diff --git a/mainwindow.cpp b/mainwindow.cpp
index 4f3e2cb0..6f728fd2 100644
--- a/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ MainWindow::~MainWindow()
 {
     delete ui;
     delete myButton;
+    delete pinMsgBox;
 }
 
 void MainWindow::on_actionExit_triggered()
@@ -56,5 +57,22 @@ void MainWindow::on_newHostBtn_clicked()
     } else {
         // silently close, user canceled
     }
-
+}
+
+// this opens a non-blocking informative message telling the user to enter the given pin
+// it is open-loop: if the user cancels, nothing happens
+// it is expected that upon pairing completion, the ::closePinDialog function will be called.
+void MainWindow::displayPinDialog(QString pin = tr("ERROR")) {
+
+    pinMsgBox = new QMessageBox( this );
+    pinMsgBox->setAttribute( Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose ); //makes sure the msgbox is deleted automatically when closed
+    pinMsgBox->setStandardButtons( QMessageBox::Ok );
+    pinMsgBox->setText("Please enter the number " + pin + " on the GFE dialog on the computer.");
+    pinMsgBox->setInformativeText("This dialog will be dismissed once complete.");
+    pinMsgBox->open();
+}
+
+// to be called when the pairing is complete
+void MainWindow::closePinDialog() {
+    pinMsgBox->close();
 }
diff --git a/mainwindow.h b/mainwindow.h
index aa56fbb5..8edff78b 100644
--- a/mainwindow.h
+++ b/mainwindow.h
@@ -22,11 +22,13 @@ protected:
 private slots:
     void on_actionExit_triggered();
     void on_newHostBtn_clicked();
+    void displayPinDialog(QString pin);
+    void closePinDialog();
 
 private:
     Ui::MainWindow *ui;
     QAbstractButton *myButton = nullptr;
-    QAbstractButton *newHostBtn = nullptr;
+    QMessageBox *pinMsgBox = nullptr;
 
 };