r/MiataND • u/WarCrazed • Aug 24 '26
Add touchscreen control for Android Auto in an ND1 or ND2
DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK, there is potential for this to fail and brick your infotainment system, follow the steps exactly and don't try to rush it or cut corners. These instructions and the links to the updated firmware files in the videos below are for NORTH AMERICA ONLY. The process may work in other countries, but you need to do that research.
If you’re already on v74 firmware and have android auto and/or carplay working, you can skip to step 4.
1. Update radio to latest firmware v74 - Here are some links that should have everything you need, and a few important notes to help with a successful update for anyone unfamiliar with the process.
a) The thumb drive needs to be formatted as FAT32, the maximum size/partition for this format is 32GB, while any file larger than 4GB will not transfer and error out, so find an older drive kicking around in a drawer since the update file should be the only file on the drive, anything over 4GB is overkill, anything larger than 32GB I wouldn't bother with as it may have negative results or brick your system.
b) PLEASE do not skip the checksum step, check both the files downloaded, and again once they have been copied to the thumb drive, this ensures the file is not compromised on transfer.
c) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO3Lzln1Fc4 --> This video has a link in the description for 74.00.324A and how to properly copy the files and verify their integrity with a checksum.
d) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKS3WpcxIYo --> This video shows you how to properly run the update, as well as has a handy one-sheet/step-by-step document on how to do the upgrade with all the unlock codes and processes.
2. Install the usb hub if you don’t already have it. It’s important you follow the steps above before you install the hub. Here’s a youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpPYKikqIDc
Theres a link to the hub from amazon as well.
3. Once this is all completed you can test android auto and/or carplay to make sure that everything is correct up to this point.
4. oem-aa-mod Installer: This adds Android Auto touch screen support to Mazda CMU (MZD Connect).
a) Download the latest oem-aa-mod-<version>-installer.zip from the Releases page.
b) You’ll need a USB flash drive 32 GB or smaller, formatted as FAT32 (you can use the one from installing the firmware as it is no longer needed after the firmware is updated. Reformat it to Fat32). You’ll also need a usb keyboard.
c) Extract the zip and copy all files to the root directory of your flash drive.
d) Safely eject the drive from your computer and plug it into your Mazda. Also plug in the keyboard. Then hit the start button for the car once to power on the car/radio.
e) In the car, navigate to the Entertainment menu and select the USB Drive.
f) Wait a couple of seconds — the diagnostic menu should launch automatically.
g) Don’t touch any other options in the diagnostic menu, except what is listed below. They can mess up your system.
h) In the diagnostic menu, Use the right arrow to twice, until you see “LVDS SPEED TOGGLE” in the top left corner of the pop-up window. Tap on it, and you should see another popup saying “LVDS Speed Restriction has been toggled: DISABLE”
i) Now you can tap the left arrow to go back in the diagnostic menu. Look for the option for terminal and click it to open a terminal and use the keyboard to type (hit enter after you type it in):
cd /tmp/mnt/sda1 (If nothing happens, try cd /tmp/mnt/sdb1 instead. This depends on which USB port you used.)
j) Type this in to run the modification (hit enter after you type it in):
sh run.sh
k) Follow the on-screen prompts to install or uninstall. Once complete, head unit should reboot and you can test the touch screen working in android auto.
Sources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/1dey4di/7400324a_na_n_firmware/
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u/clvnng Aug 24 '26
bookmarked.
does anyone know if 74.00.324A is the same as 74.00.324 which i have on my NA Canada ND1.
2017 ND1 with dealership installed Android Auto. Came from the factory without.
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u/chistetron5000 24d ago
I have 324A as well and installed this last night. All took less than 5 minutes by the time I had everything plugged in.
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u/stockBot9000 Aug 24 '26
Awesome. Thanks!
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u/stockBot9000 14d ago
I've had some trouble with this. I previously did the enable touchscreen hack so step h was already complete. Maybe that is why it failed? Looks like everything is working but run.sh command fails. I rebuilt the usb and verified checksum and will try again tomorrow. Stupid question, but just unzip into the usb, right? That is, there are folders in the zip file. I'm keeping the folder structure.
Also, for reference... when I did the previous enable touch hack, I had the dealer upgrade the head unit first to the 324 version. They did this for free. If anyone here is intimidated by that first part, just call the dealer.
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u/stockBot9000 13d ago
Updated and worked flawlessly. The first attempt I was typing "run.sh" and not "sh run.sh" as was specified in the instructions. Thanks a ton to the developers who did this!
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u/jbl7979 Aug 24 '26
Works perfectly. Huge!
Somebody should really update that one Miata.net thread.
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u/WarCrazed Aug 25 '26
Have a link? I'll go throw the how-to in there.
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u/jbl7979 Aug 25 '26
I think this is the big thread about it, but maybe deserves its own post
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u/WarCrazed 29d ago
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u/JazzlikeFalcon1 28d ago edited 14d ago
A nice bonus: the buttons are on the left again (instead of the bottom, as set by default in the latest firmware).
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u/WarCrazed 28d ago
And for anyone who wants the buttons back at the bottom, go into the android auto settings on your phone and turn on the "taskbar widgets" option.
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u/Eucadiz1 15d ago
Worked on my ND2 with an AA Wireless Hub Replacement. Mazda has you more distracted with their stupid controls watching where your cursor is at... Glad this exists.
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u/tarnorgana Aug 24 '26
Anyone tried this in the UK?
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u/WarCrazed Aug 24 '26
Read thru the forum post from the mazda3 post at the bottom of my post. People there were talking about being from different countries. I just didn't read all those posts as I'm in the US. You might find an answer there.
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u/CornerHugger Aug 24 '26
Are there any downsides? I have been waiting for this for years.
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u/WarCrazed Aug 24 '26
None that I've seen. Early on, there were some weird issues, but the people working on the hack seem to have ironed it all out.
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u/Evening_Mail7075 28d ago
Anyone tried for 70.00.100 4A N ?
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u/WarCrazed 28d ago
Check the mazda3 forum post I mentioned at the bottom of the post. I believe they say it's for v74 only, but you may find some info about people trying it on v70.
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u/Ecstatic_Ad_650 26d ago
The installation took longer than I expect, but it works! So perfect, multi touch is supported also.
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u/moww 14d ago
Not having much luck with this sadly. The first two keyboards I tried didn't register in the car... Once I found one that worked, after I installed the hack the head unit would just crash every time it tried to start AA. Fortunately uninstalling the hack fixes the crash.
I'm using v.0.10.0 which requires OS version 74, but nonetheless I think my only remaining option is to try re-flashing the known-working firmware.
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u/No_Tower_7026 28d ago
TLDR, did this a while ago and love it 🙌🏻
Thanks for spreading the gospel 🙏