What is a Wink Player?
A Wink Player is Wink's powerful content player — versatile, quick to set up, and available directly through Wink or through our in-country partners. It is the physical device that connects to your screens and plays the content you manage from Wink App.
Hardware
Wink Player runs on dedicated hardware designed for reliability in commercial environments. Currently supported devices are:
| Device | Description |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 | Compact and energy-efficient single-board computer, ideal for most installations. |
| Intel NUC | Higher-performance mini PC for demanding deployments requiring more processing power. |
Both devices come pre-loaded with the Wink Player software, ready to connect and play.
How It Works
Once a Wink Player is powered on and connected to the internet, it communicates with Wink App to receive and play your assigned content — playlists, apps, and layouts — exactly as you have configured them.
The flow is straightforward:
- Power on the Wink Player and connect it to your screen via HDMI.
- Connect it to the internet (see below).
- Register it in Wink App using the OTP code displayed on screen.
- Assign content — playlists, layouts, or schedules — from Wink App.
- The player downloads and plays the content automatically.
Connecting to the Internet
The Wink Player needs an internet connection to receive content and stay in sync with Wink App. If the player has no connection on startup, it creates its own Wi-Fi hotspot — you connect from your phone, select your network through a captive portal, and the player comes online.
For full step-by-step instructions, see Connect a Player to the Internet.
Waiting for Content
If a Wink Player is registered but has no content assigned yet, it displays a default waiting screen that indicates it is online and ready, but waiting for content to be configured in Wink App.
This is normal during initial setup. As soon as you assign a playlist, layout, or schedule, the player will begin playing it.
What's Next?
Now that you understand what a Wink Player is, the next step is to register one in Wink App.