Jeep Grand Cherokee: Reset Stereo System

A Jeep Grand Cherokee, like any other vehicle, could develop issues with its stereo system. In most cases, the first way you should try to solve these issues is to perform a system reset and start from scratch. Here’s how to reset your stereo system on a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

2019 – 2024 Models

In newer Jeep Cherokee models, the stereo is a part of the infotainment system. There are two methods to reset the stereo.

The first one is to just soft reset the infotainment system. This will clear the cached data from the system while keeping all your personalized information. With regard to the stereo system itself, it will keep your favorite radio stations. Here’s how to do that:

1. Press the “Start” button once without putting your foot on the brake. Alternatively, turn your key to the “On” position without starting the engine.
2. Press and hold the tuning knob and the volume button simultaneously on your infotainment system.
3. Hold the buttons until the infotainment screen turns black, then release them.
4. The screen will again switch on, and at this point, the stereo system is reset.

Depending on the exact model, your Grand Cherokee might have a somewhat older version of the infotainment system called uConnect. In this case, you will have a third knob on your infotainment console. However, you usually won’t need to press this knob to perform a soft reset:

1. Turn on the car without starting the engine. This can be done by pressing the “Start” button without pressing on the brake or by turning the key to the “On” position.
2. Press and hold the tuning knob and the volume knob (the two upper knobs) until the screen goes black.
3. Release the buttons and wait for the system to come back online.

In some models, the soft reset might work even if the car is completely off.

The other way to reset the stereo is by performing a hard reset. Unlike a soft reset, a hard reset completely removes your system’s saved settings and refreshes the infotainment system to the original factory settings.

Here’s how to perform a hard reset:

1. Hit the driver-side temperature up and down buttons simultaneously.
2. Hold the buttons for 4-6 seconds – the screen should show “Engineering Menu.”
3. Press the down buttons on your system until you reach “Radio Reset.”
4. Hold down the same buttons as in Step 1, which should cause the Jeep logo to flash before the screen turns off.
5. The system will restart, the Jeep logo will appear again, and you’ll be sent back to the main UConnect screen.

Alternatively, you can go into the infotainment system directly and perform a hard reset by going to the Settings:

1. Tap or select the “Vehicle” tab in the main menu.
2. Go to the “Settings” option on the top right.
3. Select the “Reset” tab if it exists. If not, navigate down to the “Reset” section.
4. Hit “Factory Reset” and wait for the infotainment system to power up again.

After performing a hard reset on your infotainment system, you will also need to update the software and reload your GPS and contacts.

2016 – 2018 Models

2016-2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee models have a relatively straightforward, albeit unintuitive way to perform a radio soft reset:

1. Turn your car radio on.
2. Press and hold the radio-on button for 10 seconds until the radio shuts down.
3. Turn the radio back on.

Alternatively, you can do a factory reset to restore your stereo system:

1. Press and hold the temperature control up and down buttons for five seconds.
2. You should get a “Settings” pop-up menu on the screen.
3. Select the “Factory Reset” option.

2012 – 2015 Models

If you use the stock radio, the steps are relatively similar to newer models:

1. Press and hold the volume knob and the radio tuner knob for about 15 seconds.
2. Wait until the radio shuts off, then turns back on.
3. It might take a couple of minutes to reset completely.

Older Models and Third-Party Radios

Some older Jeep models don’t come pre-installed with a factory radio or have a radio from a third-party vendor. In those cases, it’s best to consult the radio manual.

If you don’t have a physical manual, check the radio for the make and model and search for a manual or manufacturer online.

Resetting Car Radio Through Battery

If the steps above don’t work, you can usually trigger a hard reset for the stereo or infotainment system by disconnecting and reconnecting your car battery. This should be relatively straightforward, as all you’ll have to do is loosen up the connectors on the battery and then tighten them again.

Consult the Manual

The simplest way to get accurate information on your car’s radio (if you have the stock infotainment system) is to consult the car’s instruction manual. This will provide the most up-to-date settings or allow you to roll back the radio to its factory settings.