2026 Audi A3 Interior and Exterior Light User Guide
This blog explains the 2026 Audi A3’s interior and exterior lighting elements, emphasizing sophisticated LED technology, ambient lighting, and sleek design details. Understand how these revolutionary lighting solutions improve visibility, safety, and the A3’s exquisite appearance.
2026 Audi A3 Review, Specs & Price (Brochure)
Exterior lighting
Turning the lights on or off
Light switch
Press and hold 1 until the desired light function is selected. The selected function is displayed briefly in the instrument cluster. When turning on the ignition, the AUTO light function is automatically selected.
- AUTO – The automatic headlights adapt to the surrounding brightness automatically. The daytimerunning lights will automatically turn on. In vehicles for certain markets, you can turn the automatic daytime running lights on and off in the MMI.
You can turn the low beam headlights on manually once the ignition is turned on.
- You can turn on the parking lights at speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h).
- USA models: OFF – You can turn off all light functions at speeds below 6 mph (10 km/h).
- Canada models: OFF – You can turn off all light functions when the ignition is turned off while the vehicle is stationary.
When the low beam headlights or parking lights are turned on, the respective
All-weather lights
Applies to: vehicles with all-weather tires
The headlights automatically adjust so that there will be less glare, for example, when the road surface is wet.
Rear fog llights 1
Applies to: vehicles with rear fog lights
To reduce glare for traffic behind your vehicle, the rear fog lights should only be turned on in ac-cordance with the legal regulations in the country where you are operating the vehicle.
Automatic headlight range control
Your vehicle is equipped with automatic headlight range control. It reduces glare for oncoming traffic if the vehicle load changes. The headlight range adjusts automatically.
Audi adaptive light
Applies to: vehicles with Audi adaptive light
Audi adaptive light provides better visibility when driving in the dark. The lights are adapted to the road conditions based on speed, such as when driving on expressways, rural roads, at intersections and around curves. The adaptive light only functions when the automatic headlights are activated
Turn signal and high beam lever
Turn signals
The turn signal will activate when you move the lever into a turn signal position while the ignition is on. The respective
indicator light will flash. The turn signal blinks three times if you tap the lever (convenience turn signal).- Right turn signal
- Left turn signal
If an indicator light blinks twice as fast as usual, a turn signal bulb has failed. Carefully drive to an authorised Audi dealer or authorised Audi Service Facility immediately to have the malfunction corrected.
The “P” symbol does not have any function assigned to it in vehicles in certain countries.
High beams and headlight flasher
High beams off or headlight flasher. The
indicator light in the instrument cluster will turn on.
High beam assistant
Applies to: vehicles with high beam assistant
The high beam assistant automatically turns the high beams on or off depending environmental factors. A camera on the rearview mirror mount can detect light sources from other road users. The high beams turn on or off automatically depending on the position of the vehicle’s travelling head and on-coming vehicles, the vehicle speed, as well as other environmental factors and traffic conditions.
Applies to: vehicles with Matrix LED headlights: With Matrix LED headlights, 1), individual segments of the high beams are turned on or off. The area in front of the vehicle is dimmed, while the remaining area is illuminated. This allows for optimal lighting of the surrounding area without causing glare for other road users.
Activating the high beam assistant
Requirement: the AUTO light function must be selected, and the high beam assistant must be turned on in the MMI.
To activate the high beam assistant, tap the lever forward 3. The
indi-cator light will turn on.Activating and deactivating the high beam headlights manually
If the high beams did not turn on or off as expected, you may turn them on or off manually instead:
- To activate the high beams manually, tap the lever forward 3. The indicator light will turn on.
- To deactivate the high beams manually, pull the lever back 4 The high beam assistant is deactivated.
Operating the headlight flasher
- To operate the headlight flashers, pull the lever back 4. If the high beam headlights are not turned on, the high beam assistant will remain activated.
Adjusting the exterior lighting
The following settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen: VEHICLE > Light & Visibility > Exterior lighting.
- Automatic headlights
- You can adjust the following settings in the Auto-matic headlights menu:
- Activation time – You can adjust if the headlights turn on Early, Medium, or Late based on the sensitivity of the light sensor.
- High beam assistant – You can turn the high beam assistant on or off.
- Entry/exit lighting
The Entry/exit lighting illuminates the area around the vehicle when the vehicle is unlocked or when the driver’s door is opened while the ignition is off.- The entry/exit lighting works when it is dark and when the
- AUTO light function is turned on. The daytime running lights turn on au-tomatically within the limitations of the system each time the vehicle is unlocked, regardless of how bright it is outside the vehicle.
- Daytime running lights
- USA models: The daytime running lights can be turned on or off.
- Canada models: This function cannot be turned off. They activate automatically each time the ignition is turned on.
Emergency flashers
The emergency flashers help to make other road users aware of your vehicle in dangerous situations.
Press the above button to turn the emergency flashers on or off.
When the emergency flashers are turned on, the
Messages
The following messages may appear, depending on the vehicle equipment:
If the
indicator light turns on, a bulb has failed. The displayed message indicates the cause and possible solutions. If one of the messages remains on, drive immediately to an authorised
Audi dealer or authorised Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction corrected.
Audi adaptive light: malfunction! See owner’smanual
Adaptive light is not working. The headlights still function. Drive immediately to an authorised Audi dealer or authorised Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction corrected.
There is a malfunction in the headlight range control system, which may cause glare for other road users. Drive to an authorised Audi dealer or authorised Audi Service Facility immediately to have the malfunction corrected.
High beam assistant: malfunction! See owner’smanualYou can still turn the high beams on or off man-ually. Drive immediately to an auauthorisedudi dealer or authorised Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction corrected.
High beam assistant: currently unavailable. The camera view is limited due to the surroundings. See the owner’s manualThis message appears if the camera’s visual field is blocked. The system will turn itself off. Try turning the systems on later.
The light/rain sensor is malfunctioning. When the AUTO light function is on, the low beams will remain on at all times for safety reasons. Drive immediately to an authorised Audi dealer or authorisedAudi Service Facility to have the malfunction corrected.
Interior lighting
Interior lighting buttons
Int: erior lighting on/off
Touch-sensitive reading lights*
- To turn a reading light on or off, touch the surface briefly.
- To activate the manual dimming function, touch the surface 1 when the light is turned off and keep touching it until the desired brightness is reached.
Rear interior lighting
Reading lights
► To turn the reading lights on or off, press the
* button 1.
► To activate the manual dimming function*, touch the surface
Interior lighting
Applies to: vehicles with interior lighting
The ambient lighting turns on when the ignition is turned on. The interior accent lighting is deactivated when the lights are set to OFF.
The following settings depend on the vehicle equipment.
Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-HICLE > Light & Visibility > Interior lighting. You can choose from various colour profiles, such as Maritime.
Additional settings and profiles
- Brightness: You can adjust the brightness for all of the interior lighting.
- Individual: You can adjust the brightness and colour of the interior lighting separately for the line and surface lighting.
- Audi drive select: the line and surface lighting colour changes depending on the selected drive select mode.
Display brightness
You can set the instrument display illumination on. The settings depend on the vehicle equipment
Applies to MMI: select on the home screen: SETTINGS > Display & Brightness.
- Cockpit dimming
- Head-up display
- MMI
- Audi virtual cockpit
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2024 Audi A3 Specs, Price, Features, Mileage and Review