MG Windsor & Comet EV Software & Screen Issues Fixed

The MG Windsor and the MG Comet are two of the most software-forward electric cars on Indian roads. The Windsor leans on a large 15.6-inch portrait touchscreen and a separate digital instrument cluster, while the Comet packs twin 10.25-inch screens — one digital cluster and one touchscreen — into a tiny city car. Both run MG's i-SMART connected-car platform, both take over-the-air (OTA) updates over an embedded SIM, and both put an unusual number of everyday controls behind glass instead of physical buttons.

That design is brilliant when it works. It is genuinely frustrating when the screen freezes at a toll plaza, the app refuses to connect at 7am before an office run, an OTA update gets stuck, or the cluster blanks out in city traffic. If you searched for "MG Windsor & Comet EV software issues," you are almost certainly staring at one of those problems right now and wondering whether it is a bug, a network glitch, or something that will cost you money at the service centre.

This guide is written to give you a straight answer. We will walk through the problems owners actually report, what causes them, the resets and updates you can safely try yourself, and — honestly — when the issue is a free OTA or dealer fix versus a genuine hardware fault that needs a screen, cluster, or connectivity module repaired or replaced. ev.care's job in this space is specific: we diagnose software-versus-hardware, we repair or replace failed infotainment and cluster hardware, we fix connectivity, antenna and SIM faults, and we tell you plainly when something is a warranty claim you should take back to MG. We will not pretend every glitch is a workshop job, because most are not.

Why this matters for Indian EV owners

A frozen touchscreen in a Windsor or Comet is not a minor annoyance, because so much of the car lives on that screen. On the Windsor in particular, the climate control, drive-mode selection, mirror adjustment, sunshade, boot release and many ADAS toggles are all touchscreen-driven. When the display hangs, you do not just lose music — you can lose comfortable access to core functions until it recovers.

The connected layer matters too. Features such as remote AC pre-cooling, remote charge monitoring, find-my-car, geo-fencing, live location sharing and the digital key all depend on the car's embedded SIM talking to MG's servers and your phone app talking back. In Indian conditions — basement parking, patchy 4G, network congestion, frequent tower handoffs on highways — that chain breaks more often than it does in the markets these systems were first designed for. Knowing which failures are "the network having a bad day" and which are real defects saves you a wasted service-centre trip and a lot of anxiety.

Common software, infotainment and connected-car problems owners report

These are the symptoms that show up again and again in Windsor and Comet ownership threads and service queues. You may have one of them, or an unlucky combination.

Touchscreen freezes or goes unresponsive. The display stops accepting taps, sometimes with the image still showing, sometimes going black. Most owners report it clears after a restart — one widely shared Windsor experience was a single freeze fixed by a quick restart — but a screen that freezes repeatedly is a different story.
General UI lag and slow response. Taps register a second or two late, menus stutter, or there is a noticeable delay before a button does anything. This is one of the more common complaints and is usually a software or firmware optimisation issue that OTA updates can improve.
Android Auto or Apple CarPlay dropping, crashing or refusing to connect. Wireless projection on these cars is convenient but flaky for some users — the connection resets mid-drive, navigation freezes, or the phone simply will not pair. A bad cable on wired setups, a phone software mismatch, or head-unit firmware are the usual culprits.
i-SMART or MyMG app will not connect to the car. Owners report errors like "the remote control feature failed, please try again later," vehicle status that will not refresh, "login token expired" messages, and the app crashing when the camera opens to scan the QR code during re-binding.
Remote features not working or showing stale data. Remote AC does not trigger, charge status or range in the app is hours out of date, doors show the wrong lock state, or find-my-car points to the wrong place. This is frequently a connectivity or sync problem rather than a fault in the car.
Instrument cluster glitches. The digital cluster flickers, briefly blanks, shows a warning lamp that makes no sense, or displays range and charge figures that disagree with the central screen.
OTA update stuck, failed, or looping. An update will not download, sticks at a percentage, fails to install, or the car prompts for the same update repeatedly.
Connectivity drops and weak signal. The car shows no network, i-SMART features go offline, or live tracking stops updating — common in basements, stilt parking, and low-coverage areas.
Voice assistant not responding. The Comet in particular markets a large voice-command set; when the assistant stops recognising commands it is usually tied to the same connectivity or software state as the app problems.

What causes these problems

Understanding the root cause is what separates a five-minute self-fix from a wasted trip. There are five broad buckets.

Software and firmware bugs

The infotainment head unit and the cluster each run their own software, and early or un-updated firmware can have genuine bugs — memory leaks that build up over days of use and cause lag or freezes, race conditions in the projection (CarPlay and Android Auto) stack, and UI glitches. This is exactly the category MG targets with OTA updates. A real example: a Windsor OTA added a dashboard widget to toggle Lane Departure Assist and an option to suppress the 360-camera view during turn signals — proof that behaviour you see on screen genuinely changes with software. If your problem is lag, a cosmetic glitch, or a known annoyance, the fix is very often "update, don't repair."

