/ model s install
Tesla Model S Lock Sound — Install Guide
Boombox works on every post-September-2019 Model S. The single most important thing to verify on Model S is the Pedestrian Warning Speaker (PWS) — pre-PWS cars have no external speaker and physically cannot play a custom lock sound outside the cabin.
Quick spec
- File path
- Boombox/LockChime.wav
- USB filesystem
- FAT32 or exFAT
- Port (2021+ refresh)
- Center-console USB-C
- Port (2012–2020)
- Center-console USB-A
- Hardware requirement
- PWS (Sept-2019+ standard)
- Software floor
- 2023.44.25+
Steps
Verify your Model S has the Pedestrian Warning Speaker (PWS)
Custom lock sounds require the external PWS hardware, fitted from September 2019 onward on Model S. If Boombox does not appear in your Toybox menu, your car may pre-date the PWS retrofit and is not compatible.
Format your USB as FAT32 or exFAT
FAT32 for small drives, exFAT for >32 GB. NTFS and APFS will not be read.
Create Boombox/LockChime.wav on the drive
Make a folder named exactly 'Boombox' at the drive root and place LockChime.wav inside.
Insert into the center-console USB port
Model S 2021+ refresh: center-console USB-C. Legacy 2012–2020 Model S: center-console USB-A. The MCU reads from the center-console front-facing port.
Enable in Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound
Touchscreen → Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound → switch from Default to USB. Lock the car to verify.
Heads-up: pre-PWS Model S
Tesla started shipping the external Pedestrian Warning Speaker in September 2019 to meet US/EU electric-vehicle noise regulations. Pre-Sept-2019 Model S vehicles do not have this speaker and cannot play a lock sound outside the cabin — even with the correct file, USB, and software, the Boombox menu will either be missing or the Lock Sound option will be greyed out.
FAQ
Does my pre-2019 Model S support custom lock sounds?
Pre-September-2019 Model S vehicles shipped without the external Pedestrian Warning Speaker (PWS) and cannot play a lock sound outside the cabin. Some pre-2019 cars were later fitted with a PWS at Tesla Service; if yours has the external speaker, Boombox should appear in Toybox after a software update.
Where is the Model S USB data port?
Center console, front-facing. On 2021+ refresh Model S it is USB-C. On legacy 2012–2020 Model S it is USB-A. The rear console ports are power-only and will not work with Boombox.
Why doesn't Boombox show in my Model S?
Two causes: (1) the car is pre-PWS and physically cannot do external audio, or (2) the software is older than 2023.44.25. Update to the latest software first; if Boombox still isn't there, the car likely lacks the PWS hardware.