CarsGadgetAudi radio removal tool: which keys you need and how to use them
Why you need keys and not a screwdriver
Audi mounts the radio in a metal cage behind the dash. Spring clips on each side of the unit lock it into that cage. The clips sit behind narrow slots on the front of the radio, and the only way to reach them is with thin, flat keys made for those slots.
A screwdriver or a butter knife will not release the clips. It will scratch the face of the radio and the dash trim around it, and it can bend the clip so the unit no longer seats properly when it goes back in.
Which Audi radios use removal keys
| Unit | Where it sits | Keys needed |
|---|---|---|
| Concert (single CD) | Center dash | Yes |
| Symphony (6-CD) | Center dash | Yes |
| MMI 3G / 3G+ head unit | Usually behind the glove box door, not in the dash | Yes, on most cars |
| MIB / MIB II (2016+) | Behind the dash, held with screws | No — trim tools and a screwdriver |
Not sure which one you have? The Audi MMI versions guide tells them apart in 30 seconds.
On MMI cars the screen in the dash is only a display. The unit that actually needs to come out for a CarPlay or camera install is the head unit, and on A4, A5 and Q5 of 2009–2016 that is behind the glove box. If you can't find it, send us a photo of the glove box and the dash — we'll tell you where yours is.
How to remove the radio, step by step
1. Switch the ignition off and take the key out. On cars with a radio code, check you have the code first — some Concert and Symphony units ask for it after the battery or plug has been disconnected.
2. Find the slots. Concert and Symphony have small slots near the corners of the faceplate. On an MMI head unit in the glove box they are on the face of the unit.
3. Insert the keys flat side facing out, straight into the slots, until you feel a click. Don't force them at an angle.
4. Pull evenly. Use the keys as handles and draw the unit straight towards you. If one side sticks, push that key in again until it clicks.
5. Unplug the connectors on the back. Press the release tab on each plug — don't pull by the wires.
6. To refit, push the unit back into the cage until the clips snap. You don't need the keys to put it back.
What the removal keys come with
Our kits for Concert, Symphony and MMI 3G include:
- the Audi radio removal keys,
- a set of plastic trim removal tools (the orange ones) for clips and panels,
- cable ties for tidying the harness.
So if you are buying the keys only to install a CarPlay or backup-camera kit, you don't need to order them separately.
Pulling the radio to add CarPlay or a camera
The most common reason people search for this tool is a retrofit. Our kits plug in between the head unit and its own connector, so the radio has to come out once:
- CarPlay retrofit for Concert / Symphony — wireless CarPlay and Android Auto on the factory screen.
- CarPlay retrofit for MMI 3G — the same for MMI 3G and 3G+ cars.
- Backup camera interface for Concert / Symphony and for MMI 3G / RMC.
Nothing is cut and nothing is coded; when the lease ends, the kit unplugs and the car goes back to stock.
Frequently asked
Can I remove an Audi radio without the keys?
Not safely. The clips sit behind the slots and only flat keys of the right width reach them. Improvised tools usually damage the trim or the clip.
Are Audi and VW radio keys the same?
Many VW and Audi units of the same era use the same style of flat keys, but slot sizes vary between radios. Use keys sold for your unit.
The unit won't come out even with the keys in.
One of the keys hasn't latched. Push each key in until it clicks, then pull both sides evenly.
Do I need to disconnect the battery?
For plugging in a retrofit harness, switching the ignition off is usually enough. If you do disconnect the battery, have the radio code ready.
Not sure which kit fits your Audi? Send us a photo of your dashboard and we confirm the fit within one business day.