Why does my custom Tesla light show not appear?

Tesla requires a case-sensitive LightShow folder at the USB drive root, containing an FSEQ sequence and matching MP3 or WAV audio. Check the drive format too: exFAT, FAT32, MS-DOS FAT, ext3 and ext4 are supported; NTFS is not. The drive must not have a TeslaCam folder at its root.

Can I put more than one light show on the same USB drive?

Yes. Tesla documents multiple shows on one USB drive with vehicle software 2023.44.25 or later. Each sequence needs its own matching audio, such as show1.fseq with show1.wav and show2.fseq with show2.mp3, inside LightShow.

What audio sample rate does Tesla require?

Use 44.1 kHz audio. Tesla recommends WAV, although MP3 is also supported. Tesla warns that 48 kHz audio will not properly sync with the light show. Export at 44.1 kHz in an audio editor if necessary.

Which FSEQ export settings should I use?

Select V2 Uncompressed in xLights preferences. Tesla's validator expects 48 or 200 channels, at least one frame, a frame interval of at least 15 ms, and a show no longer than four hours. The README documents 15–100 ms intervals and recommends 20 ms. Versions other than 2.0 and 2.2 receive a warning.

Are my music files uploaded?

No. Files are checked in your browser and never uploaded. Only small file headers are read by the checker; your browser reads audio metadata locally for the duration comparison. The USB drive format and unselected folders still need your own inspection.

Tesla Light Show Checker — Free USB & FSEQ File Check

Find filename, sequence and audio problems before trying your USB drive in the car. Free to use, with no sign-in.

Why a custom light show might not appear

Tesla stores the lighting sequence in an FSEQ file and plays music from a separate MP3 or WAV file. Both belong in a folder called LightShow at the base level of the USB drive. The folder name is case sensitive: use LightShow exactly. Selecting that folder above lets the checker inspect its name and the files inside. If you select individual files, confirm the folder name and its position on the drive yourself.

Tesla's supported vehicles are listed as:

Model S (2021+)
Model 3
Model X (2021+)
Model Y
Cybertruck
Running Software v11.0 (2021.44.25) or newer

The official guide says custom shows become available in the selection menu when the drive and required files meet the requirements. If the popup title is "Light Show" instead of "Custom Light Show", then the requirements are not being met for the USB flash drive formatting and/or required folder and files. Error messages will be provided if the required files exist but there is a problem with the light show sequence file.

Match the sequence and audio names

Every .fseq file needs audio with the same base name and a .mp3 or .wav extension. For example, show1.fseq belongs with show1.wav, while show2.fseq can belong with show2.mp3. Tesla's guide lists the files inside LightShow itself; subfolders are not documented. Tesla's examples use identical names; keep the case the same to be safe. If your file manager hides extensions, display them before renaming files: names such as show.fseq.fseq or show.mp3.wav can hide a pairing mistake.

Multiple shows may share one USB drive with vehicle software 2023.44.25 or later. Give each pair a matching base name. Tesla supports both MP3 and WAV audio and recommends WAV. A differently named audio file does not satisfy the matching-file requirement for a sequence, even if it contains the song you intended to use.

Use a supported USB drive format

The supported formats are exFAT, FAT32 on Windows, MS-DOS FAT on Mac, ext3 and ext4. NTFS is not supported. The root of the drive must not contain a TeslaCam folder, and the drive must not contain map update or firmware update files. These are manual checks: a web page given selected show files cannot inspect the USB file system or discover other folders elsewhere on the drive.

Check sample rate and timing

Tesla specifies a 44.1 kHz audio sample rate and warns that 48 kHz files will not sync properly with the light show. This tool reads the sample rate from a WAV header or two consecutive MP3 frame headers after any ID3v2 tag. If the available header cannot establish the rate, the result says it cannot be determined. Verify that file in an audio editor instead of treating an unknown result as a pass.

The sequence duration comes from its frame count multiplied by its frame interval. The browser also attempts to read the audio duration locally. A difference greater than two seconds produces a timing warning. For LightMyTesla library shows, use the audio from the YouTube video on that song's page so the recording matches the sequence. Similar durations alone cannot establish that two recordings have identical timing.

Export a compatible FSEQ sequence

In xLights preferences, choose V2 Uncompressed for the FSEQ version. Tesla's validator checks the PSEQ signature, a data start of at least 24, 48 or 200 channels, at least one frame, and no compression. A custom show can be at most four hours long. The README supports frame intervals from 15 to 100 milliseconds and recommends 20 milliseconds for nearly all uses. Versions 2.0 and 2.2 are the validated versions; other versions receive a warning so you can review compatibility.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my custom Tesla light show not appear?: Tesla requires a case-sensitive LightShow folder at the USB drive root, containing an FSEQ sequence and matching MP3 or WAV audio. Check the drive format too: exFAT, FAT32, MS-DOS FAT, ext3 and ext4 are supported; NTFS is not. The drive must not have a TeslaCam folder at its root.
Can I put more than one light show on the same USB drive?: Yes. Tesla documents multiple shows on one USB drive with vehicle software 2023.44.25 or later. Each sequence needs its own matching audio, such as show1.fseq with show1.wav and show2.fseq with show2.mp3, inside LightShow.
What audio sample rate does Tesla require?: Use 44.1 kHz audio. Tesla recommends WAV, although MP3 is also supported. Tesla warns that 48 kHz audio will not properly sync with the light show. Export at 44.1 kHz in an audio editor if necessary.
Which FSEQ export settings should I use?: Select V2 Uncompressed in xLights preferences. Tesla's validator expects 48 or 200 channels, at least one frame, a frame interval of at least 15 ms, and a show no longer than four hours. The README documents 15–100 ms intervals and recommends 20 ms. Versions other than 2.0 and 2.2 receive a warning.
Are my music files uploaded?: No. Files are checked in your browser and never uploaded. Only small file headers are read by the checker; your browser reads audio metadata locally for the duration comparison. The USB drive format and unselected folders still need your own inspection.

Rule sources: Tesla's official Light Show guide and validator.py. The duration comparison and filename-style warnings are LightMyTesla checks, not Tesla requirements.