You just purchased and received your first OBDLink® adapter. What do you do next?
This guide describes how to install and run the OBDLink application, which supports iOS and Android devices.
Follow the steps in this guide to begin using your adapter with your vehicle and the OBDLink app.
- Install the app and connect your adapter
- Configure the app for your vehicle
- View dashboard gauges
- Update adapter firmware
- Check vehicle diagnostics
- Next steps
Note: The screenshots in this article were taken using the OBDLink MX+ adapter. If you are using another OBDLink adapter, the screenshots may be slightly different.
Install the app and connect your adapter
- Download the OBDLink app either through the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android), depending on the type of phone or tablet you have.
- Open the OBDLink app and tap Settings > Connection Wizard.
iOS Android - Follow the steps in the Connection Wizard. In this example, we selected an MX+ adapter.
- Select your adapter by tapping the correct image.
- Start your vehicle’s engine by pressing the Start button.
If your vehicle uses a key, turn the key to Accessory (Acc) mode.Tap Continue.
- Plug your adapter into the OBD port in your vehicle.
In most cases, the OBD port is in the driver’s side footwell, below the steering wheel.
Tap Continue. - Check your adapter to confirm that the green power LED is on.
Tap the checkbox and tap Continue.
- On your adapter, press the Pair button. Tap Continue.
Note: Only MX+ and LX adapters have this button. If you are using a different adapter, skip this step.
- Your phone/tablet shows a list of Bluetooth devices. Tap to select your adapter.
Android users: You may need to scroll to find your adapter in the list. Tap to select your adapter, then tap Pair.
- Wait for your phone/tablet to connect with the adapter in your vehicle. It may take 45-60 seconds.
If you have issues, see the Troubleshooting tips section below.
The OBDLink app shows an animation of how this process works. - When the connection process is completed successfully, you will see a screenshot like this. Tap Done to close the Connection Wizard.
- In the OBDLink app, you will see several Connecting messages.
You may not see all the example messages shown below because the connection steps happen quickly.
- When the connection is successfully completed, you will see Connected status at the top of the app.
- Select your adapter by tapping the correct image.
Next steps: Configure the app for your vehicle
Troubleshooting tips
Bluetooth tips
If your OBDLink adapter will not connect to your phone/tablet, try these Bluetooth tips:
- Unplug your OBDLink adapter and plug it back in again.
Note: It may take 45-60 seconds for your adapter to show up in the Accessory menu when you first plug it in and use the OBDLink app Connection Wizard. - Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.
- Power-cycle Bluetooth by turning it off and on again in your phone/tablet’s Settings > Bluetooth menu.
- On your phone/tablet, go to Device Settings > Bluetooth and select your OBDLink adapter.
Note: You may have issues connecting if another OBD app is running, because the OBDLink adapter can only connect to one app at a time. You can’t run the OBDLink app and another third-party OBD app (such as FORScan or AlfaOBD) at the same time.
Communication settings
Try changing your adapter communication settings with these steps:
- Start your vehicle.
- Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.
- Open the OBDLink app and navigate to Settings > Preferences > Communications > OBD-II Protocol.
- Set the protocol to Automatic.
- Disable the Start with Last Connected Protocol option.
- On the app Home screen, tap Connect.
Factory reset
To do a factory reset on OBDLink MX+ and LX adapters, see the steps in Restore OBDLink Bluetooth Adapter to Factory Settings.
Configure the app for your vehicle
Make the changes described below to provide the most precise fuel economy, power, and torque estimates possible for your vehicle.
- When you connect your vehicle to your OBDLink adapter for the first time, a dialog appears asking if you want to edit the settings for your vehicle. Click Yes to open the Vehicle Editor.
If this is not the first time you connected to your OBDLink adapter, navigate to Settings > Vehicle Editor. - The OBDLink app automatically attempts to read your vehicle’s identification number (VIN) and pre-populate your vehicle’s information on screen.
Note: In some cases, the app may not be able to read or decode the VIN. In this situation, you can manually specify your vehicle year, make, and model by tapping SELECT and choosing from the drop-down list.
