Audi MMI 3G Error 160, GEMMI_nav 141 & 146 – How to Fix Update Errors

An Audi MMI 3G or MMI 3G Plus firmware or navigation update can sometimes stop with an error such as:

3GP:0
Error code 160

or:

GEMMI_nav:0
Error code 141

and in some cases:

GEMMI_nav:0
Error code 146

These messages usually appear while the MMI is trying to read, verify or install a specific component from the update media.

The important point is:

do not immediately assume that the MMI itself is damaged.

In many cases, the problem is related to:

• incomplete update files
• corrupted archive extraction
• missing source files
• unreliable SD card
• wrong SD card file structure
• hidden or additional files created while preparing the card
• failed read operation
• incorrect firmware/map package
• wrong update package for the installed MMI system

Before attempting another firmware version, diagnose the error that is already shown.

Quick Diagnosis

Error / symptom	First diagnostic direction
Error 160	Missing or unavailable source file
GEMMI_nav 141	File/media integrity problem is a common cause
GEMMI_nav 146	Source/read problem; inspect exact component and update log
Error 150	SD card/media quality should be checked first
Error 140	Not enough space on target storage
One component shows NOK	Investigate that component and source files
Many components show errors	Media/package integrity first
Error after preparing SD on macOS	Rebuild SD cleanly
Same error with another good SD card	Verify package completeness and compatibility
MMI no longer boots normally	Move to recovery diagnosis

Audi MMI 3G update documentation specifically describes Error 160 as a case where there is no source file available to copy, while Error 150 is commonly associated with the update medium and Error 140 with insufficient storage space.

First Rule – Do Not Install Random Firmware

If the MMI reports an update error, do not immediately try:

different firmware
→ another firmware
→ older firmware
→ newer firmware

hoping that one of them will work.

If the problem is:

missing file

or:

SD card read failure

changing the firmware version does not solve the underlying cause.

It can make the recovery situation more complicated.

Identify the Exact MMI System First

Before troubleshooting the update package, identify the complete MMI software train.

Typical MMI 3G prefixes include:

BNav_
HNav_
HN+_
HN+R_

For example:

HN+_EU_AU3G_K0942_3

is not the same platform/update target as:

HN+R_EU_AU_P1001

and neither should be treated as identical to:

HNav_EU_K0257_6_D1

If you are unsure which MMI is installed:

How to Check Which Audi MMI System You Have

What Does Audi MMI Error 160 Mean?

In MMI 3G/3GP update documentation, Error 160 is described as:

no source file to copy

That means the update process is expecting a source file but cannot use the required file from the update package.

Possible reasons include:

• file missing from the SD card
• incomplete download
• incomplete archive extraction
• damaged archive
• incorrect directory structure
• file inaccessible on the SD card
• wrong update package
• corrupted media

So Error 160 does not automatically mean that the MMI hard drive is damaged.

Common Error 160 Scenario

For example:

download complete
↓
archive extracted incorrectly
↓
one package folder missing
↓
MMI begins update
↓
component requests missing file
↓
Error 160

or:

all files present
↓
SD card has read problem
↓
MMI cannot access required source
↓
Error 160

The error is the result.

Your task is to determine why the source file cannot be used.

What Does GEMMI_nav Error 141 Mean?

Error 141 is commonly reported while updating navigation-related MMI 3G/3GP components.

Real-world cases show it occurring when the MMI encounters corrupted or unsuitable files on the SD card. Several users have resolved repeated Error 141 by rebuilding the update card cleanly and copying/extracting the files again.

A typical pattern is:

GEMMI_nav
↓
update begins
↓
progress stops
↓
Error 141
↓
Retry
↓
same percentage
↓
Error 141 again

This strongly suggests investigating the source files and update medium before changing the MMI firmware.

Is Error 141 Always Caused by macOS?

No.

This is an important correction to the old version of this article.

Preparing an update card on macOS has been associated with Error 141 in real-world MMI 3G cases because macOS can create additional hidden metadata files and directories on removable media.

But:

Error 141
≠
MacBook definitely caused it

Other possible causes include:

• corrupted update archive
• missing files
• damaged SD card
• poor-quality SD card
• incorrect map package
• incorrect file structure
• incomplete package
• read failure during installation

Treat macOS preparation as one possible cause, not a universal explanation.

macOS and Audi MMI Update Cards

macOS may create additional hidden content on removable media, such as system metadata.

