Detailed device, system and feature compatibility for Bluetooth Connection to Sphero Edu. Requirements for connecting to your Sphero robot.

Sphero Edu Device Compatibility

Guide for IT Admins in schools to get up and running with the Sphero Edu app. 
Covers whitelisting, deployment, and other common concerns.

Sphero Edu IT Guide for Schools

School FeaturesFor you schools out there using lots-o&#x2019;-bots in the classroom, we developed some special features to make your lives easier:<ul><li>Set up a classroom with student logins, assign activities and track them in real-time. For speedy setup, use our roster CSV uploader&#xA0;</li><li><a href="https://edu.sphero.com/edurobots/my_content/activities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Create</a> a lesson and assign it to your class, or share it publicly with the community</li><li>Save your work by creating an account and jump between the apps or website</li></ul>Sphero Edu LessonsWe at Sphero are constantly working on engaging, educational content intended for use in the classroom. Check out what we, and our community, have created to leverage the full potential of our Sphero Edu app and robots: <a href="https://edu.sphero.com/edurobots/collections" id="isPasted">https://edu.sphero.com/edurobots/collections</a>Our Sphero-created Draw and Blocks intro lessons are a great place to start. Once students have an understanding of the concepts, we recommend moving into specific activities geared towards specific curriculum. If you have a class set up, assign activities to your students that complement and enrich your lesson plans.&#xA0;If you&apos;re interested in taking a deep-dive into utilizing Sphero Edu to its full potential in the classroom, send an email to training@sphero.com.Common Core StandardsMany of our activities align with CCSS and NGSS educational standards in a variety of subjects, and there is much more to come!&#xA0;Activities and lessons are also searchable on the <a href="https://edu.sphero.com/edurobots/collections" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lessons page of the Sphero Central website</a> using the &quot;Edu Standards&quot; filter.&#xA0;IT + Sphero Edu&#xA0;Some schools have tight firewalls and security, so you may need to check these 3 things to get Sphero Edu working:<ul><li>Open ports 80 and 443 to allow web traffic, these ports are sometimes blocked; and</li><li><a href="https://edu.sphero.com/email-whitelist">Whitelist</a> the support@sphero.com email that sends account activation emails and edu.sphero.com; and</li><li>Ensure users can view YouTube videos, or whitelist the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM3c30DuxaH1qJjhpEVhrbA">Sphero Edu Youtube channel</a>.</li></ul>

In The Classroom

Moving forward, the Android app will be the primary way you can experience Sphero Edu on your Chromebook.

<div class="warning-callout">UPDATE: As of November 20, 2024, users can choose between using our <a href="https://edu.sphero.com/code" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sphero Edu Web App</a>&#xA0;or the Android app on their Chromebooks. Each option has pros and cons based on the needs of your school and your students. The information in the article below has been modified from its original release to reflect these new developments.</div><div> </div><h4 id="q-how-do-i-get-the-android-sphero-edu-app-on-my-chromebook">Q: How Do I Get the Android Sphero Edu App on My Chromebook?