From Serial Number to Unlock Code for your Jeep Cherokee - Explained
- Skip long troubleshooting discussions or service visits - you can retrieve the code online using the radio serial number.
- Identify your radio's serial. You will always find it on the unit itself, and sometimes you can see it on the Cherokee's display.
- Type it into the generator above, and the system will calculate the correct 2020 Cherokee unlock code.
- After getting it, input it using Cherokee's radio controls to unlock the system successfully.
- The entire process takes only a few minutes and requires minimal effort.
Final Step - Enter the Radio Code
When you obtain the correct unlock code based on the S/N, you can restore normal functionality by entering it into the unit.
The code entry process depends on the head unit design, but most 2020 Cherokee systems follow a similar structure using preset buttons, touch controls, or rotary knobs - depending on if it's a factory or an aftermarket unit.
You will typically see CODE displayed on screen.
Detailed Input Instructions for Cherokee 2020
To enter the unlock code on your Uconnect radio:
- When the radio is locked, the screen will display "ENTER CODE" or show four dashes (----).
- Use the on-screen keypad (touchscreen models) or the preset buttons (non-touchscreen models) to enter each digit of your 4-digit code.
- After entering all 4 digits, the radio unlocks automatically – no need to press a confirm button.
Tip: Make sure you enter the code carefully. Three incorrect attempts will trigger a temporary lockout.
Entering Process Explained
Once the unlock code has been retrieved for a 2020 Cherokee Uconnect head unit, it can be entered straight at the dash - no scan tool or dealer visit required.
- Limited attempts: Mopar/Uconnect head units only accept three incorrect tries before the radio enters a
WAITstate, so confirm every digit before pressing it. - Turn the ignition to RUN/ACC so the radio powers up while the engine stays off.
- Wait for the display to show
CODE,Please enter Anti-Theft Code, or a similar prompt. - On the Uconnect 4C 8.4 (UAQ/UAS), key the four digits using the on-screen number pad and confirm with the OK/Enter touch button.
- On the Uconnect 4 7-inch (UAG), use the on-screen keypad - or the numbered preset buttons if the unit prompts for them - to enter the code in sequence.
- If
WAITappears after wrong attempts, leave the ignition in RUN with the radio powered for the documented cool-down period (about 30 minutes; the vehicle may be driven during this time) before trying the correct code again.
How to Find the Serial Number on Your 2020 Jeep Cherokee Radio?
The important fact to know is that factory radios use a specific serial number to identify each unit.
The security system matches the code directly to this serial.
Different from vehicle-specific data such as VIN or registration information, it is not determined by the model or production year, so you'll be able to generate it even if you have a radio that you bought afterwards.
Depending on the manufacturer and radio installed in your Jeep Cherokee, the access method varies.
Here are the most reliable ways to find it.
2020 Cherokee - Which Radio Did You Get?
The 2020 Cherokee carries the Uconnect 4 line-up forward unchanged from 2019. There are three factory head units split across the trim ladder, separated by screen size and built-in navigation.
- Uconnect 4 (
UAG) - 7-inch non-NAV touchscreen. Standard on Latitude, Latitude Plus and Altitude. Visual ID: 7-inch display centred in the dash opening with bezel material around it; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported, but there is no factory NAV app and no Map tile on the home screen. By volume the most common radio on 2020 Cherokees. - Uconnect 4C (
UAS) - 8.4-inch non-NAV touchscreen. Standard on Trailhawk, optional on Latitude Plus and Limited. Visual ID: large 8.4-inch screen filling the dash opening edge to edge, CarPlay and Android Auto present, but no Map/NAV tile because navigation is not built in. - Uconnect 4C NAV (
UAQ) - 8.4-inch touchscreen with built-in GPS. Standard on Overland and the High Altitude package, common option on Limited and Trailhawk Elite. Visual ID: same 8.4-inch bezel and glass as UAS, but the home screen carries a dedicated NAV/Map tile and on-board maps are bundled.
Quick test: 7-inch screen = UAG, 8.4-inch without a Map tile = UAS, 8.4-inch with a Map tile = UAQ.
Accessing the Serial Number Through the Radio Menu
These are the steps you should follow for 2020 Jeep Cherokee:
The Jeep Cherokee KL (2014–2023) came with three different Uconnect configurations. The first step is identifying which one you have, because each uses a different method to access Dealer Mode.
8.4" Classic (2014–2018): Hold Fan Up + Fan Down + Front Defrost for 5 seconds → Dealer Mode. Navigate: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number. Also works via Engineering Menu: hold Temp Up + Temp Down for 5 seconds.
Uconnect 7" (all years with this screen): Hold Temp Up + Temp Down for 5 seconds → Engineering Menu opens. Navigate: System Info → Target Main Data → Serial Number.
8.4" NEW (2019+): Press the bottom-left + bottom-right plastic bezel edges simultaneously until Dealer Mode opens. Navigate: System Info → Radio Part Info → Serial Number. Serial: 14 characters, e.g. T00AM394958584.
Display-Based Serial Number Retrieval
The 2020 Cherokee continues with the Uconnect 4 family - 8.4-inch UAQ NAV, 8.4-inch UAS non-NAV and the smaller 7-inch UAG. On these units the head-unit serial number can normally be read on screen via the hidden dealer/diagnostic menu, although some 2020 builds had dealer mode tightened by a software update.
