Quickstart

This quickstart shows the shortest path from package install to connecting to Mentra Live and reading glasses status.

Use a physical phone for Bluetooth testing. Simulators and emulators are useful for UI and compile checks, but they do not provide the real Bluetooth path.

This quickstart uses Bluetooth SDK 0.1.20. Before testing SDK features, install the matching Mentra Live 0.1.20 glasses software. Every SDK release requires the Mentra Live software release with the same version number.

Step 1: Install The SDK

React Native / Expo
Android
iOS

bun add @mentra/bluetooth-sdk@0.1.20
bunx expo install expo-build-properties

Add the config plugin to your Expo app config. In most Expo apps this is the root app.json; in TypeScript-configured apps it is usually the root app.config.ts. Merge these keys into the existing top-level expo object instead of creating a second config file or replacing unrelated settings:

{
  "expo": {
    "plugins": [
      [
        "@mentra/bluetooth-sdk",
        {
          "node": true
        }
      ],
      [
        "expo-build-properties",
        {
          "android": {
            "minSdkVersion": 28,
            "packagingOptions": {
              "pickFirst": [
                "**/libc++_shared.so",
                "**/libonnxruntime.so",
                "**/libonnxruntime4j_jni.so"
              ]
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    ]
  }
}

Then generate and run a native build:

bunx expo prebuild
bunx expo run:ios
# or
bunx expo run:android

Add the Android package:

// settings.gradle.kts
dependencyResolutionManagement {
    repositoriesMode.set(RepositoriesMode.FAIL_ON_PROJECT_REPOS)
    repositories {
        google()
        mavenCentral()
    }
}

// app/build.gradle.kts
android {
    defaultConfig {
        minSdk = 28
    }
    packaging {
        jniLibs {
            pickFirsts += "**/libc++_shared.so"
        }
    }
}

dependencies {
    implementation("com.mentraglass:bluetooth-sdk:0.1.20")
}

The Android artifact is published on Maven Central. Keep google() and mavenCentral() in repositories. The companion LC3 codec artifact resolves transitively as com.mentraglass:lc3Lib.

Add the Swift package.In Xcode, add this package URL:

https://github.com/Mentra-Community/mentra-bluetooth-sdk-ios.git

Select version 0.1.20, then add the MentraBluetoothSDK product to your app target.For Package.swift consumers:

.package(
  url: "https://github.com/Mentra-Community/mentra-bluetooth-sdk-ios.git",
  from: "0.1.20"
)

Then add the product to your target:

.product(name: "MentraBluetoothSDK", package: "mentra-bluetooth-sdk-ios")

Step 2: Add Permissions

React Native / Expo
Android
iOS

Configure permissions in the same root Expo app config. If your app already has android.permissions or ios.infoPlist, append or merge these values:

{
  "expo": {
    "android": {
      "permissions": [
        "android.permission.BLUETOOTH_SCAN",
        "android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT",
        "android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION",
        "android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO",
        "android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS"
      ]
    },
    "ios": {
      "infoPlist": {
        "NSBluetoothAlwaysUsageDescription": "This app connects to your smart glasses over Bluetooth.",
        "NSMicrophoneUsageDescription": "This app uses the microphone when you enable audio features.",
        "NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription": "This app can connect to optional local demo servers on your network."
      }
    }
  }
}

Declare the platform permissions your app uses:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_SCAN" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS" />

Some Android 12+ devices require runtime location permission and Location services before BLE scan callbacks arrive.

Add usage descriptions to Info.plist:

<key>NSBluetoothAlwaysUsageDescription</key>
<string>This app connects to your smart glasses over Bluetooth.</string>
<key>NSMicrophoneUsageDescription</key>
<string>This app uses the microphone when you enable audio features.</string>
<key>NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription</key>
<string>This app can connect to optional local demo servers on your network.</string>

Step 3: Connect And Read Status

React Native / Expo
Android
iOS

import BluetoothSdk, {DeviceModels} from '@mentra/bluetooth-sdk';

const devices = await BluetoothSdk.scan(DeviceModels.MentraLive, {
  timeoutMs: 10_000,
  onResults: (nextDevices) => {
    console.log('Nearby glasses:', nextDevices);
  },
});

const device = await chooseDevice(devices);
if (!device) {
  throw new Error('No Mentra Live glasses selected');
}

await BluetoothSdk.connect(device);
await BluetoothSdk.requestVersionInfo();

