Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Got questions? Here are answers to some of the most common issues and scenarios new users encounter when setting up or using the Smart Panel.

I can’t connect to `smart-panel.local`

Make sure your device is powered on and connected to the same network as your computer.
Try connecting using the device’s IP address instead (find it with hostname -I on the device).
Some networks or routers don’t support .local domains. In that case:
- Check your router’s connected device list for the IP.
- On Windows/macOS, install Bonjour if not already installed.

What’s the default SSH username and password?

For pre-built Raspbian images:

Username: smartpanel
Password: smartpanel

You will be prompted to change the password on first login.

For other Linux installations, use the credentials you set up when installing the operating system.

The display app doesn’t start after boot

Make sure the panel service is installed and enabled (see the Installation section).
Confirm the display and touch panel wiring is correct.
To check if the display app is running, use:


sudo systemctl status smart-panel-display

To view logs for debugging:


sudo journalctl -u smart-panel-display -b

The display app is powered by flutter-pi and runs as a system service named smart-panel-display. It should start automatically on boot if installed correctly.

Why can’t I see any devices in the Admin app?

Devices must be added manually via the Admin app or automatically synced by a plugin (e.g., Home Assistant).
Not all plugins support device auto-discovery — check the plugin’s documentation.

How do I reset or reconfigure my Smart Panel?

SSH into your device. The location of runtime data depends on your installation method:

Installation Method	Data Location
One-liner script or npm global	`/var/lib/smart-panel/`
Manual tarball	`/var/smart-panel/`
Docker	Inside the `smart-panel-data` Docker volume

The data directory contains:

config/config.yaml – Your panel configuration
data/database.sqlite – The main system database

To fully reset your panel:

Stop the services:


sudo systemctl stop smart-panel
sudo systemctl stop smart-panel-display

Delete the config and database files (adjust the path for your install method):


# For one-liner / npm installs:
sudo rm /var/lib/smart-panel/config/config.yaml
sudo rm /var/lib/smart-panel/data/database.sqlite
 
# For tarball installs:
# sudo rm /var/smart-panel/config/config.yaml
# sudo rm /var/smart-panel/data/database.sqlite

Restart the services and the onboarding will start fresh:


sudo systemctl start smart-panel
sudo systemctl start smart-panel-display

Can I use the panel without the touchscreen?

Yes — the panel can run without a touchscreen, and you can still manage everything using the Admin UI, which is fully web-based and accessible from any browser.

However, the panel is designed to be interactive. Without a touchscreen, you’ll be limited to a single static page without user interaction.

In the future, support for physical buttons, dials, and other input methods is planned to enhance usability even on non-touch displays.

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