</h4>You can get the Sphero Edu Android app on Chromebooks through the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sphero.sprk" target="_blank">Google Play Store</a>. Look for this icon on your desktop shelf or via the Chrome OS app launcher:<figure><img alt="Google Play Store icon" data-hd-align="left" data-hd-height="100px" data-hd-width="100px" src="https://hsfiles.gorgias.help/gm/help-centers/19676/attachments/75894a54-ee6b-490b-9264-fe6742693d35.png" style="max-height: 100px; max-width: 100px;" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure>After opening the Google Play Store, type &quot;Sphero Edu&quot; into the search bar to find the Sphero Edu app listing. Then click on the &quot;Install&quot; button to install the app. You will then be able to access the Sphero Edu app from the app launcher. If desired, you can pin the Sphero Edu app to your task bar shelf for easy access. If you do not see the Google Play Store app at all, then your Chromebook may not support Android apps or it may be a managed Chromebook that has access to Google Play removed. If your Chromebook is managed, please review the steps below for deploying Android apps to managed Chromebooks in schools.<div class="note-callout"><div>A Quick Note About Chromebook Guest Mode:&#xA0; To install the Sphero Edu app, your Chromebook will need to be set up with an account. Chromebook Guest Mode limits the ability to install or use most apps, including Google Play, Android apps, and most other software that isn&apos;t the browser. Without a student being signed into the Chromebook, there is also no way for an administrator to deploy the app since Android software is deployed at a &quot;user&quot; level rather than at a &quot;device&quot; level.</div></div><div> </div><h4 id="q-how-do-i-manage-and-deploy-the-android-sphero-edu-app-in-my-school">Q: How Do I Manage and Deploy the Android Sphero Edu App in My School?</h4>If your Chromebooks are managed by an administrator, either with Google&apos;s enterprise or education admin solutions, then please review the Chromebook portion of our <a href="https://support.sphero.com/en-US/sphero-edu-it-guide-for-schools-244768" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IT deployment guide for schools</a>.This guide will cover:&#x2022; Enabling managed Google Play for your students and teachers&#x2022; Deploying the Sphero Edu app to users&#x2022; Additional permissions and various settings that may impact app deployment and functionality<h4 id="q-which-chromebook-models-support-the-android-sphero-edu-app">Q: Which Chromebook Models Support the Android Sphero Edu App?</h4>Since 2019, all new Chromebook models run Android in conjunction with Chrome OS. If you have a new Chromebook, you should have no issues running the Android version of Sphero Edu, accessible via the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sphero.sprk" target="_blank">Google Play Store</a>. However, if your Chromebook was manufactured prior to 2019 then it may not support Android. Most older models have received operating system updates to add Android support, but not all models have received this update.If your Chromebook was manufactured prior to 2019, please check <a href="https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/chrome-os-systems-supporting-android-apps" target="_blank">this official list</a> to determine if it runs Android and consequently, the Android Sphero Edu app. If your device is on the list, but doesn&apos;t seem to support Android, please check if your operating system is out of date. If it is, an update may enable Android support.<h4 id="q-what-do-i-do-if-my-chromebook-doesnt-run-android">Q: What Do I Do if My Chromebook Doesn&apos;t Run Android?</h4>If your current Chromebook does not support Android apps, then consider using our <a href="https://edu.sphero.com/code" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sphero Edu Web App</a>, which allows you to connect and use your robot right from your browser - no app client needed! If a native application is preferred, you can review all the available options on our&#xA0;<a href="https://support.sphero.com/en-US/edu-244319" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Device Compatibility support page</a>. <div>Please contact our support team if you run into any issues with the Android version of Sphero Edu on Chromebooks. You can contact our support team with feedback or inquiries about bugs and features at support@sphero.com.</div>

