How to Turn Off the Radio in a Bora?

[OAbigail]

There is a radio adjustment knob at the upper left of the control operation panel. Turn the knob counterclockwise to the end to turn it off. Below is an introduction to the 2021 Bora: 1. Body dimensions: The body is 4663mm long, 1815mm wide, 1473mm high, with a wheelbase of 2688mm. 2. Powertrain: The entire lineup uses Volkswagen Group's latest generation EA211 series all-aluminum engines, offering two power options: 1.5L and 1.4TSI, paired with a 5-speed manual, 6-speed Tiptronic automatic, or 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.

[Kenny]

I used to encounter this issue frequently with my Bora. Actually, there's a dedicated button on the steering wheel to turn it off. Look at the right-side multifunction button area – next to the VOICE-labeled button is the mute button; a short press instantly mutes. For completely turning it off, check the center console: among the row of buttons above the air conditioning knobs, find the power button with a musical note icon. On my 2018 model, pressing this would shut off the radio. Newer versions have touchscreens where the power icon is usually at the bottom left corner. If you still can't locate it, simply rotating the volume knob to its minimum also turns it off. Pro tip: holding the volume knob for 3 seconds reboots the infotainment system – useful when experiencing temporary freezes.

[LaJustin]

The most straightforward way to turn off the radio in a Bora is to press the button in the center of the volume knob, a design common in Volkswagen vehicles. As a mechanic, I've noticed many people don't know this: the VOL knob serves as both the power switch and volume control. A short press toggles the power state, while rotating it adjusts the volume. If there's a MUTE button on the center console, that's for temporary muting. For touchscreen models, the power button in the menu bar at the bottom of the screen looks like this: ⏻. Owners of older Bora models should note that pre-2005 versions had a separate CD player; look for the RADIO button in the upper right key area and press it twice. Also, check if you accidentally pressed the voice button on the steering wheel, as that can also activate the radio.

[Pinto]

During my student years, I drove a used Bora and figured out three tricks: 1. Press the right-hand scroll wheel on the steering wheel downward to turn it off directly; 2. The center of the largest knob on the center console is the power button; 3. For newer models with a screen, tap the house icon at the bottom of the screen to switch to the main interface, and playback will stop naturally. Once, when picking up my girlfriend, I couldn't turn it off, only to realize later that her elbow was pressing the song-switching button on the steering wheel, repeatedly activating the radio. For the newer Bora models, be aware that the touchscreen head unit requires tapping the media menu first, then locating the off button. If all else fails, there's an ultimate solution—with the vehicle powered on, press and hold the volume knob for 10 seconds to force a reboot of the infotainment system.

[Dustin]

According to Volkswagen's design logic, there are three scenarios for turning off the radio in the Bora: 1. For traditional knob-style center consoles, press the center of the volume knob directly. 2. For MQB platform touchscreens, tap the power icon (hexagon with a vertical line symbol) in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. 3. For navigation-equipped versions, pay attention to the head unit type—the RNS315 unit requires pressing the MEDIA button first to bring up the menu. Some high-end models have an automatic activation quirk: when making a call via CarPlay, the radio is forcibly activated, requiring separate shutdown of the media audio source. For models manufactured after 2020, remember to update the system, as older versions had a bug where touchscreen failure could prevent shutdown.

[MacEzra]

Last time when helping a friend modify the audio system of a Bora, I tested it practically: the mainstream method is to press the power button on the left side of the center console (marked with a small red dot), but many people overlook two hidden operations. First, in the ignition start state, long press the center button of the five-way navigation key on the right side of the steering wheel for 5 seconds to directly switch the media on/off; second, the automatic playback function can be turned off in the system settings. For those with aftermarket large screens, note that third-party units usually set the * key on the right side of the steering wheel as a custom shutdown key. In extreme cases like system crashes, the solution is to simultaneously hold down the ECON button in the air conditioning area and the air volume increase button for 8 seconds to force restart the host. This trick is especially effective for touchscreen versions.