Raspberry Pi for digital signage: a practical guide

A Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized computer that costs a fraction of a commercial media player — and it's more than capable of running a digital signage screen around the clock. Here's how to get it right.

What to buy

For a reliable setup you need:

• Raspberry Pi 5 (4 GB is plenty) or a Raspberry Pi 4 (2 GB or more).
• The official power supply — 27 W for the Pi 5, 15 W for the Pi 4.
• A 32 GB A2-rated microSD card from a reputable brand, or a small SSD for the Pi 5.
• A case with passive cooling.
• A micro-HDMI to HDMI cable.

Why the official power supply? Under-powered adapters are the number-one cause of random freezes and corrupted SD cards. It's the one place not to save money.

Installing the player

1. Flash Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) with Raspberry Pi Imager, or use our ready-made TB-cast image.
2. Connect the Pi to your screen and network (wired is best).
3. Open a terminal and run the install command from our Hardware & downloads page.
4. The player starts in full screen and shows a six-character pairing code.
5. Enter the code in the TB-cast portal. Done.

Making it bullet-proof

• Use a wired connection where possible. Wi-Fi works, but Ethernet is more stable.
• Disable your TV's power saving so it doesn't switch off after a few hours.
• Enable HDMI-CEC on your TV so the player can switch the display on and off on a schedule.
• Mount it behind the screen with velcro or a VESA bracket, away from heat sources.

What about offline playback?

The TB-cast player caches your content and schedule locally. If the internet drops, the screen keeps playing; changes sync automatically when the connection returns.

Pi 4 or Pi 5?

If you're buying new, go for the Pi 5. Got a Pi 4 in a drawer? It's perfect for menu boards and information screens.

Ready to try? Start your free trial and pair your first Pi in minutes.