These instructions apply to the Subaru Levorg Mk1 (VM) 2014-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The Subaru Levorg (2014–Present) is a Japan-, Europe- and Australia-market sports wagon that was never sold in the United States, so its head unit varies more by region and year than the US Starlink cars. Launch first-generation (VM) cars from 2014–2015 carried an older Fujitsu Ten / Kenwood-type touchscreen; later first-gen and the 2020-on second-generation (VN) Levorg moved to the Subaru Starlink system, including the large portrait 11.6-inch tablet on the newest cars. Whichever unit you have, a frozen screen reboots from the audio knob.
Know your Levorg head unit first
2014–2015 (early VM): a basic factory touchscreen — resets the same way but has no Starlink app suite. Later VM and 2020+ VN: Subaru Starlink, with CarPlay/Android Auto on most markets and the tall 11.6-inch portrait screen on the second generation. Because the Levorg is regional, your exact buttons and menu wording can differ from US cars; the principle below holds across all of them.
Soft reset: hold the power/volume knob
- Keep the ignition ON or the engine running so the head unit stays powered.
- Press and hold the power/volume knob beside the screen. On the 11.6-inch VN unit, the power control is the lower physical knob.
- Hold for at least 10 seconds (up to 15 on some units) until the display goes dark.
- The Subaru / Starlink logo reappears as the unit restarts.
- Release and wait around 30 seconds for the home screen, audio and camera to return.
Safe — your settings stay intact
The knob-hold reboot restarts the software only. Radio presets, paired phones, saved destinations and any Starlink login survive, and phone projection reconnects by itself once you plug back in. Repeat it whenever the screen freezes — there is no risk to stored data.
If the screen stays frozen
- Cycle the ignition fully off. Switch off, open the door, let the system sleep, then restart for a cleaner reset than a live-engine reboot.
- Lock it for 10 minutes. The same Subaru dealer trick used on US cars works here: turn the car off, lock the doors and leave it about 10 minutes so the unit deep-sleeps and reboots.
- Unplug the phone. On Starlink-equipped Levorgs a CarPlay/Android Auto dropout can mimic a full freeze. Pull the USB cable, let the native screen recover, then reconnect with a good data cable.
- Ask your regional dealer about updates. Subaru issues market-specific Starlink firmware updates; because Levorg software is region-coded, the correct update comes from a dealer in your market rather than a US download.
Factory reset (erases your data)
Use this only if reboots stop helping, or before selling. Open Settings on the touchscreen and choose Factory Data Reset (menu wording varies by region and unit), confirm the warning, and press the reset button. It wipes presets, paired devices, saved destinations and any account login, then restarts at factory defaults. Do it parked, with your login details ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
My early Levorg doesn’t have Starlink — does the reset still work? Yes. The 2014–2015 launch unit reboots from the same power/volume knob; it simply lacks the Starlink app menu and CarPlay that later cars gained.
How does the big 11.6-inch VN screen reset? The same way — hold the lower physical power knob for 10–15 seconds until the Subaru logo reappears. The portrait tablet is still a Starlink unit underneath.
Will rebooting erase my presets? No. Only the Factory Data Reset in Settings clears presets, paired devices and saved destinations.
Why is reset advice for my Levorg so different from US guides? The Levorg isn’t a US model, so its head unit, button labels and software region differ. The knob-hold reboot is universal, but menus and updates are market-specific.
The knob does nothing. Switch off, lock the doors and wait 10 minutes, then restart. A screen that stays dead afterwards needs your regional Subaru dealer.
If a warning light came on at the same time as the freeze, look up the trouble code at autodtcs.com — DTCs follow the global OBD-II standard, so they apply to the Levorg in every market.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Subaru. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.