Uconnect Update Process: Check, Update and Fix Your System
The Uconnect update process depends on your model year and your screen. Newer vehicles update over the air or at a dealership. Older ones can often be updated with a USB drive you fill from your computer. Start by finding your current software version, because that version decides which path you take and whether a navigation map update is safe to install.
This guide walks through each step in order: checking your version, choosing the right method, running a USB update, updating navigation maps, and what to do if something goes wrong.
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TL;DR
Check your software version first (Apps or Controls, then Settings, then System Information on many 8.4-inch systems). Everything else depends on it.
Model years 2020 to 2026 update over the air or at a certified Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram dealership. Customer USB downloads are not offered for those years.
A manual USB update needs a blank drive of at least 4 GB. Keep the ignition on and the drive in until the system says it is done.
Install the software update before any map update, and never interrupt either one.
If an update stalls or the screen stays unresponsive, a service visit is the safest next step.
Table of Contents
Check your Uconnect version first
You cannot choose the right update until you know what is installed. The steps differ by system.
Uconnect 8.4AN (RA4). Press Apps or Controls, then Settings, then System Information. The software version appears on the first line of that screen.
Uconnect 4C NAV with the 12-inch screen. Hold the bottom left and bottom right corners of the touchscreen at the same time for about 10 seconds. That opens Dealer Mode, where the software version is shown. Look, note the number, and back out without changing anything.
Write the version down, or photograph the screen. You will need it for map purchases and, if you visit us, it saves the technician a step.
Know which system you have
The name on the screen tells you most of what you need. Uconnect 4 and 4C are the generation before Uconnect 5. The two are not interchangeable: a Uconnect 4 or 4C system cannot be upgraded to Uconnect 5, and a system that never supported Apple CarPlay or Android Auto cannot be updated to add them. If wireless phone projection is what you are after, our guide to finding wireless CarPlay on Uconnect shows how to see what your screen already supports.
Pick the right update method for your model year
There are three routes, and your vehicle decides which ones are open to you.
Method | Who it applies to | What you do |
|---|---|---|
Over the air (OTA) | Select model year 2013 and newer vehicles | Stay connected and accept the prompt when an update is ready |
Dealership | Any supported vehicle; the only manual route for 2020 to 2026 | Book a visit and let a technician install it |
USB drive | Older systems such as 8.4A and 8.4AN | Download files, load a blank drive, install in the vehicle |
Over the air
On select model year 2013 and newer vehicles, software updates are sent automatically once they are available. You do not hunt for a file. Your part is keeping the vehicle’s connected services active, and accepting the prompt when it appears. Park somewhere with a good signal, and do not start a trip in the middle of an install.
At a dealership
For model years 2020 to 2026, updates are performed over the air or at a certified dealership only, and the latest USB updates are not available for customer download. If you own one of those vehicles and the screen is misbehaving, the answer is not a hunt for a file. It is a service appointment. The manufacturer’s guidance is to contact your local dealer to request an update or confirm your software is current.
Our service center can check your software level and tell you whether anything is waiting for your VIN. If you would rather know what to expect before you come in, here is how to schedule a dealership service appointment.
USB, for systems that still support it
Older systems such as the 8.4A and 8.4AN can be updated from a drive you prepare yourself. The steps below follow the manufacturer’s published instructions for those units.
The USB update, step by step
This applies only to systems and software levels where a customer download exists. If the support site does not offer a file for your vehicle, stop and book a dealer visit instead.
Confirm your current version. Use the steps above. The update site asks for it so it can tell you whether anything newer exists for your radio.
Prepare the drive.The USB drive needs at least 4 GB of capacity and must contain no files. Use a drive you do not mind wiping. Old, flaky drives are a common source of failed installs, so a fresh one is cheap insurance.
Download and copy the files. Get the package from the official Uconnect software update center and copy it to the drive as the instructions direct. Do not rename files or add folders.
Start the vehicle. Park it in a safe spot with the ignition on. Sit in the vehicle for the whole install.
Insert the drive. Use the USB port the instructions specify. Vehicles can have several ports, and not all of them read update media.
Accept the prompt. The system should detect the update and ask to proceed. Say yes once.
Wait. Do not turn the ignition off, open and close doors repeatedly, or pull the drive.
Confirm the result. When the system reports success, reopen the version screen and check that the number changed.
The point of step 8 matters more than it looks. If the number did not change, the install did not take, and repeating the same process from the same drive rarely changes the outcome. Prepare a fresh drive or move to a service visit.
Updating Uconnect navigation maps
Maps and software are separate updates, and the order matters.
Newer systems. For Uconnect 5 and newer, owners can receive over-the-air map updates with a trial or paid Navigation Package subscription. Older systems. For Uconnect 4 and earlier, the same FAQ says to check for available map updates on the Chrysler navigation website.
Software first, maps second
Before you buy a map update, verify that your software meets the minimum level for your system. Installing the map below that level could damage the system. That site also states that refunds are not given if you cannot obtain the required software update, so check first and buy second.
