What You're Trying to Achieve

The goal is simple: when a guest turns on the TV, they see a welcome screen with WiFi info, a QR code to your guidebook, and key details like checkout time. The screen should load automatically, stay on without timing out, and not require the guest to navigate menus or apps.

There are several ways to do this. The right one depends on what TV you have, your budget, and how hands-off you want the setup to be.

Option 1: Amazon Fire TV Stick

Why It Works

The Fire TV Stick is the most popular choice among hosts because it's cheap ($35-50), widely available, and has a built-in browser. You can set it to open a URL on startup, which is exactly what you need for a welcome screen.

Setup Steps

Plug the Fire TV Stick into your TV's HDMI port and connect it to your property's WiFi.
Download the Amazon Silk Browser from the Fire TV app store (it's free and pre-installed on most models).
Open Silk Browser and navigate to your welcome screen URL (e.g., your digital guidebook's TV display page).
Press the menu button and select "Add to Favorites" or "Add Bookmark."
Go to Silk Browser settings and set your welcome screen URL as the homepage.
Enable Full Screen Mode in the browser to hide the address bar and navigation.

Making It Launch Automatically

By default, the Fire TV Stick opens to the Fire TV home screen on startup. To make the browser open automatically, you have two options:

Manual approach: Leave the Silk Browser open and set the TV input to HDMI (Fire Stick). When the TV is power-cycled, the Fire Stick resumes where it left off — which is the browser with your URL.
App-based approach: Install an app like "Fully Kiosk Browser" (available on Amazon App Store) or sideload it. Fully Kiosk lets you set a URL to load on boot, locks the device to that page, and prevents guests from navigating away.

Tips for Fire TV Stick

Disable screensaver timeout: Go to Settings → Display & Sounds → Screen Saver → set to "Never."
Turn off automatic software updates if you don't want the interface to change unexpectedly.
Use the 4K model if your TV supports it — the non-4K model works fine but can feel sluggish with web pages.
Consider hiding the remote or using a smart plug to control power instead.

Option 2: Raspberry Pi

Why It Works

A Raspberry Pi is a small, credit-card-sized computer that costs $35-75 depending on the model. It's the most flexible option because you have full control over what it does. Many professional hosts use Raspberry Pis because once configured, they're rock-solid and boot directly into a full-screen browser — no app stores, no updates, no interference.

What You Need

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (2GB RAM is sufficient) or Raspberry Pi 5
MicroSD card (16GB or larger)
USB-C power supply (official Raspberry Pi power supply recommended)
Micro-HDMI to HDMI cable
A keyboard and mouse for initial setup (not needed after)

Setup Steps

Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite (the minimal version without a desktop) using the Raspberry Pi Imager tool.
Flash the OS to the microSD card using Raspberry Pi Imager.
Insert the card, connect the Pi to your TV via HDMI, and boot it up.
Connect to WiFi and install Chromium browser: sudo apt install chromium-browser
Configure the Pi to boot directly into Chromium in kiosk mode (full-screen, no toolbars) pointing to your welcome screen URL.
Add this to your autostart configuration:
chromium-browser --noerrdialogs --disable-infobars --kiosk --incognito https://your-welcome-screen-url.com

Tips for Raspberry Pi

Use a case with passive cooling (no fan) to keep it silent.
Set up unattended auto-login so it doesn't ask for credentials on boot.
Disable the cursor so it doesn't appear on screen: install unclutter package.
Mount the Pi behind the TV with Velcro strips or a VESA mount adapter — guests shouldn't see or interact with it.
Set up a daily reboot via cron job (e.g., 4 AM) to clear any memory issues and keep things fresh.

Option 3: Google Chromecast

Why It Works

Chromecast with Google TV ($30-50) includes a full browser and app ecosystem. It's easy to set up and most guests are already familiar with the interface.

Setup Steps

Plug the Chromecast into your TV's HDMI port and connect to WiFi.
Install a web browser from the Google Play Store (Chrome or a kiosk browser app).
Navigate to your welcome screen URL and bookmark it.
Set the browser as the default app on startup using the device's developer settings or a launcher app.

Limitations

Chromecast with Google TV doesn't have a straightforward "open this URL on boot" option without third-party apps. You'll likely need an app like Fully Kiosk Browser (available on Google Play) to lock it to your welcome screen URL on startup.

The older Chromecast (without Google TV) only supports casting from a phone — it has no browser of its own, so it's not suitable for this use case unless you leave a dedicated phone or tablet as the casting source, which adds complexity.

Option 4: Smart TV Built-in Browser

Why It Works

If your TV already has a built-in web browser (Samsung, LG, and Sony smart TVs all do), you don't need any extra hardware. Open the browser, navigate to your welcome screen URL, and you're done.

Setup Steps

Open the TV's built-in web browser from the app menu.
Navigate to your welcome screen URL.
Bookmark the page or set it as the browser homepage.
On Samsung TVs: go to Settings → General → Start Screen → set to "Last Used App" so it reopens the browser on startup.
On LG TVs: go to Settings → General → Home Settings → enable "Last Input" or set the browser as the startup app.

