The DisplayStation guide
From an idea to a screen.
Start with one message and one screen. Follow the steps below, then add more when you are ready.
1. Start your 14-day trial
For businesses, with up to two screens and no payment card. Nothing turns into a paid subscription automatically.
- Choose Start free trial and create an account with your work email, name and a password. Already registered? Choose Sign in.
- The confirmation email arrives automatically after you create the account. Open it and follow its link while signed in with the same address. If it is missing, request a new link under Licenses.
- Your 14 days start when you confirm, not when you create the account. The exact end date is shown under Licenses.
2. Create a simple first view
A widget is a piece of content. A view is the layout that puts widgets or websites together on a screen. Start with a text poster; you can add video, a menu or a dashboard later.
- Open Widgets and create a text poster. Write one short headline and a message. Choose a background and a font that are easy to read.
- Save the widget. Its content address can be used in a field. Files and content saved while signed in are stored on your account.
- Open Views, create a view and choose a static layout for an unattended display. Add a field and use the widget address or an HTTPS website that allows embedding.
- Make the first tile fill the screen. Give the view a recognisable name, such as Reception – welcome or Bakery – menu. Save it.
Tip: use fewer words and larger text than on a laptop. Check the result from the distance where people will actually stand.
3. Connect your first screen
- Android: get a test build for compatible Android 9+ equipment and install it. Open it to see a six-digit code. Test your exact model during the trial.
- Browser: open player.displaystation.app on the device that drives the screen. Keep that browser open. Configure full-screen mode, power saving and screen savers on the device yourself.
- On your administration computer, open Screens. Enter the six-digit code, name the screen and choose the view you just made. Leave Lock this installation enabled for a public screen, then approve.
- The trial allows two active installations. To replace one, revoke it under Screens before connecting its replacement.
4. Publish, check, then update
- Open the assigned view and publish it. Saving a draft and publishing a view are separate steps.
- Check the actual screen. Confirm the right view, readable text, working external sources and network access.
- When you change a layout, save and publish again. A connected screen retrieves the new publication; offline screens need to reconnect.
- For rotating content, use a static view and add multiple HTTPS addresses to a tile. Set a duration in seconds for each address. Start with 15–30 seconds for a short message.
Important: a live website or a shared content URL can change independently of publishing the layout. Test changes to shared widgets before using them on many screens.
5. Keep locations and people organised
- Use screen names such as Oslo – reception and Bergen – staff room. Assign the same view to several screens, or different views to each location.
- Under Users, add a contributor and select the views whose content they may edit. Contributors cannot change the layout, publish or manage screens. Share the initial password through a secure channel.
- Owners and administrators publish and manage screens. Only the owner changes billing. Never use the owner account as the public screen player.
A locked view is not the same as a locked device. Android Enterprise management is needed for managed kiosk restrictions. The browser player cannot prevent someone from closing the browser.
6. Manage the subscription yourself
How do we move from trial to paid?
Open Licenses, choose 1–500 screens and monthly or yearly billing. Review the total and terms, then continue to Stripe. A year costs ten monthly payments. Access starts when payment is confirmed. A trial is never charged automatically.
How do we add or remove screen capacity?
The owner opens Licenses and calculates a change. Review the amount before confirming. More screens are prorated for the remaining term and activated after payment. Fewer screens take effect at the next renewal; remove excess installations first.
How do we cancel?
Choose Stop renewal under Licenses. Your paid access continues through the current term. You can resume renewal before it ends. We do not refund unused time unless mandatory rights require otherwise.
What is included, and what if we run out?
10 GB storage per account and 2 GB transfer per licensed screen each UTC calendar month. Files are limited to 100 MB each. Reuse cached media to reduce downloads. Paid accounts can buy 100 GB extra transfer for €10 under Licenses; it expires at the end of the current UTC month. Nothing is bought automatically.
What happens to our content afterwards?
Hosted views and media are scheduled for deletion 14 days after paid access or the trial ends. Keep your own original files. Renew before that deadline to retain the hosted content. Offline player caches are separate: clear the player when retiring a device.
When something does not work
The confirmation email is missing.
Check spam and that the account uses the right email address. Request a fresh link under Licenses; only the most recent link works. If it still fails, email support from the account address. Do not send the confirmation link.
The pairing code is rejected.
Use the six digits currently on the player. Codes expire after ten minutes. Restart pairing for a new code. Check that your trial or subscription is active, that a view exists and that you have a free screen slot.
A website is blank or asks for sign-in.
Open the source directly on the playback device. It may block embedding or require sign-in there. A link working on your laptop does not prove it works in a tile. Use a supported public/embed address from the source provider.
The screen shows yesterday’s content.
Check the assigned view, publish the layout, then check last seen and player state under Screens. Restore network access if it is offline. Check remaining transfer allowance if new files do not arrive. Try Refresh before clearing the cache; cache clearing removes the offline fallback.
The screen is black.
Check power and input first. If the player state is blanked, use Restore. A local blanking action must be cleared on that device; an administrator cannot override a local blank screen.
What happens if the internet drops?
The screen keeps showing what you last published, including images and video. Websites and news feeds update again when the connection returns.
Still stuck? Email us.
Email us at hello@displaystation.app. We read everything and reply. Include the account email, screen name, device model, Android/browser version, what you expected and what happened. A screenshot without sensitive data helps us help you faster.
For your own security, never send passwords, payment card details, pairing codes or private content links. Need a hand with setup or rollout? Tell us what you need and we will work it out together.
Your next great screen starts here.
14 days. Two screens. Your own content. No payment card.