The 4C NAV guide says the same from the other direction: install the software update successfully before starting the map update, or you could damage your system.
The activation code
On 4C NAV systems, the map update uses an activation code. It is generated online from the product serial number, your email address, your VIN, your software version and a Request Code that the system produces after it reads the map-update USB drive. Have your VIN and the drive ready before you sit down at the computer, since the code depends on a step you complete in the vehicle.
How long it takes and what to avoid
Plan for the time. Neither update is a five-minute job, and the screen is out of use while it runs.
System | Software update | Map update |
|---|---|---|
Uconnect 8.4AN | Not listed in the guide | |
Uconnect 4C NAV, 12-inch | About 30 minutes |
Rules while it installs
Keep the engine running for map updates, outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. The guides call for this to avoid carbon monoxide buildup. Never run the engine in a closed garage.
Expect a dead screen. During a map update the touchscreen, including navigation and park sensors, will not function. Do not rely on the camera or sensors while it runs.
Do not move the vehicle, change the ignition state, or remove the USB device. The guide warns that interrupting the update may make the system inoperative.
That last point is why the install is best done when you are parked for the duration, not between errands. If you cannot give it the time, schedule it for another day.
If an update fails or the screen stops responding
Start with the least invasive step and move up only as needed.
Wait it out. Updates can look frozen for a long stretch. Compare against the time ranges above before assuming a problem.
Try a soft reset. Restarting the radio without touching the battery clears many display glitches. We cover it in our Uconnect reset guide, including why a soft reboot comes before any battery disconnect.
Check the version again. If it shows the new number, the update worked and the glitch is something else.
Do not repeat a failed USB install over and over. If your model year is 2020 or newer, there is no customer USB path anyway. Book the vehicle in.
Bring it to a dealer. A technician can test the radio, check for related software, and tell you whether hardware is involved. Our write-up on how the dealership diagnostic process works shows what happens after you hand over the keys.
If the screen is completely dead after an interrupted update, do not keep power cycling it. That is a dealer job, and the guides’ own warning about an inoperative system is the reason to stop trying.
Why updates are worth doing
The manufacturer says that keeping your system up to date is highly recommended for performance and access to the latest available features and enhancements. In practice that means fewer odd freezes, better phone pairing behavior and, where the hardware supports it, newer features. Updates do not add hardware the vehicle never had, which is why the version check comes first.
Recalls are a separate track. A safety recall for software or any other component is handled at a dealer at no charge to you, and you can see how that works in our recall service guide.
Perspective
Most of the Uconnect problems we see start the same way: someone downloads a file for the wrong system, or starts a map update with the engine off and a deadline in mind. The software is not hard. The order is what trips people up.
Our view is simple. Check your version, know your model year, and if you are in the 2020 to 2026 range, let us handle it. Our service team works on Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles every day, and a technician can confirm in minutes what a weekend of forum reading cannot. We would rather you come in once and leave with a system that works than lose a day to a failed drive.
We also like to treat people fairly and say plainly what we know. If your update is something you can do at home, we will say so. If it needs a dealer, we will say that too, and we will not bury you in jargon doing it.
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Let us handle the update
If your model year is on the dealer-only list, or a USB install has already gone sideways, our service center can check your Uconnect software, apply what is available and look at anything that does not behave. Bring your VIN and a note of the symptoms.
While you are here: if you are thinking about a newer vehicle with a current-generation Uconnect system, browse our new vehicles or certified pre-owned inventory. We can also appraise your current vehicle through our trade-in page, and our financing team can walk you through options.
FAQ
Can I update Uconnect without going to a dealer?
Sometimes. Select model year 2013 and newer vehicles receive updates over the air, and some older systems accept a USB update you prepare yourself. For model years 2020 to 2026, the manufacturer limits updates to over the air or a certified dealer. Check your model year before you download anything.
How do I check my Uconnect version?
On Uconnect 8.4AN, go to Apps or Controls, then Settings, then System Information, and read the first line. On a 12-inch 4C NAV screen, hold the bottom left and bottom right corners for about 10 seconds to open Dealer Mode. Write the version down before you go any further.
How long does a Uconnect update take?
A map update on an 8.4AN takes 45 to 90 minutes. On a 12-inch 4C NAV, the software update takes about 35 minutes if one applies, and the map update about 30. Over-the-air updates vary, so park somewhere with a good signal and let them finish.
Can I add Apple CarPlay or upgrade to Uconnect 5 with an update?
No. A Uconnect 4 or 4C system cannot be updated to Uconnect 5, and a system that does not support CarPlay or Android Auto cannot be upgraded to add them. Updates improve what the hardware already does.
What happens if I interrupt an update?
The manufacturer’s guide warns that interrupting a map update may make the system inoperative. Do not move the vehicle, change the ignition state or pull the drive. If it happens, stop and bring the vehicle to a dealer.