How to Program Your Baofeng UV-5R Mini with the Bluetooth App (A Step-by-Step Guide)

The Baofeng UV-5R Mini is a powerful and compact walkie-talkie, and one of its best features is built-in Bluetooth. This allows for wireless programming directly from your smartphone, saving you from the hassle of driver issues and cumbersome programming cables.

This guide will walk you through the entire process, from enabling the feature on your radio to writing your custom frequencies using the official OLA Radio app.

Before you can connect, you need two things: the app on your phone and the correct setting enabled on your radio.

• Baofeng UV-5R Mini (or another compatible Bluetooth model)
• Smartphone (iOS or Android)
• The "OLA Radio" app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

For iPhone/iOS: Scan the QR code on the left or search for "OLA Radio" on the Apple App Store.
For Android: Scan the QR code on the right or search for "OLA Radio" on the Google Play Store.

This is the most important step! The Bluetooth function is often disabled by default to save battery. You must enable it from the radio's menu.

1. Turn on your UV-5R Mini.
   
2. Press the [MENU] button.
   
3. Use the arrow keys (▲/▼) to navigate to the "Wireless Cps" option. (Cps stands for Customer Programming Software).
   
4. Press [MENU] to select it.
   
5. Change the setting from "OFF" to "ON".
   
6. Press [MENU] to confirm and [EXIT] to return to the main screen.

The preparation step depends on whether yNow that your radio is discoverable, let's pair it with the app.our radio has built-in Bluetooth or uses the adapter. Follow the instructions that match your model.

1. Open the OLA Radio app. You'll be greeted with the "Devices" screen.
2. If you have no devices, it will say "No walkie-talkie devices added." Tap the blue "Add Device" button at the bottom (as shown in image 1).
3. The app will begin "Scanning nearby devices" with a radar animation (image 2). Make sure your radio is on and close to your phone.

1. Your radio will appear in the list as "walkie-talkie." Tap on it, then press the blue "Connect Device" button (image 3).
2. The app will then ask you to "Select Model." This is a critical step. Scroll through the list and tap on "UV-5R Mini" (image 4).
3. Read the connection guide and risk warning. Check the box for "I have carefully read..." and tap "Pair and Connect" (image 5).
4. You'll be returned to the main "Devices" screen, where your UV-5R Mini will now show as "Connected" (image 6).

With your radio connected, you now have full control.

On the app's main screen, tap the large green "Read and write frequency" icon. It is highly recommended to first "Read" the existing data from your radio. This creates a backup and ensures you are working with the radio's current configuration.

After reading, you'll see your device parameters. Tap the "Channel Settings" tab.

Here you can:

• Tap any channel (CH1, CH2, etc.) to edit it.
• Set the Rx Freq (Receive Frequency) and Tx Freq (Transmit Frequency).
• Add a Channel Name.
• Configure CTCSS/DCS tones to block unwanted signals.
• Click "Modify Configuration" when done with your edits.

Tap the "Function Settings" tab to access your radio's core features. You no longer need to fight with the radio's menu!

From this screen, you can easily change:

• TOT (s): Time-out Timer
• SQL: Squelch Level
• Vox Function: Voice-activated transmission
• Backlight Time
• And all other advanced settings.

Once you have finished editing your channels and functions, you have two options at the bottom of the screen:

1. Save Plan: This saves your configuration as a file on your phone. This is excellent for keeping different setups (e.g., "Camping Trip," "Event") or for programming multiple radios identically.
2. Write to Device: This is the final step. Tap this button to send your new configuration from the app directly to your walkie-talkie.

Your radio's screen will show a "Program..." message. Do not turn off the radio or phone during this process. Once complete, your Baofeng UV-5R Mini is fully programmed and ready to use!

• Always Read First: Before making any changes, always use the "Read" function first. This syncs the app with your radio's current state and acts as an instant backup.
• Save Your Plans: Use the "Save Plan" feature! Save a "master" copy of your favorite frequencies. This is perfect for backing up your setup or quickly programming a friend's compatible radio.
• Full Battery: Ensure both your phone and your UV-5R Mini have a good battery charge before writing to the device. A device dying mid-write can corrupt the radio's data.
• One-at-a-Time: Only have one Bluetooth-enabled radio on and in "Wireless Cps" mode near your phone when trying to connect. This prevents the app from getting confused.
• Connection Failed? If you have trouble connecting, try these steps:

1. Turn off "Wireless Cps" on the radio and turn it back on.
2. Turn the radio off and on again.
3. Force-close the OLA Radio app and reopen it.
4. On your phone, go to Bluetooth settings, "forget" the radio, and try pairing again from scratch.