Welcome to the AAPS documentation

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Android APS (AAPS) is an open source app for people living with insulin-dependent diabetes. It is an artificial pancreas system (APS) which runs on Android smartphones. AAPS uses an OpenAPS software algorithm and aims to do what a real pancreas does: keep blood sugar levels within healthy limits by using automated insulin dosing. To use AAPS you need three compatible devices: (1) an Android phone, (2) a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), and (3) an FDA/CE approved insulin pump. You can also add (4) cloud services to remotely control AAPS, share your data, and store it on a reporting server, and (5) a smartwatch.

This documentation explains how to set up and use AAPS. You can navigate through the AAPS documentation either through the menu on the left (and the handy Search docs function), or by using the index at the bottom of this page.

Overview of the AAPS documentation (“The docs”)

Section 1) Getting Started, the Introduction explains the general concept of what an artificial pancreas system (APS) is designed to do. It outlines the background of looping in general, why AAPS was developed, compares AAPS to other systems, and addresses safety. It gives suggestions about how to talk to your clinical team about AAPS, explains why you need to build the AAPS app yourself rather than just downloading it, and gives an overview of the typical connectivity of an AAPS system. It also addresses accessibility, and who is likely to benefit from AAPS.

Preparing for AAPS gives more detail about safety considerations, and the phones, CGMs (Continuous Glucose Monitors) and insulin pumps which are compatible with AAPS. It gives an overview of the process you will go through, and provides an approximate timeline for gaining full functionality of AAPS. This section gets you technically prepared to assemble your AAPS setup as quickly and efficiently as possible. The subsection CGM Configuration explains how to optimize your CGM setup and which smoothing options are best.

Now that you have a solid understanding of the process, you can start assembling your AAPS loop.

Section 2) Build the app explains why you need to build the AAPS app yourself rather than just downloading it, and takes you step-by-step through building it (using a browser, Android Studio, or the command line) and then transferring and installing it on your phone. It also explains Android developer verification, a change Google is rolling out from September 2026 that affects how self-built apps are installed.

Section 3) Setting up the reporting server covers choosing and setting up your reporting server (Nightscout or Tidepool) so you can review and share your data.

Section 4) Configure AAPS covers setting up the AAPS app using the setup Wizard, linking it with your CGM app and either a real or virtual insulin pump, as well as linking AAPS to your reporting server. You are then introduced to everything AAPS can do, through a safe, carefully paced, step-by-step process. This makes sure that you (or your child) are thoroughly familiar and comfortable navigating all the different levels and menu configurations before moving on to the next phase, commonly called the next “Objective”. You keep progressing this way until you have enough experience to begin using the more advanced options in the app. These Objectives are specially designed in such a way that will gradually unlock more possibilities of AAPS and switch from Open Loop to Closed Loop.

Section 5) Daily life with AAPS covers key AAPS features, to help you use (and customize) AAPS. This includes understanding the screens, carbs-on-board, sensitivity, profile switching, temp targets, extended carbs (or eCarbs), automations, and DynamicISF. It also covers frequent topics like how to manage different types of meals, how to deal with cannula and sensor changes, smartphone updates, daylight saving changes, traveling with AAPS, and sports. Common questions and answers are located within the troubleshooting section.

Section 6) Remote AAPS features highlights a real strength of AAPS. There are a wide range of possibilities for remotely sending commands to, or simply following the data from AAPS. This is equally useful for carers who want to use AAPS for minors, and for adults with diabetes who either want to monitor their sugars (and other metrics) more conveniently than just on their phone (on a watch, in the car etc.), or wish to have significant others to also monitor the data. This section also provides guidance for using Android Auto so you can view glucose levels in the car.

Section 7) Wear OS smartwatches gives information and procedures to use an Android Wear OS smartwatch with the dedicated AAPS watchfaces or custom watchfaces, either as a remote control of your phone or just a display indicator.