Uconnect 4C 8.4 (UAQ / UAS)
- Switch the ignition to RUN/ACC and wait for the Uconnect interface to finish booting.
- Press and hold the driver-side temperature UP, the driver-side temperature DOWN, and the front DEFROST buttons together for roughly 5-10 seconds.
- If the climate-button shortcut does nothing on a software-updated unit, press and hold the bottom-left and bottom-right corners of the screen at the same time for about 5-10 seconds.
- Browse to the radio/system info section to view the serial number printed on screen.
- Photograph the screen before transcribing the characters.
Uconnect 4 7-inch (UAG)
- Place the ignition in RUN/ACC and let the screen finish loading.
- Press and hold the temperature UP and temperature DOWN buttons together for around 5-10 seconds to open the engineering menu.
- Open System Info / Target Main Data and read the serial number on screen.
- Take a photo of the display so each character can be copied accurately.
Releasing the Radio to View the S/N on the Tag
If the serial does not appear on screen, the next step is checking the radio itself.
Many Jeep radios require physical access to the ID label attached to the unit.
Common approach:
- Start by completely powering down the engine - pull the key out.
- Then detach the dashboard bezel.
- Next, loosen the mounting points and pull the radio forward.
- Look for a barcode label showing the serial number.
📹 Video Guide: Jeep Cherokee Radio Removal
Watch step-by-step tutorials for removing your Jeep Cherokee radio:
2014-2016 Cherokee KL
2019 Cherokee
General Cherokee
Need a different Cherokee year or model? Search YouTube for more Cherokee tutorials
Written Instructions
Physical Radio Removal (if Dealer Mode is unavailable)
If the on-screen method is not available on your vehicle, the radio can be physically removed to access the serial number label on the top or side of the unit:
- Remove the trim bezel – Gently remove the dashboard trim surrounding the radio using a plastic trim removal tool. The bezel is held by friction clips.
- Unscrew the mounting bolts – Remove the 4 mounting screws (usually Torx or Phillips) securing the radio to the dash frame.
- Slide the unit forward – Gently pull the radio out far enough to see the label. Do not disconnect the wiring harness unless necessary.
- Locate the serial number label – Locate a white or silver sticker with a barcode on the top or side of the unit. The serial number is a 14-character alphanumeric code (e.g.
T00AM394958584).
For detailed instructions with video tutorials for specific vehicles, see our Uconnect radio removal guide.
Locate Serial on Cherokee's Radio Chassis
If dealer mode has been disabled on a 2020 Cherokee by a Uconnect software update, the printed chassis label remains the next reliable source. The Uconnect 4 head unit on the KL Cherokee sits in a centre stack with the climate cluster below, so work slowly and methodically.
- Safety first: turn the ignition off, remove the key, disconnect the negative battery terminal, and wait a few minutes before touching wiring; never disturb the yellow airbag/SRS connectors and use plastic trim tools to avoid shorts and broken clips.
- Tools you will need: plastic trim removal kit, Phillips and small Torx bit set, 7mm/10mm socket set, flashlight.
- Pop the centre stack bezel free using a plastic pry tool, starting at the lower edge and working up the sides; on the KL Cherokee keep finger pressure even because the bezel sits next to the climate cluster.
- Unclip any switch/HVAC connectors at the rear of the bezel before setting the trim aside on a clean cloth.
- Remove the screws (typically four, two upper and two lower) holding the radio cage to the dash support bracket.
- Slide the radio rearward and disconnect the antenna lead and the multi-pin power/data harness.
- The serial number sits on the printed barcode/sticker label on the top or side of the radio chassis, next to the part number and supplier markings.
- Photograph the label and double-check ambiguous characters such as 0/O, 1/I and B/8 before submitting the serial. If you are not comfortable working around airbag wiring, have a professional installer remove the unit for you.
Example: Jeep Cherokee serial number label location
S/N Patterns and Prefixes
Your Jeep Cherokee 2020 radio serial number may start with:
T00AMT00BETM9T0MYDA2CTQNTVPQNT0071T00AD
Common S/N Formats Used on 2020 Cherokee Units
The factory radios fitted to the 2020 Cherokee use the standard Mopar/Uconnect serial style. The exact prefix depends on which Uconnect tier shipped with the car and which supplier (Visteon, Continental, Harman or Panasonic) built the unit.
Uconnect 4C 8.4 (UAQ / UAS)
- Typically printed as a 14-character alphanumeric string on the chassis label.
- Commonly begins with
T- frequent prefixes includeT00AM,TM9andTQ1- or withA2Con Continental-built variants. - Usually a continuous run of letters and digits with no spaces or dashes.
Uconnect 4 7-inch (UAG)
- Usually carries a Mopar/Harman or Panasonic-style serial printed on the chassis sticker, so use the label on the unit itself as the reference.
- Copy the serial exactly as printed and avoid guessing characters that look unclear.
Cherokee 2020 Common Radio Problems
Possible causes:
- radio not locked yet
- incorrect mode
- display delay.
Restart the system and check again.
If the serial fails, double-check the label, confirm the length and format, and avoid spaces or extra symbols.
Check:
- correct control knob
- short press vs long press
- confirmation key location.
Check:
- radio serial accuracy
- digit placement
- correct enter key
Common mistakes:
- part number vs serial
- extra spaces or missing characters.
Seeing SAFE or WAIT?
This is a temporary lock.
Leave the radio powered and wait until the code input returns.