# Flashing without disassembly
> Flash the head unit over OBD-II, from sign-in to the success screen.
The whole run takes about 20 minutes.
:::note[TPM 2.0 is required]
Cartoo will not start on a machine without a TPM 2.0 module, and on many
laptops the module is present but switched off in the UEFI. Check this before
you go out to the vehicle — see [Checking for TPM 2.0](/en/guides/tpm/).
:::
## Before you start
### What you need
- A laptop with TPM 2.0 (see above).
- An **ELM327 v1.5 Bluetooth adapter** on the `PIC18F25K80` chip — the
double-PCB version. Cheaper single-board clones on other chips do not work
reliably.
- A **USB-A ↔ USB-A cable** (both ends type A, "male-to-male").
- The firmware bundle — a `.food` file.
What the adapter looks like, and where to buy it
Both listings below are the right thing — a v1.5 double-PCB ELM327 on the
`PIC18F25K80`. Match the chip marking, not the case: the blue housing is used
by dozens of different boards.
### Wiring
1. Plug the ELM327 into the vehicle's OBD-II port.
2. Connect the head unit to the laptop with the USB-A ↔ USB-A cable.
Both connections have to be in place before you start the pipeline.
## 1. Sign in
Open the sign-in screen in the CRM and scan the QR there. If you cannot, send
the QR — or the short code printed under it — to your manager.
## 2. Open Files
## 3. Import the firmware bundle
Files download automatically in the background. To load a bundle you already
have on disk, open the dropdown next to **Download** and pick **Import from
file…**.
:::caution[Import is currently mandatory]
Automatic download is broken at the moment. Do not wait for it — import the
bundle from disk every time, even though the step reads as optional.
:::
Pick the `.food` bundle.
## 4. Start the pipeline
Back on the main menu, open **Flashing (no disassembly)**.
## 5. Enter the VIN
:::caution
The unit's current software must already be at version 4.1. Flashing an older
version is not supported.
:::
## 6. Choose how to reach download mode
Use the ELM327 adapter, or skip this if the device is already in download mode (EDL).
## 7. Pair the adapter
If no adapter is found, open the Bluetooth settings from this screen.
Add the `OBDII` device.
The pairing PIN is `1234`.
Back in Cartoo, press **Rescan**. The COM port should now be filled in.
## 8. Enter special mode
This reboots the vehicle into Restyle special mode.
## 9. Connect
The device switches to download mode on its own — no wires, no shorting contacts.
## 10. Partition backup
Leave **Make a partition backup** checked. It is the only restore point if
flashing fails.
:::danger
Unchecking it means there is no way back. If flashing fails the unit may be
left unbootable, and that is entirely at the dealer's own risk.
:::
## 11. Wait
## 12. Flashing complete
The firmware is on the unit, but the vehicle is not localised yet. Everything
below happens in the car, not in Cartoo.
## 13. Reboot the vehicle
Press and hold **both steering-wheel scroll wheels** at once until the screens
go dark and the unit restarts.
## 14. Clear the pop-ups
The car comes back up with a series of dialogs. Answer them in this order.
**Dash cam not recording — start it?** Tick **不再提醒** ("don't remind me
again"), then tap **开启** ("turn on").
**Microphone permission.** Set the validity period to **12个月** (12 months),
then tap **同意授权** ("grant").
**ADS software service activation failed.** Expected — the car has no network
at this point. Tap **取消** ("cancel"). Do not retry.
## 15. Get the activation certificate
Open **RedControl** from the third-party apps tab (三方应用).
It shows a QR code. Scan it through the CRM, or send it to your manager — same
as at sign-in. You get back a certificate file named after the VIN,
`.cert`.
## 16. Prepare the USB stick
The stick must be formatted **FAT-32** or **exFAT**. Nothing else is read.
Unpack `NEW-USB-FILES-FOR-V4.zip` — it ships alongside the firmware bundle.
Copy all four folders — `DeepalConfig`, `DeepalInstall`, `DeepalObb`,
`DeepalOverlays` — to the stick.
Then put the `.cert` file **in the root of the stick**, next to the folders —
not inside any of them.
## 17. Install from the stick
Plug the stick into the car and wait for the install menu to come up. Tap
**INSTALL ALL**.
When that finishes, scroll to **Resources (OBB)** and pick one language —
**EN**, **ES**, **RU** or **UA** — then tap **COPY** on the right of that row.
:::caution
Copy one language only. This is the language the vehicle interface will be in.
:::
Wait for the copy to report success before moving on.
## 18. Switch the Android system language
The locale files are on the unit now, but Android is still set to Chinese.
Open the **Settings** APK from the app drawer — the green gear, not the car's
own settings.
Tap **All Settings**.
Scroll down to **系统** (System).
Open **语言和输入法** (Languages & input) and select the language you copied in
step 17:
- **EN** → English (United States)
- **ES** → Español (España)
- **RU** → Русский (Россия)
- **UA** → Українська (Україна)
## 19. Verify
Go back to the car's own settings and wait for the translation to appear. Once
Control / Driving / Energy / Sound / Display are in the target language, the
job is done.
