Introduction

xDrip4iOS (also known as "xDrip for iOS" or "xdripswift") is an open-source application to display real time blood glucose data.

It is able to connect as a Master device to various types of Continuous Glucose Monitor systems and display their values on the screen. This is the main way that most people (usually patients with Type 1 Diabetes) will use the app.

It is also able to act as a Follower device and pull remote CGM data from Nightscout. This is a great way for parents and care-givers to be able to remotely monitor loved ones and patients.

FOR XDRIP+ USERS

Please note that xDrip4iOS is not related to the xDrip+ project for Android.

For help and information about the xDrip+ project for Android, please see here or look on Facebook.


What Do I Need?

To run xDrip4iOS you will firstly need an iPhone 7 or newer running minimum iOS15.

To work as a Master device, you will need to have a compatible CGM system (see below). If you want to share your CGM data with Nightscout, then you will also need a working internet connection.

To work as a Follower device, you don't need anything except an internet connection and a working Nightscout site from where to follow the master device.

That's it. Nothing else is needed.

IMPORTANT

Before using xDrip4iOS, it is important to understand several points:

  • This is an open-source, community-based project and is not supported by any company
  • It is not officially approved or regulated for diabetes therapy and/or treatment in any way whatsoever

You must understand that you take full responsibility for using this software and you agree to do so at your own risk.


Compatible Sensors

xDrip4iOS is compatible many different Libre sensors and Dexcom sensors/transmitters.

Libre

Libre 1 European (14 day)

Transmitter Type     Firmware Version     Compatible?    
MiaoMiao 1, 2, 3 All Yes
Bubble, Bubble mini All Yes
Atom All Yes
GNSentry All Yes


Libre 1 US (14 day)

Transmitter Type     Firmware Version     Compatible?    
Direct Bluetooth (no transmitter)    - No
MiaoMiao 1 >= 39 Yes (1)
MiaoMiao 2 >= 7 Yes (1)
Miaomiao 3 - Yes (1)
Bubble, Bubble mini All Yes
Atom All Yes
GNSentry - No

(1) The MiaoMiao firmware can be upgraded, if needed, using Tomato App

Libre 2 European (14 day)

Transmitter Type     Firmware Version     Compatible?    
Direct Bluetooth (no transmitter)    - Yes
MiaoMiao 1 >= 39 Yes (1)
MiaoMiao 2 >= 7 Yes (1)
Miaomiao 3 - Yes (1)
Bubble, Bubble mini All Yes/No (2)
Atom All Yes
GNSentry - No

(1) The MiaoMiao firmware can be upgraded, if needed, using Tomato App
(2) Bubble and Bubble Mini transmitters are not currently compatible with xDrip4iOS if using the newer "C5" Libre 2 EU sensors

Libre 2 US/Canadian/Australian

  • Not compatible at the current time

Libre Pro, Libre H

  • Not compatible at the current time

Libre 3

  • Not compatible at the current time

Dexcom

Dexcom G4 (1) / G5 <--- (Obsolete)

  • Fully compatible with a bridge/Wixel device and using raw data mode.

Dexcom G5 <--- (Obsolete)

  • Fully compatible using raw mode.

Dexcom G6

  • Fully compatible using native mode.

All G6 transmitters (including older pre-firefly 80xxxx/81xxxx transmitters) will work in native mode using the algorithm inside the transmitter. This means that xDrip4iOS will have a 2 hour warm-up, a factory 10 day sensor expiry and a 90-110 day transmitter life.

The sensors can be started using the sensor code on the label and can be calibrated from inside the xDrip4iOS app.

You can connect to the G6 transmitters in two ways:

  1. Directly to the transmitter using xDrip4iOS and without using the Dexcom app
  2. Indirectly to the transmitter using xDrip4iOS and the Dexcom app in parallel by enabling "Read from Dexcom app" mode.

If using a modified G6 Anubis transmitter, the Anubis-specific limits (50 minute warm-up, 60 day sensor expiry, 180 day transmitter expiry, resetable) all apply. For more information about the Anubis project, please see the Facebook group.

Dexcom ONE

  • Partially compatible using native mode with "Read from Dexcom app" enabled (see below).

Dexcom One transmitters will work in native mode using the algorithm inside the transmitter. This means that xDrip4iOS will have a 2 hour warm-up, a factory 10 day sensor expiry and a 90-110 day transmitter life.

The sensors can be started using the sensor code on the label.

Note that One transmitters with a transmitter ID starting with C (Cxxxxx) can only be used with "Read from Dexcom App" enabled. They also cannot be calibrated from within xDrip4iOS.

"Read from Dexcom App" Mode
If you need to use the official Dexcom app to upload data to Dexcom Share or Clarity, you can set xDrip4iOS to "Read from Dexcom App" mode.

In this mode, the main connection between the transmitter and your iPhone is handled by the Dexcom app. xDrip4iOS will simply receive a copy of the transmitted data and process it. This allows you to use xDrip4iOS for all features (alarms, graphs, statistics, Nightscout, Watch app etc) without needing to stop using the official app.


Where Can I Get Help?

The official public group for all technical support is the xDrip4iOS group on Facebook. Feel free to join the group, ask questions and participate.

Please do not send e-mails or private messages to the development team requesting general/personal help with the app. Help of this type is only offered in the xDrip4iOS Facebook group.

You can also find all source code, technical information and register issues in our GitHub repository.

All bug reports should be carefully verified and raised in GitHub as an issues.

Again, do not raise GitHub issues if you are just new to the app and are looking for technical help or assume something isn't working - please read these instructions and visit the Facebook group for help in this case.


Development History

This project was started back in 2017 by Johan Degraeve. His idea was to port the original xDrip algorithm to iOS.

The original project he created was called xdripiosreader. This was later re-written in 2019 into native swift code and renamed to xdripswift.

In 2020, the user interface was overhauled, more features were added and the user-facing project was renamed to xDrip4iOS.


How Can I Get Involved?

You'll find the Github source repository for this documentation here. Please don't hesitate to improve or correct anything you see and create a pull request!

You're also welcome to contribute or report any documentation error, unclear explanation, typo, broken link etc by going to Github and opening an issue.