Windows PCs and mini PCs are flexible, widely available devices for digital signage. Because Windows is a full desktop operating system, the ScreenCloud Windows player runs alongside whatever else you need on the machine, including your own remote management tooling. This article covers supported hardware, how to install and configure the Player, and how to manage it day to day.
Supported versions are Windows 10 and Windows 11, 32-bit or 64-bit.
Only editions of Windows 10 and 11 with Classic Windows app support will run the Player. Editions that restrict installation to Store apps are not supported.
Windows Hardware
Minimum requirements
Windows 10 or Windows 11, 32-bit or 64-bit, with Classic Windows app support
A processor supported by Windows 10 or 11, dual-core or higher, quad-core preferred
4 GB of RAM or higher, 8 GB preferred
32 GB of storage or higher, 64 GB preferred
A stable internet connection, with Ethernet preferred over WiFi
Not supported
Anything below Windows 10
Editions of Windows 10 or 11 without Classic Windows app support
Recommended for new purchases
All models below are supported and recommended for new purchases.
Entry-level mini PCs
MeLE Overclock 4C
MeLE Quieter 4C
Minix Z100 0dB
Minix Z100 AERO
Simply NUC Zircon
Higher-specification mini PCs
Simply NUC Onyx
Asus NUC 14 Pro
Windows Player Setup
Preparing your Windows device
If the device is going to be used solely for signage, two changes make a significant difference to reliability. Do these before installing the Player.
On Windows 10
Open the Start Menu, select the settings icon, then select System.
Select Notifications & Actions and turn off all notifications from apps and other senders.
Select Power & Sleep and set both the screen and sleep options to Never.
On Windows 11
Open the Start Menu, select the settings icon, then select System.
Select Notifications and turn off Notifications and Do not disturb.
Select Power. Under Screen & Sleep, set both When plugged in, turn my screen off and When plugged in, put my device to sleep after to Never.
Turning notifications off only covers core Windows apps. Any third-party software on the device needs silencing from within that software.
Installing the Player
Go to screencloud.com/download and scroll to the Windows section.
Select the version that matches your device, or select Direct Download if you are unsure.
Run the installation file.
On first launch you will be offered Start at boot. Enable it for a signage device. This can be changed later in the settings sidebar.
Pairing your screen
The Player displays a pairing code once it launches. Log in to your ScreenCloud account, add a new screen, enter the code and give the screen a name. You can then assign content to it.
Windows Player Management
Opening the Player settings sidebar
Click anywhere on the Player and the settings sidebar slides in from the right. Alternatively, right-click the Player and select Toggle Setting Menu.
Full screen and the Windows taskbar
To switch between windowed and full screen, right-click the Player and select Toggle Fullscreen. Do not use the maximize button, which behaves differently. Pressing Esc while in full screen returns the Player to a window.
To make the Player open full screen every time the device boots, enable both Always fullscreen and Launch on Startup in the settings sidebar.
Removing the Windows taskbar
If the taskbar stays visible over the Player in full screen, that is a Windows setting rather than a ScreenCloud one. The taskbar is either locked or set to always show, and it is changed in Windows taskbar settings by enabling the option to automatically hide the taskbar. ScreenCloud cannot control this from the Player.
Closing the Player
Clicking the close button will not keep the Player shut. The app relaunches itself by design, so that it recovers from crashes and accidental closures. To close it properly, either open the settings sidebar and select Exit Player, or right-click the Player and select Close.
Resetting the pairing code
Open the settings sidebar and select Reset pairing. The Player generates a new pairing code. If the screen was already paired to an account, it will no longer appear there.
Daily restart
In the settings sidebar, toggle on Daily Restart. Select the time interval to choose when it happens, and the Player restarts within that hour. Set it to off-hours.
A daily restart clears memory leaks, applies pending updates and prevents the gradual accumulation of errors that causes screens to degrade over weeks of uptime.
Auto-update
Open the settings sidebar and make sure Auto update is enabled. The Player will then check for new versions regularly and install them automatically.
