Hello gentlemen, where do you get the software for unlocking Smart Link? Are there any websites with procedures? Thanks 🫡

Hllo,
From DOWNLOAD needed software
from first post.
Regards

Hello friend, thank you for the link. I am interested in the general software release for SmartLink. For all units (VW, Škoda, Seat, Audi, Cupra), for all cars. I am happy to pay the software provider for support and the software itself. Wishing you a wonderful day.

I have Skoda Kodiaq with version MEN2_EU_SKGPx_P9160L version 8742

Will it work for me?

Probably, it will work.

Hello,

I am trying to activate Smarlink for my Octavia 3 (code MEN2_EU_SKGPX_P9160L). I bought the kit with the clamp and also the sop8-150mil tool to have a better contact. The main problem for me is that when I push normally the sop on the cip, the red light from ch341a turns off. I managed to get some reads and even writes by pushing the sop on the cip just a little bit but it has a very tiny spot when it works.

So, did anybody encounter the problem when the red light from the programmer turns off when connecting to the cip? I also tried USB 2.0, USB 3.0, all the positions on the board.

The tools bought:https://share.temu.com/6hTNo5D4bkB (sop8-150mil)
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EHsA0iE

Thank you in advance!

Did multiple devices with this method, never get this problem. There was people which had this problem, solved with desoldering eeprom chip, or desoldering atleast vcc leg.

Before desoldering double check did you connected everything ok, try with and without 1.8v adapter, if everything fails, I would try to unsolder vcc leg.

Thank you @Zlatko580 but I will not desolder, it is too much for me.

Posted in wrong thread

Edited 30 May30 May by BionicJohn

29 minutes ago, BionicJohn said:

I downloaded the necessary software (about £40) for my 2016 Octavia from here: https://www.visioncoding.co.uk/collections/skoda

You then need an OBDEleven to make Android Auto and Apple Car Play active via the USB port. (Vision coding supply the exact settings.)

I then bought a very cheap (£19.99) Android Auto only wireless adapter.

I installed it all over 2 years ago and it works really well, connecting quickly as I enter the car with my phone in my pocket.

Compatibility

Compatibility

Compatible with Skoda vehicles manufactured 2015-2020 with MIB2 headunits.

Attention

Do you have a Skoda from 2020-2025? You need our MIB3 activation service here.

Step 1

Check your headunit software version as follows:

1. Hold the MENU button for 3 seconds

2. Select Software update/versions

3. Installed SW Train Version

Step 2

Make a note of your Installed SW Train Version. Examples below, but not limited to:

• MST2_EU_SK_ZR_P0245T

• MST2_EU_SK_PQ_P0359T

Step 3

If your headunit begins with MST2 and has 2 SD card slots labelled SD1 and SD2, it's compatible!

Step 4

For software versions ending with P02xxT (where x is any digit), an extra programming step is required which needs a separate device to fully enable Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It essentially becomes a 2-step activation process - use our software first then use an OBD2 programming tool such as OBDEleven to complete the 2nd part.

This is topic for swing, aka MEN2 units, so this is offtopic and should be removed.

Edited 30 May30 May by Zlatko580

On 22/05/2026 at 15:42, jappy said:

Hllo,
From DOWNLOAD needed software
from first post.
Regards

Edits4a4la

Greetings from Chile.

I have a 2021 Fabia 3 with the following radioWill this method work for my car?

1 hour ago, Chiniwis said:

Greetings from Chile.

I have a 2021 Fabia 3 with the following radioWill this method work for my car?

It will work.

On 12/06/2026 at 00:12, Zlatko580 said:

It will work.

I did it today, worked like a charm.

Had some trouble disconnecting the antenna cable from the radio but otherwise it was really simple.

I used the clamp with the voltage regulator board and could read the chip from the first try.

Total cost was 9 USD including the ch341a and the radio keys both from AliExpress.

Thanks for the information

Hi ALL or Zlatko

try anybody read EEPROM, by OBD eleven with android tablet/phone?

here is this possibility. but if is possible read EEprom correctly and do this steps by another way.

what do you means?

1 hour ago, RAMMPA said:

Hi ALL or Zlatko

try anybody read EEPROM, by OBD eleven with android tablet/phone?

here is this possibility. but if is possible read EEprom correctly and do this steps by another way.

what do you means?

