Compiled by Philip Pang

[GUIDE] How to enter developer mode on 2017 Honda CRV / Civic (and
now root & install apps)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/guide-how-to-enter-developer-mode-2017-
t3621582?nocache=1&nocache=1

Finally, somebody here in China found a way to enter the developer mode on 2017 civic. The trick is, when you see
the prompt "Please enter a passcord", just click the top 4 list items in a special order (1, 4, 2, 3) and then the
developer mode will be unlocked.

======================
Updated 2018.01.14
A totally new One Click Root tool (Windows GUI version) and Honda Hack app were released. With the help of
Honda Hack app, we can install apps without a laptop. What's more, we can enable the steering wheel audio
controls, save offline maps and songs to the external USB drive now.

Things to prepare before start:

1. Laptop with Windows 10 (Must ensure the Antivirus / Windows Defender is DISABLED)
2. USB A to A Cable (Male to Male) - https://www.lazada.com.my/15m-high-quality-usb-cable-male-to-male-
data-transfer-rate-up-to480mbp-62223941.html
3. USB Thumb Drive and formatted to FAT or FAT32 Filesystem
4. Download the below essential APK from my Dropbox and copy to FAT/FAT32 formatted USD Thumb Drive
• Honda Hack APK - https://github.com/codeage/root-
honda/blob/master/packages/HondaHack.apk?raw=true
• Spotify 5.5.0 APK (Must use this version as latest version not working) -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ckg0pir22k9j37/com.spotify.music_5.5.0.653-
12584872_minAPI15%28armeabi-v7a%29%28nodpi%29_apkmirror.com.apk?dl=1
• Waze Navigation APK -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tn2p57nsh5utpjr/Waze%20GPS%20Maps%20Traffic%20Alerts%20Live%20N
avigation_v4.34.1.0_apkpure.com.apk?dl=1
• NewPipe APK (Lightweight Youtube Client which allow Background Playback, CRV TC-P owner please use
this instead of Youtube TV, so it doesn’t affect your Lane Watch) -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/r0iq3eyyqsqyk7g/org.schabi.newpipe_46.apk?dl=1
• Youtube for Android TV APK -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/awggisa20e1r4n0/YouTube%20for%20Android%20TV_v1.3.11_apkpure.co
m.apk?dl=1

Detailed steps:
1. Enter developer mode and enable USB debugging.
• Go to HOME > Settings > System > Detail information.
• In the Android Settings window, scroll down and click About.
• Click the Build Number seven times EXACTLY!
• Now you will see the Please enter a passcord prompt.
• Click the top 4 items in order: 1 (Model Number), 4 (Kernel Version), 2 (Android Version), 3 (Baseband
Version) and you should unlock the developer mode.
• Go into Android Settings > Developer options and enable USB debugging.
If you still cannot follow, watch the video here (from 0:20 to 1.11): https://youtu.be/mr38YYJ_fuI
Compiled by Philip Pang

2. Change the USB role of the head unit from 'Host' to 'Device'.
• Press the VOL ADUIO, TEL, and Brightness (Civic = POWER, MENU, Brightness) button at once, and hold
until you enter a new menu with two options.
If you cannot follow, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/4FNgD0L8X_Q
• Click the bottom option called Detail Information & Settings.
• Now hold the TEL (Civic = MENU) key to enter another menu.
• Then Hold the HOME key to enter the last menu. You should first hear two consecutive beeps and then
one final beep.
• Lastly, change the role of USB Port from Host to Device.
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• Now connect your laptop to the front Android Auto/CarPlay Port using the USB A to A cable.

3. Run the One Click Root

• Disable your anti-virus and/or anti-malware programs in your laptop before continue.
• Download the root tool: HondaHack.zip - https://github.com/codeage/root-
honda/blob/master/packages/HondaHack.zip?raw=true
• Extract HondaHack.exe from the ZIP file. (If you have antivirus enable, the exe file will be delete, so
please ensure you disable Antivirus in your laptop)
• To disable Windows Defender, follow the steps below:
o Open Settings.
o Click on Update & security.
o Click on Windows Defender.
o Turn off the toggle switch for Real-time protection.
• Run HondaHack.exe and it should connect to the head unit automatically. Android ADB USB Driver should
be installed automatically in the meanwhile. (This will take a while, just wait!)
• Click the ROOT button and wait for the processing to complete.
• Before the head unit get rebooted automatically, it will take few minutes or more, just wait and don’t
touch anything!
• WAIT until the head unit is rebooted, you should see Honda Installer in the App List folder. Honda
Installer was installed as a system app so you will not lose it after a factory resetting.

4. How to Install Honda Hack and other APKs from USB Drive
• Plug in USB drive to 1.0A USB port in your car.
• Open Honda Installer and click Install an app.
• USB Drive that plug in to 1.0A USB Port will mounted to usbdrive2 path
• Navigate to usbdrive2 to see the APK files that store in your USB drive.
• Click on Honda Hack APK and follow the instruction to finish the installation.
• Once Installation completed, don’t reboot your Head Unit yet.
• Continue to install other APKs files that you saved in external USB drive.
• Once all APK files are installed, you can reboot your Head Unit (Press and hold “VOL/Power” knob until
the reboot confirmation appear then click yes to reboot.
• All the installed Apps can be found in “App List”
• To move the shortcut to home screen, press and hold the app and move the shortcut icon to home
screen.
• You can also move “Widget” to home screen with the same method.

5. Open Honda Hack app to get more powerful features including:

• Install / Uninstall apps without a laptop.
• Bypass parking brake. (Install this as this option will allow you to run apps while driving.)
• Force landscape mode so apps such as Spotify will display properly. (Enable this)
• Enable steering wheel controls for civic & accord & CRV.
• Enable write access to the external USB storage (pro only).
• Auto click the OK button at startup (pro only).
• Auto run app at startup (pro only).
Compiled by Philip Pang

6. Change the USB role of the head unit back from 'Device' to 'host' in order to use Android Auto / Apple CarPlay
after root.
• Press the VOL ADUIO, TEL, and Brightness (Civic = POWER, MENU, Brightness) button at once, and hold
until you enter a new menu with two options.
If you cannot follow, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/4FNgD0L8X_Q
• Click the bottom option called Detail Information & Settings.
• Now hold the TEL (Civic = MENU) key to enter another menu.
• Then Hold the HOME key to enter the last menu. You should first hear two consecutive beeps and then
one final beep.
• Lastly, change the role of USB Port from Device to Host.

7. Important Tips to enhance the user experience for this hack:

Open Waze, go to Settings, scroll down and enter to Sound settings. In this page, turn ON the Play Sound to Phone
Speaker. This will allow you to listen to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, Radio as music source while Waze
Navigation Narrative still working as normal.

8. Remove Honda Hack logo from HU top bar:

If you don’t have to be too obvious that your HU is rooted, you can follow the below steps to remove the Honda
Hack logo from the Head Unit top bar.
Compiled by Philip Pang

After you installed Honda Hack APK, you will see this little Honda logo. Slide down from top of your HU and
click the Settings next to the date

Scroll down and click Apps

Click Honda Hack

Compiled by Philip Pang

Unchecked the “Show Notifications”

Click OK when the warning prompt out.

Now the Honda logo is no longer there. You can repeat the same to remove Spotify logo or other apps
logo too.
Compiled by Philip Pang

Now your HU just like Original HU.

All credit goes to @jersacct.