Kiosk Setup Guide

Transform any display into an engaging employee recognition kiosk! This guide walks you through setting up Emanate Great on lobby displays, break room TVs, or any shared screen.

What Is Kiosk Mode?

Kiosk Mode turns any display into a dedicated employee recognition screen that:

• 📺 Automatically rotates through recognition presentations
• 🎨 Displays beautifully on any screen size
• 💬 Shows live comments as they come in
• 📱 Provides QR codes for mobile commenting
• 🔐 Stays authenticated without needing re-login
• 🚀 Runs 24/7 reliably

What You’ll Need

Hardware

• Display device - TV, monitor, or kiosk screen
• Computer or streaming device connected to the display:
  • Desktop/laptop
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Fire TV Stick
  • Chrome Cast
  • Apple TV
  • Any device with a web browser

Additional Requirements

• Internet connection - Stable Wi-Fi or ethernet
• Work email and password - For email/password login method
• Smartphone - For QR code pairing method

Recommended specs:

• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• Reliable internet (3+ Mbps)
• Screen resolution: 1080p or higher

Authentication Methods

Emanate Great offers three ways to authenticate your kiosk display. Choose the method that works best for your setup:

Method 1: Email & Password Login 🔑

Best for: Quick setup, individual displays, testing

Simply log in with your dashboard credentials:

• Use the same email and password as your Emanate Great dashboard account
• Fastest method for getting started
• Works immediately without any additional setup

How to use:

1. Navigate to your Emanate Great URL on the display device
2. Click “Login” or go directly to the kiosk view
3. Enter your dashboard email and password
4. Display automatically enters kiosk mode

Method 2: QR Code Device Pairing 📱

Best for: Permanent installations, multiple displays, hands-free operation

Securely pair your display without entering passwords:

• Pair once, stay authenticated indefinitely
• Perfect for lobby displays and break room TVs
• Device stays logged in 24/7
• Easy to manage multiple displays from your phone

How to use:

• Follow the detailed steps below in the “QR Code Pairing Setup” section

Method 3: Token Authentication 🎫

Best for: SharePoint widget integration, embedded displays

Use an authentication token for specialized deployments:

• Available for SharePoint widget and custom integrations
• Requires additional service (contact your account executive)
• Tokens provided by your account manager or sales representative
• Additional charge applies

How to obtain a token:

1. Contact your Emanate Great account executive, account manager, or sales representative
2. Request access to token-based authentication
3. Discuss pricing and setup requirements
4. Receive your authentication token
5. Use token to authenticate your display or SharePoint widget

QR Code Pairing Setup (Method 2)

This is the recommended method for permanent kiosk installations. The setup takes 3-5 minutes:

Step 1: Navigate to the Pairing Page

1. Open a web browser on your display device
2. Go to your Emanate Great URL
3. Navigate to the /setup page
   • Or from the login page, click “Set up a new kiosk or display”

You’ll see the device pairing screen with a QR code.

What you’ll see:

• A large QR code
• A pairing code (6-character code like “ABC123”)
• Instructions to scan with your phone
• “Pair Your Device” heading

Step 2: Scan the QR Code

Using Your iPhone

1. Open Camera app (native iOS camera)
2. Point at the QR code on the display
3. Tap the notification that appears at the top
4. Safari opens the pairing page

Note: If no notification appears, check Settings → Camera → Scan QR Codes is enabled.

Using Your Android Phone

1. Open Camera app (or Google Lens)
2. Point at the QR code on the display
3. Tap the link that appears
4. Chrome/browser opens the pairing page

Alternative: Use any QR code scanner app if your camera doesn’t support it natively.

Manual Method (If QR Doesn’t Work)

Can’t scan the QR code? No problem:

1. On your phone, open a browser
2. Visit your Emanate Great URL + /pair
3. Add ?code=XXXXXX where XXXXXX is the pairing code shown on the display
4. Example: https://app.emanategreat.com/pair?code=ABC123

Step 3: Verify Your Identity

Once the pairing page opens on your phone, you’ll go through email verification:

3a. Enter Your Email

1. Enter your work email address

   • Must be your organization’s email domain
   • Personal emails may not be allowed

2. Tap “Send Verification Code”

3. Check your email

   • You’ll receive a 6-digit code
   • Arrives within seconds (check spam if not)

What the display shows:

• Still showing QR code
• Waiting for you to complete verification on phone

3b. Enter Verification Code

On your phone:

1. Enter the 6-digit code from your email
2. Tap “Verify Code”

Security note: The code expires in 15 minutes for security.