A failed, interrupted or pending OTA update

OTA updates are delivered over the car's embedded SIM and can take roughly 20 minutes to download and install for a sizeable Windsor update. If the car loses power, is switched off mid-flash, drops network at the wrong moment, or has low charge, an update can fail or leave the system in an odd state. A surprising number of "the screen is acting weird" complaints are simply a pending or half-applied update that completes cleanly once the car is parked with good signal and adequate charge.

Connectivity, SIM and network issues

The i-SMART platform relies on an embedded eSIM (machine-to-machine connectivity) for the car-to-cloud link, plus your phone's own data for the app-to-cloud link. Break either side and remote features fail. Indian-specific realities make this common: underground and stilt parking kills signal, dense-city tower congestion slows the M2M link, and highway driving causes frequent handoffs. On top of that, a weak or ageing antenna, a poorly seated or deactivated embedded SIM, or a telecom-side provisioning lapse can take the car offline even when your phone has full bars. The tell-tale sign that it is connectivity and not a true app bug: the car works perfectly, but anything remote — status, AC, tracking — is stale or fails.

App account, login and binding problems

Several reported failures are not about the car at all — they are about the app and account. Expired login tokens, an account that needs re-binding to the vehicle, app versions that have fallen behind, and crashes during the QR re-bind flow all produce "cannot connect" symptoms. There is also a real and important edge case in India: at delivery, a dealer occasionally enters their own mobile number as the primary i-SMART user, which leaves the actual owner unable to take full control until the account is corrected. Always confirm the registered number is yours.

Infotainment, cluster and sensor hardware

Most software symptoms are software. But not all. A touchscreen that no longer responds to touch in a specific zone (a digitiser fault), a display with dead pixels, lines, backlight failure or a screen that stays black after every restart, a cluster that is physically failing rather than glitching, a degraded antenna or a faulty connectivity and telematics module, and cameras or parking sensors feeding a bad signal to the 360 system — these are hardware faults. No OTA fixes a cracked digitiser or a dead backlight. This is the category where ev.care's repair work lives, and the category where careful diagnosis matters most, because replacing a screen for what was actually a software bug is an expensive mistake.

Fixes you can try yourself

Work through these in order. Most Windsor and Comet software complaints are resolved somewhere in this list, at zero cost, before any service centre is involved. None of these steps risk your warranty.

1. Soft reset the infotainment screen

A soft reset reboots the head unit without touching the rest of the car. On most MG units you press and hold the power or volume knob — or the on-screen power option, depending on variant and software — for several seconds until the screen goes dark and the MG logo reappears.

Park safely and put the car in P.
Press and hold the screen power or volume button for about 10 to 15 seconds.
Wait for the display to go black and the logo to return — do not keep tapping during the reboot.
Let it fully restart before testing.

A soft reset clears the most common freeze and lag, and is the single highest-value step here.

2. Hard reset by power-cycling the car

If a soft reset will not take, fully power the car down.

Switch the car off, lock it, and step away with the key for 10 to 15 minutes so the systems sleep completely.
Return, unlock, and start up.
Re-check the screen, cluster and connectivity.

This clears states a quick restart cannot, and resolves many stuck-after-an-update situations once the system finishes settling.

3. Let a pending OTA update finish properly

If the car is nagging about an update or behaving oddly after one:

Park where the car has good mobile signal — not a deep basement.
Make sure the battery has a comfortable charge, since a low battery can block or interrupt updates.
Start the update and leave the car undisturbed — do not drive off or switch off mid-flash.
Allow roughly 20 minutes or more and let it complete on its own.

Most "the update broke my car" reports are really "the update never got to finish."

4. Reconnect Android Auto or Apple CarPlay

For wired use, try a different, good-quality USB data cable — many projection drops are a worn cable.
Remove the car from your phone's Bluetooth list and forget the car in the phone's Android Auto or CarPlay settings.
On the car, delete the paired phone from the Bluetooth or connections menu.
Re-pair from scratch and grant all the permission prompts on the phone.
Update Android Auto or your phone's operating system — a phone-side update often fixes projection that suddenly stopped.

5. Fix the i-SMART or MyMG app connection

Confirm your phone has a working data connection and the app has background-data and location permissions.
Force-close the app and reopen it; if a feature errors, wait a minute and retry — many failures are transient server or network timeouts.
Update the app to the latest version from the Play Store or App Store. Make sure you are on the app MG currently uses for your car — the newer MyMG app now supports tracking the Windsor.
Log out and back in to clear an expired login token.
If the car shows as offline in the app but the car itself is fine, the issue is connectivity or binding, not the app — note it and move to escalation rather than reinstalling endlessly.

