RGB Critter BT user guide: How it all works

There are two ways to turn off the RGB Critter BT, and they use the battery very differently.

Deep sleep (use this when you are done): hold the Power button on the flashlight for 1 second. It disconnects from the app and the battery drains very slowly.

Standby: tap the Power button on the flashlight, tap Power on the Playlists page of the app, or switch it off on the Devices page. It stays connected to the app so it can turn back on instantly, but the battery keeps draining quickly.

Always pair from the Devices page of the Ants on a Melon app, never from your phone's own Bluetooth settings. A Critter paired in phone settings will not show up properly in the app.

• First time, or pairing to a new phone or tablet: hold the Rocket button until the LED pulses green, then connect on the Devices page of the app.
• Reconnecting to the same phone: hold the Rocket button until the LED pulses blue, then connect in the app.

Having trouble? See Pairing Issues on the troubleshooting page.

The RGB Critter BT comes with 20 preinstalled modes. You can access these modes, or any playlist you’ve exported from the app, using the onboard button controls. When it isn't connected to the app, it starts on mode 1 each time it turns on.

• Press the Arrow button once: next mode
• Press the Rocket button once: previous mode
• Hold the Arrow button: change speed. Each 1-second hold changes speed by 20%. Speed resets when you switch modes.
• Press the Power button once: turn on
• Press the Power button once to turn off into standby, or hold it for 1 second for deep sleep (saves the battery)
• Press the Arrow and Power buttons together: lock or unlock the buttons (red flash = locked, green = unlocked). The lock clears when the light turns off.
• Hold the Rocket button: pairing mode (see Pairing Instructions)

The 20 modes built into every RGB Critter BT, in order. Step through them with the Arrow and Rocket buttons, no app needed.

1. Solid Color: White
2. Solid Color: Red
3. Solid Color: Tardigrade
4. Solid Color: Lemon Drop
5. Solid Color: Green
6. Solid Color: Jungle
7. Solid Color: Blue
8. Solid Color: Grape Juice
9. Solid Color: Pterodactyl
10. Fade: Full Spectrum Fade
11. Fade: Full Spectrum Fade (fast)
12. Fade: Pastel Creamery
13. Sporadic: Free Fall
14. Strobe Gradual Increase: Livewire
15. Strobe Fade: Setting Sun
16. Strobe Gradual Increase: Constellation
17. Color Wipe: Grand Daddy Purp
18. Strobe: Mr. Nice Guy
19. Fade: Gershwind
20. Ribbon: OG Glitter Remix

Want your own 20 instead? Build a playlist in the app and use Export To Critter (see Export To Critter).

Navigating Modes with the RGB Critter BT

While there are many ways to navigate modes within the app, you can also use the physical buttons on the RGB Critter BT flashlight. Here's how:

1. Connect your RGB Critter BT to the Ants on a Melon app.
2. On the "Playlists" page, press the play icon on any playlist.
3. Use the Arrow button (up) and Rocket button (down) on the RGB Critter BT to scroll through the modes in that playlist.
   
   

Pro tip:
To avoid accidentally powering off your device while navigating, go to the "Universal Settings" section in the app and toggle on the "Lock Power Button" option.

You can access Universal Settings by tapping the green Rocket icon on the "Playlists" page.

Description

The Export to Critter feature lets you transfer the first 20 modes from any playlist in the "My Playlists" section of the app to your RGB Critter BT. This will replace the existing modes on your device, and the change cannot be undone.

The export applies to all connected RGB Critter BTs at the time of export.

Instructions

1. Create a playlist in the "My Playlists" section of the app.
2. Connect your RGB Critter BT(s) to the app.
3. Tap the three white dots next to the playlist name.
4. Select "Export To Critter."
   

Once exported, the RGB Critter BT will automatically disconnect from the app. You’ll then be able to access the exported playlist directly using the physical buttons, no app connection needed.