onResults is the live UI path while scanning is in progress. The returned devices array is the final list after the scan timeout/completion, which is the right place for final selection, fallback behavior, or “connect to this device” logic. In rooms with multiple pairs of glasses, present an explicit picker instead of auto-connecting to the first nearby device.Use Device.id as the stable app-facing key for scan rows, selected devices, and persisted default devices. Do not parse it for model, name, or address information; use the typed model, name, address / identifier, and rssi fields instead. Android commonly uses a Bluetooth address when available, iOS commonly uses a CoreBluetooth identifier when available, and the SDK falls back to model:name when no platform identifier is available.Device.rssi is optional. A device can appear in scan results before the platform reports RSSI, so picker UI should handle undefined and avoid reordering rows just because RSSI metadata arrives later.In React components, use useMentraBluetooth() to render the current connection and status state:

import {Text} from 'react-native';
import {useMentraBluetooth} from '@mentra/bluetooth-sdk/react';

export function GlassesConnectionLabel() {
  const mentra = useMentraBluetooth();

  if (!mentra.glasses.connected) {
    return <Text>Disconnected</Text>;
  }

  return <Text>Connected to {mentra.glasses.device.deviceModel || 'Mentra Live'}</Text>;
}

import android.content.Context
import com.mentra.bluetoothsdk.Device
import com.mentra.bluetoothsdk.DeviceModel
import com.mentra.bluetoothsdk.GlassesRuntimeState
import com.mentra.bluetoothsdk.MentraBluetoothSdk
import com.mentra.bluetoothsdk.MentraBluetoothSdkCallback

class GlassesController(context: Context) : MentraBluetoothSdkCallback() {
    private val sdk = MentraBluetoothSdk.create(
        context = context.applicationContext,
        listener = this,
    )
    private var selectedDevice: Device? = null

    fun scan() {
        sdk.scan(DeviceModel.MENTRA_LIVE, timeoutMs = 10_000) { devices ->
            renderDevicePicker(devices, onSelect = { selectedDevice = it })
        }
    }

    fun connect() {
        selectedDevice?.let { sdk.connect(it) }
    }

    fun refreshStatus() {
        sdk.requestVersionInfo()
        val glasses = sdk.getGlasses()
        if (glasses is GlassesRuntimeState.Connected) {
            val model = glasses.device.deviceModel?.deviceType ?: "glasses"
            val battery = glasses.battery.level?.toString() ?: "unknown"
            println("Connected to $model, battery=$battery%")
        }
    }

    override fun onGlassesChanged(glasses: GlassesRuntimeState) {
        // Keep app UI derived from SDK status.
        println("Glasses changed: $glasses")
    }

    private fun renderDevicePicker(devices: List<Device>, onSelect: (Device) -> Unit) {
        // Render devices in SDK-provided order and call onSelect with the user's choice.
    }

    fun close() {
        sdk.close()
    }
}

import MentraBluetoothSDK

@MainActor
final class GlassesController: NSObject, MentraBluetoothSDKDelegate {
    private let sdk = MentraBluetoothSDK()
    private var selectedDevice: Device?

    override init() {
        super.init()
        sdk.delegate = self
    }

    func scan() throws {
        try sdk.scan(model: .mentraLive, timeout: 10) { [weak self] devices in
            self?.renderDevicePicker(devices) { device in
                self?.selectedDevice = device
            }
        }
    }

    func connect() throws {
        guard let selectedDevice else { return }
        try sdk.connect(to: selectedDevice)
    }

    func refreshStatus() {
        sdk.requestVersionInfo()
        let glasses = sdk.glasses
        if let device = glasses.device {
            let battery = glasses.battery?.level.map(String.init) ?? "unknown"
            print("Connected to \(device.deviceModel?.deviceType ?? "glasses"), battery=\(battery)%")
        }
    }

    func mentraBluetoothSDK(_ sdk: MentraBluetoothSDK, didUpdateGlasses glasses: GlassesRuntimeState) {
        // Keep app UI derived from SDK status.
        print("Glasses changed: \(glasses)")
    }

    private func renderDevicePicker(_ devices: [Device], onSelect: @escaping (Device) -> Void) {
        // Render devices in SDK-provided order and call onSelect with the user's choice.
    }

    deinit {
        sdk.invalidate()
    }
}

Next Steps

Update Mentra Live

Match the glasses software release to your SDK version.

Run Example Apps

Start from complete Android, iOS, and React Native examples.

API Reference

Learn the lifecycle, commands, status fields, and events.

Getting Started

Platform Setup

Core APIs

Release

Step 1: Install The SDK

Step 2: Add Permissions

Step 3: Connect And Read Status

Next Steps

Update Mentra Live

Run Example Apps

API Reference

​Step 1: Install The SDK

​Step 2: Add Permissions

​Step 3: Connect And Read Status

​Next Steps

Update Mentra Live

Run Example Apps

API Reference

Step 1: Install The SDK

Step 2: Add Permissions

Step 3: Connect And Read Status

Next Steps