Pairing & Connecting
This page explains how the KDMLink app finds and pairs with your N-Link over Bluetooth, what each step of the connection means, and how the process differs between iPhone and Android. If you've already paired once and just need to reconnect — or you're switching phones — see Re-pairing & Reconnecting.
Before you pair:
Make sure the N-Link hardware is installed and powered, your phone's Bluetooth is turned on, and the KDMLink app is installed. The N-Link only powers up when the vehicle's ignition supplies power to it, so turn the car on first.
How KDMLink pairing works
KDMLink does not scan for devices inside the app. Instead it hands off to your phone's operating system to run the pairing picker, so you choose your N-Link from a trusted system screen:
- iPhone (iOS 18 and later) — uses Apple's AccessorySetupKit picker.
- Android (8.0 and later) — uses Android's CompanionDeviceManager picker.
In both cases the app filters the list down to N-Link hardware only (by its Bluetooth service ID
and the N-Link name), so you should only ever see your own device. Once you pick it, the OS
remembers the pairing and hands the app a private reference it uses to reconnect later — no
scanning required next time.
🎥 Video placeholder — full first-time pairing walkthrough. To be added.
Pair your N-Link step by step
Power on the vehicle
Turn the car on so the N-Link receives power. Give it a few seconds to start advertising over Bluetooth.
📷 Image placeholder — vehicle powered on with the N-Link installed. To be added.
Open KDMLink and start pairing
Open the app. On first launch you'll land on the Connect Device screen with a single Pair Device button. Tap it.
The app will ask for Bluetooth permission the first time. Allow it — KDMLink needs it to talk to the N-Link.
📷 Image placeholder — the in-app "Pair Device" screen. To be added.
Android permissions:
On Android 12 and newer, KDMLink requests both Nearby devices / Bluetooth Connect and Bluetooth Scan permissions in a single prompt. Both are needed for a reliable data stream — grant both.
Pick your N-Link in the system picker
Your phone takes over and shows the system pairing sheet listing nearby N-Link devices. Select your N-Link to continue. If your phone shows a separate Bluetooth pairing confirmation, accept it.
iOS shows the AccessorySetupKit sheet with the N-Link and its icon. Tap your device, then confirm. iOS handles the secure pairing in the background and stores the keys in the iOS keychain.
📷 Image placeholder — iOS system pairing sheet with the N-Link listed. To be added.
Wait for the connection to finish
After you pick the device, the app connects automatically. You'll see the status move through a few stages — Connecting → Pairing → Configuring → Connected — and then live data begins to stream. This usually takes just a few seconds.
📷 Image placeholder — connection progress states in the app. To be added.
Confirm you're streaming
When the N-Link is connected and your car's data is coming through, the app shows Connected and live telemetry appears. You're done — the N-Link is now remembered and will reconnect on its own next time.
📷 Image placeholder — successful connection with live data. To be added.
What happens during a connection
When you pick your N-Link, KDMLink runs through a short sequence behind the scenes. Knowing the stages helps when something stalls:
| Stage | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Choose your N-Link | The system picker is open, waiting for you to select the device. |
| Connecting | The app opens the Bluetooth connection and negotiates the data packet size. |
| Pairing | Your phone and the N-Link exchange security keys (bonding) so the link is encrypted. |
| Configuring | The app reads the N-Link's firmware info and turns on the live data feed. |
| Connected / Streaming | Live vehicle data is flowing. |
| Connected (no data) | The link is up but no vehicle data is arriving — see the note below. |
Pairing differs slightly by platform
The end result is the same — a secure, encrypted Bluetooth link — but the two operating systems get there differently:
- iPhone — iOS completes a "Just Works" pairing automatically the first time the app reads secured data from the N-Link, and saves the keys to the iOS keychain. The Bluetooth link may briefly drop during this security handshake; iOS reconnects on its own, so a momentary blip during first pairing is normal.
- Android — Android creates the secure bond explicitly. You may see a one-time system Bluetooth pairing prompt; accept it. Once bonded, the app confirms the encrypted link and moves on.
Connected, but no data?:
If you reach Connected (no data), the Bluetooth link is fine but the N-Link isn't seeing any vehicle data. The most common causes are the engine/ignition being off or the N-Link harness not being fully seated. Confirm the car is on and the N-Link install is secure. The app keeps the connection alive and will start showing data as soon as it arrives.
Troubleshooting first-time pairing
- N-Link doesn't appear in the picker — confirm the car is on and the N-Link has power, wait a few seconds for it to start advertising, then tap Pair Device again. Make sure you're close to the vehicle.
- Bluetooth is off — the app will prompt you; turn Bluetooth on and retry.
- Permission denied — if you declined the Bluetooth prompt, KDMLink can't connect. Enable Bluetooth permission for KDMLink in your phone's Settings, then try again.
- iPhone says it needs iOS 18 — AccessorySetupKit pairing requires iOS 18 or later. Update iOS, then retry.
- Pairing stalls or fails — tap Try again. If it keeps failing, power the vehicle off and back on to restart the N-Link, then pair again.
📷 Image placeholder — the pairing error state. To be added.
Next step
Already paired and just need to get back online, switch phones, or remove a device? See Re-pairing & Reconnecting.