r/FacebookPortal

Hey folks, wanted to share something I've been experimenting with. I have a Facebook Portal sitting around doing nothing after Meta killed its cloud features, and I think I found a way to actually revive it as a decent photo frame / ambient display using Immich and Immich Kiosk.

The idea is pretty simple: Immich Kiosk runs as a full-screen web slideshow that pulls from your self-hosted Immich instance, so you just need a browser on the Portal pointed at your Kiosk URL.

The Portal has a perfect screen and the form factor is genuinely nice for a photo frame.

The one thing that needs solving is keeping the display awake.

Quick summary of the setup:

• Self-hosted Immich on your homelab (works great on a NAS, Rasberry Pi, whatever)
• Immich Kiosk as the frontend slideshow minimal config needed
• Portal's browser in fullscreen/kiosk mode pointed at the Kiosk URL
• Some kind of keep-alive workaround for the idle timeout (still testing)

Has anyone done something similar with a Portal or another "dead" smart display? Curious if someone already cracked the sleep/timeout issue. Would love to compare notes.

Happy to share more details on the Immich Kiosk config if there's interest.

I just picked up a mini for $13 hoping I could flash it only to find out the bootloader is factory sealed and requires a proprietary Meta tool to unlock it.

Hello,

I have a Facebook portal tv which is factory reset. I lost the remote. The portal tv is not connected to any network. How can I setup my portal tv. I don't see the app on playstore.

Hi Reddit,

I need to warn everyone about Meta’s "support" policy. My Meta Portal Go is now officially a paperweight because of a failed firmware update.

The technical nightmare:

When I plug it in, it starts to boot, but it crashes and stops midway. It’s stuck in a permanent loop. When I manage to access the recovery menu, it shows: VERSION 0.

The device is literally trying to start but doesn't even know what version of OS it’s running anymore. It’s a 100% software brick.

The Lie:

Support (Case #09339580) told me:

"Vous pourrez continuer à utiliser votre Meta Portal jusqu'en février 2032. [...] Nous continuerons à assurer l'assistance clientèle habituelle." > (Translation: You can use it until 2032, we will provide support until then.)

The Reality:

Because it's "Version 0", they refuse to help. They won't provide a firmware .zip to flash it via ADB, and they want 140€ ($150) for a replacement. They are charging me for a bug they caused with their own update!

Help me:

1. Does anyone have the OTA zip or full factory firmware for the Portal Go?

2. Has anyone bypassed a boot crash/Version 0 on these devices?

Meta shouldn't be allowed to promise support until 2032 and then brick devices with updates only to charge for a "repair". This is Planned Obsolescence.

#Meta #MetaPortal #PortalGo #Bootloop #TechSupport #PlannedObsolescence #Scam

https://preview.redd.it/yaxam9sfc6ug1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5194b5e15f917e0ac36ce81c927152314cd8907a

using the portal browser, go to this website, https://digital-signage.live-departures.info/ set it up with their prompts. When the page is loade, at the bottom of the screen, you'll see the option to go Full Screen.

So far, I haven't managed to stop it going to screen saver but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Hi folks.

I have been following the posts on how to turn this hunk of junk now into something actually useful. I was wondering if anyone had any guidance on trying to turn it into a digital family calendar.

I've seen other posts using Home Assistant, but these are really, really technical. It sounds like you have to update firmware and things like that. Which I guess I can do as long as I have step-by-step instructions.

Does anyone have any guidance on how to achieve this?

I know that Portal is dying slowly—but my wifes family in Prague just had their Meta Portal Go reboot and of course in turn, wiped the entire device. So they've had to re setup the device, after the unit connects to wifi (with the check mark) its now time to login via WhatsApp QR code—but the QR code never shows, it has the loading animation but never gets the QR code.

Anyone else run into these issues?

I found a Facebook Portal TV at a thrift store, and I was looking to see if I could use it without a remote. Meta Support is not helping me, and I was hoping to use it as a webcam.

I am also trying to see if anyone made a mod to the software so I would not have to trash it. Thank you in advance!

I reset the device. Then selected WhatsApp to proceed. But an error shows on the phone after a while after Scanning the QR code displayed on the portal screen. The QR code is scanned as usual with the phone app. Tried android as well as iphone apps. Anyone else successfully reset and connected WhatsApp recently?

I have 4 Portals..... fantastic during Covid lockdowns, and also well-loved as a desk companion to stream live webcams or TV via the browser. Like everyone else, I'm now looking for alternative uses.

Thanks for sharing the digital photo frame ideas.

Has anyone developed or would like to.... turning portals into train departure boards accessing live data? Or live weather radar map in a kiosk mode? Or constant webcam stream?

I'm trying to teah myself enough to try to do something with my portals, but if anyone has any other ideas than photo frames, I'd be interested to know how.

[supprimé]

Welp....my last Portal lost picture frame today. I still had them as long as I didn't mess with it...and I didn't.

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any updates on what’s happening with Facebook monetization?

Looks like I might have to start paying Facebook just to post content (sarcasm) 😅

https://preview.redd.it/ec5aflxhegwg1.jpg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84e5d04e8978566cfc1b8b843140972295e668ad