Examples can include files or directories related to:

.Trashes
.Spotlight-V100
.fseventsd
._filename

Modern operating systems normally handle these without issue, but older embedded update environments can be much less tolerant of unexpected files and directory structures.

If the problem began after preparing the update on a Mac, the simplest troubleshooting test is:

prepare the update again on Windows

using a freshly formatted card.

That removes one variable from the diagnosis.

What Does GEMMI_nav Error 146 Mean?

Error 146 is also encountered during MMI update operations and is commonly discussed as a source/read problem.

However, unlike Error 160, I would not diagnose Error 146 from the code alone.

Check:

• which component failed
• exact update percentage
• whether Retry changes anything
• update log
• SD card integrity
• package integrity
• whether the same failure occurs with another card

A community reference describes 146 as a situation where the source cannot be read, which fits the media/file troubleshooting direction.

But the exact update context still matters.

Take a Photo of the Error Screen

Before pressing anything, photograph the update screen.

Capture:

• device/component name
• error code
• current version
• target version
• update percentage
• OK/NOK status

For example:

GEMMI_nav:0
7030 → 8016
5%
Error code 141

is much more useful for diagnosis than:

“The update failed.”

Check Which Component Failed

A normal update may contain many individual components.

If only:

GEMMI_nav

fails, that tells you something different from:

multiple unrelated modules

failing at random.

One component repeatedly fails

Investigate:

• the files belonging to that component
• whether the package is complete
• map/firmware compatibility

Many components fail

Investigate:

• SD card
• package extraction
• media corruption
• power stability

first.

Check the Device Summary

At the end of an update, the MMI may display a summary containing statuses such as:

OK
N/A
NOK

An update documentation workflow specifically recommends addressing failed components rather than assuming the entire unit is unusable. In navigation update cases ending with NOK, the documented troubleshooting path includes preparing a new high-quality SDHC card and repeating the update correctly.

Step 1 – Stop and Check the Update Package

Before formatting anything, verify that the package itself is correct.

Confirm:

MMI system
region
current firmware
target firmware
package name

For example:

HN+_EU_AU3G_

requires an appropriate package for that system.

Do not install an HN+R_ package simply because both systems are called MMI 3G Plus.

Step 2 – Verify the Download

If the archive download was interrupted, the extraction may still create some usable files while others are missing or corrupt.

Check whether your archive program reports:

CRC error
unexpected end of archive
missing volume
corrupt archive
checksum error

If any extraction error appears:

do not use those files in the car.

Download the package again.

Step 3 – Check Multipart Archives

Large firmware and map downloads may be split into several files.

For example:

maps.part1.rar
maps.part2.rar
maps.part3.rar
maps.part4.rar

All required parts must normally be available before extraction.

Do not extract:

part1

and then manually combine random directories from the other parts.

Let the archive software reconstruct the complete package.

For extraction help:

How to Unpack Audi MMI Update Files

Step 4 – Prepare a Clean SD Card

For MMI 3G troubleshooting, use a reliable card appropriate for the update procedure.

For many MMI 3G firmware/navigation workflows, a:

32 GB SDHC
FAT32

card is the conventional safe choice and is also recommended in commonly used MMI 3G/3GP update documentation for retrying failed navigation updates.

This does not mean that every Audi infotainment platform has a universal 32 GB limit.

We are discussing MMI 3G / 3GP troubleshooting here.

Step 5 – Format the SD Card Properly

Use:

FAT32

when required by the MMI 3G procedure.

Do not simply delete the old files and copy new ones over an old card.

For troubleshooting, start clean:

format
↓
extract fresh package
↓
copy fresh files

This helps eliminate:

• old update files
• mixed packages
• abandoned folders
• hidden files
• filesystem damage

Step 6 – Do Not Mix Firmware Packages

Never copy one firmware over another on the same SD card.

Bad:

old K0767 files
+
new K0942 files
+
leftover map folders

Good:

freshly formatted card
+
one complete verified update package

Keep the troubleshooting environment simple.

Step 7 – Check the Root Folder Structure

One of the most common MMI update mistakes is copying the entire extracted parent folder instead of its contents.

