Owners of Chinese car head units (head units) based on Android often face a situation where, when the ignition is turned on, a standard, boring or foreign emblem appears on the screen. This could be a car brand logo, an abstract pattern, or just an inscription Android. The desire to personalize the interface and replace the image with the logo of your car or your own picture is quite natural and easy to implement.
The procedure for changing the screensaver depends on the version of the operating system, the installed firmware and the type of processor inside the device. There are universal methods that work through a file manager, and more complex options that require connecting to a computer. Some manufacturers strictly block this function, but there are workarounds here too.
In this article we will examine in detail all the available methods for replacing an image during loading. You will learn how to prepare a file, where to put it and what to do if the standard settings do not produce results.
Preparing a graphic file for replacement
Before proceeding with technical actions, you need to properly prepare the image itself. Not every file is suitable for the role of a loading screen. The system has strict requirements for image resolution, format and weight. Ignoring these parameters will result in the radio simply ignoring the new file or displaying it with distortion.
The ideal option is to use an image in the format PNG or JPG. The resolution must strictly correspond to the physical resolution of the screen of your radio. Most often this is 1024x600 or 1280x720. If you upload a picture of a different size, it may stretch or move to the corner of the screen.
It is critical to check the file size in kilobytes. Many older GU models have a limit on the amount of memory allocated for the screensaver. If the file weighs too much, the replacement process may be interrupted.
The optimal image weight for the boot logo should not exceed 500 KB. Use online compressors to reduce the size without losing visible quality.
For editing, you can use any graphic editors on your PC or smartphone. The main thing is to save the final file under the correct name. Often the system looks for a file with a specific name, for example logo.png or boot.jpg. Check the required name in the documentation for your model or in the launcher settings.
⚠️ Attention: Avoid using images with a transparent background in PNG format if your firmware does not support the alpha channel. Otherwise, instead of the logo, you will see a black or white rectangle.
Standard method through the Launcher settings
The easiest and safest way to change the logo is implemented in the settings of the main interface (Launcher). Manufacturers of shells such as Zcarmod, Teyes or XY Autooften provide a built-in personalization function. This method does not require connecting to a computer and risky intervention in system files.
First, you need to go to the general settings of the device. This is usually the gear icon on the home screen. In the menu that opens, look for a section related to appearance or loading. The names may vary: “Screensaver”, “Logo”, “Boot Animation” or “Factory Settings”.
If you find the appropriate item, the system will prompt you to select an image from the internal memory or from a connected drive. You need to specify the path to the pre-prepared file. After selecting, confirm the action, and the next time you reboot you will see a new logo.
- 🖼️ Go to
Settingsand find the section Personalization. - 💾 Connect A USB flash drive with the prepared image in the root folder.
- ✅ Select the file through the built-in browser and click "Apply".
However, not all launchers support this function out of the box. In some cases, the menu item may be hidden or inactive. This is often found in budget models or on devices with stock firmware from the manufacturer.
Using the engineering menu and factory ones settings
If the required option is not in the regular menu, you should try entering the engineering menu. This is a hidden settings section intended for service engineers, but also available to ordinary users. Here you can change many parameters, including the loading screen, but you need to act extremely carefully.
Entering the engineering menu is done through a special password. The codes vary depending on the processor and model. Popular combinations include 8878, 123456, 3368 or firmware release date. Enter the code in the password entry field in the "About device" section or through the special "Factory Settings" application.
After successful login, find the tab responsible for the logo. It may be called Logo Setting or MCU Update. Some interfaces have a direct "Change Logo" button. Click it and select the file from the media. The system will copy the image to the desired system partition.
| Processor type | Frequent password | Menu section | Failure risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockchip PX6 | 8878 | Factory / Logo | Low |
| MediaTek MTCD | 123456 | Other / Boot | Medium |
| AllWinner T3 | 3368 | System / Image | High |
| Unisoc 7862 | 1618 | Engineering | Medium |
Be careful: changing settings in the engineering menu may affect the operation of other vehicle systems, such as climate control or steering wheel buttons. Do not change parameters whose meaning you do not know.
⚠️ Attention: Parameters in the engineering menu may differ depending on the firmware version. If you do not find the item you need, do not try to reset the settings to factory settings without a backup copy of the configuration.