3c. Name Your Device

After verification, you’ll be asked to name the device:

1. Enter a descriptive name

   • Examples:
     • “Lobby Kiosk”
     • “Break Room TV”
     • “Reception Display”
     • “3rd Floor Hallway”

2. Tap “Complete Pairing”

Why name the device?

• Helps administrators identify which device is which
• Useful for troubleshooting
• Shows up in admin dashboard
• Can manage multiple devices

What the display shows:

• Still waiting (you’re on phone)
• QR code may disappear once pairing initiates

Step 4: Automatic Login

After you complete pairing on your phone:

On Your Phone

✅ Success message appears:

• “Device Paired!”
• Shows device name
• Shows organization name
• “The display will automatically log in now”

You can close this page on your phone—you’re done!

On the Display

✨ Automatic magic happens:

• QR code disappears
• “Device Paired!” message appears briefly
• Automatically redirects to the presentation carousel
• Presentations start rotating immediately

You’re live! 🎉

Post-Setup Configuration

Display Settings (Optional)

Once the kiosk is running, you may want to optimize your display settings:

Browser Settings

Fullscreen Mode:

• Press F11 (Windows/Linux)
• Press Ctrl+Cmd+F (Mac)
• Or use browser’s fullscreen option

Hide Mouse Cursor:

• Use a tool like “Auto Hide Mouse Cursor” (Windows)
• System Preferences → Accessibility (Mac)
• Or just move mouse to the corner

Prevent Sleep:

• Windows: Settings → System → Power & Sleep → Never
• Mac: System Preferences → Energy Saver → Prevent sleep
• Ensure display stays on 24/7

Operating System Settings

Disable Screensaver:

• Ensure no screensaver activates
• Disable auto-lock

Disable Updates During Business Hours:

• Prevent automatic restarts
• Schedule updates for off-hours

Auto-Start Browser:

• Set browser to open on startup
• Load Emanate Great URL automatically

Optimal Viewing Experience

Screen Brightness:

• Set to 80-100% for high-traffic areas
• Adjust based on ambient light

Sound:

• Mute if in professional environment
• Or keep low volume if videos have narration

Screen Orientation:

• Landscape for standard displays
• Portrait for vertical kiosks (if applicable)

Advanced Setup

Raspberry Pi Kiosk Setup

For a dedicated, low-cost kiosk:

# Install Chromium in kiosk mode
sudo apt-get install chromium-browser
 
# Create startup script
nano /home/pi/kiosk.sh
 
# Add this content:
#!/bin/bash
xset s off
xset -dpms
xset s noblank
chromium-browser --noerrdialogs --disable-infobars --kiosk https://your-emanate-url.com
 
# Make executable
chmod +x /home/pi/kiosk.sh
 
# Add to autostart
nano ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart
# Add: @/home/pi/kiosk.sh

Fire TV Stick Setup

1. Install Silk Browser or Firefox
2. Navigate to Emanate Great
3. Follow the standard pairing process
4. Use Fire TV remote to scan QR (using phone)
5. Enable fullscreen in browser settings

Auto-Reload for Extra Reliability

To make your kiosk ultra-reliable, set up auto-reload:

Using browser extensions:

• “Auto Refresh” (Chrome)
• “Tab Reloader” (Firefox)
• Set to reload every 24 hours

Using JavaScript (if you control the deployment):

// Reload every 24 hours
setTimeout(() => {
  window.location.reload();
}, 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);

Managing Kiosk Devices

Viewing Active Devices

Administrators can see all paired devices:

• Device name
• Pairing date
• Last active time
• Client/organization

Re-Pairing a Device

Need to pair the device to a different organization?

1. Clear browser data on the kiosk
2. Navigate to /setup again
3. Follow the pairing process
4. The old pairing is automatically replaced

Unpairing a Device

Method 1: From the Device

1. Clear browser cookies and local storage
2. Navigate to login page
3. Device is unpaired

Method 2: From Admin Dashboard (Recommended)

1. Log in as administrator
2. View active devices
3. Revoke the device token
4. Device will lose access immediately

When to unpair:

• 🗑️ Decommissioning the device
• 🔄 Moving it to different organization
• 🔒 Security concern
• 🛠️ Troubleshooting authentication issues

Troubleshooting Kiosk Setup

QR Code Won’t Scan

Problem: Phone camera isn’t recognizing the QR code.

