mini cooper lcd display not working free sample

It’s fantastic to have the top model of a car radio with a digital display in your car. You can see all the information you need regarding the music you are listening to, the navigation route you have to follow, and more.

As a general rule, your car radio display will not work if it encounters various issues like a blown fuse, the dimmer turned down, or a faulty illumination wire. The connectors between the LCD and radio unit could be wet or defective, or the backlight, LCD, or radio unit itself could be faulty.

Tip:The most common reason for car radios not working can be blown or defective fuse, or faulty illumination wires. If this is the reason in your case, you may need to start the repair by replacing the defective fuse in your stereo. Check out my favoritecar audio fuseson Amazon.com now.

Let’s look at why your car radio display won’t work and all the possible reasons that could impact it. These reasons are not always as dreadful as you may think, and most of them can be cured with little effort.

Nowadays, most head units almost seem like you can launch a rocket into outer space with the great infotainment systems having digital displays, voice control, wireless capability, navigation, finding areas of interest, streaming from the net, and more.

You could roll vintage car radio down a hill, and it would still be perfectly fine. However, if you have a cold and sneeze in the direction of your $500 Double Din aftermarket infotainment system, and it is not set up correctly, it won’t function.

If you find yourself in a predicament of your car radio’s display not working, you might feel a little inept at dealing with the situation; however, only a handful of variables can be wrong with it.

If you have not assumed it already, this will be one fix that you can apply to your car stereo and could cause the display screen not to turn on, and I will explain it in detail below.

When a fuse is blown, not only display does not work, but the whole radio does not function. If however, your radio works but the screen remains blank, you will need to consider a few other factors when determining why your car stereo display is not working correctly.

Sometimes, the car stereo display is too bright, and when the radio does not have a day/night display function, most drivers including me, prefer to turn down the display brightness (especially at night).

Your car radio is not one solid unit. This means that the display is separate from the actual radio unit, and wires and connectors are used to link them together.

Removing the display from the car stereo could be a bit of an issue if you do not consider yourself a DIY individual. The process is not too complicated and well explained in the short video below.

If your display has soldering joints, you can see that a soldering point or wire has come loose and you, again, are comfortable with a little DIY, then all you need to do is solder it back together correctly.

However, if the display is dimmed down and you still have power, then the first thing you should do is check your user manual and go through all the settings and presets that your radio offers to try to find brightness settings that could be used to adjust your radio back to normal.

The main reason the car radio display may not be working is because of a bad fuse. I already touched on this briefly because it is the most common car stereo (radios) problem.

With this kit, you will never have to worry about another fuse blowing in your car, probably for the rest of your life, unless you have a problem that persists and keeps blowing your fuses.

However, if you do not have trouble getting your hands dirty and are used to a little DIY, you should be fine. The only thing you will need is a few hours of free time.

These names indicated which fuses are for which car parts and systems. You would need to look for the fuse (code) name that says either Room, Accessories, Interior Lights, or Radio and check if that fuse is blown and then replace it with a new one your car radio should work and display correctly.

However, take note that you need to make sure any liquid that was spilled or mistakenly got into the wiring is cleaned up and the wiring plus the connection points and connectors are dry.

In the instance where your radio is still working, but there is no display, then one scenario could be that a setting or the dimmer was turned down all the way. In this case, you can try resetting your car radio to the factory settings.

This is slightly different from adjusting the dimmer and checking functions and settings on your car radio. Most radios, if not all due to their complicated nature, will have a reset button.

If you cleaned your screen with water and it still works, you are in luck. And the only thing you would need to do is make sure the connection point and wires that sit between your display and the radio unit are dry.

Dirt or dust on the screen blocks its direct contact with your fingers, causing the touchscreen to be unresponsive. To avoid this, clean the screen regularly with a microfiber cloth and do not touch the screen with dirty hands.

Another reason for the screen not to respond is when it loses its calibration. For example, you have to re-calibrate your touch screen if you notice it does not respond to your fingers or register the touch when your finger is in an “offset” to the icon you need to touch.

Repair of the fading damaged screen is not always possible. To find the reason, you have to remove the screen, clean all flat wire connections, and solder it back to its original position.

Screen replacement in car radios is not the easiest task. If you are not a DYI or do not have much experience with electronic repairs, it is better to give the radio to a professional.

Is it worth repairing the display? It depends on the radio type, and if this is an expensive model, then definitely yes. On the other hand, if your radio is not too costly or not the new one, it is better and cheaper to replace it with the new one.