Sphero Edu Android App on Chromebooks

Managed configurations allow you, as an IT admin, to modify various aspects of the Sphero Edu app on deployment.

<h4 id="what-are-managed-configurations">What are Managed Configurations?</h4>Managed configurations allow you, as an IT admin, to modify various aspects of the Sphero Edu app on deployment. This will ensure that you can create a more focused experience for students, or comply with specific district rules and directives.<div class="warning-callout">NOTE:&#xA0; Currently managed configurations are only supported in the Android version of the Sphero Edu app.</div> Here are some examples when setting managed configurations may be valuable:<ul><li>Your students use 1 to 1 Chromebooks in classes. The teachers roster and create accounts through Google Classroom sync. Since you only want them to be able to sign in with Google SSO, and since their accounts are automatically rostered, you want to disable all other sign in options and you want to block access to the account creation flows. Managed configurations will allow you to do so.</li><li>Your district has a policy that students should not have access to any community created content - only content created by the application developer or by teachers. Since that&apos;s the case, you want to disable the Sphero Edu &quot;community lessons&quot; section of the app. Managed configurations will allow you to do so.</li></ul><h4 id="android-managed-configurations">Android Managed Configurations</h4>Below are all the specific, supported managed configurations for the Android version of Sphero Edu.<table class="fr-dashed-borders fr-alternate-rows"><tbody><tr><td class="fr-thick" style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">Configuration Title:</td><td class="fr-thick" style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">JSON Key:</td><td class="fr-thick" style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">Type:</td><td class="fr-thick" style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">Values:</td><td class="fr-thick" style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">Default Setting:</td><td class="fr-thick" style="background-color: rgb(97, 189, 109);">Description:</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Account Creation</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;account_creation&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Boolean</td><td class="fr-thick">true, false</td><td class="fr-thick">true</td><td class="fr-thick">Enables/disables the button on the sign in screens that would allow users to create accounts</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Class Code Sign In</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;class_code_sign_in&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Boolean</td><td class="fr-thick">true, false</td><td class="fr-thick">true</td><td class="fr-thick">Enables/disables signing in with class codes</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Clever Sign In</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;clever_sign_in&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Boolean</td><td class="fr-thick">true, false</td><td class="fr-thick">true</td><td class="fr-thick">Enables/disables signing in with Clever accounts</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Google Sign In</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;google_sign_in&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Boolean</td><td class="fr-thick">true, false</td><td class="fr-thick">true</td><td class="fr-thick">Enables/disables signing in with Google accounts</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Standard Account Sign In</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;standard_account_sign_in&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Boolean</td><td class="fr-thick">true, false</td><td class="fr-thick">true</td><td class="fr-thick">Enables/disables signing in with standard Sphero accounts (email/username/password)</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Getting started toggle in settings</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;getting_started_toggle&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Choice</td><td class="fr-thick">force on, force off, allow user control</td><td class="fr-thick">allow user control</td><td class="fr-thick">Allows precise control of the &quot;getting started&quot; lesson setting in the settings screen (only applicable for class code users)</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Find my Robot toggle in settings</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;find_my_robot_toggle&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Choice</td><td class="fr-thick">force on, force off, allow user control</td><td class="fr-thick">allow user control</td><td class="fr-thick">Allows precise control of the &quot;find my robot on connection&quot; setting in the settings screen</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Lesson TTS toggle in settings</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;activity_tss_toggle&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Choice</td><td class="fr-thick">force on, force off, allow user control</td><td class="fr-thick">allow user control</td><td class="fr-thick">Allows precise control of the &quot;lesson text-to-speech&quot; setting in the settings screen</td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick">Community Lessons Tab</td><td class="fr-thick">&quot;community_activities_tab&quot;</td><td class="fr-thick">Boolean</td><td class="fr-thick">true, false</td><td class="fr-thick">true</td><td class="fr-thick">Enables/disables the &quot;community lessons&quot; tab</td></tr></tbody></table> <h4 id="examples-of-formatting">Examples of Formatting</h4>Managed configurations are entered as JSON formatted keys. Here is an example of the formatting if you wanted to disable account creation and disable all sign in options with the exception of Google SSO:<pre class="hljs json"> {
 &quot;account_creation&quot;: false,
 &quot;class_code_sign_in&quot;: false,
 &quot;clever_sign_in&quot;: false,
 &quot;standard_account_sign_in&quot;: false
 }</pre> Another example. Perhaps you want to disable the &quot;Community Lessons&quot; tab, and nothing else:<pre class="hljs json"> {
 &quot;community_activities_tab&quot;: false
 }</pre> For configurations with choices, you will need to correctly enter the specific key value you want. For example:<pre class="hljs json"> {
 &quot;getting_started_toggle&quot;: &quot;force off&quot;,
 &quot;find_my_robot_toggle&quot;: &quot;force on&quot;,
 &quot;activity_tss_toggle&quot;: &quot;allow user control&quot;
 }</pre> <h4 id="deploying-managed-configurations-in-google-admin">Deploying Managed Configurations in Google Admin</h4><ol><li>Start by following the steps for general deployment of Android apps, as <a href="https://sphero.com/pages/support?hcUrl=%2Fsphero-edu-it-guide-for-schools-244768" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">documented here</a>.</li><li>When the deployed app is selected, there will be a section to the right for managed configurations. You can directly type in the keys and values, as needed:<figure><img data-hd-height="50%" data-hd-width="50%" src="https://hsfiles.gorgias.help/gm/help-centers/19676/attachments/15f98cf9-3a55-41fb-8555-419aaffc18f8.png" style="max-height: 50%; max-width: 50%;" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure></li><li>Make sure to save the changes! Otherwise the configuration changes will not be applied.</li></ol>

Sphero Edu Managed Configurations

We are pretty darn serious about privacy and security.

Privacy and Security

Troubleshooting for Connection Problems in the Edu App.

