Hands Mobile lets you link an Android phone to your Hands account so an authorized Hand can use supported features on that phone. It is currently an Android app downloaded as an APK from the Console. This procedure does not describe an iOS app.
Download and install the Android app
- Open the Hands Console and go to Devices. Select a ready Hand; the download button stays disabled until the selected Hand is ready.
- Select Download Android app. The Console prepares a download from the selected Hand and starts it in your browser.
- Open the downloaded APK file on your Android phone. If you downloaded it on a computer, transfer it to the phone first.
- Follow Android’s installation prompts. If Android requests permission to install from this source, grant it only if you trust the Hands download you just initiated.
- Open Hands Mobile on your phone and begin the sign-in flow.
The Console cannot install an APK remotely. Downloads may temporarily fail when the selected Hand or its download service is unavailable.
Pair your phone
- In Hands Mobile, choose the account sign-in action, such as Sign in with gethands.nl.
- Sign in through the browser opened by the app. Complete the return to Hands Mobile; if a button appears to return to the app, use it.
- Keep Hands Mobile running while it connects. Sign-in first creates a setup in progress entry; the phone becomes a connected device only after it sends its first report.
- Return to Devices in the Console and select Refresh devices. Check its name, connection status and Last seen time.
A phone may show Online, Connecting, Offline or Paused. Being online, establishing a Hand connection and granting permission for a specific action are distinct states. Pairing alone does not guarantee that every feature is ready. Set up Android permissions for the functions you need.
Troubleshooting
- Download button is unavailable: select a Hand that is ready. Retry later if its download service cannot respond.
- Android blocks installation: review the APK-source installation prompt without permanently disabling device security protections.
- Setup remains pending: reopen Hands Mobile, check its connection and repeat sign-in if the browser did not return to the app. You can cancel an incomplete entry under Setup in progress in Devices.
- Phone is missing or offline: open Hands Mobile and refresh Devices. Review background activity and required permissions.
- An update appears: select Update Android app and install over the existing app rather than uninstalling it first.
Related: Set up Hands Mobile permissions and Connect your first integration.
After pairing
You can use your Hand with the connected phone, manage phone access per Hand, pause or unlink your phone across Hands, and update Hands Mobile or troubleshoot connectivity.