How to restart an Audi A6L with a black screen?

[StAsher]

First, check if the car fuse has blown. If the fuse is blown, it means the screen has lost power, and it can be resolved by replacing the fuse. Check if the navigation buttons are stuck, including the RSET button, as stuck buttons can also prevent a restart. Use a multimeter to measure whether the B+ and ACC voltages are normal. If the voltages are normal, then there is an internal machine fault that requires opening and repairing.

[LilahLee]

That day I was rushing to the airport to pick up a friend when the Audi A6L's center console suddenly went completely black, which really gave me a scare. I immediately pulled over and flipped through the manual to find the emergency solution: press and hold the three buttons in the multimedia control area simultaneously—the ones next to the volume knob with the triangle symbol, the asterisk button, and the square button. Hold them for more than ten seconds without letting go, and the screen will suddenly flash the Audi logo, with the entire system reloading just like a phone reboot. Once the progress bar completes, everything should be fine, though you’ll need to re-save your preset radio stations. Later, I asked a 4S technician and learned that occasional system crashes in the car’s infotainment are pretty normal, especially during hot summer weather or when using incompatible dash cams. If a power cycle doesn’t fix it, pulling the MMI system fuse from the fuse box on the right side of the trunk, waiting three minutes, and plugging it back in usually resolves software freezes.

[DakotaLee]

Last month, I also encountered a black screen while driving my wife's Audi A6L. The navigation suddenly went black while in use. Pressing the physical buttons near the gear shift on the center console to switch driving modes didn't respond at all. I quickly tried the method shared by fellow car owners on the forum: pressing and holding the row of diamond-shaped combination buttons (volume, back, and menu keys) for about 15 seconds until I felt the screen vibrate before releasing. The reboot process took three to four minutes, and when the four-ring logo appeared on the screen, I made sure not to start the ignition. After the reboot, the air conditioning settings interface was stuck in German, so I had to switch it back in the system language settings. The technician mentioned that not updating the car's infotainment system for a long time makes it particularly prone to crashes and black screens. Now, I always have them update the firmware during every maintenance visit.

[LaFinley]

Last week, I drove my A6L out during a heavy rainstorm, and when passing through a waterlogged area, the screen made a sizzling sound twice before going black. I immediately pulled over, turned off the engine, locked the car, and waited for five minutes. After restarting, it still didn’t work. I directly accessed the fuse box on the right side of the rear seat, located the 30-amp fuse labeled J794 as per the repair manual, pulled it out, waited three minutes, and then firmly reinserted it. When powering up the car, don’t panic if all the dashboard warning lights come on—just wait for the self-check to complete before starting the engine, and it should return to normal. The repair shop mentioned this is a common issue with Audis, especially those with aftermarket 360-degree panoramic systems, as they are prone to voltage instability causing black screens. If the black screen occurs repeatedly, it’s necessary to check the cooling fan of the main unit. Later, I placed dust-proof mesh at the air vents to reduce dust buildup.