An unofficial Android application has emerged, offering a unique functionality for users of USB-C display glasses. This app, known as “Glasses Mode,” effectively blanks the phone’s screen and disables touch input while allowing the connected glasses to continue displaying the content. Activated by a simple double-tap of either volume button, the app was released on October 18 and is currently available for testing on the OPPO Find N6 with Android 16 and ColorOS.
Although the app is tested with the Xreal One glasses, it is designed to work with any USB-C glasses that mirror a phone’s display. The repository for this app, created by the user yumlevi, features a single commit and a release tagged as “Glasses Mode 0.4,” which is described as the first public release. It requires Android 14 or newer, and notably, it does not necessitate rooting the device or using a PC for installation.
It leans on a flag some phones ignore
The app employs an innovative technique by attaching a black layer to the phone’s display, marked as ‘skip screenshot.’ This clever workaround allows the mirrored display on the glasses to remain unaffected while the phone’s screen goes dark. However, the README notes that some phone manufacturers may overlook the ‘skip screenshot’ flag, resulting in the glasses also going black. In such cases, users can simply double-tap again to restore the display.
Touch input is managed through the same service, ensuring that while the mode is active, taps, edge swipes, and notifications are rendered inactive. A transparent full-screen overlay is utilized to catch any stray touches that might slip through. This overlay also requests landscape orientation, overriding portrait-only apps, and keeps the screen awake to prevent unwanted flipping when the phone is moved.
Locking the picture to landscape is the other half
The controls for this application are intentionally streamlined. Users can toggle the mode with a double-tap of the volume buttons, receiving a single buzz for activation and two for deactivation. A single tap still allows for volume adjustment after a brief pause, ensuring users can distinguish between the two functions. Unplugging the glasses automatically disables the mode, while the volume buttons remain unaffected when no glasses are connected.
One phone, one pair of glasses, no Play Store
This application currently operates within a specific framework, as stated by the project itself. It is designed to work with any USB-C display that mirrors an external display, although reports from users with different devices are encouraged. Notably, there is no listing on the Play Store; instead, users can download the APK from the project’s releases page. The README cautions that the accessibility switch may appear greyed out due to restrictions imposed by Android on apps installed outside the Play Store.
The need for such an application is evident, particularly for users of the Xreal 1 Pro+, which lacks independent computing capabilities and relies on a connected device for display. This limitation has prompted users to seek creative solutions, such as an unofficial driver that allows Xreal 1S glasses to function as a 3DoF SteamVR headset on a Steam Deck. The new app, released just nine days after this driver, is significantly simpler, featuring only one commit and one tester, with an open invitation for feedback from users on different devices.
