Connect Realwear Navigator 500/520 to the Internet

QR code

spelling password

OPTION 1. Using the QR code from the RealWear website:

1. Go to https://realwear.setupmyhmt.com/configure/wifi

2. Enter the details of the Wi-Fi connection you want to access and click “GENERATE BARCODE”. 

Note: The second field asks for your network security type. In most cases, it’s the “WPA/WPA2 PSK” option.

qr

 

This will generate a QR code which, when scanned with the smartglasses, will automatically connect to the network.

3. Turn on your smartglasses and go to the main menu using the voice command “Return to Home.”

 

Then, go to “My Apps.”

4. Tilt your head horizontally to navigate the menu options.

 

Say “Settings” to open the QR code reader.

5. Scan the QR code and you will be connected to the Internet.

OPTION 2. Connect your smartglasses to the internet directly from the smartglasses:

1. Say ‘My programs’

2. Say ‘Settings’

3. Say ‘Network & Internet’

4. Say ‘Internet’

5. Say “SELECT ITEM #” and the number that appears to the left of the connection you want to connect to, for example: “Select item 4”.

 

To scroll up or down, say “Page Up” or “Page Down”.

6. Enter the password by spelling it out using the words that appear below each letter.

If you want to write “abc”, you have to say “alpha, bravo, charlie”.

 

Say “Capital”, “Number”, or “Symbol” to display other character types.

7. When you have finished entering the password, say “Accept” and then “Connect”.

 

You should now be connected to the Internet.

8. When you turn on the smartglasses, you should see the home screen or Remote Eye open automatically.

 

If you see the home screen, say “Remote Eye” to open the assistance software.

9. When you open Remote Eye, you should see a screen like this. You’re now ready for an expert to call you.

  • If the screen displays “Disconnected,” it means the glasses are not connected to the internet.

  • If the screen displays four red numbers, it means the glasses are not linked to an expert account. Send the four-digit code to the expert to link your device.

Know more

RealWear FAQ

The primary difference boils down to one specific hardware component: the screen. Both headsets share the exact same processor, memory, camera, and operating system. However, the Navigator 520 features the upgraded HyperDisplay. This gives the 520 a viewing area that is 20% larger, significantly sharper (upgraded to HD 1280×720 resolution compared to the 500’s 854×480), and offers better color contrast. It also has a larger “eye box,” which means the screen is easier to position and view without straining your eyes.

Battery anxiety is a real concern when you are out in the field on a long shift, but RealWear handles this exceptionally well. Both models feature a 2,600 mAh battery that reliably lasts for a full shift of about 6 to 8 hours of continuous use. Most importantly, the battery is hot-swappable. You can easily pop out a dying battery and snap in a fresh one without powering down the headset, losing your current app progress, or dropping out of a remote video call.

Yes, you absolutely can! A common misconception is that you are locked into your original screen or forced to buy a brand-new device. RealWear built the Navigator series with a modular design. If you own a Navigator 500, you can purchase the HyperDisplay boom arm separately, pop off your old screen, and snap the new one in to instantly upgrade your visual experience to a 520.

It is completely normal to worry that a voice-controlled headset will fail the second you step next to heavy machinery. However, both the 500 and 520 are purpose-built for extreme conditions. They utilize four digital microphones equipped with advanced active noise cancellation. This allows the device to isolate your voice and accurately register commands in environments with up to 100 dBA of background noise—which is roughly equivalent to standing next to a jackhammer or a loud manufacturing line.

These headsets are ruggedized industrial tools, not consumer gadgets, and they are designed to integrate safely with standard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). You can easily clip them into hard hats or bump caps, and the boom arm can be positioned directly over your standard safety glasses or personal prescription eyewear without any physical interference.

Absolutely. Because the 520 is essentially a 500 with a better screen, all of your existing accessories—including thermal camera modules, LTE modems, batteries, and mounting clips—are 100% forward-compatible. On the software side, the 200+ voice-optimized apps that run on the 500 work perfectly on the 520, though some software developers are rolling out minor updates to fully take advantage of the 520’s higher-resolution screen.