Desktop Browser Setup

HipDeck runs entirely in a modern desktop browser, making it easy to turn any Windows or Mac computer into a digital signage player — no additional software required. This guide walks you through everything from choosing the right browser to keeping your display running smoothly around the clock.

Supported Browsers

HipDeck is compatible with all major Chromium-based and standards-compliant browsers. The following browsers are officially supported on both Windows and macOS:

• Google Chrome (version 100 or later) — recommended for best compatibility and kiosk mode support
• Microsoft Edge (version 100 or later) — built on Chromium, supports the same flags and kiosk features as Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox (version 110 or later) — fully supported, though kiosk mode configuration differs slightly

Always keep your browser updated to the latest stable release to ensure full support for modern web APIs used by the HipDeck player.

Navigating to the HipDeck Player URL

The HipDeck Signage Player can be accessed via browser here.

The player will load immediately and begin displaying your scheduled content. Bookmark the URL or set it as the browser's homepage so it reopens automatically after a restart.

Signing In and Pairing a Screen

When you open the player URL for the first time, you will be prompted to enter a pairing code: a short alphanumeric code displayed on screen. Enter this code in your HipDeck dashboard under Screens > Pair a Screen to link the browser.

Once paired, the screen remains linked to that browser session. If you clear browser cookies or use a different browser profile, you will need to re-pair the screen.

Enabling Full-Screen Mode

For a clean, distraction-free display, run the HipDeck player in full-screen mode so the browser chrome (address bar, tabs, toolbars) is hidden.

• Press F11 on Windows or Ctrl+Command+F on macOS to toggle full-screen mode in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
• The browser will remember full-screen state across sessions in most configurations.
• On Windows, you can also press F11 after the page loads to immediately enter full-screen without using the menu.

If the display is unattended, consider pairing full-screen mode with kiosk mode (described below) to prevent accidental exits.

Using Chrome's Kiosk Mode for a Cleaner Experience

Chrome and Edge support a dedicated kiosk mode that launches the browser in a locked full-screen state with no visible UI elements. This is ideal for unattended signage displays.

To launch Chrome in kiosk mode, use the following command-line flag when starting the browser:

• Windows: chrome.exe --kiosk https://player.hipdeck.com/your-screen-url
• macOS: open -a 'Google Chrome' --args --kiosk https://player.hipdeck.com/your-screen-url

You can create a desktop shortcut or startup script that runs this command automatically when the computer boots. Additional useful flags include:

• --noerrdialogs — suppresses crash and error dialogs that could interrupt the display
• --disable-infobars — hides the 'Chrome is being controlled by automated software' notification bar
• --disable-session-crashed-bubble — prevents the session restore prompt from appearing after an unexpected shutdown
• --start-maximized — useful as a fallback if kiosk mode is not available in your environment

Microsoft Edge supports the same --kiosk flag and behaves identically to Chrome in this mode.

Preventing the Browser from Sleeping or Throttling Background Tabs

Modern browsers aggressively throttle or suspend background tabs and processes to save power. For a signage player that must run continuously, you need to disable these behaviors.

System-Level Sleep Settings

• Windows: Go to Settings > System > Power & Sleep and set both Screen and Sleep to Never.
• macOS: Go to System Settings > Battery (or Energy Saver) and disable 'Turn display off after' and 'Put hard disks to sleep when possible'.

Chrome and Edge Tab Throttling

Chrome and Edge may throttle timers and animations in tabs that are not in the foreground. To prevent this:

• Always keep the HipDeck player tab as the active, focused tab in the browser window.
• In Chrome, navigate to chrome://flags and search for 'Throttle Javascript timers in background'. Set it to Disabled.
• Add the --disable-background-timer-throttling flag to your Chrome launch command for a more permanent solution.
• Disable any browser extensions that manage tab memory or suspend inactive tabs (e.g., The Great Suspender, OneTab).

Firefox Background Tab Behavior

In Firefox, open about:config and set the following preferences to prevent throttling:

• dom.min_background_timeout_value — set to 0 to disable background timer delays
• dom.timeout.throttling_delay — set to 0 to remove throttling delays

Using a Dedicated Browser Profile for Signage

Running HipDeck in a dedicated browser profile keeps your signage session isolated from personal browsing data, extensions, and settings. This improves reliability and makes it easier to manage the signage computer.

Creating a Dedicated Profile in Chrome or Edge

1. Click the profile avatar icon in the top-right corner of the browser.
2. Select Add > Continue without an account (or Add Profile in Edge).
3. Name the profile something recognizable, such as 'HipDeck Signage'.
4. Open the HipDeck player URL in this profile and complete the sign-in or pairing process.
5. Set the player URL as the homepage for this profile so it loads automatically on launch.

To launch Chrome directly into a specific profile with kiosk mode, use the --profile-directory flag:

• chrome.exe --profile-directory="Profile 2" --kiosk https://player.hipdeck.com/your-screen-url

The profile directory name (e.g., 'Profile 2') can be found in chrome://version under the Profile Path field.

Benefits of a Dedicated Profile

• No extensions interfering with playback — install only what the signage player needs
• Separate cookie and session storage — pairing credentials are preserved independently
• Easier troubleshooting — you can test in a personal profile without affecting the signage session
• Cleaner startup — no tabs, history, or notifications from personal browsing carry over