Sirius radio in a car can sometimes act up and may need a refresh or reset to make it start working well again.
I don’t know why you need to reset your Sirius radio but whatever reason you have, I will recommend an easy method I’ve always used to reset my SiriusXM radio anytime it acts up, and has always worked for me.
The good news is that this method is very simple and easy and works for all Sirius radios in cars.
How to Reset Sirius Radio in Car
Here’s how you can reset or refresh Sirius radio in your car:
Step 1: Park your Car Outside
The first step to resetting or refreshing your Sirius radio in your car is parking your car outside. You need to park your car where there’s a clear view of the sky.
The essence of parking your car outside with a clear view of the sky is to ensure your car has a strong satellite signal.
Look for the signal strength indicator on your radio’s display screen. If the signal strength is low, try moving your car to an area with better reception.
Please don’t take this step for granted. If there’s no signal or if the signal is low, please do not initiate the refresh or reset because it will not work. It will come back as “no signal”.
Don’t worry too much. Just park your car outside, in an open space, and follow the next step.
Step 2: Turn on Your Car
The next step is to turn on your car’s engine to power up the radio system. Once your car is turned on, the radio should be on as well.
However, make sure that your car is parked in a safe location with enough space to access the radio controls. If the radio did not turn on after starting your car, go ahead and turn it on.
Step 3: Access SiriusXM Mode
The next thing to do is to set your radio to satellite mode or choose the Sirius radio and tune it to “channel 0”. You will see some characters or letters displayed on the radio screen.
That is your radio ID. Write it down or snap it with your phone because you will need it to refresh or reset Sirius Radio.
If your Sirius radio does not show your ID or the radio does not have a screen that can show your ID. Don’t worry, just visit the Sirius website by clicking on the link siriusxm.com/id to get your ID. You will need to put in your details.
Step 4: Use Your Phone and Send a Text to Sirius
After you’ve gotten your Sirius ID, the next thing to do is to use your mobile phone and send a normal text message to the Sirius number. Below is what to text: Refresh and send it to 77917.
- Just text the word “Refresh” to 77917
Once you send the text, you’ll get the refresh link texted back to your phone. Now click the link from the text. Once the link opens, put in your Sirius ID. The one you copied earlier and type it in or paste it into the empty box.
You can also put your phone number, but it’s better to use the ID if you have it. You can use the phone number if you don’t have the ID.
Verify the ID to be sure you typed in the correct ID. Once everything is correct, click on “send refresh signal”
Step 5: Wait for the Refresh to Complete
Once you’re done clicking on the “send refresh signal”, wait for the refresh to complete. It can take between 60 seconds to 5 minutes. So, please exercise some patience while the reset is being done.
During this time, your Sirius radio may display a message indicating that it’s updating or refreshing. Avoid changing channels or turning off the radio during this time to allow the refresh process to finish successfully. This means that your car should be on till the refresh or reset is complete.
After 5 minutes of sending the refresh signal, tune to channel 02 or 2. If you hear any audio, then the reset or refresh is done.
This is the best and most reliable way to reset Sirius radio after a battery change or for whatever reason you’re making the reset. Don’t forget to drop a comment in the comment section if this method works for you.
Furthermore, if you’re unable to refresh your radio online, you can call SiriusXM customer support by dialing the toll-free number provided on the SiriusXM website and following the prompts to speak with a customer service representative. Inform them that you’d like to refresh your Sirius radio, and they will assist you in sending the refresh signal to your car.
SiriusXM refresh Signal Not Working
Here’s what to do if your Siriux refresh signal is not working:
- Check the Signal Strength: If you notice that the SiriusXM refresh signal is not working, the first thing to do is to check the signal strength by ensuring that your car has a clear line of sight to the sky to receive the satellite signal. Like I said earlier, before starting the reset, park your car in an open area away from tall buildings or obstructions that may block the signal.
- Confirm Your Subscription Status: If the car is parked in a good place yet the refresh signal is not working, the next thing would be to verify that your SiriusXM subscription is active and up to date. If your subscription has lapsed or there are billing issues, the refresh signal may not work.
- Try Performing Manual Refresh: If your subscription is still intact, you can try manual refresh. If using the online or phone refresh option didn’t work, try manually refreshing your radio. Turn off your car’s engine, disconnect the car battery for a few minutes, and then reconnect it. This can sometimes reset the radio and trigger a refresh.
- Check for Antenna Connection: Ensure that the SiriusXM antenna is securely connected to your car’s radio unit. If the antenna is loose or damaged, it may affect the signal reception and prevent the refresh signal from working correctly.
- Perform Factory Reset: As a last resort, you can perform a factory reset on your car’s radio system. Keep in mind that this will erase all saved settings and presets, so proceed with caution.
- Contact SiriusXM Customer Support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it’s best to contact SiriusXM customer support for further assistance. They have specialized tools and resources to diagnose and fix problems with your Sirius radio system.
Conclusion
Refreshing or resetting the Sirius radio in the car is very simple. All you have to do is follow the procedure explained in this article to perfect your reset. I’ve used this method to reset my Sirius radio several times and it worked. So, it should work for you without any issues.
