Connect TALOS to the phone

The bridge lets TALOS do what Android does not let apps do — turn Wi-Fi on and off, change system settings, see which apps are installed — with the same powers as a computer plugged in over USB. Code runs its terminal through it. Why it exists, and what it can reach, is explained in Acting on the phone.

Every command it runs still passes your permission gate.

Pair it, once

The phone must be on Wi-Fi, and Android’s developer options must be on. If they are not yet, turn them on first — on most phones, by tapping Build number seven times in the phone’s About page.

1. Open Settings → Phone control in TALOS, and find Pair TALOS with your phone.
2. Tap Open developer options, turn on Wireless debugging, then tap Pair device with pairing code. Android shows a six-digit code.
3. Type the code into TALOS. The easiest way is Open settings with the field on top: a small field floats over Android’s settings, so you can read the code and type it without leaving. Do not leave Settings — Android closes the code’s dialog the moment you do.
4. TALOS finds the addresses by itself and connects. The card then reads TALOS is connected to your phone.

The floating field needs the permission to draw over other apps. Without it, you can type the code in TALOS instead — but leaving Settings to do it closes Android’s dialog, so pairing that way usually fails.

After a restart

Wireless debugging switches off every time the phone restarts, and the bridge with it; TALOS tells you it can do less than before. The pairing stays:

1. Turn Wireless debugging back on.
2. In Settings → Phone control, tap Reconnect. No new code is needed.

Keep it alive makes the bridge reconnect on its own after a restart, without turning wireless debugging back on. While it is on, anyone on your network can see the port it listens on; getting in still needs TALOS’s own key.

If pairing fails

TALOS says	What to do
The code is six digits	Type all six.
It cannot hear the pairing announcement	The code’s dialog has closed, or the phone is not on Wi-Fi. Open it again.
Pairing worked, but it cannot find the connection port	Try again in a few seconds: the phone announces it shortly after.
The phone refused the connection	Wireless debugging was switched off in the meantime.
That did not work	Android shows a new code every time: open the dialog again and type the new one.

If it keeps failing, turn wireless debugging off and on again.