly Boombox and the file is named exactly LockChime.wav.
How do I revert to the default Tesla lock sound?
Remove the USB drive or delete Boombox/LockChime.wav and the car falls back to its built-in chime. You can also switch the selection in Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound from USB back to one of the built-in sounds.
My lock sound stopped working after a Tesla software update. What do I do?
Updates can reset custom sound settings. Re-insert your USB and re-select your sound under Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB. If that fails, verify the file still meets requirements (WAV, 44.1kHz, 16-bit) and check our blog for any new compatibility notes.
Why is my Tesla lock sound too quiet?
The audio file likely has low levels. Open it in our editor at teslalocksound.com/convert and choose the Loud preset. It raises loudness with a clipping guard. Also confirm your Tesla's Boombox volume isn't turned down.
Tesla model compatibility
Does my Tesla have the speaker needed for custom lock sounds?
Custom lock sounds play through the external Pedestrian Warning Speaker (PWS). Model Y and Cybertruck have it on every unit. Model 3 built from September 2019 onward includes it; earlier units do not. Model S and X require the 2021 refresh or later. Quickest check: open Toybox → Boombox on your touchscreen. If Boombox appears, your car has the speaker. If it is missing, Tesla Service can confirm whether a hardware retrofit is possible for your VIN.
Which Tesla models support custom lock sounds?
Model 3 (built September 2019 or later), Model Y (all years), Model S and X (2021 refresh or later), and Cybertruck. The requirement is the external pedestrian-warning speaker. Tesla Service can retrofit some older vehicles without it.
Do I need a specific software version?
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. If you don’t see the Lock Sound option, update your software from Controls → Software.
Will custom sounds work with Sentry Mode?
Custom lock sounds (set via Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound) play when you lock the car. Sentry Mode is a separate feature and does not share the custom lock sound setting.
Are these sounds compatible with the 2024 Model 3?
Yes. The 2024 Model 3 refresh has the external speaker, so custom lock sounds work on it.
Boombox and custom sound features
Can I customize my Tesla horn sound too?
Yes. Tesla Boombox lets you add custom horn sounds to your USB drive alongside lock sounds. This replaces the Boombox horn only. The emergency safety horn is unchanged.
Does Tesla support different sounds for lock vs unlock?
Custom sounds are lock only. Your LockChime.wav plays when you lock the car, and Tesla does not document a separate custom unlock sound.
How does Sentry Mode work with custom sounds?
They are independent. Your custom lock sound (set via Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound) plays when you lock the car. Sentry Mode uses a separate, non-customizable alarm and has no effect on custom lock sounds.
What is Tesla Boombox and how does it work?
Boombox uses your car's external pedestrian-warning speaker to play custom sounds: lock chimes, horn sounds, and audio while parked. Introduced in Tesla's 2020 Holiday Update; requires the external speaker (Model 3 from September 2019, Model Y and Cybertruck on all units, Model S/X from the 2021 refresh).
Legal and sharing
Can I share sounds I download from Tesla Lock Sound with friends?
Yes. All sounds are free to share with friends and family for personal use. Copy them to USB drives for other Tesla owners. Please don't redistribute them commercially or host them on other sites without permission.
Can I use copyrighted music as my Tesla lock sound?
Using copyrighted music without permission is legally risky, even for personal use. Short clips may fall under fair use in some jurisdictions, but it's a gray area. The clips in the library are third-party works. They are offered for personal use in your own car, not for commercial use, and we honor DMCA takedown notices.
Still have questions?
Check the install guide or browse the library, or email caleb@teslalocksound.com.