On occasion you may have a connection failure with Sphero Edu. The following content is intended to inform and help solve common issues while connecting.<h3 id="bluetooth-low-energy-ble">Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)</h3>Below are all the BLE Sphero robots supported in Sphero Edu:<ul><li id="isPasted">Sphero BOLT and Sphero BOLT+</li><li>Sphero RVR and Sphero RVR+</li><li>Sphero SPRK+*</li><li>Sphero Mini</li><li>BB-8*</li><li>BB-9E*</li><li>R2-D2*</li><li>R2-Q5*</li></ul>*These robots ARE supported in the Sphero Edu native apps, but are NOT supported in the <a href="https://edu.sphero.com/code" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sphero Edu Web App</a>, per our&#xA0;<a href="https://support.sphero.com/en-US/edu-244319" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">compatibility documentation</a>.<h4 id="ble-troubleshooting">BLE Troubleshooting</h4><h5 id="powering-on">Powering On</h5>All Sphero robots need to be &quot;powered on&quot; the first time they are used and before they can be connected with Sphero Edu. Below are instructions for powering on each BLE enabled robot:<ul><li id="isPasted">Sphero BOLT+: Ensure the charging base is plugged in via a USB C cable. Place the BOLT+ in the charging base. You will see the LED&apos;s on the BOLT+ and the cradle light up when it is charging. You may need to reposition the robot slightly to make sure the charging base is properly contacting the robot if the LEDs don&apos;t light up.</li><li>Sphero BOLT, Sphero SPRK+: Ensure the charging base is plugged in via a micro USB cable. Place the BOLT or SPRK+ in the charging base. You will see the LED&apos;s on the BOLT or SPRK+ light up when they are on and ready to be connected. You may need to reposition the robot slightly to make sure the charging base is properly contacting the robot if the LEDs don&apos;t light up.</li><li id="isPasted">Sphero RVR/RVR+: To power RVR and RVR+ on, the removable battery must first be charged. The battery bay is located on RVR/RVR+&apos;s left side and is accessible by opening the battery door with the battery door key (included with every RVR and RVR+). After the battery is charged, it must be placed in the battery bay and the battery bay door must be securely closed with the key. Unlike BOLT or Mini, RVR and RVR+ have a physical power button located on their right side. Press the button to power on your robot before connecting in the app.</li><li>Sphero Mini: Pinch the seam on the shell and pop the shell off of Mini. Plug a micro USB cable into the port on the Mini and plug the other end into a power source. Your Mini is powered on when you see the LEDs turn on.</li><li>BB-8, BB-9E: Ensure the charging base is plugged in via a micro USB cable. Place the BB-8 or BB-9E in the charging base. You will see the LED&apos;s on the BB-8 or BB-9E light up when they are on and ready to be connected. You may need to reposition the robot slightly to make sure the charging base is properly contacting the robot if the LEDs don&apos;t light up.</li><li>R2-D2, R2-Q5: Observe the micro USB port on the back of the R2-D2 and R2-Q5 robots. Plug a micro USB cable into the port on the R2-D2 or R2-Q5 and plug the other end into a power source. Your R2-D2 or R2-Q5 is powered on when you see the LEDs turn on.</li></ul><h5 id="isPasted">Sphero BOLT+ Connection Differences</h5><div class="warning-callout">Sphero BOLT+ behaves a little differently from other Sphero robots. Whereas BOLT and SPRK+ are always powered on in a low power state as long as the battery has a charge, BOLT+ preserves battery by turning off after a couple minutes of being disconnected from Sphero Edu. As a result, you must power BOLT+ on before scanning and connecting. To turn BOLT+ on, you simply need to shake it firmly. You will know BOLT+ is powered on when the LCD screen turns on and displays a wakeup animation followed by the battery level and robot ID. Unlike BOLT and SPRK+, you cannot connect to BOLT+ when it is charging. Always make sure your BOLT+ is adequately charged and removed from the charging cradle before attempting to connect in the application. If you scan and find no BOLT+ in range, it&apos;s a good idea to validate it is powered on with a quick shake.</div><h5 id="connection-failures">Connection Failures</h5>On occasion Sphero Edu will fail to connect to your robot. Here are some things to think about if you are having issues connecting:<ul><li>Interference:&#xA0;Depending on your environment, there may be interference that&apos;s causing challenges when connecting. Here are some considerations:<ul><li>If you have multiple Sphero robots, or other Bluetooth devices in range, then try moving the robot you are attempting to connect to away from the others before attempting to connect. This can help isolate your robot and ensure a more reliable connection.</li><li>Certain building materials can cause interference. Metal structures or concrete can occasionally compound connection issues. Try moving around and connecting from a different location in the room or building you are in.</li><li>If your environment is prone to interference, try staying close to your robot while connecting and programming.