Solutions:

• Ensure good lighting on the display
• Move phone closer or farther away
• Clean your camera lens
• Make sure QR code is fully visible on screen
• Try a different phone
• Use the manual method (see Step 2)

“No pairing code provided”

Problem: The pairing URL is incomplete or malformed.

Solutions:

• Scan the QR code again
• Check that the URL includes ?code=XXXXXX
• Manually type the code if needed
• Refresh the setup page and start over

”Pairing code has expired”

Problem: The QR code is older than 15 minutes.

Solutions:

• Refresh the browser on the display device
• A new QR code will generate
• Scan the new code immediately
• Complete pairing within 15 minutes

”Email domain not allowed”

Problem: Your email domain isn’t authorized for this organization.

Solutions:

• Use your work email, not personal email
• Contact your administrator to add your domain
• Verify you’re pairing to the correct organization

Device Won’t Auto-Login After Pairing

Problem: Pairing completes on phone, but display doesn’t log in.

Solutions:

• Wait 10-15 seconds (it can take a moment)
• Refresh the browser on the display
• Check internet connection on display
• Clear browser cache and try pairing again
• Verify the device isn’t blocked by IT policies

Display Shows “Loading presentations…” Forever

Problem: Display is authenticated but not loading content.

Solutions:

• Check internet connection
• Verify the organization has active presentations
• Open browser console (F12) and check for errors
• Contact administrator
• Try re-pairing the device

Display Goes to Sleep/Screensaver

Problem: Display turns off or shows screensaver after inactivity.

Solutions:

• Disable screensaver in OS settings
• Set power settings to never sleep
• Use a mouse wiggler device (physical solution)
• Check display’s built-in power settings

Best Practices

Location

Ideal locations for kiosks:

• ✅ Main lobby/reception
• ✅ Break rooms
• ✅ High-traffic hallways
• ✅ Near elevators
• ✅ Conference room entrances
• ✅ Office kitchen

Avoid:

• ❌ Direct sunlight (screen glare)
• ❌ Areas with no foot traffic
• ❌ Behind doors or obstructions
• ❌ Too high or too low (adjust for average eye level)

Maintenance

Weekly:

• Check that display is showing current content
• Verify it’s not stuck or frozen

Monthly:

• Clean the screen
• Check connections
• Verify internet connection is stable

Quarterly:

• Review device pairing (still needed?)
• Update browser if needed
• Restart device for fresh start

Security

Physical security:

• Mount securely
• Hide or secure cables
• Consider lockable enclosures for public areas

Digital security:

• Use dedicated device (not shared workstation)
• Restrict physical access to kiosk computer
• Keep browser and OS updated
• Monitor device access in admin dashboard

Multiple Kiosk Management

Running Multiple Displays

You can pair as many devices as needed:

• Each device gets its own name and token
• All show the same content (from your organization)
• Can be revoked independently
• All managed from admin dashboard

Load Balancing

Emanate Great handles multiple devices automatically:

• No special configuration needed
• All devices pull from same content source
• Comments appear simultaneously on all displays

Coordinated Displays

Same content everywhere:

• All paired devices show the same presentations
• Carousel timing may differ slightly (not synchronized)
• Comments appear in real-time on all displays

Why carousel timing differs:

• Each device starts at different times
• User interactions (comments) pause individual displays
• This is normal and expected

Upgrading Your Kiosk

From Device Pairing to Access Token

Want to switch from device pairing to token-based auth?

1. Get an access token from administrator
2. Clear browser data on kiosk
3. Navigate to login page
4. Select “Access Token” tab
5. Enter token and sign in

Adding More Features

Kiosk mode is optimized for viewing, but if you need more:

• Admin access: Log in with admin credentials instead
• Moderation: Use a separate device for moderation
• Analytics: Access admin dashboard from office computer

Quick Reference: Choosing Your Authentication Method

Recommended: Use QR Code Pairing for any permanent kiosk installation. Use Email & Password for quick testing or temporary setups. Use Token only if you need SharePoint or custom integration.

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

Next Steps

Once your kiosk is set up:

• View presentations: They’ll rotate automatically
• Share with team: Tell them to look for displays and QR codes
• Add content: Admin Guide →
• Monitor comments: Comment Moderation →
• Troubleshoot: Troubleshooting →

🎉 Congratulations! Your employee recognition kiosk is live!