This issue can be frustrating and in some cases dangerous, as some models of Mazda vehicles that include the Mazda Connect feature have some important information displayed in the infotainment console that they depend on to reach where they are going safely. This issue has been most commonly reported to occur when driving the following vehicles: Mazda CX-30, Mazda CX-5, Mazda CX-9, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mazda 2, and Mazda CX-8. All of these vehicles feature the Mazda Connect software and use it to control media connections and other key locations and safety functions. If you own one of the vehicles and are experiencing this type of problem, you can use this guide to help you identify the cause of your Mazda Connect black screen issues and also troubleshoot your issue and prevent it in the future. The Mazda Connect software is an important part of your Mazda vehicle’s ecosystem. If it is not functioning properly, you could risk experiencing issues in other areas of your car. You should use this guide to immediately address any issues that could be causing your Mazda Connect black screen issues.
Why is My Mazda Screen Black?
1. Mazda Connect Is Out Of Date
The most common cause of Mazda Connect issues is out-of-date software. Like any software-based application, Mazda Connect depends on regularly scheduled updates to maintain optimal performance. Without these updates, your Mazda Connect software will likely encounter more frequent errors, including the screening going black when it shouldn’t. Updates that are released for your Mazda Connect software will generally include many bug fixes and patches that will serve to remove these errors. Because of this, it is important that you always stay up to date with your software updates. You will need to manually download and install any updates that are available for your vehicle. The process to correctly do this will be outlined in the suggested troubleshooting method below.
Fix: Update Mazda Connect
To resolve your out-of-date software issues, you will need to check for and apply any updates that are currently available for your Mazda vehicle. To do this, you will first need to download the appropriate update files for your vehicle onto a USB drive. You will need to match the update files to the make and model of your vehicle. You can find these update files on Mazda’s official website. There you will be able to find support for your Mazda Connect software, including updates and other important software information. Next, you will first need to power on your vehicle. Make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area before you attempt the update process, as the car will need to Mazda that you own. You should consult your vehicle’s manual if you cannot locate your USB drive in your Mazda vehicle. Once you have properly located your vehicle’s USB port and plugged in your USB drive containing the Mazda Connect update files, you will need to press the Settings button on your infotainment console. This will bring up the menu where you will see the System tab. Enter into the System tab and scroll to highlight the Music Database Update option. Once you have selected the Music Database Update option, you will be presented with an onscreen prompt that you should select Yes to. This will begin the installation process and your vehicle will respond audibly with a message explaining that your Mazda Connect software will reboot and begin the update process. You will not be able to use Mazda Connect software to pair any devices or control audio media settings while this process is ongoing. This will take around ten minutes, so keep that in mind. During this time, your vehicle will automatically apply the update files found on the USB drive to your device. Mazda Connect will notify you once the update has been completed. You check your system software just to be sure by navigating back to the Settings menu and entering into the Systems menu. There you can view the current version of your software.
2. You Have Encountered A Bug With Your Mazda Connect Software
Bugs and glitches are another common cause of Mazda Connect black screen issues. These types of errors are typically caused by some type of internal run-time issue that the software has encountered. All software applications are subject to the occasional bug or glitch that causes errors with functionality. When you encounter bugs and glitches, they quite often resolve themselves. Because of the random nature and ambiguity of the causes of these types of errors, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause of your issues. That being said, persistent issues that are attributed to bugs or glitches can be solved using the troubleshooting methods listed below. All of the methods in this list have been proven to resolve black screen issues that are being caused by bugs or glitches.
Fix One: Hold Down Mute Button
Pressing and holding down the mute button can help encourage any display issues to be resolved. This will cause your Mazda Connect software to refresh, which can cause your display issues to fix themselves. This is one of the easiest ways to resolve your black screen issues and should be utilized early in the troubleshooting process to help save you time and frustration while trying to remedy your problem. Once you have held down the mute button for at least 10 seconds, your infotainment center will begin a soft-refresh process. This will end any erroneous functions that could be causing your black screen issues.
Fix Two: Perform Cycle Key
A cycle key is the best way to fix your Mazda Connect software when you are experiencing display issues. To do this, you will first need to turn your vehicle all the way off. This includes accessory mode and the engine. If your vehicle does not turn off until you exit the vehicle you should open and shut your door to simulate this. Once you have ensured that the vehicle has shut down completely, including all radio functions, you should leave the car off for at least 2 minutes before starting it back up. After you have done this, you will have successfully key cycled your Mazda vehicle. This is the best way to encourage the resolution of display issues caused by bugs and glitches.
Fix Three: Perform A Soft Reset
A soft reset is another way that you can help encourage your Mazda Connect software to resolve any internal issues that could be causing your black screen issues. To perform a soft reset on your vehicle, you will first need to press and hold the Volume button while also pressing and holding the Back button. You should continue to hold down these buttons until the screen goes black. This will usually take around five seconds. If the screen is already black due to black screen issues, simply holding down these two buttons will automatically start the soft reset process. After the soft reset process is complete, your display issues should be resolved.