When your android touch screen has stopped working, in most cases, it means that it has frozen. So you can touch it at any point, and it will not respond.

If the screen is not mechanically damaged and is working fine but suddenly lost its screen, the simplest way to fix it is to press the reset button and hold it depending on the radio for between 5 and 10 seconds.

If the display panel on the car stereo receiver is dim or does not light, the connectors may need to be cleaned, or a mode setting needs to be adjusted.

Another problem can occur when the radio works, but it has internal screen damage. To fix this, you have to either disassemble the radio, remove the screen, measure the electrical resistance on all connections, or give the radio to a professional.

If the display is too dim with the brightness set to the highest level, the dimmer could be activated. Your radio may be equipped with a separate brightness setting for when the dimmer mode is activated.

If, after changing the settings on your radio, the display is still too dim or too bright, the radio may be faulty, and you may need to contact the repair service of the radio manufacturer.

However, compared to older, more robust car stereos, the risk of something getting damaged or not working correctly is a real issue and one you will have to face if you are not willing to take it to an automotive repair shop.

Furthermore, there are quite a few factors that could be at the root of this problem. However, most of them are not severe, and they can be rectified without the need to take your car in so your radio can be repaired.

The last thing to note is that if you have gone through all the steps I have provided, and your car stereo display is still not working, you will most likely have to take it to a professional service to figure out what the problem is.

If the screen in the Pioneer radio is not working, check the fuse to see if it needs to be replaced. If that doesn’t work, try resetting the display by pressing and holding the power button for 20 seconds.

When the display in Subaru cars stops working, you can reset it by pressing and holding the power button, tune/scroll button, and the CD Eject button together for about 20 seconds.

If resetting the radio does not solve the problem, there might be something wrong with the fuse or the wiring. In that case, you’ll need to take your car to a mechanic to have it checked out.

If the factory Ford radio’s screen is not working, but the radio works, it could be due to a blown lighting panel or a problem with the soldered connections in the head unit.

Another possibility is that the touch screen display is not working because it needs to be recalibrated. You can do a hard reset by disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it after a few minutes.

If your Volkswagen’s radio touch screen is not working, the first thing you should do is reset the display. To do this, press and hold the power button and the volume button at the same time for about 20 seconds.

The most common reason a BMW radio display is not working is a blown fuse. Unfortunately, the fuse for the radio is usually located in the car’s trunk.

For drivers who enjoy listening to podcasts and music or those who desperately need navigation help, a car’s infotainment system can be crucial to their happiness. And nothing sours that happiness faster than a system that refuses to cooperate or has a screen that goes blank.

In fact, in our most recent exclusive Auto Survey, one of the most common reliability complaints from owners of newer models involved infotainment problems, such as when the display screen goes blank or freezes, or the navigation system stops working properly.

Originally designed by Britain’s Austin Motor Company in 1956, the Mini name has been part of the automotive scene for over 50 years. Throughout the decades, the little car always offered practical utility, oddly dramatic styling (‘boxy but cute,’ ‘powered roller-skate’ etc.), and a healthy dose of driving fun, particularly when considering the car’s performance variant the "Cooper S."

After suffering through a series of corporate mergers and acquisitions between the Mini’s 1959 roll-out and the early 90s, BMW finally took control of the product line in 1994. BMW introduced the all-new Mini in 2002. To the general surprise of no one, the eagerly-anticipated revival was a smash hit from the beginning, combining the best qualities of the old cars with modern safety, comfort, and technology.

While larger than its dimunitive forebears, the 2002-06 Mini Cooper is still a great example of how much pure driving fun can be stuffed into a small, neat package. There"s plenty of room for improvement in the factory sound system, so read on to find out how you can make your car"s sound as sweet as its handling.

The standard Mini Cooper sound system in the hatchback offers an integrated high-definition AM/FM/CD unit, stacked below the car’s primary instrument cluster, with remote receiver controls placed on either side of the steering wheel’s center line. In addition to the receiver itself, the sound system includes a woofer/tweeter configuration in each of the front doors, and rear speakers mounted in the rear side panels at hip level.

Regardless of which system you"re replacing, you"ll need a mounting kit to trim out the new radio, a wire harness, and an antenna adapter that"ll let you connect the Mini"s antenna plug to your new radio. These installation parts are available at a deep discount with your Crutchfield stereo order.

Installation note: The accessory power wire in the wire harness isn’t contained in the molded connector — it’s just a bare wire, so you can either tap into the accessory power wire behind the dash or run a wire over to the fuse box.

