What you need

Before you start, check that you have the following to hand:

  • A device to run the player, one of these three:
    • Android: a TV with Android TV or Google TV, an Android TV box or stick connected to your screen via HDMI, or an Android tablet, with access to Google Play and a Google account.
    • Linux: a 64-bit (x64 or ARM64) mini PC or PC with Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 11 or Fedora 36 or newer (we recommend Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS, or Debian 12). 32-bit systems are not supported.
    • Windows: a PC, mini PC or all-in-one PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit. We recommend Windows 11, or Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise LTSC for a device that only runs the player.
  • Internet via Wi-Fi or a network cable, where the screen is located.
  • A screen in the dashboard at dashboard.narrow.tv, with its pairing code. Not created a screen yet? First follow creating and pairing your first screen, or do both at the same time.

The player does not work on Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TVs with Tizen, LG TVs with webOS, iOS or Chromecast. If you have one of those TVs, connect a player to it via HDMI: an Android TV box or stick, or a Linux or Windows mini PC. More about choosing hardware can be found in which screen for digital signage.

Installing the player on Android, step by step

  1. Switch on the screen and the Android device and check that the device is connected to the internet.
  2. Open the Google Play Store on the device.
  3. Search for Narrow.TV Player.
  4. Install the app and wait for the installation to finish.
  5. Open the Narrow.TV Player.
  6. On a computer or phone, create a screen in the dashboard if you have not done so already. The dashboard then shows a pairing code.
  7. Enter that pairing code in the player, using the remote control or the device's keyboard.
  8. The screen is paired and starts playing the content you have assigned to that screen.

If you have not created any slides yet, now is the time to do so in the dashboard. The player checks for new content every 60 seconds, so you will see your changes on screen within about a minute.

Setting the player as the home screen on Android

A screen that gets stuck in the Android menu after a power cut or after being switched on is one of the most common annoyances with digital signage. The most reliable solution is to set the Narrow.TV Player as the device's home screen (home app). The player then opens as the main app as soon as the device starts up.

  1. In the Narrow.TV Player, choose the option to set the app as the home screen.
  2. Android asks which app you want to use as the home screen. Choose the Narrow.TV Player and confirm that this should always be the case.
  3. Test it: switch the device off completely and back on again, and check that the player opens by itself.

The exact screens and wording differ by manufacturer and device. If you cannot find the home screen option, look in the device settings under default apps.

Installing the player on Linux

The Linux version is not in an app store. Request the installer through support and we will send you the download. It works on 64-bit Linux PCs and mini PCs.

  1. Connect the device to the screen via HDMI and to the internet, and switch it on.
  2. Install the .deb package (Ubuntu, Debian) or use the AppImage, and open the Narrow.TV Player.
  3. On a computer or phone, create a screen in the dashboard if you have not done so already. The dashboard then shows a pairing code.
  4. Enter that pairing code in the player.
  5. The screen is paired and starts playing the content you have assigned to that screen.

The player starts automatically, runs full screen and keeps the screen on. Test it: switch the device off completely and back on again, and check that the player opens by itself.

Installing the player on Windows

The Windows version is not in an app store either. Request the installer through support and we will send you the download. You need Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit, on a PC, mini PC or all-in-one PC.

  1. Connect the PC to the screen and to the internet.
  2. Run the installer you received.
  3. If Windows SmartScreen shows a warning, choose More info and then Run anyway.
  4. Open the Narrow.TV Player when the installation has finished.
  5. On a computer or phone, create a screen in the dashboard if you have not done so already. The dashboard then shows a pairing code.
  6. Enter that pairing code in the player.
  7. The screen is paired and starts playing the content you have assigned to that screen.

The player starts automatically when you sign in to Windows, runs full screen and keeps the screen on. For a screen that should start up by itself after a power cut, set Windows to sign in automatically. To make sure nobody can leave the player, you can use Windows Assigned Access (kiosk mode), which is in Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise and Education.

Tips for a stable screen

  • Turn off power saving and sleep mode in the settings of the device and the TV, so the screen does not go black after a while.
  • Use a network cable if possible if the device has that port, or make sure there is a strong Wi-Fi signal where the screen is.
  • Power a stick from a wall socket rather than the TV's USB port, if the manufacturer recommends it. Some TVs switch off USB power in standby.
  • Keep the device accessible in case you want to restart or update it later.

During a short network interruption, the player keeps playing the most recently loaded content.

Troubleshooting

  • You cannot find the app in the Play Store: check that the device really runs Android TV, Google TV or Android and has access to Google Play. The app is not available on Fire TV, Tizen or webOS. For Linux and Windows the app is not in a store; request the installer through support.
  • The pairing code is not accepted: check that you have copied the code exactly as the dashboard shows it, and that the device has internet.
  • The screen shows old content: wait about a minute after your change and check the device's network connection.
  • You are replacing the device: install the player on the new device and pair it with the same screen. The old device is then unpaired.

Still stuck? Email info@narrow.tv, call +31 (0)85 401 81 62 or use the contact page. Mention which device and operating system you are using.

No account yet? Start the free 30-day trial and pair your first screen. Everything you can do with the software is described under digital signage software.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I download the Narrow.TV Player?

For Android, the Narrow.TV Player is on Google Play: on the Android device, search the Play Store for Narrow.TV Player and install the app. For Linux and Windows the app is not in an app store; request the installer through support and we will send you the download.

Which devices does the Narrow.TV Player work on?

On Android TV and Google TV, Android TV boxes and sticks, and Android tablets; on 64-bit Linux PCs and mini PCs; and on Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) PCs, mini PCs and all-in-one PCs. Not on Fire TV, Samsung Tizen, LG webOS, iOS or Chromecast.

Why does the player not start automatically when switched on?

On Android, set the Narrow.TV Player as the device's home screen. It will then open as the main app as soon as the device starts up. On Linux the app starts automatically; on Windows it starts when you sign in, so set Windows to sign in automatically.

Does the player also work on Windows or Linux?

Yes. The Narrow.TV Player runs on Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) and on 64-bit Linux. You request the installer through support, pair with the same code as on Android and use the same slides and dashboard.

What happens if the internet drops out briefly?

During a short network interruption, the player keeps playing the most recently loaded content.