RGB OBD

Installing RGB OBD

From download link to live gauges — on a head unit, tablet or phone — with every Android permission prompt explained on the way.

What you're installing

RGB OBD isn't on the Play Store — it's sold and distributed from this website. The installer is a direct download: RGB-OBD.apk, an Android package under 1 MB, and it installs on any Android device running 8.0 or newer. The installer itself is free — demo mode runs every screen on simulated data with no time limit, and a per-vehicle licence is what unlocks live data from your car.

Your download link stays valid after purchase, so you can re-download the APK any time without paying again.

Step 1 — Get the APK onto the device

Phone or tablet

The simple case: open the download link in the device's own browser and the APK lands in Downloads, ready to tap.

Android head unit

Head units often ship without a usable browser. Download the APK on a computer instead, copy it to a USB stick, plug the stick into the unit and open the file with the unit's own file manager. If your unit does have a browser, the phone route works there too.

Step 2 — Allow the install when Android asks

Tap the APK and Android will ask permission before installing anything from outside the Play Store. On Android 8.0 and newer the permission is granted per app: the prompt sends you to Install unknown apps, where you enable it for whichever app you opened the file with — your browser or file manager — then come back and tap the file again.

The warning is normal. "Unknown sources" only means the app didn't come from the Play Store — it isn't a virus alert, and Android shows it for every sideloaded app. It's also why we say share the link, not the file: the official download page always serves the current, untampered build.

Step 3 — Plug in and pair the adapter

Plug your Bluetooth OBD-II adapter into the diagnostic port — under the dash, driver's side, on most cars — turn the ignition on, and pair it from the app's Adapter screen. The app speaks both Bluetooth Classic and BLE and auto-detects the car's protocol, including older ISO 9141-2 vehicles.

First pairing tip for the OBDLink and vLinker adapters: press the connect button on the adapter itself — it stays invisible until you do. Still choosing an adapter? Start with the adapter guide.

Step 4 — Register in the car

With the ignition on and an internet connection, tap Register this app. The app reads the VIN straight from the engine computer, matches it against your licence, and unlocks everything. That's the only moment it needs internet — driving works entirely offline afterwards.

One licence covers one vehicle and counts vehicles, not devices — install the app on your head unit, tablet and phone alike. The licensing section explains transfers when you change cars.

Updating later

Updates install the same way: download the newer APK and tap it, and it installs over the top with your registration, car profiles and settings intact. You don't need to watch this site for releases — when a new version is out, the app's own menu says so and offers the download.

The adapter guide Installing questions in the FAQ Buy RGB OBD