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Set up your PixlTag

It only takes a couple of minutes. Follow the steps below to pair your device and start displaying whatever you like.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Before you start

  • • Charge your PixlTag with a USB-C cable if it's flat.
  • • Turn on Bluetooth (and NFC on Android) on your phone.
  • • Allow Bluetooth / nearby-device permissions when the app asks.
  1. 1

    Download the app

    Grab the PixlTag app from the App Store or Google Play (links above).

  2. 2

    Open the connect screen

    In the app, open the Devices tab and tap Connect a PixlTag.

  3. 3

    Tap the back of your phone to your PixlTag's screen

    Hold it there for a second — this turns on the PixlTag's Bluetooth for about a minute. Every phone's NFC spot is a little different (on iPhone it's the top edge, near the camera); tap the ? on the connect screen to see where yours is. No luck with NFC? Plug the PixlTag into its charger instead — that turns Bluetooth on too.

  4. 4

    Choose your device

    Your PixlTag shows up in the list on the same screen — tap it to connect. On iPhone the tap opens a web page first; that's normal, just come back to the app. On Android, dismiss any NFC popup and switch back.

  5. 5

    Update the firmware

    Tap the ⚙ on the device card, then Update firmware if an update is available. Keep the app open and the phone nearby until it finishes.

  6. 6

    Set your NFC action

    Tap NFC tag on the device card to choose what people get when they tap your PixlTag — a link, contact card, Wi-Fi, text or pet ID.

  7. 7

    You're set up!

    Head to the Effects tab to choose or draw whatever you want your PixlTag to display.

Installing the keychain

Keychain parts laid out: PixlTag, two small joiner rings, one larger joiner ring and the keychain

Lay your parts out on a flat bench. You should have 2 small joiner rings (one is a spare), 1 larger joiner ring and the keychain.

  1. Small joiner ring threaded through the PixlTag's loop
    1

    Attach a small joiner ring

    Slide a small joiner ring through the small loop on the PixlTag, on the side opposite the USB-C port. This can be finicky — tweezers help. Close the ring once it's through.

  2. Larger joiner ring hooked through the small ring, left open
    2

    Add the larger joiner ring

    Feed the larger joiner ring, pointy end first, through the small ring. Leave it open for now.

  3. Keychain fed onto the open larger ring
    3

    Hook on the keychain

    Feed the small end of the keychain onto the open larger ring.

  4. Finished PixlTag hanging from its keychain
    4

    Close it up

    Close the larger ring and you're done!

Troubleshooting

Device won't wake up? Plug it into its USB-C charger — that always wakes it. A firm shake or an NFC tap works too. If the battery was flat, give it a few minutes on charge first.

NFC tap not working on your phone? Plug the PixlTag into its charger instead. That turns on its Bluetooth for about a minute, just like a tap — open Connect a PixlTag in the app and pick it from the list. Handy for setting a tag up from a phone without NFC, too. (Needs PixlTag firmware 4.7.2 or newer — the app offers the update in Device settings.)

Tap does nothing? Try a different spot on the back of your phone (the ? on the connect screen shows where), hold it there for a second or two, and take off thick or metal cases. On iPhone the screen must be on and unlocked; on Android, make sure NFC is turned on in Settings.

Not showing when pairing? Make sure Bluetooth is on and your phone is close to the device. On Android, grant the nearby-devices/location permission, then switch back to the app. The Bluetooth window lasts about a minute — tap or plug in again if it closed.

Firmware update stuck? Keep the device charged, keep the app open and in the foreground, and don't move too far from the device until it finishes.

Still stuck, or something else not working? Email us at support@pixltags.com and we'll help you out.