2018 Ford F150 4" Display, non touch. Updated and now its Black Screen

Ford SYNC 3 Support CyanLabs Update Support
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1

Hi,

I updated my Ford F150 2018 to the latest Sync 3 3.423188 and it was an 8" software, cyanlabs didnt let me know it was for an 8" and I needed the 4" one. So none of the physical buttons worked on the software, just radio buttons.

Then I saw a user posted that I needed to install this version NU5T-14G381-BB - SYNC 3 APIM Software (IVSU) Database - CyanLabs which is for the 4" screen 3.4.22251.

I installed that and now the screen is black. I start the truck I see the ford logo shop up then it is gone and stays black.

**UPDATE: I inserted the DOWNGRADE usb stick that cyanlabs made from the updated and now the screne loads up. But it is still 8" software display. and the buttons dont work.

Can somone please show me which files i need to install to get the 4" screen size and the buttons to work? Thank you so much.

SYNC Region: NA

Navigation Variant: Non Nav

Manufacturer Year: Pre MY20

Install Type: OEM

Old SYNC Version: 2.3.23254

New SYNC Version: 3.4.22251

Do you have a error message, if so what is it?
Nothing, just black screen.

Update Method: CyanLabs Syn3 Updater

Syn3 Updater Version: Latest

Syn3 Updater Documentation Read: yes

Syn3 Updater Log File

CYANLABS - SYN3 UPDATER - V2.14.2.0
Branch: Stable
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro (2009)

PREVIOUS CONFIGURATION
Version: 3.4.22251
Region: NA
Navigation: False
Install Mode: Auto-Detect (autoinstall)
Install Mode Overridden: False
My20 Protection Enabled: Enabled

DESTINATION DETAILS
Mode: Drive
Model: Samsung Flash Drive USB Device
Size: 
FileSystem: exFAT
Partition Type: MBR

AUTOINSTALL.LST
; CyanLabs Syn3Updater 2.14.2.0 Stable - Autoinstall Mode - Enforced Downgrade 

[SYNCGen3.0_ALL_PRODUCT]
Item1 = APPS - 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ
Open1 = SyncMyRide\4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ
Options = AutoInstall


FILES (1)
4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ (479.7MB)

LOG
[5/15/2026 4:48:03 PM] Selected Region:  - Release: Enforced Downgrade - Map Version:  
[5/15/2026 4:48:03 PM] Install Mode: Auto-Detect (autoinstall) Forced: False 
[5/15/2026 4:48:03 PM] MY20 Protection: Enabled 
[5/15/2026 4:48:03 PM] Formatting USB drive
[5/15/2026 4:48:03 PM] Re-creating partition table as MBR and formatting as ExFat on selected USB drive
[5/15/2026 4:48:11 PM] Checking Existing File: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ 
[5/15/2026 4:48:11 PM] Downloading: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ
[5/15/2026 4:49:04 PM] Validating: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ 
[5/15/2026 4:49:08 PM] Downloaded: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ 
[5/15/2026 4:49:08 PM] Preparing USB drive
[5/15/2026 4:49:08 PM] Checking Existing File: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ 
[5/15/2026 4:49:08 PM] Copying: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ 
[5/15/2026 4:49:24 PM] Validating: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ 
[5/15/2026 4:49:27 PM] Copied: 4U5T-14G381-AN_1552583626000.TAR.GZ 
[5/15/2026 4:49:27 PM] Generating Autoinstall.lst
[5/15/2026 4:49:27 PM] ALL FILES DOWNLOADED AND COPIED TO THE USB DRIVE SUCCESSFULLY!
2

It didn’t say it was for the 4’’ one either and the guide shows a 8’’ variant…

image
image902Ă—404 106 KB

While it’s black, the unit is operational, right?.
By operational I mean sound/radio playing, usb ports powered up…

Manually re-install the 4’’ variant, if the screen is black but the unit is operational perform a reset with the button combo, if you have forscan you can trigger the module reset from there.

The unit is confused, it will eventually sort itself out and display the proper image.

1 Like
3

Hi,

I installed this NU5T-14G381-BA - SYNC 3 APIM Software (IVSU) Database - CyanLabs as suggested by a user here for a 4” display. But now its back to the black screen and no radio working. Is it possible to go back to fords originals 2.3 v?

4

You didn’t read any guide, did you?

image
image906Ă—125 6.29 KB

Do as I mentioned before, or leave the unit without power over night and see if it comes back to life.

1 Like
5

Hi,

I have gotten it to 3.3.19052. Radio works. Still shows 8” not 4” and I cant connect to bluetooth since the phone button doesnt work. What should I do? Would you be able to know which version can work and be 4” display? Thank You.

The reason I asked for the downgarde to 2.3 is because google said this, but it says Cyanlab updated needs to reformat to 2.3, but i dont see that feature.

Yes, you can install Sync 3 version 2.3 on a 2018 Ford F-150 that is currently running version 3.3.19052, but it requires a manual rollback procedure, as the system will not allow a direct downgrade via the standard USB update method. [1, 2] CyanLabs Official Community +1

6

According to google. It just needs to be reformated back to the file structure before 3.0 and it will be able to downgrade to 2.3. But I cant find any tool that can reformat it to the older structure.

Unless you anyone knows which 3.0+ version can work on a 4” display and bluetooth. Now the display is pretty useless and I need bluetooth to work.

7

Hey Sandman,

I did some search on your website here and I found this:

I did the update before and had the black screen which i kept changing versions because i thought they didnt work. But, all i had to do was update to the file you posted on that thread and then remove the negative battery terminal for 30 min. Turned the car back on and it works, its 4” display with 3.4.22251.

Thank you so much!

1 Like
8

Good to know. As said before, the unit gets confused, but eventually it starts working fine. Known “accelerators” are performing a hard reset via the buttons, forscan or as you did, removing power. Those actions force a cold boot.

Keep this in mind in the future, you can’t install 8’’ variants… And if you do, you will likely face the same issue again.

Also: just “letting it be” would also fix the issue.