</li></ul></li><li>Hardware: Not all mobile devices or computers have the same Bluetooth hardware. We&apos;ve optimized the app to work with the most common devices, but there are some edge cases. It can be a good idea to try connecting with another device to isolate if the hardware you are using is having a hard time connecting to our robots.</li><li>Critical battery: It&apos;s a good idea to make sure your battery is charged before attempting to connect. The app may disconnect from the robot if the battery level is too low. You&apos;ll know your robot has a critical battery if it has LEDs that are flashing red. Time to charge!</li><li>Resetting Bluetooth: There&apos;s a lot of code that goes into making an awesome Bluetooth connection happen. Sometimes things get a little weird or stuck. If you run into connection issues, it may be a good idea to disable then re-enable Bluetooth before connecting in the Sphero Edu app.</li><li>Restarting Sphero Edu: On rare occasion Sphero Edu may get a little confused when communicating with your mobile device or computer. A quick restart of the app can sometimes help improve connection.</li><li>Restarting Your Device: In some rare instances, Bluetooth connections can be impacted by operating system updates, cached data, or general operating system bugs. Restarting your device may help resolve some connection issues if other steps do not help.&#xA0;</li></ul><h5 id="no-luck">No Luck?</h5>We encourage you to contact us at <a href="mailto: support@sphero.com">support@sphero.com</a> if you are still experiencing connection issues. We may be able to help determine if there&apos;s an issue with your robot or device.<hr><h3 id="classic-bluetooth">Classic Bluetooth</h3>Below are all the Classic Bluetooth Sphero robots supported* in the Sphero Edu app:<ul><li>Sphero 2.0*</li><li>Sphero SPRK*</li></ul>*Sphero 2.0 and Sphero SPRK are not supported on the Windows, macOS, or Web App releases of Sphero Edu. Learn more about compatibility <a href="https://support.sphero.com/en-US/edu-244319" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.<h4 id="pairing">Pairing</h4><h5 id="ios">iOS</h5><ul><li>Remove Sphero 2.0/SPRK from the Induction Charger.</li><li>Shake Sphero awake. A double tap will usually work.&#xA0;<ul><li>Your Sphero will flash 3 consecutive colors when it is awake and ready to pair.&#xA0;</li></ul></li><li>Access iOS Bluetooth settings.&#xA0;<ul><li>Go to &quot;Settings&quot; then &quot;Bluetooth&quot;.</li><li>Make sure&#xA0;Bluetooth is enabled.</li></ul></li><li>Wait for the device to detect Sphero.<ul><li>The name of your Sphero robot will match the flashing colors of your Sphero. For example, Sphero-RYW means that your Sphero will be flashing red, yellow, and white.&#xA0;</li></ul></li><li>When your Sphero is detected, select it for pairing.<ul><li>Pairing usually takes less than&#xA0;30 seconds, but it can take up to 2 minutes.</li><li>Your Sphero will glow white once it is paired to your iOS device.&#xA0;</li><li>Occasionally you will need to try pairing more than once.</li></ul></li><li>Once your Sphero is paired, connect to it in Sphero Edu.</li></ul><h5 id="android">Android</h5><ul><li>Remove Sphero 2.0/SPRK from the Induction Charger.</li><li>Shake Sphero awake. A double tap will usually work.&#xA0;<ul><li>Your Sphero will flash 3 consecutive colors when it is awake and ready to pair.&#xA0;</li></ul></li><li>Access Android OS Bluetooth settings. Depending on the Android device, Bluetooth controls may be in different locations in settings.&#xA0;<ul><li>Check &quot;Settings -&gt; Connections -&gt; Bluetooth&quot; or &quot;Settings -&gt; Bluetooth&quot;. These are common locations.&#xA0;</li><li>Make sure&#xA0;Bluetooth is enabled.</li></ul></li><li>Wait for the device to detect Sphero.<ul><li>The name of your Sphero robot will match the flashing colors of your Sphero. For example, Sphero-RYW means that your Sphero will be flashing red, yellow, and white.&#xA0;</li></ul></li><li>When your Sphero is detected, select it for pairing.<ul><li>Pairing usually takes less than&#xA0;30 seconds, but it can take up to 2 minutes.</li><li>Occasionally you will need to try pairing more than once.</li></ul></li><li>Once your Sphero is paired, connect to it in Sphero Edu</li></ul><h5 id="fire-os">Fire OS</h5><ul><li>Remove Sphero 2.0/SPRK from the Induction Charger.</li><li>Shake Sphero awake. A double tap will usually work.&#xA0;<ul><li>Your Sphero will flash 3 consecutive colors when it is awake and ready to pair.&#xA0;</li></ul></li><li>Access Fire OS Bluetooth settings.&#xA0;<ul><li>Check &quot;Settings -&gt; Wireless &amp; Bluetooth&quot;.</li><li>Tap &quot;Bluetooth&quot; and make sure&#xA0;Bluetooth is &quot;turned on&quot;.</li><li>Tap the &quot;Pair a Bluetooth Device&quot; button.</li></ul></li><li>Wait for the device to detect Sphero.<ul><li>The name of your Sphero robot will match the flashing colors of your Sphero. For example, Sphero-RYW means that your Sphero will be flashing red, yellow, and white.&#xA0;</li></ul></li><li>When your Sphero is detected, select it for pairing.<ul><li>Pairing usually takes less than&#xA0;30 seconds, but it can take up to 2 minutes.</li><li>Occasionally you will need to try pairing more than once.</li></ul></li><li>Once your Sphero is paired, connect to it in Sphero Edu.</li></ul>

