Setting up Q-Play on a BrightSign Player

This guide walks you through installing Q-Play on a BrightSign player using an SD card.

What you need

• A BrightSign player
• A (micro)SD card — use a high-quality card rated A1 or A2, as these are designed to handle frequent read/write operations reliably
• A computer with an SD card reader

Installation

1. Download the current Q-Play for BrightSign from this link: https://player.q-play.io/brightsign/autorun.zip
2. Format the SD card as exFAT and place the downloaded autorun.zip file in the root of the SD card.
3. Hold the Reset and SVC buttons, then connect power to the player while keeping both buttons held.
4. Wait for the Err LED to flash red, then release both buttons.
5. Wait while the player resets and reboots — you should see the BrightSign logo along with the serial number, MAC address, and OS version.
6. Power the player off, insert the SD card into the slot, and power it back on.
7. Q-Play will now install automatically.
8. Once installation is complete, connect the player to CMS using the connect code shown on screen.

WiFi setup

BrightSign players do not come with a WiFi module installed from the factory. If your player is connected via ethernet, no further network setup is needed.

If you want to use WiFi, a compatible WiFi module must be physically installed inside the player first. The module slots into the M.2 interface on the player's circuit board and requires opening the unit. The exact steps vary by player model — refer to BrightSign's official hardware documentation for your specific model.

Once the module is physically installed, WiFi is configured through BrightSign Control at https://www.brightsign.biz/brightsign-players/software/ — create a free account if you don't have one already.

Step 1 — Create a setup file

1. In BrightSign Control, go to Player Setup > Setup File Library in the left-hand menu.
2. Click Add a Setup File in the top right corner.

3. Under Setup File Basics, give the setup file a name.
4. Go to Publishing Mode and select one of the following:
   • CMS URL — enter https://player.q-play.io/brightsign/autorun.zip as the URL.
   • Partner CMS — if NordicScreen appears in the list, select it from the dropdown. (This option becomes available once NordicScreen is certified as a BrightSign Partner CMS.)

5. Go to Network and toggle off Use current player settings.
6. Under Network Interfaces, click Add wireless interface.
7. A wlan0 (WiFi) block will appear. Enter your network SSID and password. DHCP is enabled by default.

8. Click Save Setup File.

Step 2 — Provision the player

Do this before powering the player on for the first time — the player will then automatically apply the setup file on first boot, including the WiFi credentials.

1. Go to Player Setup > Provisioning.
2. Click + Add Player and enter the player's serial number (found on the device label).
3. Tick the checkbox next to the player(s) you want to configure.
4. Click Assign Setup File and choose the setup file you just created.

Step 3 — Connect the player to your WiFi network

If the player has never been connected to the internet before, it cannot reach BrightSign Control to download its setup file on its own. BrightSign solves this with Access Point Mode: the player temporarily broadcasts its own WiFi network so you can give it your WiFi credentials directly from a browser.

Note: Access Point Mode requires BrightSignOS 8.4 or higher. Check the OS version shown on screen during the first boot — if it is lower, connect via ethernet first and update the firmware before proceeding.

1. Make sure no ethernet cable is connected and no SD card is inserted, then power on the player.
2. After about 60 seconds, the player will show a Wireless Access Point Setup screen and broadcast its own temporary WiFi network.
3. On your computer or phone, go to your WiFi settings and connect to the BrightSign device's network.
4. Open a browser and go to the IP address shown on the player's screen (for example, http://192.168.10.200/setup).
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your WiFi network name and password.
6. The player will reboot, connect to your WiFi network, and automatically download the setup file you assigned in Step 2.

Once the setup file is applied, continue with the SD card installation steps at the top of this guide to install Q-Play.

Note: If the player has already been powered on without a setup file, it may need to be reprovisioned for the new setup file to take effect. BrightSign Control will indicate this on the Provisioning page.