What to set up once after installing, and the places people most often get stuck, in order.
Beetle Launcher is not in an app store. Install the APK once over wireless ADB from a phone or computer on the same Wi-Fi as the car; after that the launcher checks for new versions itself.
Release builds on the Download page are for BYD Owners LAB regular members — tapping download checks your cafe nickname. A download key is only needed for test (debug) builds.
On iPhone use atvTools; on an Android phone use Bugjaeger to connect over wireless ADB and install. From a computer, switch on wireless ADB in the head unit's engineer menu, then use adb connect and adb install. The exact commands are under «Putting it on the car» on the Download page.
On first launch you see a notice that this is an unofficial app, and a consent screen. If you do not agree, the app closes.
Choose Beetle Launcher under Settings › System › General › «Default home app». If the home button still opens the stock home screen, start here. «Take back to Beetle Launcher» in the same place restores it if the default home has slipped back to stock.
When the head unit powers fully off and on — including when the car cuts power while parked — the car drops wireless ADB and the accessibility registration. To let the launcher bring them back by itself, prepare once under Settings › System › System readiness.
The launcher has to be in front at those moments; if another app covers it, it stops rather than take the screen away. If you start several apps at once with an auto-start app, start Beetle Launcher last.
The dot beside the clock on the home screen shows accessibility, wireless ADB and self-grant. It hides when all three are on and turns red when any is off. Tap it to go to System readiness.
Pick from Stock + camera, Beetle, Beetle + nav, Nav or Off on the «Cluster» row in Settings. «Stock + camera» keeps the stock cluster and only shows a camera while the turn signal is on. If you only ever see the stock cluster, check that this row is not on «Stock + camera» or «Off». On the ATTO 3 and Dolphin the launcher only changes the centre screen; the cluster stays stock.
For the navigation app to open as a window inside the launcher, all three of these are needed. If any is missing, navigation opens full screen instead.
Once installed, the launcher checks for new releases and tells you. You do not need to come back to this site. What changed in each version is listed on the «Release notes» page.
Updating (installing over the top) keeps your settings. For the case where you uninstall and reinstall, settings are written outside the app whenever they change and restored after the new install.
Try again with wireless ADB switched on. The launcher also uses wireless ADB when it installs an update.
The «Close app» button at the far left of the dock closes the launcher and returns to the stock screen. Handy when someone else drives the car for a while.
Choose the stock home under Settings › System › General › «Default home app» and the home button goes to the stock screen. You do not have to uninstall Beetle Launcher.
Beetle Launcher is an unofficial app with no connection to the vehicle manufacturer. It does not touch the firmware — it only replaces the home screen. Do not operate it while driving.