Appearance
Devices
Devices are the Fire TV hardware units that display your Tapboard content. Each device pairs with your account and connects to a screen to show your menu boards and advertisements.
Supported Fire TV Devices
Tapboard runs on Amazon Fire TV devices. The following devices are tested and supported:
| Device | Resolution | Best For | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen) | 4K Ultra HD | Best overall performance for menu boards | Buy on Amazon |
| Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) | 4K Ultra HD | Great balance of price and performance | Buy on Amazon |
| Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) | 1080p Full HD | Budget-friendly option for smaller displays | Buy on Amazon |
| Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) | 4K Ultra HD | Premium option with faster processor | Buy on Amazon |
| Fire TV Stick Lite | 1080p Full HD | Most affordable option | Buy on Amazon |
Recommendations:
- For most businesses, the Fire TV Stick 4K or Fire TV Stick 4K Max provides the best experience with smooth rendering and support for high-resolution displays.
- The Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) works well for smaller screens or tighter budgets.
- Avoid older generation devices (1st Gen Fire TV Stick) as they may not support the latest Tapboard app updates.
Pairing a Device
Prerequisites
- The Tapboard app must be installed on your Fire TV device.
- The device must be connected to the internet.
- At least one location must exist. Every device is tied to a location, so if you haven't created one yet, the pairing page prompts you to Create a location first before you can activate a device. See Locations.
Pairing Steps
- On the Fire TV: Launch the Tapboard app. A 6-digit pairing code will appear on screen.
- In Tapboard: Navigate to Devices in the sidebar.
- Click Pair Device.
- Enter the 6-digit code shown on the TV.
- Optionally, assign the device to a screen immediately.
- Optionally, give the device a custom name (e.g., "Bar TV Left").
- Click Pair.
The pairing code expires after 5 minutes and is single-use. If the code expires, the Fire TV app will generate a new one.
Quick Pairing
You can also access device pairing directly via the URL tapboard.app/pair for quick access.
Device Status
Devices report their status through regular heartbeat signals:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Online | Device sent a heartbeat within the last 3 minutes |
| Offline | Device has not responded recently (during business hours) |
| Offline (Expected) | Device is offline outside of business hours. This is normal |
| Never Seen | Device was paired but has never sent a heartbeat |
| Awaiting Pairing | Device record exists (e.g., after a previous revoke) but has not yet been re-paired with a fresh code |
| Revoked | Device was disconnected from your account. Can be reactivated by re-pairing |
Device Information
Each device reports the following information:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Device Name | Custom name you assign (editable) |
| Device ID | Unique identifier (auto-generated) |
| Screen | The screen this device is paired to |
| Last Heartbeat | When the device last checked in |
| App Version | The version of the Tapboard app running on the device |
| Firmware Version | The Fire TV firmware version |
| Storage Available | Remaining storage space on the device |
Managing Devices
Editing a Device
- Go to Devices.
- Click Edit next to the device.
- You can change:
- Device Name — Give it a descriptive name.
- Assigned Screen — Move the device to a different screen.
- Click Save.
Reassigning a Device to a Different Screen
- Edit the device.
- Select a new screen from the dropdown.
- Save.
- The device will pick up the new screen's configuration on its next sync.
Revoking a Device
Revoking a device disconnects it from your account. The device will no longer receive content updates.
- Go to Devices.
- Click Revoke next to the device.
- Confirm the action.
A revoked device can be re-paired using a new pairing code. When you re-pair a previously revoked device, the system reuses the original device record. The custom name you assigned (e.g., "Bar TV Left") is preserved, and any orphaned revoked record for that hardware is cleaned up so you do not end up with duplicate rows in your devices list.
Deleting a Device
Deleting permanently removes the device record from your account.
- Go to Devices.
- Click Delete next to the device.
- Confirm the deletion.
App Updates
Each device reports the version of the Tapboard Fire TV app it is currently running. When a newer build has been published, Tapboard surfaces an "Update Available" indicator both in the admin and on the TV footer, and a green "N display(s) need update" badge appears in the dashboard header.
Updates install automatically through the Amazon Appstore. In most cases you do not need to do anything, but if a device stays on an older version for more than a day, see the App Updates page for the full update flow and manual update steps.
How Devices Sync
Once paired and assigned to a screen:
- The device periodically calls the Tapboard sync endpoint.
- It checks if a new published configuration version is available.
- If a newer version exists, the device downloads the updated manifest.
- The manifest includes all menu data, ad data, media URLs, and display settings.
- The device renders the content according to the configuration.
Syncing happens automatically. You do not need to manually push updates to devices. After you publish a screen, devices typically update within seconds.
After publishing, the Screens page shows a per-screen banner that tracks which paired devices have picked up the new version, which are still pending, and which were offline at publish time. See Screens for details on the publishing indicator.
Troubleshooting Devices
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Device shows "Offline" | Check the device's internet connection and power. |
| Pairing code expired | The Fire TV app will show a new code automatically. Re-enter it. |
| Device not updating | Make sure you clicked Publish on the screen. |
| Device shows old content | Check the publish history to confirm the publish succeeded. |
| Device shows "Display paused" | Your trial or subscription has ended and the display grace period elapsed. Renew from the Billing page and the display restores automatically on the next sync. |
| "Never Seen" status | The device may not be powered on or may have connectivity issues. |
| "Update Available" badge persists | See App Updates for manual update steps and Amazon Appstore auto-update settings. |
See Troubleshooting for more help.