Hi, didn't tried that way. I belive it cannot be done so easy...

Hi All Or Zlatko

Create anybody Video for this Solution?

First of all: thank you for the brilliant hack - it really works and will save your summer road trip!

This is exactly the kind of weekend project that hits my sweet spot—part grease monkey, part code monkey. Unlocking Smartlink (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto) on the Skoda Fabia III (Swing 3, MEN2) by directly flashing the M95256 EEPROM is a brilliant hack, but as noted in many of the comments, the original guide can be a bit of a maze.

If you've got a Fabia III and want to tackle this without bricking your head unit or losing your mind, here is the streamlined, battle-tested notes based on real-world trial and error. Read this as supplement to the original guide.

Hardware & Teardown Notes

Getting the head unit out and prepped is half the battle. Don't force things, but be prepared for a little stubbornness from the VAG-group hardware.

• The Right Removal Tool: The "VAG Radio removal tool" isn't universal. While the original guide might point you to different keys, for the Skoda Fabia III, you strictly need the No. 1 removal tool. Don't bother with the No. 2 keys; they won't seat properly in the Swing 3 chassis. I suggest getting a kit – better quality and you will not cut your fingers on cheap e-bay tools.

• Wrestling the Connections: Once the unit is loose, detaching the back wiring can be a pain. The yellow connector comes off easily, but watch out for the white dual-Fakra antenna plugs. They are notoriously sticky. I actually broke the plastic housing on mine trying to get it off. Pro tip: Even if the plastic clip snaps, they are single plugs underneath and will still attach securely when you reassemble, so don't panic if it cracks.
  

The EEPROM Programmer Setup (CH341A)

We are targeting the 95256RT EEPROM chip on the board. You need a CH341A USB programmer, a 1.8V adapter, and an SOIC8 test clip.

• Assembly: Assemble the stack exactly as shown in the setup: Programmer base -> 1.8V Adapter -> SOIC8 Clip. Make sure to align pin 1. The 1.8V adapter is non-negotiable for this chip; The ”Red Light” power issue (see below) happens when supplying 3.3V or 5V or not enough power.

• The "Red Light" Power Issue: When you attach the clamp to the chip on the PCB, keep an eye on the programmer's red power LED. If it immediately goes out or dims drastically, you have a power delivery issue, not a dead chip.

• USB 3.0 is Your Friend: To fix the power drop, plug the programmer directly into a high-powered USB 3.0 port on your motherboard, not a cheap hub.

• Patience with the Clamp: The SOIC8 clip is finicky. It took me about 10 tries of gently seating, unseating, and wiggling the clamp before the pins made solid contact and the software recognized the chip. Keep at it. What does success look like? Data in the Hex editor window and not zero 00 everywhere!

Software, Flashing, & Security (The Linux Way)

All due respect to the original poster, but as a rule of thumb: never download and run random executables from forum users. You don't need their .exe files. You only need the raw Python script (MEN2SwingPatch.py).

Because of this, Linux is by far the superior environment for this hack. If you're on Windows, just install WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)—there are plenty of simple guides out there—and do it safely.

Here is the Debian/Ubuntu Linux workflow using IMSProg:

1. Install the Flashing Tool:

Forget hunting for sketchy Windows drivers. Just open your terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install imsprog

2. The Read & Patch Workflow:

1. Open IMSProg. Make sure it says Connected (green box at the bottom) and set the Chip Type to 95_EEPROM, Manufacture to ST, and Name to M95256 (32K size, 1.8V).

2. Hit Read. This pulls the original firmware off your radio.

3. Save this file as 1.bin. (Keep a backup of this safe somewhere!)

4. Open your terminal in the directory where you saved it and run the patcher script:

   python3 MEN2SwingPatch.py 1.bin

   
   This will generate a new file named 1.bin_patched.bin.

3. Flashing the Patched File:

1. Go back to IMSProg.

2. Under Auto Options, make sure the following are checked: Erase, Check erase, Program, and Verify.

3. Load your newly created 1.bin_patched.bin into the hex editor.

4. Hit Go! The software will wipe the chip, verify it's blank, write the patched Smartlink-enabled hex data, and do a final checksum verification. Once that passes, unclamp the chip, reinstall the head unit in your Fabia, and enjoy your unlocked Smartlink!