You can fine-tune settings in the Vehicle Editor to improve the accuracy of fuel economy calculations. For example, if your vehicle uses E85 fuel (sometimes called flex fuel), scroll down in the Vehicle Editor and tap the Fuel setting to select E85.
Check your User’s Manual for the exact engine size for your vehicle, then tap the Engine Size setting to enter an accurate value, such as 3.0.- The OBDLink app automatically chooses a Fuel Calculation Method using the Parameter IDs (PIDs) supported by your vehicle. Each fuel calculation method uses certain vehicle values during the calculation.
The default settings will work for most situations and vehicles. However, you can fine-tune the values to improve the calculation accuracy.- Mass air flow rate
- Select one of the following Fuel Type options: Gasoline/petrol, E85, E100, or diesel
- Intake manifold absolute pressure
- Select one of the following Fuel Type options: Gasoline/petrol, E85, E100, or diesel
- Enter an Engine Size value: Refer to your owner's manual for this information.
- Volumetric Efficiency (VE): Tap the information icon found to the right of this field to learn about typical values for VE for different engine types. A number at the low end of the range is typically used for calculations. It may be possible to find additional information for your vehicle online.
- Direct Fuel Rate
- No Vehicle Editor settings are used.
- No Vehicle Editor settings are used.
- Mass air flow rate
- The OBDLink app makes power and torque calculations using the Fuel, Engine Size, and Brake Specific Fuel Consumption settings. The default settings will work for most situations and vehicles.
- Tap the Back icon > in the upper left corner of the screen to save your settings and return to the Home screen.
You can tap the information icon found to the right of many of the Vehicle settings to learn about standard ranges for different engine types. A number in the middle of the range is typically used for calculations. It may be possible to find additional information about your vehicle online.
Next steps: View dashboard gauges
View dashboard gauges
The OBDLink app displays several dashboards and diagnostic gauges by default, including engine RPM and speed.
Your OBDLink adapter can be in the Not Connected state while you view dashboard gauges in the OBDLink app. However, we recommend that you do these steps while Connected, because the OBDLink app shows you all the displays your vehicle will report data for. (Before it is connected to your vehicle, the OBDLink app displays all the PIDs it can access, some of which may not be available for your vehicle.)
- To access the OBDLink app dashboards, tap the Dashboards icon from the app's main screen.
iOS Android - You will see the default dashboards and gauges. Swipe to see all the dashboard pages.
When your phone/tablet is Connected to the adapter in your vehicle, you can see live data from your vehicle on the dashboard. For example, if you tap the accelerator pedal, the engine RPM gauge value increases.
Learn more about dashboards and gauges
- Learn how to edit dashboards and add new gauges in Add and Edit Dashboard Gauges.
- Learn how to show your vehicle’s transmission temperature in Display Transmission Temperature Gauge.
- In the OBDLink app, tap Settings > Help > Dashboard Management to learn more. You can set up custom dashboards for different vehicles and reorder dashboards to suit your needs.
Next steps: Update adapter firmware
Troubleshooting tips
- Your vehicle may not support all of the gauges and displays shown by default in the OBDLink app.
If you are Connected and you edit a gauge in the OBDLink app and the PID shows in red text, that indicates the PID is not supported by your vehicle. The example below shows that a default oxygen sensor gauge is not supported.
If you view PIDs in the OBDLink app when it is not connected to your vehicle, you will see many PIDs that are not available for your specific vehicle. To avoid confusion, we recommend that you view PIDs when the app is Connected to your vehicle.
Update adapter firmware
Our development team periodically releases new updates to the OBDLink adapter firmware. We recommend that you update to the newest version to make use of the latest performance improvements and bug fixes.
You will see a notification message in the OBDLink app when a firmware update is available for your OBDLink adapter.
iOS | Android |
Before you update the firmware, be sure to:
- Start your vehicle and connect your phone/tablet to your OBDLink adapter.
- Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.
- Make sure any other devices paired with the OBDLink adapter have Bluetooth turned off.
- Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
iOS Android - In the OBDLink app, navigate to Settings > Firmware Updates.
- You will see the current firmware version for your OBDLink adapter.
1. Tap Check For Updates.
2. Tap your OBDLink adapter
to open the next screen.Tap CHECK FOR UPDATES. - You will see the installed firmware version and a new version, if one is available.