It"s relatively easy to retain the steering wheel audio controls when you install a new stereo in your Mini Cooper. When you enter your vehicle information, our database will choose the adapter you need to make your factory steering wheel controls work with your new receiver.

The Mini’s front door speaker system is a split-location configuration, with low-mid cones placed at the bottom of the doors, while highs are produced by tweeters placed at the top of the door panel, adjacent to the door’s latch. If you decide to install aftermarket tweeters, you may have to fabricate new mounting brackets. The tweeter opening is oddly shaped, and making a new bracket will require a little ingenuity. Of course, you can also use a set of our universal back straps, which is a lot easier.

You can install a 6-1/2" or 5-1/4" speaker down there or, even better, pick out a nice set of component speakers. You"ll have to drill new screw holes in the doors in order to install the mounting brackets, so take care not to damage the window or window mechanism when you"re drilling.

If you are only intending to replace the speaker system, the speaker configuration is the same as the standard system. However, no wiring harnesses are available for the MINI so you have to cut off the factory plug wherever you replace a speaker. Simply follow the instructions on the Crutchfield MasterSheet, and you should be good to go.

Unsurprisingly, there isn"t a ton of room for an enclosed subwoofer in the Mini Cooper. The available cargo area space measures 36" W x 13" H x 14"/10" D, so if you use your car as a daily driver, you"ll lose some storage space.

You"ll find iPod interfaces designed to integrate with the factory radio in the Mini Cooper, even with the Harman Kardon system. Some of the interfaces work with the DSP radio, some work with the non-DSP version.

Installing a security system in your Mini Cooper isn"t easy (security systems rarely are), but it"s definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car and new gear to a professional installer.

Over the last decade or so, more and more of our interaction with our cars has been through a screen on the dashboard. The BMW screen -- the focal point of the iDrive navigation system -- lets you see vehicle information, navigation directions, messages and more. As time has gone on, the list of things you"ll find on the iDrive menu has increased, meaning more time spent staring at the dashboard display.

Like the screens on our phones, computers and TVs, BMW improves the screen technology in its central information display with each generation of vehicles. Compared to the screens in older models, today"s are larger and sharper, and often feature advanced features, like touchscreen control.

The most obvious change to BMW"s screens has been the size. The earliest iDrive screens were 6.5" -- roughly the same size as the largest iPhones or Samsung Notes. Making do with a screen the size of a phone had obvious consequences; cramped menus, poky navigation maps and a generally underwhelming experience were hallmarks of the early iDrive experience.

More recently, BMW went on to introduce a larger 10.25" wide-screen display. Though initially reserved only for premium models, in the current generation it can be found in vehicles throughout BMW"s catalog. With more screen space than earlier versions, the 10.25" display is popular with people who make heavy use of their iDrive system, including CarPlay, video playback and other features.

BMW has also added touchscreen control to its information displays in recent years. Like larger screens, these were first found in high-end models, but have since spread to more mainstream vehicles. Most of the latest generation have touchscreen control either as standard, or as an optional extra.

Which screen you"ll have in your vehicle depends not only on what year it"s from, but also which model it is and what navigation option you have. Unsurprisingly, luxury models with premium navigation options are going to have bigger screens, and they"ll get extra features quicker.

By 2018, the 7 Series had already had a touchscreen for two years, along with a larger 10.25" display. A 10.25" non-touchscreen display was also available in the F10 5 Series throughout production, starting in 2010. It would take the launch of the G20 3 Series in 2019 for fans of BMW"s more compact model to get the option of a similarly sized screen in their own cars.

However, when retrofitting your BMW with a new iDrive system, it"s worth remembering that the screens available to you depend on your model, not the iDrive system you"re upgrading to. BimmerTech"sNBT Evo ID5/ID6 retrofit kitscome with 8.8" and 10.25" screens, either with or without touchscreen capability. Checking the screen(s) available for your vehicle is easy:

Up for a standalone BMW iDrive screen replacement? If you want to change your factory screen for one with twice or more the resolution, BimmerTech’sVividScreenandPanoramic Screen upgradeare the retrofits you can’t overlook. Both of those displays are, all in all, quite similar to each other, yet each of them comes with different kit components that fit separate technology upgrades.