For example:

Wrong

SD CARD
└── HN+R_EU_AU_P1001
    └── update files

when the installation instructions expect the update structure directly at the card root.

Correct

SD CARD
├── metainfo2.txt
├── default
├── config
├── data
└── package folders

The exact structure depends on the update.

Use our dedicated guide:

Audi MMI Update Not Detected – SD Card & Medium Unavailable Troubleshooting

Step 8 – Rebuild the Card on Windows

If the original SD card was prepared on macOS and you received Error 141 or another source-file error, rebuild it on Windows.

Recommended troubleshooting sequence:

1. Format SD card
2. Download or copy the original archive to Windows
3. Extract using 7-Zip / WinRAR
4. Verify there are no extraction errors
5. Copy only the required package contents
6. Safely eject the card
7. Retry the update

Users have reported Error 141 disappearing after exactly this type of rebuild.

Step 9 – Try Another SD Card

If the card was prepared correctly but the same error returns:

use another known-good SD card.

Do not immediately conclude:

firmware is wrong

because a card can:

• work perfectly in Windows
• store normal files
• even be readable by the MMI

and still fail during sustained update reads.

Firmware installation is more demanding than simply browsing media files.

Step 10 – Avoid microSD Adapters During Diagnosis

A microSD card in a full-size adapter may work.

But when diagnosing update failures, the adapter adds another possible source of:

• poor contact
• intermittent read
• unexpected disconnect

Where possible, use a reliable full-size SD card for the test.

Step 11 – Retry Only After Fixing Something

If the update stops at:

5%
Error 141

and you press:

Retry

without changing:

• card
• files
• package
• structure

the same error may simply happen again.

Retry is useful when the failure was transient.

It is not a repair method for permanently unreadable data.

Should I Press Retry?

If the MMI update menu offers Retry, it is generally better to use the built-in update workflow than to abruptly remove power.

But if:

Retry
→ same component
→ same percentage
→ same error

stop repeating it indefinitely.

The pattern itself is diagnostic evidence.

Do Not Remove the SD Card During Active Read/Write

If the MMI is actively updating, do not pull the SD card without following the appropriate exit/recovery path.

Removing the source media while a component is being written can turn a recoverable media problem into a much more serious software-recovery problem.

Do Not Disconnect the Battery as the First Fix

A battery disconnect should not be your default response to an update error.

If the MMI update interface still responds:

use its normal controls.

If the unit is genuinely frozen and cannot be recovered normally, move to the dedicated recovery procedure rather than experimenting blindly.

Check Vehicle Voltage

Firmware updates can take significant time.

Poor power supply can create instability.

Ideally:

• battery is healthy
• vehicle voltage remains stable
• unnecessary electrical loads are off
• appropriate battery support is used for long procedures

A media error and a voltage-related interruption can produce very similar user-facing results.

Error 160 – Recommended Workflow

If you receive:

Error code 160

use this order:

1. Photograph error/component
2. Verify correct firmware/map package
3. Verify complete archive
4. Check extraction errors
5. Check SD file structure
6. Confirm required source folders exist
7. Prepare a clean FAT32 SD card
8. Copy package again
9. Retry update
10. Use another SD card if error returns

Because 160 means the updater cannot access the required source file, your first target is the source package, not the MMI hardware.

Error 141 – Recommended Workflow

If you receive:

GEMMI_nav
Error 141

try:

1. Stop repeated retries
2. Record failing component/percentage
3. Reformat SD
4. Re-extract original archive
5. Prefer Windows for troubleshooting
6. Remove all unrelated files
7. Verify root structure
8. Retry
9. Test another SD card

If the error always occurs on the same component even with:

• another card
• freshly extracted files
• verified package

investigate that component/package more deeply.

Error 146 – Recommended Workflow

If you receive:

Error 146

do not diagnose only from the number.

Check:

component
source package
SD card
readability
update log
exact percentage

Because 146 is discussed as a source-read issue, media/package integrity remains a sensible first check, but the actual component and log should guide the repair.

What If the Update Shows NOK?

If the update completes but one or more devices show:

NOK

do not immediately proceed as though everything succeeded.

Record which component failed.

Then determine whether:

• the component is critical
• it can be retried
• the update package was complete
• another SD card should be prepared

For MMI 3G navigation updates, established update documentation specifically recommends repeating a failed update with properly prepared reliable media until required devices report OK.

