llizardOS

Installation Guide

Transform your Car Thing in three phases. The process takes about fifteen minutes.

What You'll Need

Just a few things to get started.

Spotify Car Thing
Android phone (8.0+)
USB-C cable
Computer (Windows recommended)
1

Flash Firmware

Download LlizardOS

Get the latest firmware image from our GitHub releases page.

Download from GitHub

Open Terbium

Terbium is a web-based flashing tool that runs in your browser.

Open terbium.app

Enter Burn Mode

To flash the firmware, your Car Thing needs to be in burn mode:

  1. Hold down buttons 1 and 4 simultaneously.
  2. While holding, connect the USB-C cable to your computer.
  3. Continue holding for 3-5 seconds until the screen remains black, then release.
The screen should be completely black in burn mode. If you see any display, disconnect and try again.

Flash using Terbium

With your device in burn mode and connected:

  1. Go to terbium.app in your browser.
  2. Select your Car Thing from the device list.
  3. Choose the LlizardOS firmware image you downloaded.
  4. Click "Flash" and wait for the process to complete (3-5 minutes).
Flashing firmware will erase all data on your Car Thing. Do not disconnect the device during the process. Proceed at your own risk.
2

Install Janus

Janus is the Android companion app that bridges your phone's music to the Car Thing.

Download the APK

Get the latest Janus APK from our GitHub releases.

Download Janus APK

Install and Grant Permissions

Install the APK, then grant these permissions when you open the app:

  • Media access: to read currently playing tracks.
  • Bluetooth: to communicate with Car Thing.
  • Notification access: to monitor music playback.
3

Connect & Play

  1. Power on your Car Thing. You should see the LlizardOS boot screen.
  2. Open Janus on your phone. The app will automatically scan for nearby devices.
  3. Scan and pair. When your device appears, tap to pair.
  4. Start playing music. Your Car Thing should now display what's playing!

Troubleshooting

Having issues? Here are some common solutions.

IssueSolution
Device won't enter burn modeTry a different USB cable. Make sure you're holding buttons 1 and 4. Hold for the full 5 seconds.
Terbium doesn't detect deviceTry a different USB port. Refresh terbium.app. Ensure device is in burn mode (screen black). Use Chrome/Edge browser.
Janus won't find Car ThingEnsure Bluetooth is enabled. Restart both devices. Check that Car Thing is fully booted.
Music doesn't displayGrant all permissions in Janus, including notification access. Make sure music is playing.

Get Help

Still stuck? The LlizardOS community is here to help.

Discord GitHub Reddit