This guide walks you through all the common tasks for managing device groups in LiveDash®.
- Log in to your LiveDash® dashboard
- In the left sidebar, find the Administration section
- Expand LiveDash TV
- Click Groups
- You'll see your groups list on the left and group details on the right
To create a new device group:
- Click Create Group at the top of the groups list
- Enter a Group Name (e.g., "Station 2", "Training Room", "Apparatus Bay")
- Optionally add a Description to explain the group's purpose
- Choose a Color for the group
- Click Create Group
The new group appears in your groups list. Assign devices and a default playlist to start using it.
Tips:
- Use descriptive names that indicate location or purpose
- Keep group names short for easier identification
To edit an existing group:
- Find the group in the list on the left
- Click the Edit icon (pencil) next to the group name
- Update the Group Name, Description, or Color
- Adjust Active Group toggle or dispatch call settings if needed
- Click Update Group
Changes take effect immediately.
To delete a group:
- Find the group in the list on the left
- Click the Delete icon (trash) next to the group name
- Confirm the deletion in the dialog
Important:
- You cannot delete the Default Group
- Devices in the deleted group are moved to the Default Group automatically
- This action cannot be undone
Every group should have a default (base) playlist:
- Select the group from the list on the left
- In the What this group plays card, find the Default playlist dropdown
- Select a playlist from the dropdown
- The playlist is saved as the default automatically (you'll see a confirmation)
- Use the Deploy button in the bar at the top to push the change to your players
The default playlist plays on all devices in the group 24/7 (unless overridden by scheduled playlists).
To schedule a playlist for specific times:
- Select the group you want to schedule content for
- In the What this group plays card, find Scheduled playlists and click Schedule
- Choose the Playlist you want to schedule
- Select a Schedule Type:
- Daily: Active during a time range every day
- Weekly: Active on specific days of the week
- Date Range: Active during specific start and end dates
- Set the start and end times
- Click Save (you'll see a confirmation)
- Use the Deploy button in the bar at the top to push the change to your players
Scheduled playlists automatically activate during their scheduled times and return to the default playlist when finished.
To move a TV display to a different group:
- Select the group that currently has the device
- In the Devices section on the right, find the device you want to move
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮) next to the device name
- Under Move to Group, select the destination group
- Confirm the move in the dialog
The device automatically starts using the new group's playlist. No manual deploy is required for device moves.
Tip: Click Manage in the Devices section to add or remove multiple devices at once.
You can turn dispatch calls on or off for a group right from the group's page:
- Select the group from the list
- In the Dispatched calls section, toggle calls on or off for the group
- When on, choose a Display duration for how long calls stay on screen
- Use the Deploy or Refresh players button at the top to apply the change to your devices
New groups have dispatched calls turned on by default. You can still change these settings (along with the name, description, and color) from the Edit dialog if you prefer.
The duration controls how long incoming calls display before returning to the playlist.
Common Configurations:
- Station day rooms: Enable calls with a 3-5 minute duration
- Public areas or lobbies: Turn dispatch calls off for privacy
- Admin offices: Enable with a shorter 1-2 minute duration
The Deploy bar sits at the top of both the Playlists and Groups pages. After you make a change, use it to push updates to your devices:
- Make your change (default playlist, scheduled playlists, or group settings)
- Click Deploy in the bar at the top. When there are no pending playlist edits, the same button reads Refresh players — use it the same way
- A confirmation appears
- All devices in the group reload with the update within seconds
What requires a Deploy / Refresh:
- Changing the default playlist
- Adding, editing, or removing scheduled playlists
- Changing group settings like dispatch call display
What happens automatically (no Deploy needed):
- Moving devices between groups — the device switches to its new group's playlist on its own
When you select a group:
- Now playing appears in the Deploy bar at the top — the playlist actively running on the group's devices
- The Dispatched calls section shows whether calls are on and for how long
- The Devices & Health section shows online and offline counts, plus a list of devices with status indicators
- Chips next to the group name show whether it's the Default group and whether it's Active
- Check device online status in Group Details
- Verify network connectivity to the device
- Try restarting the LiveDash® player on the device
- Check that the device is actually in the group you deployed to
- Verify the schedule times are in the correct timezone
- Ensure deployment was completed after scheduling
- Check that the scheduled playlist is marked as "active"
- Confirm there are no conflicting schedules
- You cannot delete the Default Group
- Ensure no scheduled events are actively using the group
- Check if you have proper permissions to delete groups
- Create logical groups based on physical locations or content needs
- Always deploy after making changes
- Use descriptive names for easy identification
- Test schedules before important dates or events
- Monitor device status regularly to ensure all TVs are online
- Keep the Default Group as a reliable fallback with general content
- Document your setup so other admins understand your group structure
If you encounter issues managing device groups, contact our support team at support@livedash.io.
Last updated: May 29, 2026