Full setup from start to finish. Bluetooth pairing takes a few minutes on its own — this page walks through it so you know what to expect.
Torq needs a Bluetooth OBD-II adapter to talk to your car. These are small dongles that plug into the OBD port under your dashboard — your car's on-board socket for diagnostic equipment.
Any standard Bluetooth OBD-II adapter will also work. Avoid the ones under £5 — they tend to send bad data or drop the connection. Spend a bit more and it'll just work.
Torq isn't on sale yet — sign up to be notified when it launches. If you're a developer with early access, your activation code and download link came in an email from us.
Once downloaded, run the installer to set up Torq.
The OBD port is under your dashboard on the driver's side — usually near the steering column, within reach of the driver's seat. It's a trapezoidal 16-pin socket. If you can't find it, check your car's manual under "OBD port location" or search "[your car make/model] OBD port location" on YouTube.
Plug the adapter in. It should have an LED that lights up when the ignition is on.
Go to Windows Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Add device → Bluetooth. Turn on your car's ignition (engine doesn't need to be running, just ignition on). The adapter should appear in the list — it might be called "OBD2", "OBDII", "VEEPEAK", or similar.
Pair it. If it asks for a PIN, try 1234 or 0000. Once paired, it'll show up in Torq's connection list.
Launch Torq. On first run it'll ask for your activation code — the one that came with your purchase email. Enter it and hit activate. Done, that's your licence sorted.
Torq will ask you to add your car — make, model, year, fuel type. This helps Aldo give you car-specific advice rather than generic guidance.
Select your OBD adapter from the connection dropdown, make sure the ignition is on, and hit Connect. Live sensor data starts flowing within a few seconds.
Troubleshooting
Make sure the ignition is on. The adapter needs power from the car — it won't light up or respond with the ignition off. Try unplugging and re-plugging the adapter if it still doesn't show up.
Remove any existing pairing for the adapter in Windows Bluetooth settings, then re-add it. Sometimes Windows caches a broken pairing. Also check the ignition is on — the adapter only broadcasts when it has power.
Select the correct adapter from the dropdown — if Windows lists several COM ports, try the one whose name matches your OBD adapter, or try each in turn. If it still won't connect, try a different Bluetooth adapter — cheap no-name adapters under £5 are often unreliable.
This is normal for some older cars (2001–2004 era) or certain makes. Your car's computer just doesn't respond to as many sensor requests as newer cars. The connection is fine — you're getting everything your car reports.
Click "More info" on the SmartScreen popup, then "Run anyway". This is normal for independent apps not sold through the Microsoft Store. Torq is safe — upload it to virustotal.com if you want to verify.
Email support.torq@gmail.com with your car make/model, adapter name, and what you see happening. I'll get back to you.