How to set up a screen on SignM8: web player, LG webOS & Android
Getting a screen up and running on SignM8 is straightforward — usually under 10 minutes. This guide covers all three ways to connect a display: the browser-based web player, LG webOS commercial displays, and Android devices.
TL;DR
Every player type shows a pairing code when it first opens. Copy that code into your SignM8 dashboard under Screens → Add Screen, give the screen a name, and click Claim. That's it — your screen is live.
Option 1: Web Player (any screen with a browser)
The web player is the simplest way to get a screen running. If you have a Chromium-based browser and an internet connection, you're ready to go — no app download required.
What you need
- A TV or monitor connected to any device that runs a Chromium browser (Raspberry Pi, Windows or Mac PC, Android box, Android stick, etc.)
- An internet connection (wired ethernet is most reliable, but Wi-Fi works too)
Step 1: Open the web player
On the device connected to your screen, open Chromium or Google Chrome and navigate to:
Tip: For a clean full-screen experience, start Chrome in kiosk mode from the command line:
chrome --kiosk https://signm8.com.au/playerOr simply press F11 to go fullscreen once the page has loaded.
Step 2: Note the pairing code
The screen will display a 6-character pairing code and a QR code. Keep this screen in sight — you'll need the code in the next step.
Step 3: Claim the screen in your dashboard
- Log in to your SignM8 dashboard
- Go to Screens → Add Screen
- Enter the 6-character pairing code (or scan the QR code with your phone)
Step 4: Name and claim
Give the screen a descriptive name (e.g. "Café – Front Counter") and click Claim. The screen on your TV will refresh and is now linked to your account.
Step 5: Assign content
In the Screens section, select your new screen and assign a playlist or schedule. Content will start playing within seconds.
Option 2: LG webOS Commercial Displays
LG commercial displays (Series 3.x and above recommended) support a native SignM8 app that runs directly on the screen — no external media player needed.
What you need
- An LG commercial display with webOS (check your model's spec sheet — look for "webOS Signage")
- A USB drive formatted as FAT32
Step 1: Download the IPK file
In your SignM8 dashboard, go to Screens → Download Apps → LG webOS and download the SignM8 IPK app file.
Step 2: Transfer to USB
Copy the downloaded .ipk file to the root of a FAT32-formatted USB drive. Insert the USB drive into the LG display.
Step 3: Install from USB
On the LG display:
- Open Settings → General → App Manager (the exact path may vary slightly by model)
- Select Install from USB
- Choose the SignM8 IPK file and confirm the installation
The SignM8 app will launch automatically once installed.
Step 4: Claim the screen
The app displays a pairing code — follow the same claim steps as the web player (Screens → Add Screen in your dashboard, enter the code, name and claim).
Bulk deployment: For large rollouts, LG PROCENTRIC or LG Signage Platform (LSP) can push the IPK file to multiple displays remotely without a USB drive. Contact us at [email protected] if you need help with this.
Option 3: Android Devices
SignM8 runs as a native Android app on a wide range of devices — Android TV boxes, Android sticks, tablets, and Samsung commercial displays (SSSP excluded — see note below).
What you need
- Any Android device running Android 8.0 or newer
- The SignM8 APK file (downloaded from your dashboard)
Step 1: Download the APK
In your SignM8 dashboard, go to Screens → Download Apps → Android and download the SignM8 APK file.
Step 2: Allow installation from unknown sources
Android devices block apps from outside the Google Play Store by default. To allow the SignM8 APK to install:
- Open Settings → Security (or Settings → Apps → Special App Access on newer Android versions)
- Enable Install unknown apps for your file manager or browser
This setting is only needed once for the installation.
Step 3: Install the APK
Transfer the APK to your Android device (via USB cable, ADB, or a file manager app) and tap the file to install. Confirm any permission prompts.
Step 4: Launch and claim
Open the SignM8 app. A pairing code will appear — follow the same claim steps as the web player.
Samsung SSSP (Tizen) note: Samsung commercial displays running Tizen (SSSP) use a different platform to Android. A dedicated Samsung app is on our roadmap (M-20). In the meantime, use the web player option on a separate media device connected to the display.
Troubleshooting
The screen shows an "Offline" badge in the dashboard Check that the device is connected to the internet. The SignM8 player sends a heartbeat every 60 seconds — if a heartbeat is missed, the screen is marked offline. Check network cables or Wi-Fi settings on the device.
The pairing code has expired Pairing codes expire after a few minutes. Refresh the browser or restart the app to generate a fresh code.
The screen isn't appearing after I claimed it Wait about 30 seconds and refresh the Screens page in your dashboard. If it still doesn't appear, check that the device is online and try unclaiming and re-claiming.
I need to re-pair a screen (e.g. after replacing hardware) In your dashboard, go to Screens → [Screen name] → Unpair. Then restart the player on the new device — a fresh pairing code will appear.
Next steps
- Getting started with digital signage — full beginner guide
- How to update your menu board — keep your content fresh
- Integrator guide — managing multiple clients