Flipper Mobile App — Pairing Guide
Learning goal: by the end you will have installed the official app, paired your Flipper Zero over Bluetooth, synced your data, and used the app for remote control and firmware updates.
Audience: beginners with an iPhone or Android phone. The Flipper Zero must already be running (see Quickstart).
The Flipper Zero has Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE 5.4) built into its STM32WB55 radio processor. The official Flipper Mobile App (by Flipper Devices) turns your phone into a big-screen remote for the tiny dolphin: browse stored keys, share them with friends, update firmware over the air, and even control the device from across the room.
Step 1: Install the app
| Platform | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| iOS (iPhone) | App Store — Flipper Mobile App |
| Android | Google Play — Flipper Mobile App |
Make sure your phone's Bluetooth is on and your phone is within a meter or two of the Flipper Zero.
Step 2: Enable Bluetooth on the Flipper Zero
- Power on your Flipper Zero (
LEFT + BACK). - Go to Main Menu → Bluetooth.
- Set Bluetooth to ON.
The Flipper Zero starts advertising as a BLE peripheral.
You may be asked about "pairing mode" — leave the default. If you have paired before and it fails, unpair in the app and on the phone's Bluetooth settings, then retry.
Step 3: Pair in the app
- Open the Flipper Mobile App.
- Tap Connect (the app automatically scans for nearby Flipper Zero devices).
- When the Flipper Zero appears in the list, tap it.
- A 6-digit PIN appears on the Flipper Zero screen. Enter it in the app.
- Confirm on both sides. The app now shows your Flipper Zero with its name, firmware version and storage.
Expected result (app screen):
Flipper Zero
Firmware: 1.0.4
Storage: 14.6 GB free
[Synced]
Why a PIN? BLE pairing protects the link — this is the same principle as pairing Bluetooth headphones. If the PIN doesn't match, the Flipper Zero and phone refuse to connect.
Step 4: Sync your data
After pairing, the app synchronizes the contents of your Flipper Zero:
- Stored Sub-GHz remotes
- NFC / RFID card keys
- Infrared remote codes
- iButton keys
- Settings
You can browse them in the app's Keys section, rename or delete them, and — most usefully — share a key with another Flipper Zero user via the app (the official way to exchange keys without wires).
Step 5: Remote control
The app's Remote Control tab mirrors the Flipper Zero's UI on your phone:
- Tap buttons on screen instead of the 5-button D-pad
- Trigger "Bad USB" scripts from your phone (keyboard emulation)
This is handy when the Flipper is mounted somewhere awkward (e.g. plugged into a target machine) and you want to drive it from your pocket.
Step 6: Update firmware over the air
- In the app, open Firmware Update (usually under the device settings / menu).
- The app checks for a new version. Tap Update.
- Keep the phone within a couple of meters — the update streams over BLE and takes a few minutes.
- The Flipper Zero reboots with the new firmware. Verify in Main Menu → Settings → About.
See Firmware & qFlipper for the desktop alternative and for custom firmware (Momentum), which is flashed with qFlipper, not the app.
Step 7 (optional): Flipper Cloud backup
The app can back up your keys to Flipper Cloud (the official cloud service by Flipper Devices) so you can restore them later or move to a new device.
- In the app, open Flipper Cloud.
- Create an account (email + password) or log in.
- Tap Backup → the app uploads an encrypted snapshot of your data.
🔒 Your keys are uploaded encrypted. Still, treat access-badge and remote keys like passwords: don't share your cloud account, and don't store keys for systems you're not authorized to test.
Common errors
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Device not found in app | Bluetooth OFF on Flipper or phone | Turn on BLE on Flipper (Main Menu → Bluetooth), refresh scan |
| Pairing failed / wrong PIN | A previous pairing is stale | Unpair in app + phone Bluetooth settings, restart both, retry |
| Sync hangs | Phone too far away | Move within 1–2 m, restart the app |
| OTA update fails halfway | BLE link interrupted | Keep phone close, retry; if repeated, use qFlipper over USB |
| App can't connect after firmware update | Firmware and app versions mismatch | Update the app from the store, then reconnect |