How to run a custom show
- Use a dedicated USB driveFormat it as exFAT or FAT32 (MS-DOS FAT on a Mac). NTFS is not supported. Don’t use your dashcam drive: a top-level TeslaCam folder stops the custom show from loading.
- Create the LightShow folderAt the top level of the drive, create a folder named exactly LightShow — capital L and S, no spaces.
- Copy the show filesPut the .fseq file and its music (.wav recommended, or .mp3) inside LightShow. Both must have the same name, e.g. lightshow.fseq and lightshow.wav.
- Check the filesRun the drive or the files through the checker on this page to catch the common mistakes before you walk to the car.
- Plug in and waitInsert the drive into a front USB port or the glovebox port and wait a few seconds for the car to read it.
- Start the showOpen Toybox → Light Show and tap Schedule Show. If the popup says “Custom Light Show”, pick your show from the drop-down.
What the checker looks for
| Check | What the car needs |
|---|---|
| Folder | A top-level folder named exactly LightShow, and no top-level TeslaCam folder |
| File pairs | Each .fseq has a .wav or .mp3 with the same name, directly inside LightShow |
| FSEQ format | Version 2 (2.0 or 2.2 tested by Tesla), uncompressed |
| Channels | 48 or 200 per frame — what Tesla’s xLights project produces |
| Frame interval | 15–100 ms; 20 ms recommended |
| Length | Up to 4 hours |
| Music | 44.1 kHz (48 kHz drifts out of sync); .wav recommended; same length as the sequence |
Requirements from Tesla’s light show guide. The checker is our own and isn’t affiliated with Tesla; the car always has the final say.
Show didn’t start?
If the popup in the car says Light Show instead of Custom Light Show, the car didn’t find a valid show on the drive. See the troubleshooting guide for every cause we know of.
Make your own show
Shows are built in the free xLights app using Tesla’s project folder. Our step-by-step guide covers setup, the export setting that trips most people up, and how lights and closures behave.
Questions
Which Teslas can run a custom light show?
Tesla lists Model 3, Model Y, Model S (2021+), Model X (2021+) and Cybertruck, running software 2021.44.25 or newer. Some lights and closures only exist on certain versions, so the same show looks a little different from car to car.
How long can a custom light show be?
Up to 4 hours according to Tesla’s guide, and the old limit on the number of light commands has been removed. Closures such as windows, mirrors and the liftgate still have per-show movement limits.
Can I put more than one show on the USB drive?
Yes, on software 2023.44.25 or newer. Give each pair its own name — show1.fseq with show1.wav, show2.fseq with show2.mp3 — and choose between them in the drop-down.
Does this checker upload my files?
No. Files are read by your browser on your own device. Nothing is sent to our server.
Can the checker read my USB drive’s format?
No — browsers can’t see whether a drive is exFAT, FAT32 or NTFS. Check it in your computer’s disk tool (Windows: right-click the drive → Properties; Mac: Disk Utility).