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Set up a Bluetooth LE button

This article is written for: ❌ Zello Work ✅ Zello Friends & Family

A Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) push-to-talk (PTT) button lets you talk on Zello without holding the on-screen talk button, or while Zello runs in the background. This guide shows you how to pair a BLE accessory and add its button to Zello on your iPhone or iPad.

Before you start

  • Use a supported accessory. Zello only recognizes BLE buttons it has certified. Check the Zello certified hardware page to confirm your device is supported before setting it up.
  • Charge the accessory and turn it on.
  • Make sure the button isn't already paired to another phone or tablet. A BLE button that's still bonded to another device often won't be discovered. If needed, reset the accessory following the manufacturer's instructions before you begin.

Step 1: Pair the accessory with your device

Following the manufacturer's instructions, put the accessory in pairing mode and pair it with your iPhone or iPad.

Step 2: Add the button in Zello

  1. Open Zello and tap your profile picture in the top-left corner.
    Select profile picture
  2. Select Settings.
    select settings
  3. Select Push-to-talk buttons.
    select push-to-talk buttons
  4. Tap Add New Device. Your accessory's name will appear.
    tap Add New Device
  5. When prompted, press and release the button on your accessory that you want to use for push-to-talk. Zello detects the press and adds that button to your Push-to-talk buttons list, where it now appears.

Step 3: Test the button

Open the Echo contact and press your accessory's button to record a short message. Echo plays your message back to you, so you'll immediately know the button is transmitting correctly.

Optional: Assign the button to a specific contact or channel

By default, the button sends to whichever contact or channel screen you last had open. To lock it to one recipient:

  1. Go to Settings > Push-to-talk buttons and tap your accessory's name.
  2. Open the button's contact menu and tap Select.
  3. Choose the contact or channel you want the button to always talk to.

Troubleshooting

  • Your accessory doesn't appear under Add New Device: Confirm it's a certified Zello accessory, that it's charged and in pairing mode, and that it isn't still connected to another phone. Toggling Bluetooth off and on, or restarting the app, can also help.
  • The button paired but won't transmit or keeps disconnecting: Power-cycle the accessory, then remove it from the Push-to-talk buttons list and add it again. If it still won't reconnect, restart your device.