Tesla FSEQ Files Explained: Download and Install on USB

An .fseq file holds the light sequence for a custom Tesla light show; the music is a separate audio file. This page explains what is inside an .fseq, where to get one, and how to install it from a USB drive. It is the install guide for this site, and it follows Tesla's official light show guide.

What Is an FSEQ File?

Tesla's guide builds custom shows in the xLights software and stores the sequence data in an .fseq file. The music comes from an .mp3 or .wav file of your choice. A show is not model-specific: one show can run on any supported vehicle. That covers Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, and Model S and Model X from 2021, on software 2021.44.25 or later.

The .fseq does not contain any audio. It is a list of frames, and each frame sets the lights and closures on the car. Which lights and closures exist depends on the model. For example, a car without front fog lights will not use any other light in their place.

FSEQ File Structure

The table lists the main parts of a version 2 .fseq file, from the start of the file to the end.

Show length is the frame count multiplied by the frame interval. Tesla's validator script prints an example: 2,247 frames at 20 ms is a total duration of 44.94 seconds. The longest show Tesla's guide allows is 4 hours.

Where to Get FSEQ Files

Our FSEQ library has more than 2,400 songs, each with a page where you can download the .fseq file. You need to be signed in to download; free accounts have a monthly download allowance and the Standard plan is unlimited (see pricing). The library provides the .fseq only, not the audio, so add your own copy of the same recording as an .mp3 or .wav. Popular starting points: Thunderstruck, Bohemian Rhapsody and All I Want for Christmas Is You. For seasonal picks, see the Christmas and Halloween collections.

Create or Edit an FSEQ

• From an MP3: upload an MP3 (up to 20 MB and 10 minutes) to the light show generator. You get a ZIP with a LightShow folder that holds the .fseq and the audio with matching names. The steps are in the MP3 conversion guide.
• In xLights: LightMyTesla does not include an editor. If you want to build a show yourself or change one, work in xLights and export a new .fseq. Tesla's guide asks for these settings: FSEQ version “V2 Uncompressed”, a frame interval of 20 ms (15 to 100 ms is supported), and audio with a 44.1 kHz sample rate.

Install a Light Show on Your Tesla

These are the USB drive requirements from Tesla's guide.

A drive with two shows looks like this:

USB drive
└── LightShow/
    ├── show1.fseq
    ├── show1.wav
    ├── show2.fseq
    └── show2.mp3

Library downloads keep their own file names, so rename the audio file or the .fseq until the two names match. Any shared name works; the car does not require a particular name.

1. Format the USB drive with one of the supported file systems above.
2. At the top level of the drive, create a folder named LightShow.
3. Copy the .fseq and the audio file with the same file name into that folder.
4. Check that the top level of the drive has no TeslaCam folder and no map or firmware update files.
5. Insert the drive into a front USB or USB-C port, or the glovebox USB port, and wait a few seconds.
6. On the touchscreen, open Toybox, select Light Show and tap Schedule Show. If the files meet the requirements, your shows appear in the drop-down menu.

The music plays only from the cabin speakers, and Tesla's guide recommends avoiding closing the windows during the show so the music stays more audible. Do not run a light show on or near a public road, and make sure it is allowed where you are. The Model X and Cybertruck owner's manuals suggest parking outside, turning the volume up and rolling down the windows.

Troubleshooting

The popup says Light Show, not Custom Light Show. According to Tesla's guide, this means the drive's format, folder or required files do not meet the requirements. Go through the requirements table: file system, top-level LightShow folder, matching file names, no TeslaCam folder or map or firmware files, and software version.

An error message appears. Tesla's guide says error messages are shown when the required files exist but there is a problem with the sequence file. Tesla provides a validator script, validator.py, in its light show repository. It checks an .fseq on your computer and prints the frame count, step time and total duration. If you exported the file from xLights, check that the FSEQ version is “V2 Uncompressed” and that the frame interval is between 15 and 100 ms.

The audio is out of sync. Tesla's guide says the audio file should have a 44.1 kHz sample rate; 48 kHz files will not sync properly. Also use the same recording the show was made for.

You want several shows on one drive. Several shows on one drive need software 2023.44.25 or later, and each .fseq needs its own audio file with a matching name.

FAQ

What is an FSEQ file? An .fseq file holds the light sequence for a custom Tesla light show. The music is a separate .mp3 or .wav file with the same file name.

Do I need an audio file as well as the .fseq? Yes. The LightShow folder needs at least two files: the .fseq and an .mp3 or .wav (.wav is recommended). Their file names must match. Our library gives you the .fseq only, so you add your own copy of the same recording.

Which file systems can the USB drive use? exFAT, FAT32 (Windows), MS-DOS FAT (Mac), ext3 or ext4. NTFS is not supported.

Why does my Tesla say Light Show instead of Custom Light Show? According to Tesla's guide, that popup title means the USB drive's format, folder or required files do not meet the requirements. Check the file system, the top-level LightShow folder, matching .fseq and audio names, and that the drive has no TeslaCam folder or map or firmware update files.

How long can a custom light show be? Tesla's guide gives a maximum of 4 hours.

Want the bigger picture? Read How Tesla Light Shows Work. No .fseq handy? Browse the library or make one from an MP3.