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Why Do I See a Black Screen with Mirrored Text When Starting Navigation? (Head-Up Display Explained)
Summary : If you start navigation and see a black screen with large, mirrored text, this is Magic Earth’s Head‑Up Display (HUD) mode, not an error.
HUD projects key navigation information onto your car’s windshield (for car and truck profiles) so you can keep your eyes on the road, especially at night.
Understanding Head‑Up Display (HUD)
HUD mirrors navigation details such as current speed, next turn, and distance to the next maneuver.
It is designed to be reflected on the windshield when the device lies flat on the dashboard; otherwise, it looks like a black screen with mirrored white text.
On Android, HUD is available for both car and truck, and you can choose whether the HUD view is mirrored or not.
Steps to turn off HUD
On Android
Open Magic Earth.
Tap the Account icon → Settings → Navigation → Car (or Truck).
Go to Head‑Up Display.
To disable HUD, select HUD Off from the options (there is no separate on/off toggle).
On iOS
Open Magic Earth.
Tap the Account icon → Settings → General → Navigation → Car.
Find Head‑Up Display and set it to Off.
Optional: using HUD intentionally
You can enable HUD again at any time from the same settings menu and, on Android, choose mirrored or non‑mirrored HUD depending on how you place your phone.
For best reflection, place your phone flat under the windshield; the app may increase screen brightness, but if system settings block this, adjust brightness manually.
Notes
HUD is designed primarily for drivers who prefer a mirrored windshield projection at night; the display will look reversed on the device itself.
If you still see a black screen after setting HUD Off, restart Magic Earth and check your device’s display or battery‑saver settings, which can sometimes interfere with rendering.