Repository navigation
Installation and Updates
| Edition | Where | What it has |
|---|---|---|
GitHub edition (com.openauto.dash) |
Releases | Everything, including the root, internal ADB and PMPatch3 features, and the in-app updater |
Google Play edition (com.dashwheel.app) |
Google Play | The same launcher without root, the unit's ADB or PMPatch3: no system-app install, no boot logo, no firmware volume bar, no window tiles or Google Maps inside a tile, no CAN sniffer. Updates come from Play; a plain-words notice comes before the accessibility and notification access pages |
The two have different package names, so they can sit side by side. The companion has the same two editions (com.dashwheel.companion on Play). Both apps target Android 16 and still run on head units with Android 10. See Root and PMPatch3 for what each feature needs.
Every release carries two APKs:
| File | Install on |
|---|---|
Dashwheel-<version>.apk |
The head unit (Android 10+) |
dashwheel-companion.apk |
Your phone (optional: Phone Link and Companion, My Car Picture, Second Screen (Raspberry Pi) ‐ experimental pairing) |
Dashwheel is free. If you keep it, consider a coffee on Ko-fi ☕ (the Play edition offers a coffee, a lunch or a dinner through Google Play instead).
Copy the APK to a USB stick or download it in the unit's browser, open it, and allow install unknown apps when Android asks.
First install over an old build: if Android says App not installed, the old copy was signed with a different key. Uninstall it once, then install. Later updates install over each other.
- Choose Dashwheel as the Home app (the unit's settings, or the prompt Android shows when you press Home). From then on it comes in front by itself at every start, even on units whose firmware opens its own launcher first (with Display over other apps allowed, or through root or the unit's ADB). On QF units it also becomes the unit's own launcher choice, so the stock launcher no longer flashes up at start-up. On units that start their own launcher at boot (NWD and others), Dashwheel no longer brings it back over the dashboard a few seconds after starting.
- The setup asks for your car (make, model, year, fuel, gearbox, or Later), then walks through the permissions: location, Bluetooth (OBD), notification access (media, directions, notifications), the accessibility service (split screen, keys, typing from the phone). It mentions the phone with a Pair button, and comes back after a drive interrupted it. No adapter? I don't have one ends the reminder.
- Pick a template in the showroom: Daily, Road trip, Car health or Calm, shown on your own screen; Undo if you change your mind. See Dashboards and Tiles.
- A short tour (6 tips) runs over your own dashboard: changing dashboard, moving and resizing tiles, adding things, changing the look, the OBD adapter and the steering-wheel buttons. Each tip lights up the real button or tile; tips are read aloud and every card has Skip. Parked only. Not now is not forever. Watch it again from Settings → System → About → Tour of the basics.
- OBD adapter: pair an ELM327 Bluetooth adapter in Android's Bluetooth settings, or plug in a USB OBD cable, then pick it in Settings → Connections → OBD adapter. See Car Data (OBD and CANbox).
- AI mechanic: a free Google Gemini key in Settings → Car → AI mechanic. See AI Mechanic and Gemini.
- Root / PMPatch3: see Root and PMPatch3 for what they unlock.
-
Car alerts without root:
adb shell pm grant com.openauto.dash android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS.
The GitHub edition updates itself from GitHub Releases (the Play edition updates through Google Play):
- At start it checks the latest release. A dot on the ⋮ menu and Settings → System → About offer the update; it downloads ahead on Wi-Fi. Check for updates is there too.
- Tap it: the release notes show (with a short word on how Dashwheel is made and the Ko-fi QR code beside them), then Update now. A hint comes before Android's own install confirmation (apps can't install silently). Not this version skips that one release.
- The companion app does the same on the phone (Setup tab → Updates).
Every push to main builds a release v1.0.<build>; its notes are the commit messages.
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| BLUETOOTH / BLUETOOTH_ADMIN / BLUETOOTH_CONNECT | OBD-II adapter connection |
| ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION / ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION | In-app navigation, weather, driving-instrument widgets |
| READ_CALENDAR | Calendar widget (requested at runtime when added) |
| READ_CONTACTS | Quick Dial widget (requested at runtime when added) |
| INTERNET | Map tiles, weather, media, updates |
| WAKE_LOCK / DISABLE_KEYGUARD | Keep screen on while driving |
| FOREGROUND_SERVICE / FOREGROUND_SERVICE_DATA_SYNC | Continuous telemetry |
| POST_NOTIFICATIONS | Notifications on Android 13+ |
| REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES | Install downloaded update APKs |
| BIND_APPWIDGET | Hosting real Android AppWidgets in dashboard tiles |
| SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW | Floating split-screen swap button; the skins' frame over the docked Maps window (granted through the dock's shell when missing) |
| Notification access (granted in Settings) | Read media sessions, parse Maps/Waze directions, general notifications feed |
| Accessibility service (granted in Settings, optional) | Drive system split-screen + pane swap |
Getting started
Dashboard
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Road
Phone and screens
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