Getting your first screen up and running with OnSign is simpler than you might think. This guide walks you through everything, from installing the player app to seeing your content live on screen — in just a few steps. Whether you're setting up a single display or the start of a larger network, you'll be publishing content in minutes.

What you'll need

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• An OnSign account — sign up for free at onsign.tv
• A screen or TV connected to a player device (Android stick, Windows PC, BrightSign, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, macOS, or others)
• An internet connection on the player device

Not ready to use physical hardware yet? You can use a Windows or macOS computer as a test screen by downloading the desktop player — no additional hardware needed.

Step 1 — Install the OnSign Player

Go to the Downloads page and install the OnSign player app on your device.

Choose your platform:

• Android — Install from Google Play or download the APK directly
• Windows — Download and run the Windows installer
• BrightSign — Follow the BrightSign-specific setup guide
• Samsung Tizen / LG webOS — Install via the commercial display's app store
• macOS — Download and open the macOS player

Once installed, launch the app. You will see a pairing screen with a unique Pair Code.

Step 2 — Connect the Player to Your Account

1. Log in to your OnSign account at app.onsign.tv
2. In the left menu, go to Players
3. Click Setup Player (or the + button)
4. Enter the Pair Code displayed on your device
5. Give your player a name (e.g. "Reception TV" or "Store – Window Display")
6. Click Pair

Your player will appear as Online in the Players list within a few seconds. That's it — your device is now connected.

Step 3 — Upload Your Content

1. In the left menu, go to Content
2. Click Upload and select one or more files from your computer
3. Supported formats include images (JPG, PNG, GIF), videos (MP4, MOV), and more — see full list of supported file types

Your files will be processed and ready to use in a few moments. You can also create dynamic content using Apps (weather, social media, web pages, data feeds, and more). 

Step 4 — Publish Content to Your Screen

There are two ways to get content playing on your screen:

Option A — Publish directly to a player

1. Go to Players and click on your player
2. Click on Content In Player
3. Click Publish
4. Select the content or playlist you want to show, then click the arrow or simply double-click it to add it to your playback loop.
5. Click Publish to confirm
6. The circular arrows icon next to the Wi-Fi symbol shows the player's sync status. While it's spinning, the player is downloading and synchronizing the new content — wait until it stops before checking playback.

Option B — Create a Campaign (recommended for scheduling)

1. Go to Content and click New → Campaign
2. Add your content to the campaign timeline
3. Select the player(s) that will receive this campaign
4. Click Publish
   Your content will start playing on the screen within seconds of publishing.

Step 5 — Confirm It's Playing

Go to Players and check the status of your device. A green indicator means the player is online and playing content. You can also click the player name to see what's currently on screen.

You can also confirm this by checking the Player Events log on the Player Status page. You'll see three key events during this process:

• Starting synchronization of content — the player has begun downloading the new content.
• Finished synchronization of content — all files have been downloaded, but the player will only start playing the new content once the current loop finishes.
• Starting playback of updated content — the player has switched over and is now playing the new content.

What's Next?

Now that your first screen is live, here are the most useful things to explore:

• Playlists — Group multiple pieces of content to play in sequence with transitions and timing rules.
• Campaigns — Schedule content to play at specific times, days, or to specific groups of players.
• Apps — Add live data to your screens: weather, social feeds, RSS, Power BI, YouTube, and more.
• Player Groups — Manage and publish to multiple screens at once.
• Reports — Track what's playing and for how long across your network.