The Ants on a Melon App's Universal Settings pop-up includes the following features:

• Autoplay
• Strobe (1-100%)
• Brightness (1-100%)
• Analog/PWM
• Button LEDs (on/off)
• Lock Power Button
• Lock Buttons
• Momentary Press

To access the Universal Settings pop-up, go to the "Playlists" page and click the green Rocket icon (see image below).

The app gives you access to 16.7 million colors.

To select a custom color:

1. Go to the DIY page in the app.
2. Select the Solid Color effect.
3. Tap the "+" button to open the color editor.
   

You’ll see three different color pickers to help you choose your exact shade.
(See the attachment for examples of the color pickers available in the app.)

Quickly edit your modes using the drag-and-drop feature on the DIY page of the Ants on a Melon app. The RGB Critter BT flashlight will instantly reflect any changes you make.

How to Create a Group of RGB Critter BTs in the AOAM App

1. Connect two or more RGB Critter BTs on the Devices page of the app.
2. Go to the Group section on the same page.
3. Tap the "Create Group" button.
4. Select the RGB Critter BTs you want to include.
5. Name your group and save it.
   

Important:

• Make sure all selected RGB Critter BTs are powered on before toggling the group on.
• When grouped successfully, the LEDs on each device will turn white.
  

Additional Info:

• The AOAM app does not support separate control of multiple connected devices.

The full RGB Critter BT user guide as a printable PDF: buttons, charging, the app, troubleshooting, safety and warranty.

Charging Time:

Charge time depends on your charger's output. With a 1.5A (or higher) charger:

• A 2500mAh battery takes about 3-3.5 hours
• A 3000mAh battery takes about 3.5-4 hours

The RGB Critter BT will display a Battery Life Indicator after either of the following actions:

• Plug the Critter into a power source
• Unplug the charger, turn the Critter off, then hold the Arrow button
  

The button LEDs will glow in a solid color that corresponds to the current battery level:

• 🔴 0-10% - Red
• 🟠 11-25% - Orange
• 🟡 26-50% - Yellow
• 🟢 51-75% - Green
• 🔵 76-90% - Blue
• 🟣 91-96% - Purple
• 🟪 97-100% - Solid Purple
  

Charging Indicators

• Pulsing red LEDs on the buttons mean the RGB Critter BT is charging properly. This is normal and does not indicate a problem.
  
• Blinking red LEDs on the buttons indicate an issue with the USB power source. This usually means the power adapter or port is not compatible. Try a standard USB-A port or wall adapter that supplies at least 1.5A. USB-C fast chargers (USB Power Delivery) will not charge it.
  

Make sure you are using the original USB charging cable that came with your device for best performance.

To Replace the Battery:

1. Twist the Modular Cap on the back of the RGB Critter BT counter-clockwise to remove it.
2. Insert the aluminum Critter Key into the Battery Door, then twist it counter-clockwise to open.
3. Remove the Battery Door and slide out the battery.
4. Insert a new battery with the positive (+) side facing the front of the RGB Critter BT (the light-emitting end).
5. Reinstall the Battery Door using the Critter Key and ensure it is fully latched.
   

Notes:

• The RGB Critter BT requires an 18650 battery with specific dimensions.
• We recommend only using the AOAM-supplied 18650 battery for best fit and performance.
• Replacement batteries are available here.
  

Troubleshooting: If you experience issues, see Charging Issues on the troubleshooting page.

Button Lock Options - RGB Critter BT

The RGB Critter BT offers multiple ways to lock the buttons:

Manual lock (on the device):

• While the device is turned on, press the Arrow and Power buttons at the same time.
• The LED will flash red to indicate the buttons are locked.
• The LED will flash green to indicate the buttons are unlocked.
• The lock clears when the light turns off, so lock it again after you turn it on.

App-based lock options:

• In the Universal Settings section of the AOAM app, you’ll find:
• Lock Buttons
  

Lock Power Button (See image below for reference.)