The latest 8.8” 1280x480 BMW screen replacement provides noticeably better image quality compared to the factory screen, as it doubles or even triples its pixel density. Plus, it significantlyenhances the quality of the image and contrast while viewing. VividScreen is also designed to resemble the factory screen to perfectly match your BMW interior, so you shouldn’t worry about fitting it in the car. But what’s especially convenient about this BMW navigation screen replacement, is the fact that it comes with an inbuiltMultimedia Interface (MMI) module, which supports ourSmartView mirroring devicesand ourRear & Front View cameras. This means, if you’re compatible, you can get them all for a much lower price.

However, if you want to retrofit CarPlay in your BMW, VividScreen is NOT an option for you. The only screen matching ourCarPlay upgradeis a BMW Panoramic Screen upgrade.

OurPanoramic Screen upgrade, just like the VividScreen, packs a sharp 1280x480 display, OEM quality and spot-on integration with your BMW"s interior. It also comes in two screen sizes:

BMW Panoramic Screen installation will require some coding to optimize your iDrive for the bigger display, so right after you add it to your head unit remember to schedule a remote coding session with our BimmerTech technician. The session is included in the price of the retrofit.

If your iDrive screen is flickering or frozen, and no iDrive screen fixes are working, it could be necessary to replace it. If you do decide to, either because your iDrive screen is not working or you just want to change to a larger version, it"s one of the easier DIY projects you can do.

As the internal trim in each model differs, how to change your iDrive screen will depend on your vehicle. However, in general you will only need to remove the air vents below the display to allow access to the screws connecting the screen to the dashboard. With that done, the screen is attached with a simple wiring harness, which can easily be unplugged. Connecting the replacement is just as easy, and requires no soldering or wire cutting. The entire process can be completed in up to an hour.

When replacing your iDrive screen with a larger one, it"s important to remember the difference between the aspect ratio of the smaller 6.5" screen and the 8.8" or 10.25" wide-screen display. Without adjusting your iDrive, the picture on the screen will be stretched to fill the wider screen.

One time you might not want to split your screen is when using Apple CarPlay. In vehicles that support it, BMW uses a split-screen CarPlay interface by default, keeping a section on the right of the screen back for the iDrive system.

Coding is a great way to unlock other screen features, too. Activating the USB Video Player option makes it easy to watch videos on your iDrive screen, and with the Video in Motion option, your passengers will even be able to watch as you drive. For business rather than pleasure, you can also switch to showing full text messages on the dashboard display, or your choice from dozens more iDrive options.Learn more about BMW iDrive coding, and how it can help you put the growing screens in the latest vehicles to good use.

In some BMWs, you can even get videos, messages, navigation and more straight from your Android mobile phone. The Android Screen Mirroring feature lets you cast your phone"s display to your iDrive, and get your favorite apps on your BMW dashboard screen. In many of the latest vehicles, it"s available as a coding option from BimmerTech, and is just one way toconnect your mobile phone and iDrive system.

If coding an Android Screen Mirroring feature is not for you, there are some other ways you can add an iDrive screen mirroring functionality to your vehicle. Our screen mirroring retrofits will make it possible to have your phone content mirrored onto your head unit display, but also play videos from the most popular VOD platforms on your iDrive screen.

Whether you"re looking to replace your iDrive screen, upgrade your hardware, or just make a few changes to help you make the most of your dashboard display, our expert team is on hand to help you find the right upgrades and retrofits for you.Get in touchand we"ll be happy to help.

Note that this second technique will cause all files within a given application to be compiled in debug mode. The first technique will cause only that particular file to be compiled in debug mode.

For the 2014 model year, Mini gave the Cooper a major update, moving from the previous R56 internal designation to F56. The last big update to the Cooper, in 2006, revised the platform but did not abandon it entirely. The 2014 Mini Cooper retains the retro-British styling that made the car so popular, but gains considerable size. It is 4.5 inches longer and 1.7 inches wider, with an extra 1.1 inches at the wheelbase, versus the previous generation.

The Cooper model also goes from its former 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine to a 1.5-liter three-cylinder, and this is what increases my respect for the basic Mini model. That 1.6-liter only produced 121 horsepower, where the addition of direct injection and a dual-stage turbocharger to the 1.5-liter engine brings output up to 134 horsepower. The new engine is something of a torque monster, too, producing 162 pound-feet.

Cabin tech takes a leap forward as well. Where the previous generation had watered-down BMW software, this new Mini Cooper uses the latest-generation navigation, audio, and voice command features from its big German brother. The interface controller, which exactly mirrors the iDrive controller in BMW models, gets a touchpad for alphanumeric input. LED headlights and automated parallel parking are two other high-tech features you wouldn"t expect to find in this segment.