- Tap Update Firmware again in the confirmation screen.
- This process takes about 3-5 minutes. You will see a completion message when the firmware installation is complete.
Tap OK and go back to the Home screen.
- After the firmware loading process, your OBDLink adapter will be disconnected.
In the Home screen, tap Connect to connect to your OBDLink adapter.
Next steps: Check vehicle diagnostics
Troubleshooting tips
After you update the firmware, your OBDLink adapter may not connect to your phone/tablet right away. Try these tips:
- Unplug your OBDLink adapter and plug it back in again.
- Check the Bluetooth settings for your phone/tablet and select your OBDLink adapter.
For more troubleshooting tips, see Update OBDLink Adapter Firmware, in the Troubleshooting section.
Check vehicle diagnostics
The OBDLink app provides enhanced diagnostics for many vehicle types, which let you access additional modules and parameters that are not included in the SAE OBD-II standard. Common examples are reading and clearing codes for ABS (anti-lock braking system), SRS (supplemental restraint system), and TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system).
Follow the steps below to:
- Download enhanced diagnostics
- Select vehicle network
- View diagnostics
Download enhanced diagnostics
Before you begin, be sure to:
- Start your vehicle and connect your phone/tablet to your OBDLink adapter.
- Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.
- When you connect to your OBDLink adapter for the first time, a dialog appears with options to edit the settings for your vehicle and to download enhanced OEM add-ons. Tap Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.
If this is not the first time you connected to your OBDLink adapter, navigate to Settings > Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.
Note: If you don’t see the option to get enhanced OEM add-ons, then your vehicle is not supported for enhanced diagnostics. Standard OBD-II diagnostics are available for your vehicle. Skip to the View diagnostics section. - Browse the list and tap your vehicle manufacturer. In the example below, we selected Toyota, Lexus, Scion (highlighted).
Note: You may see a notification for add-ons that are exclusive to the OBDLink MX+ adapter, including GM; Honda, Acura; and Hyundai, Kia. Browse the list and tap your vehicle’s model year. We selected Toyota 2010 (highlighted).
- Tap Get to download diagnostics for your vehicle. It may take 1-2 minutes to download.
- When the download is complete, you will see the diagnostics are installed.
- After the enhanced OEM add-ons are installed, your OBDLink adapter will be disconnected. Continue with the steps in the next section.
Select vehicle network
Note: Skip to the View diagnostics section if your vehicle manufacturer is one of the following:
- GM
- Honda, Acura
- Hyundai, Kia
You do not need to select a vehicle network for these manufacturers.
- Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
You will see a dialog asking to select a vehicle diagnostic network. Select the network that has the modules you are looking for. We recommend that you select Generic OBD2 for everyday use.
If OEM Live Parameters are supported for your vehicle, the first time you connect to an enhanced network, the OBDLink app will scan your vehicle for supported enhanced PIDs. This scan may take 1-2 minutes. The scan results are saved so that you do not have to repeat the scan the next time you connect.
After the scan completes, continue with the next section to read trouble codes.
View diagnostics
- Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
In the main screen, tap Diagnostics.
iOS Android - You will see a warning message similar to the one shown below. Tap Yes when you’re ready to continue.
Trouble codes
You will see one of the following screens if there are no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) to display.
iOS | Android |
If there are DTCs, you will see a screen similar to the example below, which also has a button to Clear Codes.
Warning: You should only clear codes with the ignition ON and the engine OFF. You should never try to clear codes with the engine running.
Tap a trouble code to open a screen with more information. The screenshot below shows basic information for P0100.
Tap ONLINE LOOKUP to read more about the DTC definition.
Tap Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the upper right corner, then tap Help to learn about reading trouble codes, including the status definitions.
iOS | Android |
Learn more about diagnostics
- Learn how to review diagnostics and create a report in Get Started with Diagnostics.
- Find more information about OEM Live Parameters in Are enhanced diagnostics available for my vehicle?
Next steps
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed and connected your OBDLink adapter and configured the OBDLink app.
You can explore other OBDLink features and functionality using our support article knowledge base.
For descriptions of terms used in this article, see the Glossary of Acronyms and Terms.
Need more help?
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