How to Configure Meraki Display on Apple TV
Overview
This article explains how to set up and use Meraki Display, an Apple TV app that live streams up to 16 cameras on a single display for video wall monitoring. Video wall solutions are a staple of any comprehensive video surveillance system. Dedicated video walls surveil and protect one or multiple sites for onsite and remote security. Public-facing video walls in open lobbies also deter crime by signaling passersby that they are monitored.
Meraki Display leverages the Meraki platform and Apple TV hardware to deliver a high-quality 24/7 viewing experience that you customize from the dashboard. The app transmits both cloud and local streams to maximize stream uptime. It offers a simple experience to initiate and monitor video walls via Apple TV. By leveraging the MV architecture for direct and cloud proxy streaming, Meraki Display achieves stable 24/7 streaming for passive monitoring and crime deterrence.
Meraki Display only supports MV cameras and requires a software license for the full experience.
Prerequisites
Meet the following requirements before you set up Meraki Display:
- License: A valid Meraki Display license. Access is denied if no valid license is found or if the maximum license limit is exceeded. Refer to the Meraki Display license documentation.
- Cameras: MV cameras. Meraki Display supports MV cameras only.
- Apple TV hardware: The latest generation of Apple TV hardware for improved performance and additional functionality. Suggested models:
- Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet
- Apple TV 4K (2nd Generation)
- Apple TV setup: A fully set up Apple TV, connected to your network and updated to the latest tvOS version. Refer to the official guidance from Apple.
- Video wall: At least one video wall configured in the Vision Portal or Dashboard. If you need assistance, refer to the Creating and Managing Video Walls documentation.
- Permissions: Organization or network admin access on the Meraki dashboard. Video wall access is inherited from user permissions.
Meraki does not sell Apple TVs and does not accept purchase, hardware repair, or hardware replacement requests. Purchase Apple TV directly or work with a 3rd party vendor. We highly recommend leveraging Apple Business Manager and Meraki Systems Manager to simplify purchasing, deployment, and management of your Apple TV hardware.Hardware repair is available through the official Apple services.
Step-by-step instructions
Install the Meraki Display app
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On your Apple TV, navigate to the App Store.
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Search for Meraki Display.
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Download and install the official Meraki Display app.
Authenticate into the Meraki Display app
After you install and launch the app, authenticate with your Meraki Dashboard account. Choose one of two methods.
QR code login (recommended)
QR code login provides a quick, secure way to authenticate without typing your credentials into the Apple TV.
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Launch the Meraki Display app on your Apple TV. A unique QR code appears on the screen.
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On your smartphone or tablet, open a QR code scanner app or your device's camera.
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Scan the QR code shown on your Apple TV, or enter the URL displayed on the Apple TV into a browser.
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Follow the on-screen instructions on your mobile device to complete authentication securely and grant the Meraki Display app access.
Once authenticated, the Apple TV app automatically updates and displays your available video walls.
Sessions authenticated via QR code do not require reauthentication every 30 days.
Manual login
Manual login lets you enter your credentials directly into the app with the Apple TV remote.
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Launch the Meraki Display app on your Apple TV.
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Select Log In Manually (or similar), if presented.
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Enter your registered Meraki Dashboard email address and password using the Apple TV's on-screen keyboard and remote.
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Select Sign In to complete authentication.
Typing credentials with the Apple TV remote can be difficult. QR code login is preferred for a smoother experience. Username and password authentication requires reauthentication every 30 days.
Additional authentication options
- Two-factor authentication (2FA): Configure 2FA from the Meraki dashboard. Once enabled, affected users enter a security code received by SMS.
- SAML/SSO: Supported on Meraki Display, but only when you authenticate using QR code login.
Configure a video wall
Create a video wall before you use Meraki Display.
- Configure Video walls from the Meraki dashboard or Vision Portal.
- Configure Multi-network video walls from the Vision Portal only.
- Video wall tile placement is shared across the dashboard, Vision Portal, and Meraki Display.
Video wall on the Vision Portal
Video wall on Meraki Display
Select and stream your video wall
After you authenticate and configure a video wall, the Meraki Display app presents your available video walls.
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Select the desired video wall from the list to begin streaming its camera feeds.
Navigate and view feeds
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Use the Apple TV remote ((or a Bluetooth keyboard) to navigate the organization and network picker screens.
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Select a video wall to start viewing.
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Select a camera to expand the camera screen.
[IMAGE: Video wall selection screen] [IMAGE: Launched video wall]
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Select between video walls |
Launched video wall |
If audio recording is enabled for the camera, selecting a single camera stream allows audio playback. Use the monitor remote to control the volume.
Deploy with Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Meraki Display supports MDM deployment. If you use Meraki's Systems Manager, refer to the documentation on tvOS enrollment. MDM deployment offers several benefits:
- Single app mode: Limits interactions on the Apple TV to Meraki Display only and prevents accidental closure.
- Zero-touch deployment: One-click deployment of new Apple TVs with Meraki Display pre-installed.
Manual app configuration is still necessary. The Meraki Display app does not have Managed App configs for use with Systems Manager.
Want to learn more? Watch the video below on zero-touch deployment of Apple TV with Systems Manager. You can also access the quick start guide here.
Verification
Confirm a successful setup with the following outcomes:
- After authentication, the Apple TV app automatically updates and displays your available video walls.
- Selecting a video wall begins streaming its camera feeds.
- Selecting a single camera expands the camera screen and, if audio recording is enabled, allows audio playback.
Troubleshooting
- Access denied: Access is denied if no valid Meraki Display license is found or if the maximum license limit is exceeded. Refer to the Meraki Display license documentation.
- Restricted cameras appear as black screens: Video wall access is inherited from user permissions on the Meraki dashboard. To granularly restrict camera access, create a camera-only admin with access to a limited set of cameras. With a camera-only admin setup:
- Users can view existing video walls within allowable networks.
- Restricted cameras show up as black screens when the video wall launches.
- Session expires after 30 days: Username and password authentication requires reauthentication every 30 days. Use QR code login to avoid the 30-day reauthentication requirement.