2011-2019Platform AA

Radio Code Volkswagen Up

Compact in size, smart in concept — the VW Up was Volkswagen's answer to the demand for an affordable city car. The radio is as straightforward as the rest of the car: simple, functional, and inevitably locked the moment you disconnect the battery.

Summary

Brand: Volkswagen
Generation: Up (first generation)
Production years: 2011-2019
Standard radio: Radio CD; TechniSat
Radio option 2: Composition Colour; Continental (MIB1)

Which radio does the VW Up have?

The VW Up (built from 2011 to 2019) was available with two different radios. The base version is the Radio CD by TechniSat: a simple single-DIN CD radio without a colour screen, fitted as standard in the entry-level Take Up trim.

Higher trim levels — Move Up, High Up, and the sporty Up GTI — came with the Composition Colour. This is a more compact radio by Continental based on the MIB1 platform, featuring a 5-inch colour screen and better integration with the car's infotainment system.

Radio	Manufacturer	Type	How to recognise it
-------	--------------	------	---------------------
Radio CD	TechniSat	Basic CD radio	Small display, no touchscreen
Composition Colour	Continental (MIB1)	CD + colour screen	5-inch screen, modern interface

Both radios are protected by a four-digit code that activates after every interruption to the power supply.

When does the Up ask for a code?

The radio locks every time the power supply is interrupted. Typical situations include:

A flat or replaced battery
A blown fuse (even an unrelated fuse can reset the radio)
The battery being disconnected for maintenance or installation work

The display will then show "CODE" or "1000" — the radio is waiting for the correct four-digit code to be entered.

Finding your radio code

Check these places first — you may not need to remove the radio at all:

Document wallet in the glovebox — at the time of delivery, a small card with the radio code and serial number was included.
Service booklet — the card is sometimes stuck to one of the first pages.
Anti-theft identification card — a credit card-sized card often kept with the keys.

If you bought the car second-hand, there is a good chance the card is no longer present. In that case, you will need the serial number.

How to find the serial number of the Up radio

The VWZ serial number is printed on a white sticker on the left or right side of the radio unit. It is fourteen characters long and always begins with VWZ, followed by a combination of letters and digits.

To see the sticker, you will need to slide the radio partially out of the dashboard — which means partially removing it.

VCDS as an alternative

If you have access to a VCDS or OBDeleven diagnostic tool:

Connect it to the OBD port (beneath the steering column on the left-hand side).

Go to Address 56 — Radio.

Open Advanced measuring blocks or the ID section.

The serial number may be visible there, depending on the radio variant.

How to remove the radio from a VW Up

The Up does not use round DIN extraction holes — the radio is held in place by four Torx T20 screws behind a plastic surround panel.

What you will need:

A plastic pry tool
A Torx T20 screwdriver

Step by step

Switch off the ignition and remove the key.

Remove the plastic surround panel around the radio. Use the plastic pry tool — start at a corner and carefully work your way along the edge. The panel clips off without any screws.

Undo the four Torx T20 screws in the corners.

Slide the radio five to seven centimetres forward. You do not need to disconnect the cables if you only want to read the serial number.

Note down the serial number from the sticker on the side.

Slide the radio back in and press the panel firmly back into place.

How to enter the radio code

The procedure is the same for both the Radio CD and the Composition Colour:

Turn the ignition on — the engine does not need to be running.

The display will show "1000" or "CODE". If it shows "SAFE", refer to the lockout section below.

Press button 1 to set the first digit. Each press increases the digit by one (0 through 9, then back to 0).

Set the second, third, and fourth digits using buttons 2, 3, and 4.

Check that the code shown on the display is correct.

Hold the seek button (right arrow / SCAN) for two seconds to confirm.

If the code is correct, the radio will switch to normal operating mode.

Clearing a SAFE lockout

After two incorrect attempts, the radio temporarily locks itself. The display will show "SAFE".

To resolve this:

Leave the ignition on — key in the "on" position, engine off.

Wait at least sixty minutes. Do not turn the key or disconnect the battery.

After the waiting period, SAFE will disappear and "1000" will appear again.

You now have two more attempts. Some units require ninety minutes. Patience is the only solution here. Disconnecting the battery will extend the lockout period rather than bypass it.

Things to be aware of

Every radio has its own unique code — if the radio has ever been replaced, the original code will no longer work.
The VWZ serial number always starts with those three letters — pay close attention to the difference between 0 (zero) and O (letter), and between 1 and I.
The Composition Colour and Radio CD are not interchangeable — each has its own wiring harness.

Order your radio code

With your VWZ serial number to hand, you can request your radio code online straight away. You will receive the code promptly by email.

Order your Volkswagen Up radio code via RadioCodeLookup.com →

Other Volkswagen generations

Frequently asked questions

The VW Up was supplied with either a basic Radio CD by TechniSat or, on higher trim levels, the Composition Colour by Continental featuring a 5-inch colour screen. Both use a four-digit security code.

Use preset buttons 1 through 4 to set each digit. Each press increases the digit by one. Confirm the code by holding the seek button (right arrow) for two seconds.

SAFE appears after two incorrect code attempts. Leave the ignition on for at least sixty minutes without switching the radio off or disconnecting the battery. After that, '1000' will appear and you can try again.

The Up radio does not have DIN extraction holes. Remove the plastic surround panel using a plastic pry tool, undo the four Torx T20 screws, and slide the radio forward. The process takes around five to ten minutes.

The serial number is printed on a white sticker on the side of the radio unit, starting with VWZ. To read the sticker, you will need to slide the radio partially out of the dashboard.

Need a Volkswagen radio code?

Safe and fast via RadioCodeLookup.com — all you need is the serial number.

Order radio code

Laatst bijgewerkt: 2026-04-10