# Making your Dexcom G5/G6 transmitters last longer without using xDrip+ **URL:** \ **Category:** C/GM\ **Tags:** dexcom\ **Created:** [November 11, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467 "2018-11-11T00:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/1 "2018-11-11T00:31:44Z")
This link and method have already been described by @docslotnick ([Restarting G6 sensors and transmitter - #15 by docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/restarting-g6-sensors-and-transmitter/4207/15)), but I thought it was worth dedicating a thread to it. As we all know, Dexcom G5 and G6 transmitters have a hard stop at 112 days, although they are typically able to keep on working a while longer (45 to 90 days more) with a regular Dexcom app. This method allows you to reset the G5/G6 transmitter to avoid the hard stop. The next stop, of course, will be when the transmitter battery dies out, and will likely come without any warning. The method is due to @kdisimone, and requires a limited amount of programming, very clearly described in the article, with an Apple computer: > **[Reset G5/G6 Transmitters](http://seemycgm.com/2018/05/03/reset-g5-transmitter/)** > > Note: with the recent Spike-App issues, I have updated this blog post with current information for clarity. This app works for both G5 and G6. First, let me preface by saying that I adore, love, re… As a note, the other option, if you wish to prolong your transmitter life, is to use xDrip+, as discussed here by @docslotnick: > [@How Long Does a G5 Transmitter REALLY Last? \*\*UPDATE-Transmitter Died\*\* UPDATE-New Transmitter \*\*\*UPDATE-2nd Transmitter sob](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/how-long-does-a-g5-transmitter-really-last-update-transmitter-died-update-new-transmitter-update-2nd-transmitter/1307): > > The Dexcom G5 transmitter will shut off after 105 days via a software command from the receiver. But that doesn’t mean the battery is dead or that the transmitter ceases functioning. It just means that the G5 receiver will no longer accept readings from it. So just how long will the transmitter battery last? Mine is at 123 days and still pretty strong. I’ll keep updating each week until it dies. Note that voltages and resistance are still in the excellent range after 123 days. BTW, thi… ---
**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/2 "2018-11-11T01:03:23Z")
@Michel It should be mentioned that @kdisimone 's method only works with an iPhone, OS11 or better. You also need a Mac computer. It is quite elegant and the instructions are easy to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Jen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/jen/32/4777_2.png) [@Jen](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Jen)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/3 "2018-11-11T01:24:41Z")
Do you only need a Mac for the initial setup and then never again? I don’t have a Mac, but I do have an iPhone and iPad. I wonder if I could go to the library, do the setup stuff, and then never have to use a Mac again. That would sure be nice. I’m still using the G4 due primarily to cost issues (I pay for everything 100% out of pocket), but am likely to upgrade to the G5 to use with the t:slim and iPhone (and hopefully also my Fitbit) in the new year. ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/4 "2018-11-11T01:33:02Z")
Well, it is a little tricky. In order to produce the app, you need a developer account, which is free. But, as long as you have a free developer account, it means your apps are only good for 7 days. It takes no time at all to rebuild the app from the stuff you already did, but you do need access to the computer for that. @kdisimone, can you think of another way that would be fire-and-forget? Is there a way to make this app perennial without having to pay for the dev account? ---
**Author:** ![kdisimone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@kdisimone](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/kdisimone)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/5 "2018-11-11T02:34:21Z")
You don’t need a paid account to do this…free account will work just fine. But for the not “technically inclined”…you can get Spike app and it has the same reset command built in for iPhone users. So you can just use the spike app to reset and then go back to using dexcom app as usual. You’d have to unpair the transmitter from the phone in order for the transmitter to connect with each app, but not a huge deal. Just unpair from phone before using Spike, restart phone, pair in Spike, reset the transmitter, unpair from phone again, restart phone, pair in dexcom app. > **[Spike - Change the way you manage your diabetes](https://spike-app.com)** > > From alerting you of high and low glucose values to sharing them to a plethora of different platforms and allowing you to loop completely offline, Spike will change the way you manage your diabetes. ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2018, 2:39am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/6 "2018-11-11T02:39:50Z")
> [@kdisimone](#): > > you can get Spike app and it has the same reset command built in for iPhone users. So you can just use the spike app to reset and then go back to using dexcom app as usual. @kdisimone, I had no idea, that is outstanding. > [@kdisimone](#): > > You don’t need a paid account to do this…free account will work just fine. Right. Sorry, I did not repeat the whole question. my bad. The issue was for someone who does not have a Mac: can they develop the reset app one time (at the library for instance), then use the reset app later without having to go back to the Mac? The problem is the 7-day app lifetime, which requires that you go back to the Mac before the next reset. But you solved that question with your Spike app tip. ---
**Author:** ![Toni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/toni/32/7583_2.png) [@Toni](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Toni)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/7 "2019-11-02T17:45:19Z")
Hello everyone. I am new here. Having trouble getting the transmitter reset to work. Really appreciate the terrific instructions that Katie DiSimone wrote! Here are the steps I am taking: 1. End the sensor session on the T:slim x2 pump and Dexcom app 2. Forget the Dexcom transmitter in iPhone Bluetooth 3. Delete the Dexcom app 4. Turn the Bluetooth off and on 5. Shut down and restart the iphone 6. Open the Restart app 7. Hit the Restart button 8. After 10-13 minutes receive and accept the pairing request and 9. Almost immediately get this error message: Error during reset transmitter:timeout Followed very quickly by this error Error during reset transmitter: unknownCharacteristic I just let it continue until it shuts down the Reset App takes about 6 minutes Anyone have an idea what I’m doing wrong? I’ve done this several times over the past week. ---