If the Player was installed manually, for example through Microsoft Intune, auto-update does not apply and you will need to update it manually.
Update channel
The settings sidebar lets you choose which version of the Player the device updates to:
Stable. The production version. This is the recommended setting for any screen in service.
Canary. The unreleased version. Use this on a test screen to try upcoming builds and catch problems in your environment before they reach production.
Switching between channels requires a Player restart.
Proxy settings
Under Proxy settings in the sidebar, choose one of:
None. No proxy server.
HTTP Proxy. Enter an IP address and port, then select Save. Username and password authentication is not supported for HTTP, HTTPS or websocket proxies.
PAC file. Provide the PAC file URL, then select Save. If the URL is wrong the Player falls back to a direct connection.
Scheduling daily startup and shutdown
Windows can power the device up and down on a schedule, which is worth setting where screens only need to run during opening hours. This is configured in Windows rather than in ScreenCloud, using Task Scheduler alongside the device's BIOS or UEFI wake settings.
Troubleshooting ScreenCloud on Windows
Work through these before contacting support.
Step | Task | How to do it |
1 | Clear the cache | Right-click the Player, select Toggle Menu, then select Clear Cache. |
2 | Enable Daily Restart | If clearing the cache fixed it, a daily restart will stop it recurring. |
3 | Power cycle the device | Turn it off for a few minutes, then back on. |
4 | Update Windows | Check for and install the latest Windows updates. |
5 | Check the power cable | Confirm it is seated and functioning. |
6 | Check for overheating | Confirm the device has proper airflow. Mini PCs mounted behind displays are prone to this. |
7 | Test the internet connection | Confirm the device has a strong, stable connection. |
8 | Remove unnecessary programs | To free up system resources. |
9 | Reinstall the Player | Uninstall, then install the latest version again. |
10 | Factory reset Windows | Reinstall the Player as a last step. |
If the problem persists after all of the above, the device may be faulty or underspecified for the content you are running.
Resolving "Server connection timed out"
If the Player shows Server connection timed out, the cause is usually corrupted local app data rather than the network. A clean reinstall resolves it. A standard uninstall is not enough on its own, because it leaves the corrupted data in place.
1. Uninstall the Player
Open Settings, then go to Apps, then Installed Apps.
Find ScreenCloud in the list.
Select the three-dot menu next to it and select Uninstall.
2. Find the installation folder
Locate the ScreenCloud Player shortcut on the Desktop or in the Start Menu.
Right-click it and select Properties.
Open the Shortcut tab and note the path in the Start in field.
3. Delete the remaining folders
Replace XXXXX with your Windows username and delete any of these folders that exist:
C:\Users\XXXXX\AppData\Local\Programs\screencloud-playerC:\Users\XXXXX\AppData\Local\Programs\screencloud-desktop-playerC:\Users\XXXXX\AppData\Roaming\ScreenCloud Player
If you cannot see the AppData folder, open File Explorer, select View and enable Hidden items.
4. Restart the computer
This clears any remaining background processes and cached files.
5. Reinstall and pair
Download the latest Windows Player from screencloud.com/download, install it, and confirm it launches and shows a pairing code.
FAQ
Why does the Player reopen after I close it?
That is deliberate. The Player relaunches itself so a crash or an accidental close does not leave a screen blank. Use Exit Player in the settings sidebar, or right-click and select Close, to close it properly.
The Windows taskbar is showing over my content. How do I hide it?
The taskbar is a Windows setting and cannot be controlled from the Player. Set the taskbar to hide automatically in Windows taskbar settings.
Why will the Player not install on my Windows device?
Check the Windows edition. Only editions with Classic Windows app support can run the Player. Editions restricted to Store apps will block the installation.
The Player is not updating itself. Why?
Either Auto update is off in the settings sidebar, or the Player was deployed manually through a tool such as Microsoft Intune. Manually deployed installations do not auto-update and need updating the same way they were installed.