Section 8) Maintenance of AAPS covers how to export and back up your settings (which is very important in case you lose/break your phone), gives the latest version notes and details how to update AAPS. You can expect that there will be one new version and 2-3 required updates per year. You are required to do these updates as with all software, as any minor bugs are ironed out, and improvements to AAPS are made. There is a dedicated “updating” troubleshooting section with the common queries.

Section 9) Help & Troubleshooting should help direct you to the best places to go to find general help with AAPS. It is the single place to go when something is not working: the Troubleshooting hub collects, by topic, the solutions to the most common problems, and the FAQ answers frequent questions. This is very important so that you can get in touch with others as quickly as possible, clarify questions and solve the usual pitfalls. A lot of people are already using AAPS successfully, but everyone has a question at some point that they couldn’t solve on their own. Due to the large number of users, the response times to questions are usually very quick, typically only a few hours. Don’t worry about asking for help, there is no such thing as a dumb question! We encourage users of any/all levels of experience to ask as many questions as they feel is necessary to help get them up and running safely. This section includes general troubleshooting for AAPS and AAPSClient (a companion following app) as well as explaining how to send your AAPS data (logfiles) to the developers for investigation, if you think a technical issue with AAPS needs looking at.

Section 10) covers Advanced AAPS options such as how to progress from using AAPS for hybrid-closed looping (bolusing for meals etc.) to full closed looping (no bolusing), and details development and engineering modes. Most users get on just fine with the main or “Master” AAPS version without looking into these options, this section is for users who already have good control and are looking to further improve their setup.

In section 11) How to support AAPS we provide information so that you can support this project. You can donate money, equipment or expertise. You can suggest/make changes to the documentation yourself, help with translation of the documentation and provide your data through the Open Humans project.

Section 12) Resources, contains archived or additional documentation, including a subsection for clinicians who have expressed interest in open source artificial pancreas technology such as AAPS, or for patients who want to share such information with their clinicians, this topic is also addressed in the introduction. More diabetes and looping references and resources are also contained in this section. It includes the Glossary, a list of the acronyms (or short-term names) used throughout AAPS. This is where to go to find out what the terms ISF or TT, stand for, for example.

Interested in getting started with AAPS? Read more about AAPS in the Introduction.

SAFETY NOTICE

The safety of AAPS relies on the safety features of your hardware (phone, pump, CGM). Only use a fully functioning FDA/CE approved insulin pump and CGM. Do not use broken, modified or self-built insulin pumps or CGM receivers. Only use original consumable supplies (inserters, cannulas and insulin reservoirs) approved by the manufacturer for use with your pump and CGM. Using untested or modified supplies can cause inaccuracy and insulin dosing errors, resulting in significant risk to the user.

Do not use AAPS if you take SGLT-2 inhibitors (gliflozins), as they lower blood sugar levels. You increase the risk diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) due to reduced insulin delivery and hypoglycemia due to lowered blood sugar levels.

Disclaimer

  • All information and code described here is for informational and educational purposes only. Use Nightscout and AAPS at your own risk, and do not use the information or code to make medical decisions. Nightscout currently makes no attempt at HIPAA privacy compliance.

  • Use of code from github.com is without warranty or formal support of any kind. Please review this repository’s LICENSE for details.

  • All product and company names, trademarks, servicemarks, registered trademarks, and registered servicemarks are the property of their respective holders. Their use is for information purposes and does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

AAPS has no association with, and is not endorsed by: SOOIL, Dexcom, Accu-Chek, Roche Diabetes Care, Insulet, Medtronic, Diaconn, EOFlow, MicroTech Medical (Equil), Medtrum, Senseonics (Eversense), i-SENS (CareSens), POCTech, Ottai or Syai.

AAPS Documentation Index

Using this documentation

1) Getting started

2) Build the app

3) Setting up the reporting server

4) Configure AAPS

5) Daily Life with AAPS

6) Remote AAPS features

7) Wear OS Smartwatches

8) Maintenance of AAPS

9) Help & Troubleshooting

10) Advanced AAPS options

11) How to support AAPS

12) Resources