Fix Four: Perform A Master Reset
If you are experiencing persistent errors with your Mazda Connect, you should consider doing a master reset of the Mazda Connect system. The process to do this is extremely simple. All you need to do to perform a master reset of the Mazda Connect system is to hold down the Volume knob, Back button, and Nav button for at least ten seconds. Once you have held down the Volume knob, Back button, and Nav button for ten seconds, you will see the system reset notification on your touchscreen console. Follow the on-screen prompts to finish the Master Reset process. This will perform a complete reformatting and refresh all of the files associated with your Mazda Connect software. This can usually resolve most issues that you are having with your Mazda Connect. You will only be able to perform a master reset of your Mazda Connect system while your vehicle is stationary. This is a safety feature that helps keep drivers from editing Bluetooth settings while driving.
Fix Five: Wait For A Few Days
You could simply attempt to wait out your issue. Bugs and glitches usually resolve themselves without any additional action from the user. If you simply wait for a few days, there is a possibility that your issue will resolve itself. This may not be an ideal solution but it can save you time and a headache when trying to resolve your “Black Screen of Death” issues. If you are able to wait for the problem to resolve itself then this could be your best option for dealing with bugs and glitches.
Fix Six: Contact Mazda
If you are still experiencing problems with your Mazda Connect software after resetting and updating your software, you should consider contacting Mazda to get additional support for your issue. Mazda can offer additional troubleshooting methods and suggestions for resolutions to the issue that you are experiencing. You can contact Mazda by phone or on their website. You can also take your vehicle to the Mazda dealership to have them take a look at your Mazda Connect system. If you choose to contact Mazda Connect online or by phone, then you will need to provide a detailed account of your issue. A Mazda technician will be assigned to your case and they will help walk you through any potential troubleshooting methods that you may have overlooked. This is often the best course of action when you are having Mazda Connect software issues. Having to take your vehicle in for repairs or dealing with customer support remotely can be frustrating. Rest assured that Mazda is the highest authority on your vehicle and the software that controls the Mazda Connect software. They can offer you the best advice for resolving your particular issue.
3. Bad Cables
The cables associated with your Mazda vehicle’s infotainment center could be causing your display issues. Cable issues could also cause your devices to not properly pair with your Mazda Connect software. Cables are an important aspect of your vehicle and should be maintained and checked regularly to ensure that they are functioning correctly.
Fix One: Disconnect Then Reconnect Cables
You should consider disconnecting and reconnecting all of the cables associated with your vehicle’s infotainment center. This can help resolve any faulty connections that your vehicle might be experiencing.
4. Display Is Faulty
If your infotainment console display has been damaged or has cable connection issues, it could cause black screen issues. Display issues are rare, but could be caused by old age, misuse, or damage from a crash or exposure to liquid. If you experience black screen issues persistently, then you likely have a damaged display and will not be able to properly use it until the issue is addressed. A display can be rather expensive to fix so it is important that you rule out all other causes of your black screen issue before considering replacement or repair.
Fix: Repair or Replace Your Display
You should consider taking your vehicle to the Mazda dealership to have it repaired or replaced. Your infotainment center display is not something that can be easily repaired at home and should only be attempted by a certified Mazda mechanic. A Mazda mechanic will be able to examine your display and determine whether a repair or replacement is appropriate. If you are lucky, they will determine that your problem is caused by software issues, which will save you a lot of money on display repairs.
5. There Is No Power Going To It
If your battery is running low on power or there is some kind of power transfer issue, it could cause your console display to not work correctly. If your console is not receiving the proper amount of power, you will experience black screen issues. There are also fuses associated with your infotainment console that could have been blown and need replacing. Power issues are a common cause of your black screen issues.
Fix One: Check The Fuse Box
You should check the fuse box to ensure that any blown fuses are identified and replaced. This will ensure that your center console display has the proper power to function. The fuse box for your infotainment console will be located in varying positions depending on the model of Mazda that you own. You should consult your vehicle’s user manual for the exact location of the fuse box or take it to a mechanic and have them examine it for you. Since there are electrical components involved, it is very important that you access the fuse box carefully and only when the car is completely powered off.
Final Thoughts
This guide has provided you with all of the information that you need to resolve your Mazda Connect black screen issues. This issue causes the infotainment console to not display correctly and can be extremely frustrating. You can use the information provided in this guide to help you accurately identify and resolve any types of issues that could be causing your black screen issues. It is important that you address any issues regarding your infotainment console as soon as possible. It can be dangerous to drive with this part of your vehicle not functioning correctly. Common causes of the black screen issues include bugs and glitches, out-of-date software, faulty cables, and components, or out-of-date firmware. All of these issues have been discussed in detail in this guide along with detailed troubleshooting methods that you can consider for solving these issues. These troubleshooting methods are intended for use by owners of the following vehicles: CX-30, CX-5, CX-9, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mazda 2, and CX-8. If you own one of the vehicles this guide can help your fix your issues.
