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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 shows a three-step process:

Player Pairing Guide

1. Launch Castit player on your device
2. Get the pairing code
3. Insert code and pair player

Step 1: Launch Castit Player on Your Device​

Download the Player​

First, download the Castit player for your system. Available platforms:

Windows​

  • Click the Windows button
  • Download the Windows player installer
  • Install on your Windows device
  • Launch using start-player.exe

Linux​

  • Click the Linux button
  • Download the Linux player archive
  • Extract the archive
  • Run start.sh file to initialize the player

Android​

  • Click the Android button
  • Download the Android APK or from Play Store
  • Install on your Android device or TV box
  • Launch the Castit player app

Web/PWA & Raspberry Pi​

  • Click the Web button for the web-based player
  • Access in any modern browser
  • For Raspberry Pi:
    • Option 1 (Recommended): Download the pre-configured SD card image - boots directly into Castit player
    • Option 2: Use the Web/PWA player in the Raspberry Pi's browser in fullscreen mode

LG webOS​

  • Open LG Content Store on your LG display
  • Search for "Castit"
  • Download and install the app
  • Launch the app from your LG display

Samsung Tizen​

  • Coming soon to Samsung displays
  • Use Web/PWA player in the meantime

Installation Notes​

For Windows and Linux versions:

  • Unpack the archive after downloading
  • For Windows: Use start-player (Windows) file
  • For Linux: Use start.sh (Linux) file to initialize the player

Link to All Platforms:

  • Click "All supported platforms" to see complete list and instructions

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: Insert Code and Pair Player​

Back in the CMS Players tab:

Open Pair Player Dialog​

  1. Click the "Pair new player" button
  2. The "Pair player" dialog opens

Pairing Dialog

Enter Pairing Information​

Player Name​

  • Required field: "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​

The dialog shows an image of what the player pairing screen looks like:

  • Displays the sample pairing code
  • Shows QR code option
  • Confirms what you should see on the physical display

Pairing Code​

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

Alternative: Scan QR Code​

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

Complete Pairing​

  1. Verify player name and code are correct
  2. Click the "Pair player" button
  3. Pairing process begins

Pairing Confirmation​

When successful:

  • Player connects to the screen
  • Player status updates to "Connected" or "Online"
  • Content begins displaying on the physical screen
  • Player appears in the players list

After Successful Pairing​

Player Status Indicator​

Once paired, you'll see player information:

  • Green badge indicating "1" player connected
  • Players tab shows the badge: Players 1
  • Player name and status visible

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 Found​

If no players are paired, you'll see:

  • "No players found" message
  • "You don't have any players paired yet. Let's pair a first one!"
  • "Pair new player" button
  • Three-step pairing instructions

Players Connected​

When players are paired:

  • Player list appears
  • Each player shows:
    • Player name
    • Status indicator
    • Connection info
    • Actions menu

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: