7 Common Tesla Custom Sound Problems (And How to Fix Them)

Custom sounds not working? Don't worry—most issues have simple fixes. Here are the seven most common problems and their solutions.

1. Sound Won't Play

The Problem: Your custom sound isn't playing when you lock/unlock.

The Fix:

●Verify file name is exactly LockChime.wav

●Check file format (WAV, 44.1kHz, 16-bit)

●Ensure Sentry Mode is enabled

●Try a different USB port

2. Sound is Too Quiet

The Problem: You can barely hear your lock sound.

The Fix:

●Normalize audio to -3dB peak

●Check Tesla volume settings

●Avoid heavily compressed audio

●Test with a known-good sound file

3. Sound is Distorted

The Problem: Your sound plays but sounds crackly or distorted.

The Fix:

●Lower the peak volume to -6dB

●Remove excessive bass frequencies

●Re-export at 16-bit (not 24-bit)

●Check original file quality

4. USB Not Recognized

The Problem: Tesla doesn't see your USB drive.

The Fix:

●Format to FAT32 or exFAT

●Try a different USB drive

●Use USB port in center console

●Check for physical damage

5. Wrong Sound Playing

The Problem: The default sound plays instead of your custom one.

The Fix:

●Verify folder structure: /Boombox/LockChime.wav

●Check for duplicate files

●Re-select sound in settings

●Clear cache by rebooting Tesla

6. Sound Stopped Working After Update

The Problem: Your sound worked before but stopped after a software update.

The Fix:

●Re-select your custom sound in settings

●Re-upload the sound file

●Check for new file requirements

●Ensure sound meets latest specs

7. Sound Plays at Wrong Times

The Problem: Your lock sound plays when it shouldn't.

The Fix:

●Review Sentry Mode settings

●Check app notification settings

●Verify sound isn't set for multiple events

●Reset to default and reconfigure

Still Having Issues?

If none of these solutions work:

1. Perform a soft reboot (hold both scroll wheels)
2. Check the Tesla Forums for model-specific issues
3. Contact us for personalized help

Browse our sounds that are formatted to work with all Tesla models.