6. Reinstall the app and re-bind the car

If logging out does not help, uninstall the app, reinstall it, sign in, and re-add (re-bind) your vehicle. If the QR-scan step crashes the app, try in better lighting, ensure camera permission is granted, and update the app first. Persistent re-bind failures usually need MG's customer care, because the account-to-VIN link is managed on their side.

What not to do

Do not keep forcing OTA updates on low battery or weak signal.
Do not pull fuses or disconnect the 12V battery to "reset" things unless you know exactly what you are doing — you can corrupt settings or trip other faults.
Do not assume a black screen is dead. Always try a soft reset, then a full power-cycle, before concluding the hardware has failed.

When it needs the brand or dealer versus an independent service

Being honest about this split is the whole point of this guide. The two paths are not competitors — they cover different problems.

Take it to MG or the brand dealer when:

The car is in warranty and the fault is software or covered hardware. Software and connected-car issues are typically addressed by MG through OTA updates or at the dealer, and you should not pay an independent for something MG will fix free.
You need a specific OTA pushed or a firmware reflash that only MG's systems can authorise.
The i-SMART account, eSIM activation, or VIN-to-account binding is wrong — for example, a dealer's number registered instead of yours — because only MG can correct provisioning and account ownership.
A safety-related or ADAS-related software fault is involved.

An independent specialist like ev.care is the right call when:

The car is out of warranty and you want a fair-priced repair instead of full-MSRP dealer pricing.
You need an honest software-versus-hardware diagnosis — for example, the dealer says "replace the whole unit" and you want to know whether it is really the digitiser, the backlight, a connector, or just a software state.
The fault is physical infotainment or cluster hardware: a dead or cracked display, a failed touch layer, a glitching cluster, or backlight failure.
The problem is connectivity hardware: a weak or damaged antenna, a faulty telematics or connectivity module, or a SIM and antenna routing issue.
You want a second opinion before authorising an expensive dealer replacement.

A simple rule: software and account problems on an in-warranty car lean towards MG; hardware faults, out-of-warranty repairs, and "is this even hardware?" diagnosis lean towards an independent.

Hardware faults and repair, with indicative INR costs

When diagnosis confirms a genuine hardware failure, here is what is typically involved. Treat every figure below as an indicative range for Indian conditions, not a quote — actual cost depends on variant, the exact part, whether the unit can be board-level repaired or must be replaced, labour, and parts availability. Always get a written estimate after inspection.

Infotainment touchscreen and head unit. The Windsor's large 15.6-inch portrait display and the Comet's 10.25-inch touchscreen are premium parts. A full assembly replacement is the costliest software-adjacent repair on these cars, with indicative ranges running from roughly Rs 25,000 to Rs 90,000 or more depending on model, variant and whether the whole head unit or just the panel is involved. Where the fault is a cracked digitiser, a failed backlight, or a connector — and the unit is repairable rather than only replaceable — board-level or panel-level repair can be substantially cheaper, often in the Rs 6,000 to Rs 20,000 region.
Digital instrument cluster. A genuinely failed cluster, not a software glitch, typically falls in an indicative Rs 12,000 to Rs 45,000 range to repair or replace, again depending on model and whether it is repairable.
Connectivity or telematics module and antenna. If the car is going offline because of a hardware fault rather than network coverage, antenna repair or re-routing is usually modest — indicatively Rs 2,000 to Rs 8,000 — while a connectivity or telematics module repair or replacement is more involved, indicatively Rs 8,000 to Rs 30,000.
Embedded SIM and provisioning. A deactivated or unprovisioned eSIM is usually not a paid hardware repair at all — it is an activation and provisioning fix on the operator and MG side. Do not let anyone bill you for a "new SIM" before confirming the existing one simply needs re-activation.
Cameras and parking sensors for 360 and ADAS glitches. A faulty 360-camera or parking sensor feeding bad data is a sensor-level repair, with indicative per-unit costs commonly in the Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000 range depending on the camera and its location.

The reason diagnosis comes first is simple economics: confirming whether you need a Rs 60,000 screen, a Rs 12,000 panel repair, or just a free OTA is the difference that makes the inspection worth it.

Warranty — software and infotainment coverage and how to claim

MG sells the Windsor and Comet with a manufacturer warranty, and there are important nuances around software and the connected-car platform that you should know before paying for anything.

Software is almost always a free fix in warranty. Bugs, lag, freezes that recur, projection issues and many connectivity faults are handled by MG via OTA updates or at the dealer at no cost while you are covered. Do not pay an independent to "fix software" that MG will correct for free.
Infotainment and cluster hardware are covered like other components under the standard vehicle warranty, subject to the usual exclusions. A genuinely defective screen or cluster within the warranty period should be a no-charge replacement at MG.
Physical and liquid damage is generally excluded. A cracked screen from impact, water ingress, or damage from unauthorised tampering will typically not be covered — that is where paid independent repair becomes the sensible option.
The connected-car subscription is separate from the warranty. i-SMART connectivity often comes with a complimentary period and may later require a paid subscription. If remote features stop after a while, check whether your connectivity plan has lapsed before assuming a fault.

