How to set up a USB drive for a Tesla light show

Step 2: create the LightShow folder

Create a folder named LightShow at the top level of the drive. Tesla specifies the name exactly, with a capital L and a capital S, and says it is case sensitive. Lightshow and lightshow will not work.

The files go inside the folder, not loose on the drive.

Step 3: add the two files

The LightShow folder needs at least two files: a show .fseq file and a show .mp3 or .wav file. Tesla recommends WAV.

The names must match. If the sequence is show1.fseq, the audio must be show1.wav or show1.mp3. Match the capitalization too. Maestro’s drive check treats a name that differs only by capitalization as a problem.

You can keep several shows on one drive, for example show1.fseq with show1.wav and show2.fseq with show2.mp3. Tesla says multiple shows per drive need vehicle software 2023.44.25 or newer.

Keep file names simple. Maestro’s drive check recommends plain letters, numbers, spaces, dashes, and underscores, because they survive every USB filesystem and the car’s file picker. This is a safe habit rather than a rule Tesla publishes.

Audio format and sample rate

Use MP3 or WAV, encoded at 44.1 kHz. Tesla warns that less common 48 kHz files will not sync properly with the lights. If your audio came from a video or a studio export, check its sample rate before copying it over.

Maestro writes its audio as a 44.1 kHz 16-bit WAV, so exports from the app already meet the rate.

Keep the drive clean

Tesla says the drive must not contain a top-level TeslaCam folder, and must not contain map update or firmware update files. If you use the same drive for dashcam or Sentry recordings, use a second drive for light shows.

Step 4: plug it in and start the show

1. Insert the drive into one of the front USB or USB-C ports, or the glovebox USB port, then wait a few seconds.
2. On the touchscreen, open Toybox and select Light Show.
3. Tap Schedule Show. If the drive meets the requirements, your shows appear in the drop-down menu.
4. Pick the show and start it.

How to tell if the car accepted the drive

Look at the title of the popup. If it says Custom Light Show, the car found valid files. If it says only Light Show, the drive formatting, the folder, or the files do not meet the requirements. Tesla also says the car shows an error message when the right files exist but there is a problem with the sequence file.

If the title says Light Show, work through the troubleshooting checklist.

Common reasons the car does not see the show

• The drive is formatted as NTFS.
• The folder is named Lightshow, lightshow, or anything other than LightShow.
• The files are in the root of the drive instead of inside LightShow.
• The .fseq and audio file names do not match.
• The audio is 48 kHz.
• A TeslaCam folder, or map or firmware update files, are on the same drive.
• More than one show is on the drive, but the car software is older than 2023.44.25.

Maestro on the Mac has an Install to USB sheet that checks for each of these and writes the files with the right layout. It is one convenient option, and the steps above work without it.

The short version

1. Format the drive. Format the USB drive as exFAT or FAT32. NTFS is not supported by Tesla.
2. Create the LightShow folder. Create a top-level folder named LightShow, with a capital L and capital S. The name is case sensitive.
3. Copy the show files into it. Add a .fseq file and a .wav or .mp3 file with the same base name. Use 44.1 kHz audio.
4. Keep the drive clean. Make sure there is no TeslaCam folder and no map or firmware update files at the top level of the drive.
5. Plug into a front USB port. Use a front USB or USB-C port or the glovebox USB port, then wait a few seconds.
6. Start the show. Open Toybox, select Light Show, tap Schedule Show, choose your show from the drop-down, and start it.