Check the Update Log

If available, inspect the update log.

It can tell you:

• component that failed
• source path
• current version
• target version
• error stage

This is much better than guessing from:

Error 141

alone.

What If a Different SD Card Gives the Same Error?

Now the diagnosis changes.

If you have:

Card A
→ error

Card B
→ same error

fresh extraction
→ same error

correct package
→ same component
→ same percentage

then investigate:

• incomplete/corrupt source archive
• wrong package
• wrong update path
• target storage problem
• existing MMI corruption

instead of buying a third and fourth SD card.

What If Error 160 Appears After Maps Update?

Navigation packages contain many individual components.

If only one map/database component fails, check that its source folder exists in the package.

Do not manually delete random navigation partitions or change Green Menu database settings unless your specific recovery procedure requires it.

That can make a simple media problem much harder to fix.

What If the MMI Is Still Working?

If:

update failed
but MMI still boots normally

you are in a much better position.

Do not rush.

Prepare the media correctly and retry using the appropriate procedure.

What If the MMI No Longer Boots?

If the MMI now shows:

• red recovery screen
• CRC error
• mount error
• boot loop
• emergency mode
• failed startup

this is no longer just an SD-card troubleshooting case.

Use:

Audi MMI 3G Red Screen – CRC, Mount & Failed Update Recovery

Error 141 After Firmware Update vs Map Update

The same numeric error may appear while different components are being processed.

Always record whether you were installing:

firmware

or:

navigation database

because the affected files and recovery path are different.

Should I Delete the Navigation Database?

Not as your first step.

Deleting an existing database or navigation partition adds unnecessary risk if the real problem is simply:

bad SD card

or:

corrupted source file

Fix the source first.

Should I Use User Defined Mode?

Only when the exact update procedure requires it.

Do not enable User Defined mode simply because a standard update produced Error 141 or Error 160.

User Defined mode changes which components are selected for installation.

It does not repair corrupted files.

Is My MMI Bricked?

Not necessarily.

If you still have:

• update menu
• emergency menu
• error screen
• working bootloader
• identifiable MMI version

the system may still be recoverable.

A failed update is not automatically a dead head unit.

When Should You Stop Retrying?

Stop repeating the same procedure when:

• error always occurs at the same percentage
• the same component fails every time
• card has already been replaced
• archive was freshly extracted
• package is verified
• MMI behaviour is getting worse

At that point you need deeper diagnosis rather than another identical retry.

Diagnostic Decision Tree

Update fails
↓
Record error + component
↓
Is it Error 160?
→ verify missing source/package/file structure

Is it Error 141?
→ rebuild media + verify archive

Is it Error 146?
→ source/read diagnosis + inspect component/log

Multiple NOK?
→ media/package integrity

Same failure on new SD?
→ package/update path/target storage

MMI no longer boots?
→ recovery procedure

Information to Collect Before Asking for Help

Prepare:

Audi model:
Year:
MMI software train:
Current firmware:
Target firmware:
Firmware or maps update?
Region:
Error code:
Component name:
Percentage where it fails:
SD card size:
SD card brand:
Filesystem:
Windows or macOS used?
Archive extraction software:
Does Retry fail at the same place?
Did another SD card produce the same error?
Does the MMI still boot normally?

This allows the problem to be diagnosed much faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Checklist

Before retrying:

[ ] Correct MMI system identified
[ ] Correct region confirmed
[ ] Correct firmware/map package
[ ] Complete download
[ ] No archive errors
[ ] Fresh SD card format
[ ] FAT32 where required
[ ] Correct directory structure
[ ] No mixed update packages
[ ] No unnecessary files
[ ] Reliable SD card
[ ] Stable vehicle voltage
[ ] Error/component photographed

If all of these are correct and the same component continues to fail, stop treating it as a simple SD-card problem.

For normal firmware installation:

How to Update Audi MMI 3G Firmware

For SD-card and file-structure issues:

Audi MMI Update Not Detected – SD Card Troubleshooting

If the MMI no longer starts correctly:

Audi MMI 3G Red Screen & Failed Update Recovery

If you are unsure which update fits your car:

Check the Correct Upgrade for Your Audi