Manual replacement through the file manager and root access
For advanced users who are not afraid to work with the file system, there is a method of direct file replacement. This method requires superuser rights (Root) and an installed file manager with support for system partitions, for example, Root Explorer or MiXplorer.
The essence of the method is to search for the system logo file and replace it with your own. The path to the file depends on the device architecture. Most often, the file you are looking for is located in the directory /system/media/ or /oem/logo/. The file name can be bootanimation.zip, logo.img or simply logo.bmp.
Before replacing, be sure to make a backup copy of the original file. Copy it to your SD card or internal memory in a separate folder. This will allow you to return everything as it was in case of an error. After copying your file, do not forget to set the correct access rights (usually rw-r--r-- or 644).
What to do if you don’t have root access?
If your radio does not have superuser rights, you can try to get them through special applications like KingoRoot or Magisk, but this is not possible on all versions of Android. An alternative is to use ADB commands from the computer.
After replacing the file, you need to reboot the device. If you did everything correctly, a new logo will appear when you turn it on. If the radio freezes or shows a black screen, it means that the file was damaged or was in the wrong format. In this case, rebooting into Recovery mode and restoring from a copy will help.
Advanced method via ADB and computer
If access to files from the device itself is closed, USB debugging comes to the rescue (ADB). This method allows you to manage the file system of the radio from a computer. It is more reliable, since you see the data transfer process and can control errors.
First you need to activate the developer mode on the radio. Go to Settings → About the device and quickly click on "Build number" 7-10 times. A message will appear indicating that you have become a developer. Then enable the “USB Debugging” item.
Connect the radio to the computer via a USB cable. Install the ADB drivers on the PC. command adb devices. If the device is displayed in the list, you can start working. You will need to find out the exact path to the logo file.
adb shellcd /system/media
ls -l
After finding the desired file, use the command adb push to download your image from the computer to the device. For example: adb push C:\my_logo.png /system/media/logo.png. command adb reboot.
The ADB method is the most universal, as it works even on devices without Root access, allowing you to overwrite files in system partitions if you have the appropriate permissions.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
The process of changing the logo does not always go smoothly. Users may encounter a number of typical ones. problems, from ignoring a new file to complete inoperability of the device. Understanding the causes of these failures will help you quickly eliminate them.
One of the common problems is that the logo does not change after all the manipulations. This may be due to the fact that the file is in the wrong folder or has the wrong name. In this case, clearing the cache through the Recovery menu or completely turning off the power (removing the terminal) helps. battery).
The other extreme is “brick” or endless loading. This happens if you have replaced a critical system file with a corrupted picture or a file of the wrong format. Recovery is possible by flashing the device from an SD card or through Fastboot mode.
- 🔄 The logo does not change: check the file format and access rights (chmod 644).
- ⬛ Black screen when loading: the file has transparency or the wrong resolution.
- 🔋 The radio does not turn on: restore the original file via Recovery or reflash the GU.
It is also worth considering that some manufacturers block system partitions for recording. In this case, even having root access will not allow you to replace the file directly. The only way out is to modify the firmware image on the computer and completely install it again.
⚠️ Attention: If, after replacing the logo, the radio has stopped responding to the sensor or buttons, you may have accidentally touched neighboring system files. A complete reset or flashing is required.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to put a video instead of a static logo?
In most cases, the standard download only supports static images. To play a video at startup, you need special modified firmware or installing a custom recovery, which is much more difficult and risky.
Where can I get the original logos of car brands?
High-quality images can be found on thematic forums (for example, w3bsit3-dns.com) in the threads of specific radio models. You can also download the logo in a vector and save it yourself in the desired resolution.
Are the logo settings reset when updating the firmware?
Yes, with a complete flashing (Update) all changes in the system partitions, including the replaced logo, will be lost and returned to the factory values. When updating over the air (OTA), the changes may be saved, but this is not guaranteed.
Is it safe to change the logo for a beginner?
Using the built-in launcher settings is completely safe. Methods that involve replacing files via Root or ADB carry the risk of damaging the system. Beginners are recommended to start only with software interface settings.
Why did the sound disappear during boot after replacing the logo?
Sometimes the splash file is associated with audio initialization. If the file was corrupted, the system may have skipped the audio driver loading step. Try restoring the original file or rebooting the device several times.