Set up an Edge display
Connect an HDMI screen and show a fixed URL, a Stardeck app page, or content controlled live by an app.
An Edge machine can turn an HDMI screen into an unattended kiosk display. Common uses include queue boards, kitchen displays, customer order summaries, menus, and status screens.
Connect the screen
Connect HDMI and power
Connect the screen to an HDMI port on the Edge machine, turn the screen on, and select the correct HDMI input.
Find the display
Open Settings → Edge Devices and expand the machine.
Each detected HDMI port appears as a display. A green dot means a screen is currently detected.
Give it a clear name
Use a name based on the screen's location or job, such as Kitchen Queue or Customer Order Screen.
Choose what it shows
Select a content mode, enter its settings, and select Apply to screen.
Once the machine is granted to an app, its screens also appear under Displays in that app's Settings → Integrations. There, Pin a page of this app takes the place of Pin one of your apps.
Choose a content mode
Pin a fixed URL
Use Pin a fixed URL to keep any web page on the screen. Enter the complete https:// URL.
The page must be usable without someone touching the screen. Avoid pages with sign-in prompts, cookie dialogs, or navigation that requires a mouse.
Pin one of your apps
Use Pin one of your apps to select a Stardeck app and a route such as /queue-display.
For a private app, enable Sign in automatically (private apps). Stardeck creates and renews a session for the display, so no one needs to enter credentials on the physical screen.
Automatic sign-in gives the physical display access to the selected private app. Place the screen where it cannot expose private information to the wrong audience.
Let an app control it live
Use Controlled by an app (live) when the app should change the screen during a workflow, for example showing an order while a customer pays and returning to an idle page afterward.
Grant the Edge machine to the app, then pair a screen alias in the app's Printer Pairings: choose the screen instead of a printer. The app can target that alias with the Edge SDK:
await edge.showDisplay({
alias: "customer-screen",
url: `${baseUrl}/display/order/${orderId}`,
});
await edge.clearDisplay({ alias: "customer-screen" });First-time preparation
The first display used on an older Edge machine may show Preparing display — installing the kiosk stack on the device… while the machine
installs its kiosk software. This usually takes 5–15 minutes and requires internet access.
After the first preparation, changing content normally takes a few seconds.
Understand display status
The status line shows the full text below.
| Status text | Meaning |
|---|---|
Showing <url> or Showing (signed app session) | The display is showing the requested content |
Preparing display — installing the kiosk stack on the device… | The kiosk software is being installed |
Configured — waiting for the device to apply it | The setting is saved but has not reached the machine yet |
Configured, but no screen is detected on this port | Content is saved, but no screen is connected to that HDMI port |
Turning off — the screen is still showing the previous content | The display is being cleared |
Display stack failed: <error> or Display stack failed on the device | The on-machine kiosk software needs attention |
Nothing configured | No content is set for this display |
Display settings persist through reboots. A setting saved while the Edge machine is offline is delivered automatically after it reconnects.
Design an unattended display page
A kiosk page should:
- use large text that is readable from the expected viewing distance
- refresh its own data without a manual reload
- recover from network errors automatically
- avoid modals, toasts, navigation bars, and cookie banners
- never require a keyboard, mouse, or touch interaction
If a screen stays blank or fails preparation, see Troubleshoot Stardeck Edge.