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Tesla Lock Sound

Model S Tesla Model S lock sound: install guide

Boombox on Model S: The 2021 refresh or later is confirmed; earlier cars are not confirmed either way. 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.

Overhead line illustration marking the data ports for a Model S guideOverhead line illustration marking the data ports for a Model S guide

Quick spec

File path
Boombox/LockChime.wav
USB filesystem
FAT32 or exFAT
Port
a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars; rear ports only charge)
Hardware requirement
External pedestrian-warning speaker (2021 refresh or later confirmed)
Software floor
2023.44.25+

Steps

  1. Copy to USB

    Download your sound. Every file arrives named LockChime.wav in 44.1 kHz, 16-bit WAV, the recommended spec for clean playback. On a FAT32 or exFAT USB drive, create a folder named Boombox and place LockChime.wav inside it. Full path: Boombox/LockChime.wav. The only hard Tesla requirement is a WAV file named LockChime.wav.

    Library downloads and voice generator clips both arrive already named, so there is nothing to rename.

    To format: on macOS, Disk Utility → Erase → MS-DOS (FAT); on Windows, right-click the drive → Format → FAT32. Any size works, even 64 MB.

    Boombox takes a capital B. No subfolders: place LockChime.wav directly inside Boombox/, one file at a time.

    Folder tree: the USB root holds one Boombox folder, and LockChime.wav sits inside it.Folder tree: the USB root holds one Boombox folder, and LockChime.wav sits inside it.

  2. Plug into your Tesla

    Insert the drive into a USB port that carries data (the glovebox port on newer cars; rear ports only charge). Give the car a few seconds to index the drive. Open Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound, then choose USB.

    If the first port does not show USB in the menu, try another data port.

    Check first that Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound exists: custom lock sounds need the external speaker, which Tesla lists from the 2021 refresh.

    Overhead cabin drawing marking the USB data ports to use.Overhead cabin drawing marking the USB data ports to use.

  3. Lock the car

    Lock the car to hear it.

    Walk away or press the key fob. The sound plays through the external speaker.

Heads-up: Model S before the 2021 refresh

Custom lock sounds need the external pedestrian-warning speaker. Model S from the 2021 refresh on is confirmed; earlier cars are not confirmed either way, so check whether Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound exists in your car. 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 a Model S from before the 2021 refresh support custom lock sounds?

Cars from before the 2021 refresh are not confirmed either way. Custom lock sounds need the external pedestrian-warning speaker, so check that Toybox → Boombox → Lock Sound exists in your car.

Where is the Model S USB data port?

A USB port that carries data, not a rear one. Step 2 has the details.

Why doesn't Boombox show in my Model S?

Two causes: (1) the car may be from before the 2021 refresh and lack the external speaker (not confirmed either way), or (2) the software is older than 2023.44. Update to the latest software first; if Boombox still isn't there, the car likely lacks the external speaker.

Model S sound library →Full install guideComplete 2026 guide