Audi Symphony Radio Code

Your Audi Symphony has displayed SAFE or CODE on the screen — and now the radio is completely silent. This happens whenever the unit loses power, whether after a flat battery, a battery replacement, or a workshop visit. The Symphony is a factory-fitted head unit found in the Audi A3, A4, A6, TT and several other models from roughly 1998 onwards, and every example leaves the factory with a unique four-digit unlock code tied to a serial number beginning with AUZ. Once you have that serial, the whole process takes under ten minutes.

Why the Audi Symphony Locks Itself

The Symphony uses a power-loss trigger as a theft deterrent. The moment the unit detects that the permanent 12-volt supply has been interrupted — even briefly — it freezes and demands the correct four-digit PIN before it will operate again. This is intentional: a stolen radio is useless without the matching code. The downside is that legitimate owners face the same lock every time the battery is disconnected.

How to Find the Serial Number

There are two ways to retrieve the AUZ serial without removing the unit from the dashboard:

Button combination: Switch the ignition on (engine off). Press and hold preset buttons 1 and 6 simultaneously. After about two seconds the display switches from SAFE to an eight-character string — this is your serial number. On some Symphony I and II variants press Radio + Scan or use the AM/FM and Scan pair. Note the entire string exactly as shown.
Sticker label: A white barcode label on the top, side or rear of the unit bears the serial prefixed AUZ. Accessing it requires sliding the unit out with a set of DIN extraction keys (two pairs of flat metal hooks inserted into the four corner slots of the fascia trim). The serial is typically 14 characters long.

Whichever method you use, write down every character including any slashes or spaces. The prefix on Audi Concert and Symphony units is AUZ; some older VAG-group units carry an SEZ prefix instead — both are supported.

How to Get Your Code

Once you have the serial, visit our brand lookup page and select Audi to place your order. Codes are calculated from the serial and returned by email, typically within minutes. Keep the email — you may need the code again next time the battery is flat.

How to Enter the Code

Switch the ignition on (engine off is fine).
Confirm the display shows CODE or 1000.
Use preset buttons 1, 2, 3 and 4 to enter each digit. Each press increments the corresponding digit. So if your code is 2341, press 1 twice, 2 three times, 3 four times, 4 once.
Press the AM/FM or SCAN button to confirm. The display should change to a station or track name, and audio will resume.

On the Symphony II (fitted to the B6 A4 2001–2004 and the 8P A3) you confirm by pressing the right-hand arrow or OK button rather than the scan key. The digit-entry logic is the same.

Symphony Generations and the Cars They Came In

Generation	Typical Models	Years	Serial Format
Symphony I	A3 8L, A4 B5, A6 C5, TT 8N	1997–2001	AUZ + 8 characters
Symphony II	A3 8P, A4 B6/B7, A6 C6	2001–2008	AUZ + 14 characters
Symphony III	A4 B8 (early), A5 8T, Q5 8R	2007–2012	AUZ + 14 characters
Concert (sibling)	A1 8X, A3 8V, Q2 GA	2010–2016	AUZ + 14 characters

Audi's OEM radio suppliers for these units include Harman, Philips and, on older models, Becker. The exact manufacturer does not affect how the code is calculated — the AUZ serial is the only thing that matters.

If your A4 B8 (2008 onwards) or A6 C7 shows an MMI screen instead of a traditional head unit fascia, you most likely have the Audi MMI system, which works differently. See our Audi brand page for full MMI guidance.

Troubleshooting Lockout Messages

SAFE / SAFE 1000: Normal power-loss lock. Read the serial using the button method and order your code.
CODE: The unit is ready for code entry. You have not entered any wrong attempts yet.
WAIT: You have entered one or more wrong codes. The unit imposes a temporary delay (typically one hour). Switch the ignition to ACC, leave it for at least 60 minutes, then try again.
LOCKED / ERR: Multiple wrong attempts have triggered a longer or permanent lockout. On Symphony units this is usually a timed lockout of several hours rather than permanent. If the display shows a number (e.g. WAIT 30) that is the remaining minutes to wait.
1000: This is simply the zeroed starting position for digit entry — the unit is waiting for you to dial in the four digits. It is not an error.

If the display shows SAFE and the button combination returns a serial but that serial generates a code that still fails after multiple attempts with no typos, the unit may have been re-coded by a previous dealer. In that case, extraction and full label inspection is the next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Audi Symphony code expire?

No. The code is permanent and tied to the unit's hardware serial. Once you have it, store it somewhere safe — you will need it every time the battery is replaced or disconnected.

My screen shows SAFE but pressing 1 and 6 gives me nothing — what's wrong?

Some early Symphony I units require the ignition to be in position II (all dash lights on, engine off) and the radio to have been powered for at least 30 seconds before the button combination works. Also try the AM/FM + Scan combination if the 1+6 method fails.

Can I get the code from Audi directly?

Audi UK/dealers can look up the code using the vehicle's VIN and original build records, but this often involves a booking fee and a wait. Ordering directly via serial number is faster and works even for second-hand units that have left their original vehicle.

What if I have an Audi Concert rather than a Symphony?

The Concert uses exactly the same AUZ serial format and the same four-button entry method. The only difference is in the speaker output and feature set of the unit itself.

Will entering the wrong code too many times break the radio?

No. Audi Symphony units impose a timed lockout after incorrect entries but do not permanently destroy themselves. After the wait period expires, try again carefully with the confirmed correct code.