1. Out of the Box Setup
Your frame requires a one-time setup to securely connect to your home Wi-Fi and establish its encrypted global tunnel.
Power On
Plug the included power adapter into your frame and connect it to a wall outlet. The PictorFrame logo will appear. Because this is the first boot, the system will take up to 40 seconds to initialize its internal security hardware.
Connect to the Frame
After 40 seconds, the screen will turn dark grey and display the PictorFrame Setup screen.
- Open your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings.
- Connect to the network named: PictorFrame-Setup
- Enter the password: setup123
Link Your Home Wi-Fi
Once connected to the frame's Wi-Fi, open your phone's camera and scan the QR code on the physical screen.
A setup page will appear on your phone. Select your home Wi-Fi network from the dropdown list, type your home Wi-Fi password, and tap Connect. Your frame will now restart and automatically join your home network.
If you ever change your broadband provider or get a new home router, your frame will automatically realize it has lost connection and return to this Setup Screen so you can reconnect it.
2. Pairing Your Phone
PictorOS does not use passwords. Instead, we use highly secure cryptographic tokens to bind your personal devices directly to the hardware.
The 60-Second Token
Once your frame connects to the internet, it will display a new QR code on a white screen. This QR code contains a secure cryptographic key that changes every 60 seconds.
Scan this QR code with your smartphone. You must scan the screen directly; you cannot use an old link or a screenshot.
Name Your Device
Your browser will open and ask you to name your device (e.g., "Mum's iPhone" or "Studio iPad"). Type a name and tap Register.
Your phone is now securely authorized and will be granted a VIP session cookie. You are now inside the PictorOS Studio dashboard.
Once your device is registered, you do not need to scan the QR code again. You can simply bookmark the URL on your phone and upload photos from anywhere in the world, even on cellular data!
3. Managing Your Photos & Settings
The PictorOS Studio (On your Phone)
The Studio dashboard on your phone is your central hub for managing the frame.
- Uploading: Tap the + Add button to select and upload multiple photos instantly.
- Deleting: Tap the small circle on the bottom right of any photo to select it. An action bar will appear at the bottom of your screen allowing you to delete it or add it to an Album.
- Albums: You can group photos into Albums. In the Settings menu (⚙️), you can tell the frame to play "Gallery Mode" (All Photos), or restrict it to play a specific Album.
The Physical Control Panel (On the Frame)
Your physical frame features a capacitive touch screen. Tap anywhere on a playing photo to reveal a secure PIN pad. Enter your 4-Digit Screen PIN (Default: 0000) to open the Control Panel.
From this physical panel, you can check your internet connectivity, view your secure URL, and manage authorized devices.
If you lose your phone, simply tap the physical frame to open the Control Panel. Look at the "Authorized Devices" list, locate your lost phone, and tap Revoke. That device will be permanently and instantly locked out of the frame.
4. Safety & Hardware Care
Your software is cryptographically bound to the specific processor inside your frame. Do not attempt to remove the internal Micro SD card and place it into another computer or Raspberry Pi. Doing so will trigger a hardware mismatch, and the software will permanently lock itself to protect your privacy.
Power Cycles & Screen Sleep
PictorOS uses an industrial-grade SQLite database that is resilient to power cuts. It is safe to unplug the frame to move it to a different room.
To save electricity and prolong the life of the display panel, we recommend using the Screen Wake/Sleep Times feature located in the Settings (⚙️) menu of your mobile dashboard. The frame will automatically power down the display at night and wake it up in the morning.
Cleaning the Display
Use a dry, premium microfiber cloth to gently wipe dust and fingerprints from the glass. Do not use window cleaners, harsh chemicals, or compressed air, as these will strip the anti-glare coating from the display.