Connection Troubleshooting

Having issues getting Sphero Edu account emails?

If you are not receiving emails from Sphero Central, check your spam folder to be sure. If the email is not in spam, add&#xA0;<a data-key="836">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;to your contact allowlist via the instructions below. If you still don&#x2019;t receive our emails talk to your IT admin or use a different account.<h3 data-key="839" id="gmail">GMail</h3><ol><li>Click Mail in the upper left, select Contacts</li><li>Click the + button, enter <a href="mailto:support@sphero.com">support@sphero.com</a></li><li>Click add</li></ol><h3 data-key="853" id="outlook">Outlook</h3><ol><li>Click the People icon at the bottom of the screen</li><li>Click New Contact in the upper left</li><li>Enter &quot;Sphero Edu&quot; for the name and <a href="mailto:support@sphero.com">support@sphero.com</a> for the email</li><li>Click Save &amp; Close</li></ol><h3 data-key="871" id="macmail">MacMail</h3><ol><li>Hover on Mail in the navigation bar, select Preferences</li><li>Click Rules on the right side</li><li>Click Add Rule, enter &quot;Sphero Edu&quot; for the &quot;Description&quot;</li><li>For the rule drop-downs select if &quot;Any&quot; of the following conditions are met: &quot;From,&quot; &quot;Contains,&quot; enter <a href="mailto:support@sphero.com">support@sphero.com</a> in the email field</li><li>For the actions drop-downs, select &quot;Move Message&quot; and &quot;Inbox&quot;</li><li>Click OK</li></ol><h3 data-key="895" id="yahoo">Yahoo!</h3><ol><li>Hover on the Setting icon in the upper right, slect Settings</li><li>Click Filters on the left side, Click Add</li><li>Enter a Filter name like &quot;Sphero Edu&quot;</li><li>Leave the Sender drop-down to use the &quot;Contains&quot; option, type <a href="mailto:support@sphero.com">support@sphero.com</a> in the &quot;Sender&quot; field</li><li>In the &quot;Move to Folder&quot; drop-down menu, select &quot;Inbox&quot;</li><li>Click Save</li></ol><h3 data-key="919" id="hotmail">Hotmail</h3><ol><li>Hover on the Settings icon in the upper right, select Options</li><li>Select Safe and blocked senders, select Safe Senders</li><li>Enter <a href="mailto:support@sphero.com">support@sphero.com</a> in the &quot;Sender&quot; field, click &quot;Add to list&quot;</li></ol><h3 data-key="934" id="aol">AOL</h3><ol><li>Hover on Options in the upper right, select Mail Settings</li><li data-key="941">Click Spam Settings on the left side</li><li data-key="944">In the Sender Filter section, choose &quot;Allow mail only from addresses I specify&quot;</li><li data-key="947">Enter&#xA0;<a data-key="949">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;in the email field, click the + button</li><li data-key="953">Click Save Settings</li></ol><h3 data-key="955" id="verizon">Verizon</h3><ol><li>Click Options, select Block Senders</li><li data-key="962">Locate the Safe List</li><li data-key="965">Enter edu.sphero.com for the domain</li><li data-key="968">Click OK</li></ol><h3 data-key="970" id="comcast">Comcast</h3><ol><li>Click Address Book</li><li data-key="977">Click New, select New Contact</li><li data-key="980">Add&#xA0;<a data-key="982">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;in the email field</li><li data-key="986">Click Save</li></ol><h3 data-key="988" id="coxnet">Cox.net</h3><ol><li>Click Preferences</li><li data-key="995">In General Email Preferences, click Blocked Senders</li><li data-key="998">Add&#xA0;<a data-key="1000">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;in the field of the Exceptions List, click Add</li><li data-key="1004">Click Save</li></ol><h3 data-key="1006" id="att-webmail">AT&amp;T WebMail</h3><ol><li>Click Options, select Filters</li><li data-key="1013">Click Add Filter</li><li data-key="1016">In the top row labeled From Header, select &quot;contains&quot; from the drop down menu, enter&#xA0;<a data-key="1018">support@sphero.com</a></li><li data-key="1021">At the bottom on the option &quot;Move the message to&quot; select &quot;Inbox&quot; from the drop down menu</li><li data-key="1024">Click Add Filter</li></ol><h3 data-key="1026" id="earthlink">EarthLink</h3><ul><li>Click Add</li><li data-key="1033">Enter edu.sphero.com for the domain</li><li data-key="1036">Click Save</li></ul><h3 data-key="1038" id="thunderbird">Thunderbird</h3><ol><li>Click Address Book</li><li>Select Personal Address Book, click &quot;New Card&quot;</li><li data-key="1048">Go to the Contact tab, enter&#xA0;<a data-key="1050">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;in the email field</li><li data-key="1054">Click OK</li></ol><h3 data-key="1056" id="msn">MSN</h3><ol><li>Go to Settings, select Junk E-mail Guard</li><li data-key="1063">Select &quot;Safe List, enter&#xA0;<a data-key="1065">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;in the email field</li><li data-key="1069">Click Add</li></ol><h3 data-key="1071" id="norton-antispam">Norton AntiSpam</h3><ol><li>Start Norton AntiSpam</li><li data-key="1078">Go to the Status &amp; Settings tab</li><li data-key="1081">Click Configure, select Allowed List tab</li><li data-key="1084">Click Add, enter&#xA0;<a data-key="1086">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;in the email field, click OK</li></ol><h3 data-key="1089" id="mcafee">McAfee</h3><ol><li>Go to the Control Console, click the Allow/Deny option</li><li data-key="1096">Enter&#xA0;<a data-key="1098">support@sphero.com</a>&#xA0;in the Add Entrys field in the Allow List</li><li data-key="1102">Click Save</li></ol>

Email Contact Allowlist

Most Sphero Edu compatible robots come out of the factory with the latest firmware - but in some cases you may need to update your firmware. Learn all about updates here.

