Am happy to report that I received the long awaited navigation / multimedia software update that retains the native Lexus head unit icons when using Car Play. It was a push update to my 2024 ES350 UL from Lexus and took less than 15 minutes to download. The update allows going back and forth between the Lexus navigation / multimedia controls and Car Play seamlessly. No need to scroll through Car Play to find the Lexus button in order to get back to the native head unit control icons. I like it! Well done Lexus!

 

Here’s a picture of the Car Play screen after the software update.

 

Wished they added airplay as well. Think it’s a step in the right direction since kinda was annoying before.

 

How do you get the update?

I connected my head unit to my home Wi-Fi and nothing. Paired my phones with data plans and no updates. Anytime special I have to do?

When I go to updates, says no updates available. Do I need to refresh?

 

Were there any other updates? I don't use Apple Car Play or Android Auto so wondering if there were any other new features added.

 

found this info about how to really check for any updates if available for the multi media unit .

first time i am seeing these instructions .

it didnt give me the ability to proceed to the instructions until i put the vin number in

it didnt search just using just the model and year

You will need a computer and a blank USB 2.0 flash drive with a minimum storage capacity of 2GB.

Let’s Get Your Vehicle Information opens a dialog

• Insert the USB flash drive into the USB port on the vehicle as shown
• Touch [] the main menu of your Lexus Interface System.
• Touch [Software Update] opens a dialogon the submenu.
• Touch [Output info to USB memory].
• Touch [OK] when download is complete. It is now safe to remove the USB flash drive.

Next, Upload Your Vehicle Information

• Insert the USB flash drive with the copied Vehicle Information into the USB port on a computer.
• Click [Browse] to select the vehicle information file stored on the USB flash drive.
• Select the [Upload] to upload to our secure server.

Browse
UPLOAD
The file will be in the .json format.

 

checked my 2025 rx 350 and it showed the head unit is up to date , so not sure how old the software was you updated but this isn’t a new update apparently

i uploaded the head unit data just now

 

Got the update notification today and installed it. ('23 ES 300h w/ ML Audio)
Here’s the change log. Navigation moved to version 2170. Voice Recognition was updated too, but it’s still showing version 2150, same as before.

 

i guess the update is for older vehicles , being a 2025 mine showed up to date

 

It seems the update is only for the older models and ours (I have a 2025) already have the update.

 

i was hoping they would have fixed the bug in the integrated music .

both my 2023 rx 500h and my 2025 rx 350 still loose the apple music homepage almost daily . that’s the page with the suggested or recently played .

it turns blank at times .


amazon music has no such issue .

both cars had the same loss of the home screen with apple .

and that is regardless of location

 

Interesting. I’ve never experienced that in either of my ES vehicles.

 

are you using music lovers and the intergrated music or are you using car play ?

car play does not have the issue

 

Maybe that’s why I don’t have the issue. I can’t imagine not using CarPlay.

 

i think the integrated sound better than what gets broadcast out of the phone thru bluetooth.

i can easily switch from apple to amazon while driving without fumbling with a phone