NBTApps

BETANBTApps is in beta. Things may change or break.

Download

NBTApps has two parts: the app on your phone, and the Agent on your car’s head unit. You need both.

For your phone

NBTApps for Android

Browse the catalogue and install apps on your head unit. Needs Android 13 or later.

Download APK

For your head unit

NBTApps Agent

Runs on the head unit and receives the apps your phone sends to it. Install it once, before you pair your phone. After that, apps install wirelessly, with no ENET cable or OBD adapter.

Download Agent

Installing the app

The app isn’t on Google Play, so Android asks you to confirm a few things the first time you install it. The exact wording depends on your phone.

  1. 1

    Download the APK on your phone

    Tap Download APK above. If your browser warns that the file might be harmful, choose Download anyway. Browsers show this for every APK that doesn’t come from an app store.

  2. 2

    Open the file

    Tap the download notification, or open the Files app and look in Downloads.

  3. 3

    Allow installs from this source

    The first time, Android says your phone isn’t allowed to install unknown apps from this source. Tap Settings, turn on Allow from this source, then go back.

  4. 4

    Install

    Tap Install. If Google Play Protect offers to scan the app, you can let it. When it finishes, tap Open.

The pictures are illustrations. The highlighted button is the one to tap.

Once the app is installed you can turn Allow from this source off again in Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps.

Pairing and your first install

With the Agent on the head unit and the app on your phone, pairing and installing take a few taps. Watch it first, or follow the steps below.

  1. 1

    Connect to your car

    In the app, add your head unit from the Bluetooth devices paired with your phone, then tap Connect. The Agent answers and says it wants this phone paired before it does anything else.

    The app has reached the car’s Agent, which wants this phone paired.
  2. 2

    Enter the code and pair

    The head unit shows a code of six digits. Type it into the app. You only do this once: the phone stays paired until you forget it on the car’s screen or remove the car from the app.

    The app asking for the code from the car’s screen.
    The app confirming this phone is paired with the head unit.
  3. 3

    Pick an app

    Browse the catalogue and open an app to see what it needs. “Before you install” lists anything worth knowing first, such as scripts that run on the head unit.

    The catalogue, listing apps for the head unit.
    An app’s page: what it is, its version, what it needs and what to know before installing.
  4. 4

    Check the plan and start

    Download the package, then Install. The app lists each step, how much it will send, and asks you to keep the ignition on until it’s done. Tap Start and watch it finish.

    The install plan, with Start and Cancel buttons.
    The finished install, with each step marked done and the log below.

Updating

Updates don’t install themselves. Check the changelog for new versions, then download and install the new APK the same way. It installs over the old version and keeps your paired head units. Don’t uninstall first, or you’ll lose them and have to pair again.

Checking a download

Every version of the APK is signed with the same certificate. Its SHA-256 fingerprint is:

843dd6519def36860dfff183634424753b00a059846d6e2662ba608bff04d587

You can check it with apksigner verify --print-certs <file> from the Android SDK build tools. Android also checks it for you on every update, and refuses an update signed with a different certificate.