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Connecting BOLT+

BOLT+ connects over Bluetooth to the Sphero Edu app, the Sphero Edu Web App, and the Sphero Play app. This article walks you through connecting for the first time, reconnecting after BOLT+ goes to sleep, and fixing a robot that won't show up.

BOLT+ connects over Bluetooth to the Sphero Edu app, the Sphero Edu Web App, and the Sphero Play app. This article walks you through connecting for the first time, reconnecting after BOLT+ goes to sleep, and fixing a robot that won't show up.

Have an original BOLT (8x8 LED matrix, no screen)? See Connecting BOLT instead. Not sure which one you have? See BOLT vs BOLT+.

Before you connect

  • Charge BOLT+. Place it in its charger. See Charging BOLT+ and BOLT+ Power Pack.
  • Wake BOLT+. Remove it from the charger, or gently shake it a few times. The screen and lights play a wake-up animation.
  • Turn on Bluetooth on your phone, tablet, or computer.
  • Check your device. Sphero Edu needs iOS 15+, Android 8+, Fire OS 7+, Windows 10 (version 2004) or 11, or macOS 12+, all with Bluetooth 4.0+. The Web App needs Chrome or Edge on Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS. Full details are in Sphero Edu Device Compatibility.

BOLT+ saves battery by going to sleep when it isn't being used. If it's been sitting for a minute or so, shake it to wake it before you try to connect.

Connect in the Sphero Edu app

Use these steps on iOS, Android, Fire OS, Windows, or Mac.

  1. Open Sphero Edu and select Connect Robot.
  2. Select BOLT+ as your robot type.
  3. Hold your device close to BOLT+.
  4. Pick your robot from the list. Each BOLT+ shows its robot ID "BP-XXXX" on its screen, so match the ID on the screen to the one in the list.
  5. When BOLT+ connects, its lights turn purple, then change to your custom color with the BOLT+ logo on the screen.

You'll see the robot's ID and battery level in the app once you're connected.

Using Sphero Play? Open Sphero Play on iOS or Android, select BOLT+, and hold your device near the robot to connect.

Connect in the Sphero Edu Web App

Use these steps in Chrome or Edge on a Chromebook, Windows PC, or Mac.

  1. Select Connect in the upper-right corner of the Web App.
  2. Choose BOLT+ from the menu, then select Connect in the pop-up.
  3. Your browser opens a Bluetooth window. Find your robot's ID in the list and select Pair.
  4. Wait for the connection animation to finish.

You're connected when the robot ID and battery icon appear in the top-right corner of the Web App. A robot listed as "Paired" in your computer's Bluetooth settings isn't necessarily connected, so always check the app. For more, see Connecting Robots in the Sphero Edu Web App.

Reconnecting after BOLT+ disconnects

If BOLT+ disconnects, the app automatically reconnects to the last robot it saw within 5 minutes, so a brief drop usually fixes itself.

After 5 minutes without use, BOLT+ steps down through power-saving modes. How you reconnect depends on which mode it's in:

What BOLT+ is doing How to reconnect

Connected and running

 

 Nothing to do.

Flashing a single Bluetooth light

(connectable, after 5 minutes idle)

 Connect from the app as usual.
Screen and lights off, after a few more minutes

Gently shake BOLT+ a few times to wake it,

then connect.
Completely off (battery ran down) Place BOLT+ in its charger, then connect.

Placing BOLT+ in its charger resets it from any mode. For details, see BOLT+ Power and Sleep Modes and BOLT+ Flashing Lights.

Connecting in a classroom

With many robots in one room, use the ID on each BOLT+ screen to make sure every student connects to the right one.

  • Match the ID. Have students read the ID off their robot's screen before they pick it from the list.
  • Use Find My Robot. In the Sphero Edu app (iOS, Android, Fire OS, or macOS), tap the connected robot's battery icon, then select Find My Robot. BOLT+ shows a random image and light color so the student can spot it. Find My Robot isn't available in the Web App yet. See Find My Robot.
  • Keep robots awake. Robots left idle go to sleep. Have students shake their BOLT+ to wake it right before connecting.

BOLT+ won't connect?

Try these in order:

  1. Wake it up. Shake BOLT+ gently a few times. If nothing happens, place it in its charger to reset it.
  2. Check the battery. A low battery can stop BOLT+ from connecting. Charge it, then try again.
  3. Move closer. Hold your device near the robot. Other Bluetooth devices and thick walls can interfere.
  4. Turn Bluetooth off and on on your device.
  5. Restart the app, or restart your device.
  6. In the Web App, make sure you're using Chrome or Edge, and check for the robot ID and battery icon in the top-right corner. "Paired" in Bluetooth settings doesn't mean connected.

If BOLT+ shows all-orange lights, it's installing a firmware update. Let it finish before you connect. For more, see Troubleshooting Connection with Sphero Edu.

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Still having trouble? Contact us at support@sphero.com, Monday-Thursday, 8am-6pm Central Time.