To claim, keep your purchase and service records, report the issue to your MG dealer with the car present, ask them to log it — especially for intermittent faults, get it documented even if it is not reproducing that day — and insist on a written diagnosis. If MG attributes a clearly defective in-warranty part to "wear" or pushes a paid replacement you doubt, an independent diagnosis from ev.care gives you the evidence to push back.

How ev.care helps

ev.care is an EV repair and service brand, and our role with Windsor and Comet software complaints is deliberately scoped — we do the parts the dealer often will not, and we tell you honestly when the dealer is the right answer.

Software-versus-hardware diagnosis. This is the most valuable thing we do here. We determine whether your frozen screen, glitchy cluster or connectivity drop is a software state fixable by reset or OTA, a network or account problem, or genuine hardware — so you do not pay for a screen you did not need. You can book an EV diagnosis and start with a clear answer.
Infotainment and cluster hardware repair. When the display or cluster has truly failed, we repair or replace it — including board-level and panel-level work where the unit is repairable rather than only swappable, which is frequently far cheaper than a full dealer assembly.
Connectivity, antenna and SIM fixes. We diagnose and fix the hardware side of going-offline problems — antenna faults, telematics and connectivity module issues, and SIM routing — and help you sort out provisioning and account-binding with MG.
Honest escalation guidance. If your car is in warranty and the fix is a free OTA or a covered part, we will tell you to take it to MG. If a dealer is over-quoting an out-of-warranty repair, we give you a fair second opinion and a written diagnosis to negotiate with.
Any brand, EV-first. We work across EV brands, not just MG. If you have wider EV concerns, our broader resources can help too — see our guides on Tata Nexon EV charging problems, Tata Nexon EV motor problems and EV motor, controller and inverter faults, and try our free EV charging diagnostic tool. If your issue is charging rather than infotainment, our EV charging repair & service covers that end to end.

FAQ

My MG Windsor touchscreen froze once — is something wrong with it?

Probably not. A one-off freeze that clears after a restart is common and is almost always a software hiccup, not a failing screen — many owners report exactly this, and a quick reboot fixes it. Note when it happened and keep an eye out. If it starts freezing repeatedly, or stays black after a full power-cycle, that is when it is worth a diagnosis to rule out a hardware fault.

The MG i-SMART or MyMG app says "remote control feature failed" — how do I fix it?

That message is usually a connectivity or session timeout, not a broken car. Check your phone has data, force-close and reopen the app, update it to the latest version — including switching to the MyMG app if that is what MG now uses for your car — and log out and back in to refresh an expired token. If the car itself drives and charges fine but shows offline in the app, the problem is the car-to-cloud connectivity or your account binding, so escalate to MG rather than reinstalling endlessly.

An OTA update got stuck on my Windsor. Did it brick the car?

Almost certainly not. Park the car somewhere with good mobile signal, make sure it has a healthy charge, and let the update run undisturbed — a full Windsor update can take around 20 minutes and must not be interrupted. If it still will not complete after a proper attempt and a full power-cycle, contact MG, because only their systems can re-push or reflash firmware safely. Do not keep retrying on low battery or weak signal.

Will fixing a software glitch void my warranty?

No. Soft resets, hard resets, re-pairing your phone, reinstalling the app and letting official OTA updates install are all normal owner actions and do not affect your warranty. What you should avoid is unauthorised tampering — pulling fuses, disconnecting batteries unnecessarily, or letting an uncertified party reflash the system. For anything beyond the self-help steps, use MG for in-warranty work or a reputable independent like ev.care for out-of-warranty repair.

How much does it cost to replace the Windsor or Comet screen?

It varies a lot. As an indicative range, a full head-unit or display assembly replacement can run from roughly Rs 25,000 to Rs 90,000 or more depending on model and variant, while a repairable panel or digitiser fix can be far cheaper, often Rs 6,000 to Rs 20,000. These are indicative figures, not quotes — the only way to know is an inspection and a written estimate, which is also where a software-versus-hardware diagnosis can save you the whole cost if the screen is actually fine.

Why does my i-SMART app keep showing old battery or location data?

Stale data is a connectivity symptom, not usually a fault. The car updates the cloud over its embedded SIM, and if the car is parked in a basement, in a low-coverage area, or the network is congested, the last-known status can be hours old. It typically refreshes once the car is somewhere with signal. If it is consistently stale even with good coverage, the antenna, connectivity module or eSIM provisioning may need attention — that is a hardware and connectivity check ev.care can carry out.