**Author:** ![MM2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/mm2/32/3032_2.png) [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 5:47am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/8 "2019-11-03T05:47:35Z")
> [@Toni](#): > > Having trouble getting the transmitter reset to work. Are you using G5 or G6, and what is first 2 digits of your transmitter ? Dexcom has made many changes in past year that impact ability to extend/restart/reset. ---
**Author:** ![Toni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/toni/32/7583_2.png) [@Toni](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Toni)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/9 "2019-11-03T14:38:26Z")
Thank you for asking…I should have put that in my request for help. I am using the G6. The first 2 digits are 81. ---
**Author:** ![MM2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/mm2/32/3032_2.png) [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/10 "2019-11-03T17:40:35Z")
Here is similar post, but may have used reset within spike instead of reset app. May help. > [@Resetting G6 Transmitter Using Spike App](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/resetting-g6-transmitter-using-spike-app/6831): > > So I’m asking for a friend here… I’ve got a pal who reset her G6 transmitter (not sensor) last night using the Spike app. She says she started a new session and both the Dexcom app and her t:slim showed the warmup progress. After the warm up ended, her t:slim only showed the out of range symbol and failed to pick up any readings at all. Her Dexcom app, however, continued working fine, consistently providing readings. Does anyone know why she could not see her readings on the pump? ---
**Author:** ![Toni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/toni/32/7583_2.png) [@Toni](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Toni)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/11 "2019-11-05T20:23:41Z")
Thanks, I’ll give Spike another try when my current session ends. My transmitter will expire in 12 days or so. I’m guessing I won’t get it reset before then. Does anyone know if you can reset it after it expires? ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/12 "2019-11-05T21:42:31Z")
The transmitter has to be dead…as in, no longer working at all. If it still has life and you could start up a new session with it then the reset transmitter app won’t work. It has to be dead first. Did you ensure it was truly dead? ---
**Author:** ![Toni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/toni/32/7583_2.png) [@Toni](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Toni)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/13 "2019-11-06T18:47:46Z")
Oh, I did not know that. I thought it needed to be restarted before it reached the expiration day. Are you saying the battery must have reached the 112 day shut off that Dexcom programs in before it can be restarted? The videos and write-ups all say you cannot be in an active sensor session but I’ve never read that the battery had to have expired. ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/14 "2019-11-06T19:07:46Z")
Yes. It has to be expired. I’ll try to find it when i get home ---
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/15 "2019-11-07T12:53:40Z")
I took this to mean you need to wait until the 112th day. In my mind why would you want to do it earlier if it’s still got life. The only time I could see is if there was only a few days remaining after sensor changeout and you don’t want to mess up a sensor site…but you can pop transmitters out, reset them, re-seat them, and still be good to go after the warm-up. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/fudiabetes/original/2X/1/1f60c887463421a4556f44c466312f64ea665026.png) Note: I waited until the 112th (or later) date to do my reset and it worked without a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Toni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/toni/32/7583_2.png) [@Toni](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Toni)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/16 "2019-11-09T19:21:27Z")
OK. Good to know. Thank you @ClaudnDaye. I was hoping to reset it to 0 before I left the country on Tuesday. But can probably do it after it expires. Has anyone had success resetting a transmitter before it expires? ---
**Author:** ![Thomas](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/thomas/32/1719_2.png) [@Thomas](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Thomas)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/17 "2019-11-09T23:21:21Z")
> [@Toni](#): > > I am using the G6. The first 2 digits are 81. You can follow the simpler and more traditional session restart instructions which were initially used for the 80xxxx and continue to work for the 81xxxx. The new and more complex restart procedures are not required until you begin using the 8Gxxxx transmitter. ---
**Author:** ![MM2](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/mm2/32/3032_2.png) [@MM2](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/MM2)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 4:03am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/18 "2019-11-10T04:03:19Z")
> [@ClaudnDaye](#): > > Note: I waited until the 112th (or later) date to do my reset and it worked without a problem. I think I did G6 80xx transmitter reset via xDrip, prior to day 112, and worked fine. My current transmitter is 81xx, and will also try reset prior to 112 to confirm. With xDrip only, I did not really need to reset. But was also using G6 receiver. ---
**Author:** ![Toni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/toni/32/7583_2.png) [@Toni](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Toni)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 4:10am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/19 "2019-11-10T04:10:55Z")
I thought the 8Gxxxx ones could not be reset. That is from this August 1, 2018 webpage: > **[Restarting Dexcom G6 sensors – Updated](https://seemycgm.com/2019/08/01/restarting-dexcom-g6-sensors-updated/)** > > Awhile ago, I posted a page about how to restart your Dexcom sensors to last beyond 10 days. There’s need for some updated discussion on the topic. For clarity- let’s take one quick asi… That says with regard to the Firefly 8Gxxxx: “These transmitters cannot currently be reset.“ Is that no longer true? ---
**Author:** ![Toni](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/toni/32/7583_2.png) [@Toni](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Toni)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467/20 "2019-11-10T04:14:15Z")
> [@Thomas](#): > > You can follow the simpler and more traditional session restart instructions Thank you for this information @Thomas. I’m not sure what the traditional instructions are. Is that the Restart App or Spike-App or something else? [Next page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/making-your-dexcom-g5-g6-transmitters-last-longer-without-using-xdrip/5467.md?page=2)