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Connecting Lens Studio to Spectacles

Spectacles can connect directly to Lens Studio either via a USB cable (wired) or through a local Wi-Fi network (wireless). To display Spectacles Connectivity options under the Preview Lens Additional Settings popup, ensure that Made For Spectacles is checked in Project Info.

An internet connection is always required for wireless connectivity. For wired connectivity, an internet connection is required once every 30 days. During this 30-day period, Spectacles will automatically connect to Lens Studio when plugged in, without requiring you to press the Preview Lens or Connect Spectacles button.

When your device is connected to Lens Studio, you can perform the following actions:

Direct Connection Setup​

To directly connect to Spectacles, whether wirelessly or wired, first:

  1. Log into Lens Studio through the My Lenses portal using the same account paired with your Spectacles.
  2. Ensure your Spectacles device is awake and its displays are turned on, showing the System UI.

If multiple devices are paired with your Spectacles app, Lens Studio will connect only with one of the devices, and will ignore the remaining. To connect with a specific device, keep only that device awake. Note that if Spectacles can connect to a device via both wired and wireless methods, the wired connection is automatically chosen.

Wired Direct Connection Setup​

Connect Spectacles to Lens Studio via wired connection by enabling wired connectivity and using a USB cable to plug the device into your computer.

Enabling this option may slightly increase device charging time and device temperature while it is plugged into your computer.

The device will remain connected as long as it is powered and plugged in.

To enable wired connectivity open the Spectacles mobile app. Navigate to Developer Settings -> Lens Development and toggle on Enable Wired Connectivity. This needs to be done only once: this setting will persist through restarts and updates.

The toolbar includes a Preview Lens button. When clicked the first time, Lens Studio will attempt to connect to Spectacles. Once connected, clicking Preview Lens sends the Lens to Spectacles. Use the Additional Settings button next to Preview Lens to access the full Connectivity UI, from which you can launch the Spectacles Monitor and access other platform options. If the Made for Mobile or Made for Camera Kit checkboxes are selected in Project Settings, additional options for those platforms will appear.

When Lens Studio detects Spectacles with wired connectivity enabled, the Logger panel will display Spectacles connected to USB. The first wired connection will require internet connectivity and pushing the Connect Spectacles button. For 30 days afterward Spectacles will connect to this Lens Studio automatically regardless of internet access.

Windows users have first to install adb in their development environment. If Lens Studio does not detect adb, specify the path in the Preferences Page under Send to Device.

Depending on Windows configuration you might need to allow local network connection via Windows system dialog, which automatically appears on Lens Studio launching. If you accidentally disallowed local network connection, or Spectacles cannot be detected, consider restarting your computer.

The USB-C to USB-C cable included in the Spectacles package is recommended for wired connection for the best experience, but most modern USB data cables are suitable.

Connecting with Wireless Connection​

To be able to use wireless connection, verify that your computer and Spectacles are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Wireless connectivity does not function if the network restricts device-to-device connections (often referred to as peer isolation, client isolation, AP isolation, or SSID isolation).

Most mobile devices running Android and iOS support the Mobile Hotspot / Personal Hotspot feature. This feature creates a WiFi network that can be used for a wireless connection between Lens Studio and the Spectacles.

If you enable Wired Connectivity for Spectacles and connect the device using a USB cable, it will use the wired connection instead. Note that the device will lose the wireless connection if it is set to sleep.

Draft Folder​

Lenses sent to Spectacles will stay in the Draft folder. When a Lens with the same Project Name as an existing Lens in the Draft folder is sent, it overwrites the existing Lens. Otherwise, a new Lens is added. These Lenses stay until the device is wiped or a Lens is deleted using the Delete button on the Lens Tile.

Additional Settings​

Filtering Spectacles Logs​

Filter logs from Spectacles to reduce clutter. You can create a separate Logger Panel specifically for Spectacles logs if desired.

Send On Project Save​

For rapid prototyping, enable the Send On Project Save setting in Preferences.

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