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Install Denframe on Windows

Install the unsigned desktop pilot on a Windows PC, open it, and let your screens reach it.

You’ll have

Denframe running on your PC, its icon in the system tray, and LAN receiver access on so screens on your home network can load dashboards.

You’ll need
  • A Windows 11 PC (x64) with the version listed on Downloads.
  • A computer that stays on while your dashboards are in use, on your trusted home network.
  • About 15 minutes.

Follow these steps in your own Denframe. This website never connects to your household, your accounts or your devices, and never asks for your credentials.

  1. Download the installer

    On Downloads, choose the Windows installer. Check the version, the architecture and the tested operating system shown beside it.

    The installer is for 64-bit (x64) Windows 11 and installs for your user account.

  2. Check the download

    The pilot installers are unsigned, so your operating system cannot vouch for them. Before opening the file, compare its SHA-256 checksum with the one shown beside the installer on Downloads. Letter case does not matter. If the two differ, delete the file and download it again.

    In PowerShell
    Get-FileHash $HOME\Downloads\*-windows-x64-setup.exe -Algorithm SHA256

  3. Install and open Denframe

    Run the installer. Windows may warn about an unknown publisher: review where the download came from before going on. SmartScreen, Smart App Control or your organization’s policy can prevent installing or opening it, and may offer no override; see Microsoft’s SmartScreen guidance (opens in a new tab).

    Leave the installer’s option to start Denframe ticked as it finishes, or open Denframe from the Start menu later. Its management page opens in your default browser, and its icon appears in the system tray.

  4. Choose how Denframe is opened

    On Welcome to Denframe, choose Use a password and set a household password of at least 8 characters, or choose No password and tick the acknowledgement if only trusted people use this computer and network. Then choose Continue. The management page stays on this computer; managing it from a phone needs separate HTTPS configuration.

    Denframe then offers your first dashboard. Create your first dashboard walks through it; you can build and preview one before any screen is connected.

  5. Let your screens reach Denframe

    LAN receiver access is off by default, so Denframe only accepts connections from this computer. Screens can appear online while it is off, but cannot load a dashboard. Find the Denframe icon in the system tray near the clock (you may need to show hidden icons), choose Enable LAN receiver access… and confirm it for your trusted home network.

    Allow access on your trusted private network when Windows asks.

    Denframe restarts with LAN access on. Keep this computer and your screens on the same home network, not a guest or isolated one.

  6. Keep it running

    Screens show dashboards only while this computer runs Denframe. From the icon’s menu, turn on Start at login. If the computer would otherwise sleep, choose While displaying or Always while Denframe runs under Keep awake (it starts at Never).

    Updates are manual: quit Denframe, make a backup, install the new version and open it again. Keep each backup with the installer version that made it; restoring needs that build.

    Back up while Denframe is stopped
    (Start-Process -Wait -PassThru -FilePath "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Programs\Denframe\Denframe.exe" -ArgumentList 'maintenance','backup','C:\path\to\backups').ExitCode

    The same command takes maintenance verify BACKUP and maintenance restore BACKUP; see Update, back up and move Denframe. Denframe prints nothing in PowerShell: the command waits for it and shows its exit code, 0 when it worked.

  7. Quit or uninstall (when you need to)

    Choose Quit Denframe from the icon’s menu, then uninstall Denframe in Windows Settings → Apps. The uninstaller also removes its start-at-login entry.

    Uninstalling keeps your household data in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Denframe. Removing that folder is a separate, manual step.

  8. Features that are off in beta builds

    Built but off in beta builds, and not offered: Denframe Cloud, Apple TV app, Direct HomeKit accessories, Denframe's own HomeKit bridge, Home controls on touch panels and Ticking Google Tasks from screens. They have no switch in Denframe; see what is still in testing.

  9. Check it worked

    Open the icon’s menu again. It now offers Disable LAN receiver access: access is on, so leave it that way. Choosing Open Denframe opens the management page, and it shows your dashboards.

    Next, create your first dashboard and put it on a screen.

If it doesn’t work

A screen is online but casting fails, or the dashboard never loads

Check that LAN receiver access is on (the icon’s menu offers Disable LAN receiver access). If it continues, choose Open logs and send the details to support.

Screens are missing

Check local-network permission, the private-network firewall setting, guest Wi-Fi isolation and any VPN.

Denframe seems to be running but no window opened

If Denframe is already running, opening it again just opens its management page in your browser.

You need the logs but cannot find the icon

In File Explorer, enter %LOCALAPPDATA%\Denframe\logs in the address bar. The current log is denframe.log.

Startup or network problems

Choose Open logs from the icon and email support@nannertech.com with the version, the operating system and redacted error details. Never send passwords, tokens, backups or uploaded media.

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