Limitations

Smart TV browsers are often slow and may not render complex web pages well.
The browser may time out or show a screensaver after inactivity.
Guests may accidentally navigate away to the TV's home screen.
Some TVs don't let you set the browser as the startup app — you'd need to manually open it for each guest.

Smart TV browsers work in a pinch, but a dedicated device (Fire Stick or Raspberry Pi) gives you more control and reliability.

Option 5: Dedicated Tablet or iPad

Why It Works

Instead of using the TV, some hosts place a tablet on the kitchen counter or nightstand as a dedicated welcome screen. This works well for smaller properties where the TV might be in a bedroom or less central location.

Setup Steps

Get a tablet (Amazon Fire Tablet at $50-80 is the budget option; an older iPad works too).
Install a kiosk browser app that locks the tablet to a single URL.
Connect to WiFi and navigate to your welcome screen URL.
Enable Guided Access (iPad) or use a kiosk app (Android/Fire) to prevent guests from exiting the browser.
Mount the tablet on a stand and connect to a charger so it stays powered.

Tips for Tablets

Use a heavy-duty case with a built-in stand.
Disable notifications, app updates, and lock screen to keep the experience clean.
Consider a theft-prevention mount if the tablet is in a common area.
Set screen brightness to auto so it doesn't blast guests at night.

Keeping It Running Between Guests

The hardware setup is only half the battle. You also need a reliable way to reset the TV between guests so the welcome screen is always the first thing they see.

Use a Smart Plug

A WiFi smart plug ($10-15) connected to your TV and streaming device lets you power-cycle the TV remotely or have your cleaner do it with a single button press. When the TV powers back on, the streaming device boots and loads your welcome screen URL automatically.

This also logs guests out of any streaming services (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) they may have signed into during their stay.

Add It to Your Cleaning Checklist

Include "turn TV on — verify welcome screen is showing" as a line item on your turnover checklist. It takes 10 seconds to confirm and catches any issues before the next guest arrives.

Set the HDMI Input

Make sure the TV's default input is set to the HDMI port where your streaming device is plugged in. If the TV defaults to the cable/antenna input, guests will see static or a channel guide instead of your welcome screen.

Most TVs have a "default input" or "auto input" setting. Set it to the correct HDMI port so the TV always shows the right source when turned on.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Device	Cost	Difficulty	Reliability	Best For
Fire TV Stick	$35-50	Easy	Good	Most hosts
Raspberry Pi	$50-80	Moderate	Excellent	Tech-savvy hosts
Chromecast	$30-50	Moderate	Good	Google ecosystem
Smart TV Browser	$0	Easy	Fair	Quick test
Tablet	$50-150	Easy	Good	Non-TV setups

For most hosts, the Fire TV Stick is the easiest starting point. If you want a more locked-down, professional setup that boots directly into your welcome screen with no possibility of guests navigating away, the Raspberry Pi is worth the extra effort.

What Should Your Welcome Screen Display?

Whatever hardware you choose, the welcome screen itself should show a few key things:

WiFi network name and password — the #1 thing guests need immediately.
A QR code linking to your full digital guidebook with house rules, local recommendations, and how-to guides.
Checkout time — prevents the "when do we leave?" message.
A welcome message — brief, warm, one sentence max.

Keep it simple. If it requires more than 10 seconds to read from across the room, it has too much information. Put the details in your digital guidebook and let the QR code do the heavy lifting.

For ideas on what to include and design tips, check out our companion post: Airbnb Welcome Screen Ideas: First Impressions That Get 5-Star Reviews.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The screen goes black or shows a screensaver

Disable all sleep, screensaver, and power-saving settings on both the TV and the streaming device. On Fire TV, go to Settings → Display & Sounds → Screen Saver and set it to "Never." On the TV itself, disable eco/power-saving modes.

The browser crashes or freezes after a few days

Web browsers on low-powered devices can accumulate memory issues over time. Set up a daily power cycle using a smart plug timer (turn off at 4 AM, back on at 4:05 AM). This clears memory and restarts the browser fresh.

Guests navigated away from the welcome screen

Use a kiosk browser app (Fully Kiosk Browser on Fire TV/Android, or Guided Access on iPad) to lock the device to your welcome screen URL. This prevents guests from opening other apps or navigating to different websites.

The TV shows a different HDMI input on startup

Check the TV's settings for "default input" or "startup input" and set it to the HDMI port your device is connected to. Some TVs have a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) setting that automatically switches to the active HDMI input — enable this if available.

Bottom Line

Setting up a welcome screen on your rental property TV doesn't require expensive equipment or technical expertise. A $35 Fire TV Stick with a bookmarked URL gets you 80% of the way there. A Raspberry Pi in kiosk mode gets you the rest.

The key is making it automatic — guests should see the welcome screen the moment they turn on the TV, without any button presses or menu navigation. Pair a streaming device with a smart plug, add a line to your cleaning checklist, and you'll have a professional setup that runs itself.

Digital guidebook platforms like HostGuide provide dedicated TV display pages designed for this exact use case — a full-screen layout with WiFi details, QR code, and welcome message that looks clean on any screen size. Point your hardware at the URL and it handles the rest.