Base price for the 2014 Mini Cooper hardtop comes in at $20,450 in the US, £15,300 in the UK, and AU$31,126 in Australia. UK and Australian buyers get a few more engine options, including a diesel. As part of the BMW Group, Mini has adopted the strategy of offering an almost overwhelming number of options. The example I drove came with Premium and Sport packages, LED headlights and navigation, and a host of other items, bringing the total price up to $33,595.

I don"t like the automotive industry"s tendency to increase the size of models at each new generation, and I thought the outgoing Mini Cooper was nicely proportioned. This new Mini Cooper certainly looked larger when it showed up in the CNET garage, losing something of its Mini-ness. The cabin felt roomier when I clambered into it than in previous versions, something that may help sales if obesity trends continue. My biggest fear was that the larger size would compromise the Mini Cooper"s lauded go-kart handling.

Starting the Mini Cooper with its neat little engine-start toggle switch, my first decision was whether I should drive in Green, Mid, or Sport modes, which primarily affect the throttle response. As I was in a city, I opted for Green, but rather than an anemic, underpowered response, the Mini Cooper impressed me with how much it strained against the brakes. It felt like a Jack Russell tugging against its leash.

When I let it run, the throttle proved easy to modulate and it didn"t feel hobbled by the engine program. I could easily be the first one off the line at a light, although the Green mode showed an icon on the instrument cluster warning me about being a lead-foot. As with BMW vehicles, the Mini Cooper"s Green mode decouples the engine from the driveline when coasting at speed, helping to maximize fuel economy. I found Green mode suitable in all driving environments.

The Mini Cooper defaulted to Mid mode when I turned it on, which gives it more throttle sensitivity. Once again, the three-cylinder engine strained against the brakes when I shifted to Drive. Given that Mid mode didn"t add much to the driving experience, it seemed rather pointless -- I either want to save gas or drive fast, so I don"t need a compromise mode. If Mini detuned the climate control in Green mode it would likely achieve better fuel economy and make a more important difference between the two modes.

Putting the Mini Cooper into Sport mode made for dramatically more sensitivity on the throttle. However, I was disappointed to find no change in steering program. And without the adaptive dampers, the ride quality and handling remained the same as in Mid or Green modes.

To mitigate the frequent stops somewhat, the Mini Cooper has an idle-stop feature, shutting down the engine at stoplights. I was happy not to be wasting fuel when I was sitting at light after light, but this idle-stop feature is very aggressive, shutting down the engine for the brief moments I had to brake for stop signs. On the freeway, the fuel economy zoomed upward, helping to put my final average at 29.6 mpg.

On this crucial point, I felt the Mini Cooper didn"t exhibit quite the go-kart handling the previous generation was known for. It could be a lot of fun, but this Mini Cooper felt more grown-up. In many ways, the handling felt like that of the

That spirit of play is also apparent in the Mini Connected app. With it running on my iPhone, and the phone plugged into the Mini Cooper"s USB port, I had a number of features and third-party apps available through the car interface. Among the fun stuff, I could activate Mission Control, which anthropomorphised the car with different voices representing engine, climate control, and the car itself. Dynamic music let me play instrumental tracks that changed to reflect my driving, for example speeding up the beats-per-minute when I picked up speed. The app even includes a set of badges you can earn for cornering and acceleration.

On the practical side, Mini Connected includes an online destination search feature. When I fed it a search term it brought back a list of results from Google. I was able to select one and set it as my destination.

The navigation system"s maps are straight from BMW, which means a mature color scheme, fine detail, and rendered buildings in perspective view. Traffic data comes in through an FM radio feed, and route guidance can automatically avoid congestion. The navigation system includes the ability to compute "green" routes, which are designed to avoid hills and maximize fuel economy. I found the route guidance adequate, with useful voice prompts, but I didn"t see lane guidance on the screen. That should show up on the optional head-up display, not included on the car I tested.

For the stereo, Mini has gone modern with the new Cooper, deleting the CD player as standard, although a six-disc changer is optional. Sources included an onboard hard drive, Bluetooth streaming, and the USB port. I could use the Mini Connected app to play Pandora, Amazon Music, TuneIn radio, and Mini"s own Web Radio feature, which includes just about every Internet-broadcasting radio station from around the world. The Mini"s music library interface has the same problem I"ve complained about in BMWs -- it takes too many steps to find an artist or album and start playback.

