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Before your code can control a physical SAM Labs block, you need to pair it with SAM Studio over Bluetooth. Pairing links a specific block to your session using a unique Pairing ID, so your script knows exactly which hardware to talk to.

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Prerequisites

Charged Block

Make sure your SAM Labs block is fully charged before pairing.

Bluetooth Enabled

Bluetooth must be turned on in your device’s system settings.

Supported Browser

Chrome is recommended. Some browsers do not support Web Bluetooth.

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How to Pair a Block

1

Power on your block

Press the button on your SAM Labs block to turn it on. The LED will light up to show it is ready.
2

Open the Connect dialog

In SAM Script, click the Pair or Connect button in the toolbar at the top of the editor.
3

Choose your Pairing ID

A dialog appears showing the Pairing IDs available to you. Select the Pairing ID that matches the block you want to connect.
4

Confirm the connection

Click Connect. The block’s LED will flash to confirm that pairing was successful.
5

Start coding

The block now appears as available in your script. You can reference it in your code straight away.

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Setting Up Pairing IDs

Teachers assign Pairing IDs to students or groups through the Teacher Dashboard. Each Pairing ID maps to one or more physical blocks, so students only see the blocks that belong to their session. If you are a teacher setting up a class, assign a Pairing ID to each student or team before the lesson begins — students will then see their assigned ID in the Connect dialog when they log in.
ChromeOS users: some Chromebook models require the SAM Labs Bluetooth helper extension to establish a reliable connection. If your block does not appear in the Connect dialog on ChromeOS, visit the Troubleshooting page for installation steps.

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Troubleshooting Connection Problems

  • Confirm the block is powered on — press its button and check for an LED light.
  • Make sure Bluetooth is enabled in your operating system settings, not just in the browser.
  • Move the block closer to your device. SAM Labs blocks work best within about 10 metres.
  • Refresh the SAM Script page and try opening the Connect dialog again.
  • Check that no other device or browser tab is already connected to the same block — a block can only pair with one session at a time.
  • Try turning the block off, waiting five seconds, and turning it back on before re-pairing.
  • If you are on ChromeOS, make sure the Bluetooth helper extension is installed and enabled.
  • Low battery is the most common cause. Charge the block and reconnect.
  • Reduce the distance between the block and your device.
  • Click Connect again in the toolbar — SAM Script will attempt to re-establish the pairing without reloading your code.