How To Use a Chromebox for Digital Signage

PLEASE NOTE: Google have recently made a change which will mean that new Chrome OS devices will not support unmanaged kiosk mode. You will need a Chrome subscription license for each of your Chrome devices to run your them in kiosk mode. Without this, you will not have access to Google's Chrome Enterprise tools, which you now need in order to set up an app like ScreenCloud to run in kiosk mode. If you need a Chrome license you can purchase this through our partner Promevo.

When it comes to choosing digital signage media players, there is a huge choice, from simple plug in USB drives to more complex and fully-featured devices such as our very own Station P1 Pro.

You can also pick and choose your operating system, from Mac OS to Android or Amazon's own Android skin, FireOS. But Chrome OS and the Android ecosystem are popular as they can be used by many developers to create affordable media players. But if you're looking for a stable and affordable Chrome OS media player for digital signage, you might have stumbled on the Google Chromebox.

In this guide, we’ll explain the Google Chromebox digital signage player, how to install it, and what type of content and system it best suits. 

Chromebox: an introduction

If the Chromebit is like having a helpful USB stick power up your screens then the Chromebox is like having your screens powered by a laptop. It’s size is 124 x 124 x 42 mm so it’s slightly bigger than the Chromebit but it comes with more RAM, more memory, four USB ports and even has a Wireless Chrome OS keyboard and mouse included when you buy it from Amazon.

If none of that makes sense to you then let’s just say; for high-resolution and heavy content it’s your best bud.

When using a Chromebox for digital signage, we recommend running the ScreenCloud app in kiosk mode. Kiosk mode allows you to run a single app and lock it down so no one can interfere with it. Also, if there's a power failure or the app crashes for some reason, the device will auto launch the app again. It's perfect for digital signage and very useful if you're using the screen in a public area.

In order to use the ScreenCloud app in kiosk mode you will need to get access to Google’s Chrome Enterprise tools, which requires paying an annual fee per device for a Chrome license. Having access to Google’s Chrome Enterprise tools comes with a lot of benefits though. Besides being able to use the ScreenCloud app in kiosk mode you’ll also get features like device monitoring and reporting, remote updates, remote device rebooting, device offline notifications and more.

To summarize, the Chromebox is great for setting up digital signage as it’s a truly business ready device, with the features needed to set up a digital signage project knowing that managing and monitoring your digital signage devices will be easy. In order to access these features there are some additional costs but we believe they are well worth the value. At around $200-$250, you can pick up these devices from multiple retailers such as Amazon, B&H Electronics, Best Buy, and more. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s great for demanding content and signage solutions with slightly more budget, that have room to house it.

Setting up your Chromebox with ScreenCloud

Once you’ve ordered your Chromebox, use this simple guide to get it setup. 

1. Plug in your Chromebox and connect to WiFi

When you plug in your new Chromebox one of the first few steps will be to choose and connect to a WiFi network of your choice. Once you’ve done this your WiFi details will be saved so that you’re always connected to the internet.

2. Enroll your device

After following the on-screen instructions like adding your WiFi details you will see a sign-in screen. Don't sign in yet.

Instead, press Ctrl+Alt+E to go to the enrollment screen and login with an account that is connected to a Chrome license that you will use to enroll your Chromebox in Chrome Enterprise.

Note that you will have to do quite a few steps in order to purchase Chrome licenses and set up Google’s Chrome Enterprise tools. To help you with these steps, our team has created a step-by-step guide which walks you through How to Set up ScreenCloud in Kiosk Mode on a Chrome Device With a Chrome License.

If everything was set up correctly, when you login with your account and enroll your Chromebox the ScreenCloud app will download and load in kiosk mode automatically.

3. Pair up ScreenCloud with your device

Once the ScreenCloud app has loaded, you’ll see a pairing code that looks a little like the below. Once you have this, open go to ScreenCloud on your laptop or PC and sign up for a ScreenCloud account. 

4. Add your screen

Once you’ve signed up, you can choose "Add screen" from the screen below. Enter your pairing code from the previous step and that’s it! You’re now running content on your screen from your PC or laptop. 

5. Content time

Now you’re in control of what’s showing on your screen you can start adding images, videos, presentations and webpages and incorporating apps such as social media feeds, RSS and news feeds. 

Once you’ve added your content of choice, you can then organise it all using the playlist and scheduling tools. Drag and drop different forms of content into one easy-to-assemble playlist and then choose when you want it to show. 

Get started with ScreenCloud

If you're ready to get started with digital signage, ScreenCloud offers exceptional functionality - with enterprise grade security, remote device management and top tier support.

Get in touch to discuss your digital signage requirements, or sign up for a 14 day free trial today.