Blogpost was published on June 9, 2025
Digital signage is designed to run continuously—24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The software at the heart of Play Digital Signage is engineered to make this a reality, incorporating fault-tolerant features like content caching and crash recovery. However, keeping a digital signage deployment reliable over the long term requires more than just good software.
In this article, we explore the practical steps users can take to ensure that their digital signage setup stays online and effective at all times. We’ll examine hardware selection, device setup, operating system tweaks, network configuration, and much more. Whether you're deploying one screen or a thousand, these best practices will help you maintain uptime and performance.
"Content is king"—but your media player is its castle. The type of content you plan to show should determine the media player or Smart TV you choose.
If your content is limited to static images and basic video without transitions or animations, a budget device like the $30 Amazon FireTV Stick may be sufficient.
If your content includes:
...then a high-performance media player is essential. Underpowered devices will lag, crash, or overheat.
Most Smart TVs are equivalent to entry-level media players and may not handle complex signage tasks reliably. Always test your planned content on a prospective Smart TV before full deployment.
Helpful Resource: Find a suitable media player
Setting up your media player properly is just as important as picking the right one. Here’s how to get started with different platforms:
Uninstall other apps: Remove any unnecessary applications to free up resources.
Use AUTO-Launch: Enable this feature in the Play Digital Signage app.
Permissions: Grant overlay permissions as needed (Guide).
Install via Amazon App Store: Avoid using APKs to ensure automatic updates.
Power Supply: Use the provided PSU, not a TV’s USB port.
Disable automatic updates: Prevent Windows from rebooting randomly (Guide).
Use Auto-Launch: Configure through the app or dashboard.
Tweak performance settings: Disable screen savers, and sleep modes, and ensure the machine reboots to the signage app.
Install from the Play Store: Avoid APK installations.
Grant all required permissions (Guide).
Overlay permission: Enable "Display over other apps."
Use Android 6 or newer: Older versions are not supported.
Enable Auto-Launch
Disable macOS updates
Digital signage systems are networked devices that rely on an internet connection to download content, updates, and integrations.
Locally stored content (images, videos, etc.): Can run offline after published.
Real-time content (RSS, Facebook, PowerBI, weather widgets): Requires regular connectivity.
Wi-Fi is convenient but often unstable for critical use. Signal dropouts can affect syncing.
Prefer a wired Ethernet connection for stability.
Isolating digital signage traffic improves performance and reduces interference with other business-critical operations.
Hardware reliability is affected by environmental factors such as temperature, power supply, and ventilation.
Devices like Raspberry Pi and Amazon FireTV Sticks can overheat. Use heatsinks and active cooling if necessary.
Don’t place devices inside closed cabinets without ventilation.
Use dedicated PSUs.
Avoid powering devices from TV USB ports, which may offer inconsistent voltage.
Use surge protectors or UPS devices to protect against voltage spikes.
If you're deploying dozens or hundreds of screens, Mobile Device Management (MDM) software can help:
Push updates
Enforce configurations
Lock down devices
Remotely reboot or monitor hardware
Android MDM Guide: Using MDM
All supported devices and platforms should be set to launch the signage app automatically on boot. This reduces downtime in case of power failures or restarts.
For platforms like Samsung Tizen and LG WebOS, configure device schedules to turn on/off at desired times.
Samsung Tizen Guide: Power Schedules
Prevent accidental input switching on smart displays:
Use the Play Signage web portal to disable remote control access on supported devices.
Ensure Auto-Launch is on
Install from Amazon App Store
Grant overlay permissions
Avoid APKs and use the provided PSU
Use the provided PSU
Auto-Launch should be enabled by default
Enable Auto-Launch
Set power schedules
Disable HDMI-CEC on Tizen TVs to prevent accidental input switching (Guide)
Enable Auto-Launch
Schedule power on/off
Install heatsinks (Pi)
Use 3A or official PSU (Pi)
Play Digital Signage supports monitoring features that notify you of player status, screen uptime, and more:
Heartbeat monitor: Detects app crashes and restarts the app automatically.
Alerts & dashboards: Set up screen notifications for maintenance.
Heavy content can crash underpowered devices.
Tips:
Use optimized images (avoid high-res if not needed)
Limit 4K video to high-end devices
Reduce web-based widget load (like complex websites)
Avoid excessive animations on budget players
Software like Play Digital Signage provides the backbone for 24/7 reliability, but user behavior and configuration ultimately determine system stability. By selecting the right hardware, optimizing network and power, configuring devices correctly, and monitoring system health, you can deploy a rock-solid digital signage solution.
No matter your platform or scale, the goal is the same: keep your message on the screen at all times. With these best practices, you’ll be well-equipped to achieve just that.
Need Help? Visit playsignage.com/support or chat with our team for personalized setup advice.
Start with our latest and most-read blog posts.
Scoreboards are an essential component of sports events, gyms, bars, and recreational centers, and with the right digital signage solution, they can be sea...
Learn More >
Going to a doctor, hospital, or any healthcare facility can be an overwhelming and, quite frankly, boring experience. You book an app...
Learn More >
In recent years, digital signage content has evolved from simple and static to dynamic, data-driven, and intelligent. With the new t...
Learn More >
First Bankers Trust was founded in 1946 and has since been a pillar of financial stability and community service. Established in Quincy, Il...
Learn More >
If you haven’t found what you were looking for here, we still have lots to show you! Check out sample digital signage solutions by industry to see how digital signage fits into your business, case studies from those who have come before you to see how they have taken advantage of digital signage, or reach out to us using the live chat below with any questions you might have!
