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Pairing Players

Learn how to connect physical player devices to your screens.

What is Player Pairing?​

Player pairing connects a physical device running the Castit player software to a virtual screen in your CMS. Once paired:

  • The physical display shows content from the screen
  • You can monitor player status remotely
  • Content updates automatically sync to the player
  • You can manage the player through the CMS

Before You Start​

Ensure you have:

  1. Created a screen in Castit CMS
  2. Downloaded the appropriate Castit player for your device
  3. Physical display connected to the device
  4. Device connected to the internet
  5. Screen content configured (recommended but not required)

Accessing Player Pairing​

  1. Navigate to Screens in the left sidebar
  2. Open the screen you want to pair
  3. Click the Players tab

Pairing Process Overview​

The Players tab has a "Pair a player with your screen" setup section that walks you through three steps:

Players tab with the pairing setup

1. Download your player
2. Get the pairing code
3. Enter code and pair

Step 1: Download Your Player​

Under "Download your player", "Choose your system below to download or open the app". Quick buttons are provided for the most common systems:

  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Android
  • Web

The setup card also notes:

  • On Windows and Linux, unpack the archive and run start-player (Windows) or start.sh (Linux) to launch the player.
  • Smart TVs, the web player, app stores, and the full list of builds are on the download page.

To see every supported platform and build, click "Go to download page".

Step 2: Get the Pairing Code​

When you launch the Castit player on your device, it displays a pairing screen showing:

Pairing Code Display​

  • Large 5-digit code (e.g., 96418)
  • Prominent display on the player screen
  • Code is unique to this pairing session
  • QR code for quick scanning (optional method)

Pairing Instructions on Player​

The player screen shows instructions:

  1. Visit the pairing page or use the CMS
  2. Enter this code to pair with your screen
  3. Code remains valid until paired or timeout
  4. Screen shows "Waiting to be paired" message

Important Notes​

  • The pairing code is displayed on the physical player device
  • You need this code to complete pairing in the CMS
  • Code is generated automatically when player launches
  • New code appears if player is restarted

Step 3: Enter Code and Pair​

You can enter the code directly in the Enter code and pair card on the Players tab, or open the Pair player dialog for the full pairing form.

Open the Pair Player Dialog​

  1. Click the "Pair player" button (header) or "Pair new player" (bottom of the setup section)
  2. The "Pair player" dialog opens

Pair player dialog

Enter Pairing Information​

Player Name​

  • Required field, placeholder: "Give your player a name"
  • Enter a descriptive name for this player
  • Examples:
    • "Reception Display Player"
    • "Main Lobby - Android Box"
    • "Breakroom TV Player"

Naming Tips:

  • Match the screen name
  • Include device type
  • Reference location
  • Keep it identifiable

Visual Reference​

Between the fields, the dialog shows an image of what the player screen looks like ("Once you launch player on your device, you will see the following screen:"):

  • Displays the sample pairing code
  • Shows the QR code option

Pairing Code​

  • Required field, placeholder: "Input the 5-digit pairing code"
  • Enter the code displayed on the player screen
  • Must match exactly
  • Example: 96418

Alternative: Scan QR Code​

  • Click the "Open camera" button
  • Use your device camera to scan the QR code on the player screen
  • The code is entered automatically
  • Convenient for mobile pairing

Complete Pairing​

  1. Verify the player name and code are correct
  2. Click the "Pair player" button (or "Cancel" to discard)
  3. The pairing process begins

Pairing Confirmation​

When successful:

  • The player connects to the screen
  • Its Online status shows ONLINE
  • Content begins displaying on the physical screen
  • The player appears in the players table

After Successful Pairing​

Player Status Indicator​

Once paired, you'll see player information:

  • The Players tab shows an online/total badge (e.g. Players 1/1)
  • The header reads "Screen 1 (1 player)" with ONLINE / OFFLINE count pills
  • The player appears in the players table with its name and status

Player Management​

You can now:

  • Monitor player status
  • See player online/offline status
  • Update player settings
  • Remotely restart player if needed
  • View player information

Managing Multiple Players​

Pairing Additional Players​

To pair multiple players to the same screen:

  1. Click "Pair new player" again
  2. Launch Castit player on another device
  3. Follow the same pairing process
  4. Each player will show the same content

Use Cases for Multiple Players​

  • Multiple displays showing identical content
  • Redundancy for critical displays
  • Different locations showing same screen
  • Testing before deployment

Player States​

No Players Yet​

If no players are paired, the Players tab shows the "Pair a player with your screen" setup section with the three-step pairing guide and a "Pair new player" button — and no players table.

Players Connected​

When players are paired, a players table appears above the setup section. Each row shows:

  • Name — the player's name
  • Screen — the screen it's paired to (with a link to open it)
  • Online status — ONLINE or OFFLINE
  • Pairing code — the player's code (copyable)
  • Platform — e.g. Web, Windows, Android
  • Uptime — how long the player has been online
  • Actions — a â‹® menu for managing the player

Troubleshooting​

Pairing Code Not Working​

  • Verify the code: Ensure all 5 digits are correct
  • Code expired: Restart player to get new code
  • Try again: Close dialog and restart pairing process
  • Check connection: Ensure device has internet access

Player Not Connecting​

  • Internet connection: Verify device is online
  • Firewall: Check firewall settings aren't blocking connection
  • Restart player: Close and relaunch the player software
  • Restart device: Reboot the player device
  • Check compatibility: Ensure player version is current

Content Not Displaying After Pairing​

  • Wait a moment: Initial sync may take a few seconds
  • Check screen content: Verify content is added to the screen
  • Player status: Confirm player shows as connected
  • Restart player: Try restarting the player application

Can't Find Pairing Code​

  • Check player screen: Code displays prominently on player
  • Player not launched: Ensure player software is running
  • Wrong screen: Make sure you're looking at the correct display
  • Restart player: Restart to generate new code

Player Security​

Pairing Best Practices​

  • Only pair trusted devices
  • Keep pairing codes confidential during setup
  • Remove old/unused players from screens
  • Monitor player status regularly
  • Keep player software updated

Next Steps​

After pairing your player: