How to update your car's Android head unit: firmware and apps

An Android head unit is, deep down, a small computer fitted into your dashboard. And like any computer, it has two layers that can be updated: the firmware, which is the system of the unit itself, and the apps, which update by themselves from the Play Store just like on a phone. Mixing up the two is what causes most of the trouble.

This guide explains when each one is worth updating, how to do it step by step and — above all — when it is better not to touch anything. Updating an app is harmless, but flashing the wrong firmware file can leave the screen unusable.

Updating apps: easy and risk-free

The apps you use every day (Spotify, Google Maps, Waze, YouTube Music) update exactly as they do on your phone:

1. Connect the head unit to the internet over WiFi, normally by sharing your phone's data. If you are not sure how, it is covered in does the Android head unit need internet.
2. Open the Play Store on the screen and sign in with your Google account. The same one you use on your phone works fine.
3. Go to "Manage apps and device" and update whatever needs it.

Two tips that save headaches. First: do it with the car parked and running, or during a long drive, not on a two-minute trip, because a half-finished download leaves the app broken and you have to start again. Second: turn off automatic updates if you rely on your phone's hotspot, so the screen does not quietly eat your data allowance in the background.

If the unit is short on memory and apps close when you open several at once, updating will not fix it; that is a different matter, covered in the Android head unit restarts or freezes.

Updating the firmware: only when there is a reason

The firmware is the system of the unit. Unlike a phone, there are no regular automatic updates here: the manufacturer releases one specific version for one specific board when something gets fixed. The sensible rule is simple: if the screen works properly, do not update it.

Updating makes sense when there is a real, known problem:

• Wireless CarPlay or Android Auto that disconnects repeatedly with one particular phone model.
• Spontaneous restarts with no electrical cause, once you have ruled out the installation.
• The reversing camera freezes or shows a black image.
• The steering wheel controls stop responding after having worked fine.
• The unit will not boot past the logo.

And it makes sense not to update when all you want is "the latest version", or when the symptom bothering you is better explained by the installation. Watch out for that last one: plenty of problems that look like software are wiring. Sound that does not come out of every speaker, a radio station that will not lock on, or a screen that shuts down when you switch the car off are cases for the CAN Bus box, the aerial adapter or the power supply, not the firmware.

How to flash the firmware, step by step

1. Write down the exact version and model. In Settings, under "System information" or "About", you will find the Android version, the firmware version and often the board model. Take a photo of that screen.
2. Ask for the right file. Write to us with those details and your car model: the firmware has to be the one for your board, not "any Android 12 build". A file from a different board is the quickest way to kill the unit.
3. Prepare an empty USB stick, formatted as FAT32, and copy the file to the root, with no folders and without renaming it.
4. Do it with the engine running or on a charger. What kills an update is a power cut halfway through. Never do it with a low battery or by switching off the ignition during the process.
5. Start the update from the relevant menu in Settings and do not touch anything. The unit will reboot once or several times on its own and may sit for minutes with a black screen or a fixed logo.
6. Check the basics when it finishes: audio on all speakers, steering wheel controls, Bluetooth, reversing camera, radio stations and CarPlay.

After a firmware update it is normal for your personal settings and Bluetooth pairings to be wiped: you will have to pair the phone again and, if navigation was running on the screen, reinstall your downloaded maps.

What to do if something goes wrong

If the unit gets stuck on the logo, do not keep switching it off and on a dozen times. The first thing to try is the unit's own reset (usually a "reset" option or a recessed button next to the card slot). If that does not bring it back, write to us with the photo of the version you had before: in most cases it recovers by loading the correct firmware from the USB stick again.

And if the screen arrived faulty from the factory or stops working without you having touched anything, there is no need to fight with it: the warranty covers it and we handle it.

Frequently asked questions

Does the head unit update itself like a phone?
The apps do, from the Play Store, as soon as it has WiFi. The firmware does not: it is installed by hand from a USB stick and only when there is a specific version for your unit.

Can I upgrade to a newer version of Android?
No. The Android version is tied to the processor and the board of the unit; it cannot be changed by software. What gets updated is the firmware of that same version.

Does updating improve wireless CarPlay?
Sometimes yes, when the fault is a compatibility issue with a new release of iOS or Android. Before updating, try deleting the pairing and linking the phone again: it solves more cases than you would think, as we cover in CarPlay not working or not connecting.

Will I lose my equaliser and DSP settings?
Yes, they normally go back to factory values. Note your settings down first if you had them dialled in; the guide to doing it again is in how to improve the sound of your Android head unit.

Do I need a workshop to update it?
No. Anyone can update the apps in five minutes, and the firmware is flashed from a USB stick without taking the screen out of the dashboard.

See CarPlay head units with Android and Play Store

All our screens run Android with the Play Store, so apps stay up to date on their own, and behind them you have support in Spanish for the firmware if you ever need it. If there is no model-specific unit for your car, the universal 2 DIN head unit fits any standard aperture — there is also the version with wireless CarPlay — and if you prefer the specific one for your model, look for it in the full catalogue. Tell us the make, model and year and we will tell you which one fits.