General Motors’ latest full-size SUV lineup offers a host of impressive technology, including an Advanced Rear-Seat Media system. It’s offered on the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, 2021 GMC Yukon, and 2021 Cadillac Escalade, and comes with numerous features to keep those in the back comfortable and entertained. Now, we’re taking a closer look at how to use GM’s new Rear-Seat Media system in the following GM Authority Feature Spotlight.
Opting for the GM Rear-Seat Media system adds a pair of 12.6-inch touchscreens mounted to the back of the front seats. The screens are viewable from either the second or third row, and are tilt-adjustable, but cannot be removed.
The Rear-Seat Media system doesn’t come with an onboard DVD or Blu-Ray player, as GM Authority has covered previously. However, rear-seat occupants can plug in various external devices using the rear USB-C ports or HDMI ports, such as a Playstation, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, or Amazon Fire TV stick. Screen sharing via Miracast and a compatible Android phone is also possible.
Both screens can display the same media at once, or each screen can display different media. In addition to video, the Rear-Seat Media system can also play music files. For USB sticks, we recommend the FAT32 file system for compatibility.
To operate the system, double-tap anywhere on either screen to power on and view the Home Screen. The Home Screen allows users to select their media input, including Watch Source, Listen Source, or Navigation (more on Navigation later in this post). The Home Screen also allows users to adjust the settings, setup Bluetooth headphones, and view the current time.
Touch the power button on the status bar to turn the screen off. The screens can be turned off and on independently, or through the front seat control. Media is paused when the screen is turned off. Screens can also be locked from the front seat.
Additionally, rear-seat occupants can use the screen to punch in a destination on the map and send it to the front-seat navigation system.
Check out the table below for a full list of availability of the new GM Rear-Seat Media system (RPO codes listed in parentheses):
| LS | LT | LTZ | Z71 | Premier | High Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | A1 | A1 | A1 | A | A2 |
- Included and only available with Rear Media And Nav Package (WPB)
- Included with Technology Package (PDT)
| LS | LT | LTZ | Z71 | Premier | High Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | A1 | A1 | A1 | A | A2 |
- Included and only available with Rear Media And Nav Package (WPB)
- Included with Technology Package (PDT)
| SLE | SLT | AT4 | Denali | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | A1 | A1,2 | A3 |
- Included and only available with Rear Media And Nav Package (WPB)
- Included with AT4 Premium Package Plus Package (PEH)
- Included with Denali Deluxe Package (PCL) and Denali Ultimate Package (PEC)
| Luxury | Premium Luxury | Sport | Premium Luxury Platinum | Sport Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | A | A | S | S |
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Comments
A few additional notes:
* comes with 2 infrared head phones that do not need to be paired with the system.
*head phones do need the batteries installed for them to be used.
*for consistent power for the units, don’t forget to turn off the Auto/Stop start feature.
Thank you!
When trying to use a fat32 USB stick with movies, I get an Unreadable Device on the back screens. Any ideas?
Hello. Can the screens be removed when not in use?
I would like to know as well
I have the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. I finally figured out how to use the media(roku, plug my Apple device) and I am able to get it going. I will get Netflix’s on, the movie will play for a minute and then it just brings me back to the home page and I have to restart the whole process. Please help
How did you plug your iPhone up?
Can this be integrated into the 2021 Sierra 3500 Denali?? After market or otherwise?
I have downloaded my iTunes movies onto a hard drive (a 1TB SSD formatted “FAT 32” / “Master Boot Record”)- the files are stored as M4V files on the drive.
I’m unable to play these files through our rear entertainment system. HUGE bummer.
The error we receive is: “onError Listener: 100”
I received an email responding to this post- very much appreciated the response.
The suggestion was to use a free online converter to turn my M4V files into MP4 files.
I did this… unfortunately, the MP4 files that were created were not recognized by the system- I can see the MP4 files on my PC when the SSD is hooked-up, but when I attach the SSD to the car via UBS-C, the car only “sees” the M4V files (no MP4’s).
The issue w/ the M4V files remains the same- I can see the file picture for each movie, but when I press a movie and try to play it: “onErrorListener: 100”
… any further thoughts on how to fix “onErrorListener: 100” would be appreciated.
when I google it, I end up at Andriod developer discussions- I’m not an Android developer, so can’t really follow or execute, and I’m not trying to use any Android products in the car- we happen to have all Apple stuff.
Figured it out! Convert the files to MP4 and they will work. I found a free conversion tool for this. Its actually a slick system when it works.
I appreciated the response I receive yesterday to my post discussing the “onErrorListener: 100” message that I recieve while trying to play movies from a solid state disk (SSD) via USB-C jacks. In my post I noted that the SSD was formatted FAT 32 / Master Boot Record, and the files are stored as M4V files- which were created by iTunes.
The response I suggested recommended using a converter program to turn the M4V files into MP4 files.
Unfortunately, I tried this with “Wondershare Uniconverter” (online program) and the result was that the car didn’t even recognize the file that was created- the MP4.
– back to the drawing board… would appreciate any further suggestions.
All we’re trying to do is take our iTunes Library (which we purchased), put it on an SSD and play movies in the car… seems like the intended use (at least we thought so). However, we seem to be stuck at “onErrorListener: 100”, the message that appears when we try to play FAT 32 / Master Boot Record / M4V files on the RIS.
Further thoughts appreciated.
That code that you are getting indicates that the files aren’t compatible so when converting to mp4 try different settings maybe. I have done a ton of research on what files do work and what devices work but I still can’t figure out the best way to do it. And guess what, the 2022 vehicles don’t even mention usb drives as an option in the manuals. Any mention of Miracast has been removed as well. The manual actually says now that the two usb-c ports beside the HDMI ports are for charging only. This system has been such a mess from day one and I’m wondering if GM has straight up removed functionality rather than figuring it out and making it work properly.
Owner of 2021 GMC Denali XL ultimate package. While this vehicle represents a huge step forward from my previous 2019 Denali, for the reasons mentioned in this thread and for other reasons, this will be my last GM vehicle. It has become quite clear to me that GM doesn’t really care about the product or the customer. I’m out. Good luck GM. My business is going elsewhere.
I have 3 small children in the back and we are on a road trip. Since they cant operate (or reach) the screens, how do I easily pop on a movie for them to watch? (in our 2017 we could just insert a DVD…)
Can you listen to the screens with you car radio system? Or is it only available with earphones?
We have a Roku stick and the system continues to say cannot connect to internet. We have an unlimited plan in the vehicle. Why?
I already have a High Country 2021 Tahoe but not screens on seat, I bought it pre-owned. Can I add screens now? Where I go if that is the case?
I already have a High Country 2021 Tahoe but not screens on seat, I bought it pre-owned. Can I add screens now? Where I go if that is the case?
DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SEPERATE LIVE STREAM SUBSCRIPTION TO WATCH HULU, ETC ON THE REAR SCREENS? EVERYTIME WE PUSH HULU IT SAYS CALL ONSTART, WE DID AND THEY SAY YOU DONT, BUT IT STILL ISNT WORKING.
I have a 2021 Suburban and it is a headache trying to get a movie to play for the kids. We go on long road trips several times per year. In my previous vehicle, I could just pop in a DVD. The salesman made it sound like I could just add any apps I want to my car from my phone and the kids could use them on the screens to select what they want. We don’t even use it now because it is so frustrating and complicated.