The user interface of a mobile computing device is used to configure a target system by establishing a physical connection between a mobile computing device and a target system, such as an audio cable connection between audio jacks of the two or an acoustic coupling through air between a microphones and speakers of the two; establishing an audio or low ultrasonic signal communication session between the two; responsive to the target system entering a configuration mode, prompting a user via the user interface of the mobile computing device to prepare configuration parameter values for the target system; and implementing the configuration parameter values in the target system using the communication session and the physical connection.