<h4 id><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/8fd408022b1440a39aa198e3fc2c92ce?sid=015121bc-c4b1-412a-a113-21aaced510d5" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </h4><h4 id="-1"> </h4><h4 id="firmware-updates">Firmware Updates</h4>Most Sphero Edu compatible robots come out of the factory with the latest firmware - ready for you to connect to the app, drive, and program! However, on some occasions your robot may have out of date firmware or invalid firmware. When this happens, you will need to do a mandatory or optional firmware update in the Sphero Edu app.When you connect to your robot, the Sphero Edu app confirms the version of firmware on your robot and checks it against a mandatory minimum version. If your robot has firmware below this minimum version, you will have to update. This is required for your robot to have baseline functional compatibility with the app. The same applies if your robot has invalid firmware. Since you cannot command your robot without valid firmware, you will also have a mandatory update upon connection.On occasion Sphero Edu may provide optional firmware updates for certain robots. These updates are not mandatory on connection, but they may be needed to improve some robot behaviors, performance, or fix certain bugs. While these updates are not mandatory, we do make them available via the Sphero Edu app to ensure users can stay up-to-date.<h4 id="which-versions-of-sphero-edu-support-firmware-updates">Which Versions of Sphero Edu Support Firmware Updates?</h4>Sphero Edu doesn&apos;t have firmware update parity across all platforms. For exceptions, review the data below:<table class="fr-alternate-rows fr-dashed-borders" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td class="fr-thick" rowspan="2" style="width: 14.2857%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"> </td><td class="fr-thick" colspan="6" style="width: 85.57%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"><div style="text-align: center;">App Version</div></td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2857%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"><div style="text-align: center;">iOS App</div></td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2858%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"><div style="text-align: center;">Android App</div></td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2856%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"><div style="text-align: center;">Amazon Fire OS App&#xA0;</div></td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2239%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"><div style="text-align: center;">Windows App</div></td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2856%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"><div style="text-align: center;">macOS App</div></td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.1415%; background-color: rgb(101, 101, 101);"><div style="text-align: center;">Web App</div></td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2857%;">Does it support Firmware Updates?</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2857%; text-align: center;">&#x2714;</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2858%; text-align: center;">&#x2714;</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2856%; text-align: center;">&#x2714;</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2239%; text-align: center;">&#x2714;</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2856%; text-align: center;">&#x2714;</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.1415%; text-align: center;">&#x2714; </td></tr><tr><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2857%;">Robots Supported</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2857%; text-align: center;">All</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2858%; text-align: center;">All</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2856%; text-align: center;">All</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2239%; text-align: center;">Only BOLT+</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.2856%; text-align: center;">All except:&#xA0; &#x2022;Sphero 2.0&#xA0; &#x2022;SPRK</td><td class="fr-thick" style="width: 14.1415%; text-align: center;">Only BOLT+ </td></tr></tbody></table> <h4 id="how-do-i-know-if-theres-an-optional-update-available-for-my-robot">How Do I know If There&apos;s an Optional Update Available for My Robot?&#xA0;</h4>Optional updates are not available before version 6.5.0 of Sphero Edu. If you have 6.5.0 or newer, then you may have an available update for your robot. When connected, you can follow these instructions to install optional firmware:<ol><li>Go to the &quot;connected robot&quot; screen, which is accessed with the &quot;connect&quot; button after you are connected to a robot</li><li>Look at the bottom of the screen, below the hardware details for your connected robot</li><li>If your robot is eligible for an optional firmware update, you will see a button titled &quot;Optional Firmware Update&quot;</li><li>To start the update, proceed through the two warning screens and continue</li></ol><img src="https://attachments.gorgias.help/QBGoD2eOVjxdjqlX/hc/MdAV17q8JV2ZWgaX/2024091017-7c718637-28a2-4b82-b413-173303aa8ebb-optional_update.png" style="width: 75%; height: 75%;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil fr-rounded fr-shadow"><h4 id="important-firmware-update-information">Important Firmware Update Information</h4>There are a number of important considerations when doing a firmware update:<ul><li>Depending on the robot type, your device, and the established connection interval between the two, a firmware update could take anywhere from around one minute to around five minutes. Be prepared to leave your device connected for that amount of time.</li><li>Your robot should be fully charged before doing an update. If the battery is depleted during a firmware update, you will need to charge your robot and start the process over again, since your firmware will be in an invalid state.</li><li>Do not plug in, power off, or reset your robot during a firmware update, as you will need to start over.</li><li>Do not move it out of Bluetooth range during the firmware update. Keep it close until the update is complete.</li></ul><div class="warning-callout">You cannot connect to a Sphero BOLT+ while it is in the charger. As a result, you cannot update the firmware of a BOLT+ while it is charging, or place a BOLT+ in the charger when a firmware update is in progress. If you intend to update the firmware of your BOLT+, make sure to take it out of the charger and leave it out of the charger for the duration of the update.</div><h4 id="information-about-devices">Information About Devices</h4>During a firmware update, a robot may need to disconnect and reconnect multiple times. Furthermore, a significant amount of data is transferred over Bluetooth to your robot. As a result, some devices may have issues completing firmware updates or may require multiple attempts.Sphero extensively tests firmware updates on as many devices as possible. However, there are 10&apos;s of thousands of models of supported phones, tablets, and computers, which means our engineers are unable to validate every model. Here are some types of devices we generally recommend for a firmware update, provided they run the required minimum OS version:<ul><li>iPhones, iPads or iPod touch models</li><li>Macbooks</li><li>Google Pixel series Android Phones</li><li>Samsung S series Android phones</li><li>Amazon Fire 8 and Fire 10 Tablets</li></ul><div class="tip-callout">If your device fails an update numerous times, we recommend trying with a different compatible device.</div>