Giving the automated parking system a whirl, I trawled a street lined with cars until the Mini Cooper"s LCD showed that it had found a suitable parking spot. As with Ford models that offer a similar system, I had to put the car in reverse and take my hands off the wheel. The steering wheel turned itself, angling the car back into the space, and instructing me when I should go forward, further maneuvering into the space. I guess with the larger size of the new Mini Cooper hardtop, this system has become more useful.

I know that many are not going to like the larger size of the 2014 Mini Cooper, or its changed handling character. I still found the basic Cooper hardtop to be plenty of fun, however, more so than the outgoing model with its underpowered engine. The handling character has grown from go-kart to boy racer -- not really a bad thing -- and the adaptive suspension option is intriguing. The tech in the three-cylinder engine is some of BMW"s best, and I liked how it was always ready to go. That small engine"s efficiency didn"t really play on heavily congested streets or hills, but in most environments it should do fine.

Mini hits all the right notes for cabin tech, with first-rate navigation, hands-free phone, and stereo systems. I particularly like the Harman Kardon audio upgrade. However, as with BMW, Mini is a little stingy with the options. The base car includes very little, so expect to pay a good deal over the list price just to get the basics.

Connected features are an important part of the current automotive tech landscape, and Mini does more with its dedicated app than most. Not only does it bring in destination search and Internet-based audio, it includes all its fun little features that will add enjoyment on a weekend drive to nowhere. The only caveat with Mini Connected is that it currently works best on iPhone, and requires a cabled connection.

Mini fans, of which there are legion, are not likely to turn their noses up at this new generation, despite its larger proportions. It retains the looks and quirkiness that have made it a winning proposition from the first.Tech specs

However, a few months ago (maybe around Thanksgiving?) information stopped displaying on the Spotify setting of my radio. The music plays, but no song title/artist/etc. info appears, and I cannot use my steering wheel buttons to control the music anymore. It works well on the bluetooth setting, so I don"t think it"s the radio or my phone, and I"m hoping to get this fixed because the bluetooth radio setting doesn"t have the same functionality.

At OutMotoring, we specialize in MINI Cooper Accessories, MINI Cooper replacement parts, MINI Cooper performance parts, and Aston Martin parts and accessories. We"re a family-owned business founded in 2002. We want to be your #1 source for MINI Cooper Accessories and Parts (Countryman, Clubman, Convertible, Coupe, etc) and Aston Martin accessories and parts, so we offer a wide selection, great prices, fast shipping, friendly service and regularly add new MINI Cooper parts to our online catalog. Be sure to check out our fantastic Motoring Points Rewards Program to earn points to get MINI Cooper parts for FREE!

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Please note that we include all JCW models along with the "Cooper S" year range for all MINI models. For example 2023 JCW F56 Hatchback parts would be organized in and with the 2023 Cooper S F56 Hatchback model. Same with the SE models. There will be dedicated separate sub categories for the SE specific drive train within the Cooper S category.

Please visit our MINI Cooper Accessories Blog for the latest news, exclusive specials, and first notice of new MINI parts & accessories for your MINI Cooper or MINI Cooper S. Check out the conversation on our Facebook page.

For 2022, we have added a recommendation for a CO2 (carbon dioxide) monitor. Researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder found that CO2 levels could be used as a proxy for coronavirus risk in crowded public indoor spaces because we exhale both CO2 and, if we’re sick, viruses in the same breath. And even absent the virus, both public spaces and homes can accumulate high levels of CO2 from everyday activities—not just breathing, but from using gas stoves and water heaters. We contacted a researcher to talk about using CO2 monitors for air quality measurements, and together we came up with a product recommendation, as well as some advice on how to interpret and react to its information when monitoring CO2 at home.

We understand that many people reading this guide really do want to take indoor measurements, and for that we suggest the Temtop M10 Air Quality Monitor—with caveats. A lot of the air quality monitors we’ve considered over more than two years of research for this guide have too many credible reports of faulty sensors and connectivity problems for us to strongly recommend them. The M10 is distinguished by its simplicity, though, with a bright display showing particulate measurements (that we confirmed to be accurate), a tiny size, and a lack of Wi-Fi connectivity (a good thing in this case). It’s also affordable enough for you to keep your expectations relatively low—and there’s good reason for you to approach it that way. As with other inexpensive air quality monitors, its VOC measurement is dubious, and some buyers have reported that their M10 arrived damaged or failed within a few weeks.