Mazda CX-5 can be equipped with head-up display (Active Driving Display) which projects certain information on the windshield in the line of sight of the driver. This guide shows you how to disable this projection.
You can turn off the head-up display in Mazda CX-5 by going to Settings > AD-Disp tab and then uncheck the box next to Active Driving Display. But this is only temporary, as the head-up display will automatically turn back on the next time you start the vehicle. Many Mazda owners have complained about this issue. Lets see how we can disable it permanently.
The easy way:
The simplest solution is to put a black tape on the projection screen on top of the dashboard just below the windshield where you see the projection (don’t put it on the windshield directly). You should cut out a paper to the approximate size of the projection screen, place the paper on the projection screen and then apply the black tape over it and on the sides – this way you can easily remove the tape in future without any tape glue residue on the screen. Or, you can find a non-slip dashboard mat that matches its size and place it over the screen.
Note: Only use black or dark gray colored tape. If you use light colored tape, you will see its reflection on the windshield in daylight – obstructing driver’s view.
Note: If you’re unsure where the projection screen is located. Then just turn on the vehicle and head-up display, and place your hand between the dashboard and the projection. You should then see the projection on your hand. Move your hand to the source of the light/projection.
The hard way:
You can also disable the projection screen by disconnecting its plug inside the dashboard. But this requires removal of dashboard panels around the steering wheel in order to gain access to the connector, and is therefore not recommended.
Question
This article was written in response to a question posted by a user:
I’m not sure if this is the kind of question you deal with, but I am wondering if you know how to permanently turn off the active driving display in a 2021 Mazda CX5. Currently I am able to turn off the display, but when I restart the car, the display is back—however when I go thru the menus to that option, the checkmark box is unchecked. I have to check it then uncheck and the display goes off. I hope that makes sense.
I asked the service department where I bought the car and they said it is a safety feature and it will always re-appear when you restart the car. This seems wrong to me as the checkmark box is unchecked when I go back to that screen. And on older models you could uncheck the box and it would remain off until you manually checked the box again.
Do you have any insight? Thanks so much for any thoughts!
I have the same exact issue on a brand new Mazda 3. I can certainly put tape over the projector but seems overkill when all the system has to do is honor the “unchecked” box. It is not a dealbreaker but the heads up display distracts me more than helps me.
Had the same problem with Mazda 3 – tried a piece of black card over projection screen but went crinkled and faded in sunlight. Found a “non slip dashmat” on Amazon 20cm by 13cm which fits nicely and matches the non slip mat which is a standard fitting in middle of dash. Good solution for a fiver!!
I will do that 🙂 thank you for
the tip
I was a bit frustrated that the heads up display would come back on every time I started the car. There are times I really like it, and other times when I find it more of a distraction. Things I’ve tried including setting the brightness to as low as it will go, or positioning the display as low as it will go to the point where you can’t see it.
This was brilliant and after trouble shooting for a couple days, read your suggestion of moving the height down all the way- problem solved! No more frustration. Thanks so much for posting! Mazda, you need to FIX this issue.
I am late to the discussion unfortunately. I reside in the island state of Tasmania, Aust. A few weeks ago we took delivery of a brand new 2021 Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina. What a beautiful car in finish, style, and performance on the road. I laugh at people who say you should have read the Manual before you purchased! My wife finds iSTOP a little challenging but it was certainly not a deal breaker because every car manufactured and still running on petrol will have it. But we both find the Heads Up display projected onto the windscreen a safety hazard not a safety feature. We much prefer the digital readout on the dashboard.
It is beyond comprehension that you can turn both iStop and HUD off for a 4 hour journey but they reset once the engine is turned off. Where is the sense in that except to irritate the driver and in the case of the HUD be a distraction. If you can turn either off for short or long periods at a time what is the point in forcing owners to continually have to reprogram the car every time you start it? None can honestly say they are truly safety features. Optional aids perhaps. Also why the need to tap the indicator/light arm when stopped at night to activate Coming Home function? A beautiful vehicle slightly blighted by over zealous geeks in Mazda digital and design.
got this model for rental for a few weeks- I used a black pair of underpants (clean) in the ‘projector well’ worked great.