Sphero Edu Firmware Updates

Instructions for enabling location services for Sphero Edu on Android and Chromebooks

As of version 6.3.3, the Sphero Edu Android app does not require any location permissions to be granted by the user since it uses a Companion Device pairing process for Android 8-11 and Nearby Devices Permissions for Android 12 and greater. This means that the Android operating system handles scanning for Bluetooth hardware and ensures that the Sphero Edu app does NOT need to declare coarse or fine location permissions. As a result, the user grants no rights or permissions to Sphero Edu to capture hardware or user location data.However, Location Services are required at an OS level to use BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) for the scanning process with Android 8 through Android 11. This means that Location Services must be set to &quot;on&quot; for Chromebooks and Android devices running Android 11 or lower if you wish to scan for Sphero robots. Below are the required steps to enable Location Services.<h4 id="enabling-chromebooklocation-services">Enabling Chromebook&#xA0;Location Services</h4>If you use the Android app on your Chromebook and are running Android 8-11, use the steps below to set Location Services:<ol><li>On the Chromebook, go to Settings &gt; Apps</li><li>From the apps menu, select Google Play Store</li><li>From the Google Play Store menu, select Manage Android preferences</li><li>From Android preferences, select Security &amp; Location</li><li>Under the&#xA0;Privacy header, select Location</li><li>On the Location screen, toggle Use Location to On</li></ol><figure><img alt="Chromebook Location Services" data-hd-height="50%" data-hd-width="50%" src="https://hsfiles.gorgias.help/gm/help-centers/19676/attachments/dce648c7-1021-4831-828c-b60d00b3cb42.png" style="max-height: 50%; max-width: 50%;" class="fr-fic fr-dii"></figure><div class="warning-callout">NOTE: If the Use Location toggle is not available, it most likely means you need to adjust Location Service settings in Google Admin for your organizational unit. You can learn how to do that with our Sphero Edu IT guide for Chromebook deployment, located <a href="https://support.sphero.com/en-US/sphero-edu-android-app-on-chromebooks-244553" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</div> <h4 id="enabling-androidlocation-services">Enabling Android&#xA0;Location Services</h4><div class="tip-callout">NOTE: Different versions of Android may have different options and layouts for their settings, so these steps are not exhaustive for all devices.</div><ol><li>On your Android device, go to Settings &gt; Location</li><li>Toggle on Use Location</li></ol> <h4 id="enablingfire-oslocation-services">Enabling&#xA0;Fire OS&#xA0;Location Services</h4>Fire OS is based on Android, and as a result, has many of the same system level behaviors and limitations.<div class="tip-callout">NOTE: Different versions of Fire OS may have different options and layouts for their settings, so these steps are not exhaustive for all devices.</div><ol><li>On your Fire device, go to Settings &gt; Security &amp; Privacy &gt; Location Services &gt; Location-Based Services</li><li>Toggle on Location-Based Services</li></ol>

Sphero Edu and Location Services for Android 8-11

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We offer text message support for US customers during our business hours - shoot us a text at 303-502-9466.

Sphero's business hours are Monday - Thursday 8am - 6pm US Central Time.

Contact us and a member of our team will be in touch within 24 business hours.

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