Reset a Frozen Infotainment Screen

Last updated: June 10, 2026

If the MBUX screen on your Mercedes A-Class (W177, 2018–Present) has frozen, gone black, or stopped responding to touch and the voice assistant, you can force a soft reset yourself in under a minute — no tools, no garage, and without losing a single setting.

Which system the W177 uses

The fourth-generation A-Class was the launch car for MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience), with its twin widescreen displays and the “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant. Early W177 cars (2018–2019) ran the first MBUX generation, which was prone to the occasional freeze or voice-control hang before software updates settled it down. Whichever build you have, the soft reset is the same and it is triggered from the steering wheel, not the screen.

Soft reset (reboot) the MBUX screen

Do this parked, with the ignition on so the system stays powered.

1. On the steering wheel, find the phone/answer button (left touch-control pad) and the voice-control button (the speech-bubble key).
2. Press and hold both together for about 15–20 seconds. Keep holding past any beep.
3. The central display goes completely dark, then the Mercedes-Benz logo reappears as MBUX reboots.
4. Release and wait 30–60 seconds for the home screen to reload. Touch, voice, and the controls should respond again.

If your trim uses the round Favourites “star” and Telephone touch-controls instead, hold those two together for the same 15–20 seconds — it triggers the identical reboot.

Will this erase anything? No

The two-button MBUX reset is completely safe. It does not wipe radio presets, navigation favourites, paired phones, driver profiles, or your “Hey Mercedes” settings. The system simply reloads its software. Do it as often as you need.

If the screen stays frozen

• Hold longer. If 20 seconds did nothing, repeat and hold both buttons for a full 30 seconds before releasing.
• Cycle the ignition fully. Switch off, open the door, lock the car, and walk away for about five minutes so the electronics sleep; then unlock and restart.
• Check for a software update. Early W177 MBUX freezes and “Hey Mercedes” bugs were largely fixed by updates. The car can update over the air via Mercedes me, or a dealer can flash the latest version.
• Unpair a problem phone. A flaky Bluetooth or CarPlay/Android Auto pairing can hang MBUX on boot — delete the device and pair fresh.

Factory reset (erases data — rarely needed)

A factory reset is separate from the soft reset and only worth doing if you are selling the car or clearing a deep, persistent glitch. In MBUX it lives under System Settings → Reset (the “Reset” function). It erases presets, paired phones, profiles, and navigation history, so only do it deliberately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which two buttons reset the A-Class MBUX screen?

The phone/answer button and the voice-control button on the steering wheel, held together for 15–20 seconds. On some trims it’s the Favourites “star” and Telephone touch-controls instead — either pair does the same reboot.

Will I lose my settings or saved stations?

No. The soft reset keeps presets, navigation favourites, paired phones, and driver profiles. Only a deliberate System Settings → Reset clears them.

My early 2019 A-Class keeps freezing — is that normal?

First-generation MBUX did have freeze and voice-assistant glitches before updates. Make sure the car is on the latest software via Mercedes me or a dealer; that resolves most recurring freezes.

Is it safe to drive with the screen frozen?

Yes. MBUX is independent of the engine and driving systems — you only lose audio, navigation, and voice control. Reset it when you are safely parked.

Why won’t “Hey Mercedes” respond after a freeze?

The voice assistant rides on the same software that locked up. A two-button soft reset usually restores it; if not, an update is the next step.

If a warning light or fault message stays on the dash after the reboot, it may have stored a diagnostic trouble code — you can look it up on autodtcs.com.