How to Fix Black Screen on Android Auto & CarPlay

After Android Auto or CarPlay updates, users often report problems with their car display screens. The most common issue is a black screen on the head unit of the car - your car screen goes black and nothing displays properly.

In this comprehensive guide, we offer several proven solutions to fix the black screen issue. After applying these troubleshooting steps, navigation and other functions of Android Auto or CarPlay should work correctly on your car display screen.

Why is My Car Screen Black? First Checks

If this is the first time you encounter a car display screen not working or showing a black screen problem, you should first verify some basic compatibility issues:

For Android Auto Users:

Make sure your vehicle is compatible with Android Auto. Not all car models support this technology, especially older ones.

For Apple CarPlay Users:

Ensure your vehicle supports CarPlay functionality. If your CarPlay screen is black, this could be a compatibility issue.

5 Quick Ways to Fix Car Screen Black Issues

Let's start with simple actions that require minimal time. While these may not fix every Android Auto black screen or CarPlay black screen situation, these tips have helped many users based on forum reports:

• Restart your phone (iPhone for CarPlay, Android for Android Auto)
• Restart the car's infotainment system (turn car off, wait 30 seconds, restart)
• Disconnect the USB cable and reconnect the devices to the head unit
• Reinstall Android Auto or CarPlay app on your phone
• Replace the USB cable with a higher-quality one

These basic steps can resolve many cases where your car display screen went black or your Apple CarPlay screen is black.

Why Did My Car Screen Go Black? Common Causes

There are several reasons why your car screen might be black:

1. Software Glitches: Recent updates to Android Auto or CarPlay can cause incompatibilities
2. Connection Problems: Faulty cables or dirty ports can prevent proper display
3. App Conflicts: Other apps on your phone interfering with car connectivity
4. System Cache Issues: Corrupted cache data preventing proper loading
5. Vehicle-Specific Issues: Some models (like VW or Hyundai) have unique problems causing black screens

Clear Android Auto Cache When Screen Not Showing

The Android Auto cache stores user data. If the app is updated or a crash occurs, the cache may contain incompatible information resulting in a black screen on your car display. Clearing the cache often solves the problem when Android Auto is not showing on car screen.

Video solution:

Instructions for Android:

Method 1:

You can clear cache on Android via its standard tools. To do this:

1. Open the Settings menu

2. Scroll down the list, find Device care > Storage and tap it

3. Scroll down to "Cache Data"

4. Choose it and a window offering to clear cache will appear

5. Confirm the operation by tapping on "Clean now" and wait for the system to delete all cache files

Via "Storage" you can also see how much memory is occupied and/or free. If there is enough free RAM, it's better not to clear cache.

Method 2:

Step 1. Go to Settings - Apps - Android Auto section.

Step 2. Go to the Storage section

Step 3. Tap the Clear Data and Clear Cache buttons one by one.

Step 4. Run the Android Auto app again and check if it works on your vehicle.

This method is usually the most effective for fixing Android Auto black screen issues.

Fix CarPlay Black Screen Issues

If you're experiencing Apple CarPlay black screen problems, try these steps:

1. Make sure your iPhone is unlocked when connecting to your car
2. Check if CarPlay is enabled in your iPhone settings (Settings > General > CarPlay)
3. Reset your iPhone's network settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings)
4. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version
5. For persistent issues on specific car models (like Apple CarPlay black screen VW or Apple CarPlay black screen Hyundai), contact your dealer for firmware updates

Uninstall Android Auto Updates to Fix Black Screen

If Android Auto is not working properly or is unstable, one way to solve the problem is to revert to a previous version. This can help when your car display screen is not working correctly.

Although the Android Auto app cannot simply be removed from the system, you can manually remove any installed updates:

1. Go to Settings - Apps
2. Tap Android Auto
3. Tap the dropdown menu button with 3 dots
4. Select the Uninstall updates option
5. After that, it's advisable not to update Android Auto and to disable all updates for that app

This approach can help when your car screen is black after a recent Android Auto update.

Update Android Auto When Not Showing on Car Screen

In some cases, the current version of the app may have compatibility errors with the head unit, resulting in Android Auto not showing on car screen. Updating to the latest version might resolve these issues:

1. Go to the Play Store, type Android Auto into the search box and tap Update
2. Restart your phone to apply the changes
3. After applying the changes, connect the device to the car head unit
4. Check if the black screen issue persists or if the problem is already solved

Fix Car Play Black Screen with a Quality USB Cable

A cheap USB cable can cause unreliable connection between your phone and the car head unit. The connection may frequently interrupt, causing your Car Play screen to go black or your Android Auto to display improperly.

Tips for choosing a USB cable when your car play black screen issues occur:

• Choose a recognizable brand name
• Select a cable about 1 meter or less in length (shorter cables typically provide more stable connections)
• Buy a certified USB cable suitable for Android Auto or CarPlay
• Avoid cheap, uncertified cables
• Consider using the USB cable that came with your device (Samsung, iPhone, etc.)

Tip: Blow through the car's USB connector to ensure there are no foreign objects or dust in it. Sometimes the USB port becomes clogged with dirt and needs cleaning. Take a cotton swab and clean the connector and internal contacts using alcohol. This simple step can often fix situations where your car display screen went black.

When My Apple CarPlay Screen is Black: Remove Pairing

Follow these steps to reset connections when your CarPlay screen is black:

For Android Auto:

Step 1. Remove the pairing on your phone with Android Auto

Step 2. Go to Android Auto - Connected cars

Step 3. Choose the vehicle from the list

Step 4. Tap on Forget button

Step 5. Also remove pairing from the vehicle's head unit

Step 6. Go to Bluetooth - Paired devices

Step 7. Choose the vehicle from the list and tap Unpair

Step 8. Turn off the vehicle's engine and turn it on again

Step 9. Reconnect your Android device to the head unit using a USB cable

Step 10. Re-pair the devices

For Apple CarPlay:

When your Apple CarPlay screen is black, follow similar steps:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > CarPlay
2. Select your car and tap "Forget This Car"
3. From your car's infotainment system, delete the paired iPhone
4. Restart both your car and iPhone
5. Reconnect using a high-quality cable

Vehicle-Specific Black Screen Solutions

For VW Owners (Apple CarPlay Black Screen VW):

Volkswagen models sometimes require specific solutions:

• Check for infotainment system updates at your dealer
• Try using the factory-provided USB port, as some aftermarket USB ports may not work correctly
• For persistent issues, some VW owners report success after having their infotainment unit's firmware updated

For Hyundai Owners (Apple CarPlay Black Screen Hyundai):

If you're experiencing a black screen in your Hyundai:

• Try a full infotainment system reset (consult your owner's manual)
• Some Hyundai models require a specific connection sequence: connect USB while car is running, not before starting
• Check with your dealer for known issues with your specific model year

Remember that each car manufacturer may have unique troubleshooting steps for their specific models when dealing with car screen black issues.