[Android Head-Units] akm6p:
I've been in contact with one of the vendors of an Android 11 HU I recently purchased,

#1 - It's tough to communicate with them

( they are all in China, and it's clear they translate English using Google-T )

I don't know the specific build for your system, but Zlink is somehow tied into the entire Android Build Version which they custom build for each HEAD Unit.

I have provided two different files here. READ this carefully.

The file starting with:

gongban_92_Zlink - is the older version of Zlink. It may be less resource intensive, but it works similarly to the new Zlink5 version.

The file starting with:

gongban_F92XX_Zlink5 - is the newer version of Zlink ( or at least as new as it can get) ( This was given to me by the manufacturer's tech dept in March of 2023. )

The way I was told to install these is to:

- Save which ever one you want to install onto an empty USB stick.

- DO NOT change the name or the extension of the file.

- Plug in the USB stick

- Open Your App Drawer > Find Car Settings > Find System Information

- There could be a button on that System Information screen that says: Android Update ( This button was greyed out(unaccessible) until plugged in my USB drive.)

- You hit that button and wait for the update to finish. everything is automatic from that point.

- When successful you would notice a new Zlink app in your app drawer. It might even automatically launch after system reboots.

BEFORE YOU GO TRYING THESE STEPS THOUGH:

Understand that these apps are custom built to access bluetooth and Wifi functions of the Android system.

If they are not installed correctly they might

A: Not work at all

B: Brick your device

Here are some photos of the specs of my device and some screen shots of how the settings pages look and where you can find update options (given you have the right update files):

How old Zlink app looks:

View attachment 5862517

How new Zlink5 apps looks:

View attachment 5862519

Settings Page:

View attachment 5862523

and finally ABOUT FACTORY SETTINGS and your app disappearing:

When you hit Factory Settings ( and get into the main screen:

You should see an option called APPS:

When you enter that there could be a screen with the header: XYZ apps

XYZ apps is a custom system settings app which forces apps to boot with the head unit, and never allows them to force quit. ( This app in not attainable on the app store - is what I mean by custom)

Before you go installing any updates or files, find the APPS section in factory settings and see if Zlink is on that list.

The list is "check-able" - like toggles or check marks

- If you see the app there and it is UNCHECKED then CHECK IT, go back a page and find Reboot.

Then see if you app appears again.

If you don't see it.. well.. that's beyond my understanding, but most likely you would need to install them through a USB port like I detailed above.

Weather or not MY attached files will be suitable for your system is a whole other question.

One other thing:

- I'm not a developer and I don't know how build versions work on Android and how each aspect of each function affects other aspects:

But it is clear that the Chinese devs who write these Android builds are forcing certain apps to run in the background.

Having said that.

NEVER connect your Android head unit to Wifi and use it to access Personal Information or store passwords.

These aren't ATT or Verizon head units. They are made by a foreign company who is most likely under the umbrella of laws and regulations which allow the military to snoop on customer data in the name of the motherland...

The only way I use my headunit, is for it's radio, and the Android Auto function for navigation.. (whenever Zlink isn't crashing)

I don't allow any internet connection to the unit as it is not necessary. As a driver all you need in a car is a map and some tunes.