# Screenly shows black screen only with google docs

**URL:** <https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667>\
**Category:** Anthias\
**Created:** [November 11, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667 "2021-11-11T15:55:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![nicomiguelino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nicomiguelino](https://forums.screenly.io/u/nicomiguelino)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 7:34pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/21 "2024-12-02T19:34:20Z")

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@RobertE, you can try to upgrade Screenly OSE (now called Anthias), but make sure that you backup your data first.

The command used for upgrading is the same as the command use for installation: `bash <(curl -sL https://install-anthias.srly.io)`.

If the upgrade doesn’t work, you can try re-installing from scratch (Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm), given that you’ve backed up your data/assets.

We also added support for x86 devices. More details about installing in 64-bit x86 devices can be found here:

- [Anthias/docs/installation-options.md at master · Screenly/Anthias · GitHub](https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/blob/master/docs/installation-options.md#installing-on-raspberry-pi-os-lite-or-debian)
- [Anthias/docs/x86-installation.md at master · Screenly/Anthias · GitHub](https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/blob/master/docs/x86-installation.md)

Let me know if the issue still occurs.

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**Author:** ![RobertE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@RobertE](https://forums.screenly.io/u/RobertE)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/22 "2024-12-02T21:42:51Z")

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My only asset is a Google Slides presentation with a bit.ly shortcode . . .I’ll see if I can remember how to access the OS to try your suggestion.

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**Author:** ![RobertE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@RobertE](https://forums.screenly.io/u/RobertE)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/23 "2024-12-03T17:53:47Z")

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Great, thanks nicomiguelino!! Since noone on this thread had said that Screenly had sorted it, I didn’t even try. Decided to start again with a fresh install of RaspOS Bookworm and then Anthias. All seems to be working fine. Took me rather a long time, as I haven’t connected via SSH for two or three years, so had to relearn (and Google) how to do things.

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**Author:** ![nicomiguelino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nicomiguelino](https://forums.screenly.io/u/nicomiguelino)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/24 "2024-12-03T18:37:07Z")

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I’m glad that helped. We also have [pre-built images](https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/releases/tag/v0.19.3), which is based on Balena OS (not Debian), but they are not a good fit to your use case if you’d like to play around with the command-line a lot.

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**Author:** ![RobertE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@RobertE](https://forums.screenly.io/u/RobertE)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/25 "2024-12-03T18:59:36Z")

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Thanks, but no I don’t like to play around with the command line, but didn’t realise that you do a pre-built image. I might give that a try.

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**Author:** ![RobertE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@RobertE](https://forums.screenly.io/u/RobertE)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/26 "2024-12-05T12:06:45Z")

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I seem to be failing at every attempt.

1. Installed using RaspOS, accessing via SSH, installing Anthias. All working fine at home, so I took it to the hall where it works, and all that appeared on screen was the Rasp rainbow boot screen, and then nothing. After a few seconds screen declared NO SIGNAL (using HDMI).
2. Tried a fresh install using BalenaEtcher and the BalenaOS image. I’m using a Pi with no kbd and no ethernet, only wifi, so attempted to create the necessary wpa\_supplicant.conf file.but it doesn’t seem to get anywhere. Comes up with the Anthias colour splash screen, then white screen, then B&W image with Anthias logo. Not visible on the wifi network at all, so I can’t attempt SHH.  
Where next? What should I try? Have you a solution for the strange HDMI NO SIGNAL problem?  
Thanks for any suggestions. (I realise this is now off topic, so if you want to move to a new thread that’s fine.

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**Author:** ![nicomiguelino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nicomiguelino](https://forums.screenly.io/u/nicomiguelino)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/27 "2024-12-05T15:46:08Z")

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@RobertE,

### 1 - Raspberry Pi OS

- How is your Pi connected at home and at the hall (assuming they’re different places distant to each other)?
  - Are you using Wi-Fi or Ethernet?

- What’s your Pi device model? E.g., Pi 1, Pi 2, Pi 3, or Pi 4)
- If you’'re using Wi-Fi, did you create a `wpa_supplicant.conf` on your SD card?

### 2 - BalenaOS

- SSH is not possible via BalenaOS, as you’ve less control. If you prefer to have more control over your device, sticking to Raspberry Pi OS is the best option.
- You can try the images from [here](https://github.com/Screenly/Anthias/blob/master/docs/installation-options.md#using-the-images-from-balenahub) instead, where you can customize connectivity (for example, Wi-Fi) before flashing your micro-SD card.
  - For instance, if you go to [balenaHub - IoT embedded device apps, edge computing resources, and developer tools](https://hub.balena.io/fleets-for-good/1971389/anthias-pi4) and click Join, a pop-up window will open.
  - Select the **Wifi + Ethernet** option.
  - Input your **Wifi SSID** and **Wifi Passphrase**.
  - Once done, you can download and re-flash the image.

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**Author:** ![RobertE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@RobertE](https://forums.screenly.io/u/RobertE)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/28 "2024-12-06T11:30:48Z")

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Thanks for the quick response. Pi 3, connected at home via wifi set up using the Raspberry Pi Imager settings, and connected to TV with HDMI cable. Installed Anthias and all works fine at home, so I unplug, take it down to the hall, and expect to get a network splash screen as of course it is a different network. Plug it in, the TV shows the Pi rainbow screen (so the HDMI cable is good) then goes black and after a few seconds TV says NO SIGNAL (from HDMI). Pi light is flashing once every 4 or 5 seconds. Should I try a wpa\_supplicant.conf file before I move it to the hall? (I’m sure there used to be an option with OSE to ‘remove wifi-network’ which I used to use before moving it, but I now don’t see it with Anthias. Alternatively, so I image it with the hall wifi and take it down there to do the setup (except my backup files are, of course, on my home computer!!).  
Using BalenaOS I don’t really want SSH, but it just does not work with no kbd and no ethernet. I might try what you’ve suggested.

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**Author:** ![nicomiguelino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nicomiguelino](https://forums.screenly.io/u/nicomiguelino)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/29 "2024-12-06T16:12:48Z")

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@RobertE, yes, you can try modifying `wpa_supplicant.conf` before moving it to another place/network.

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**Author:** ![RobertE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@RobertE](https://forums.screenly.io/u/RobertE)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/30 "2024-12-23T16:23:26Z")

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Have sorted it by reverting to RaspOS which has a documented method of creating several wifi networks using ntmui (I think that’s the command) which means I can do all that over ssh at home. All now sorted.  
I do think that Anthias lacks several useful features which used to be in ScreenlyOSE, such as the system log, the ability to kill the wifi ready to connect to a new wifi . . . and perhaps some others. Is Anthias still under development?  
Thanks for your help,  
Robert

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**Author:** ![nicomiguelino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nicomiguelino](https://forums.screenly.io/u/nicomiguelino)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667/31 "2024-12-23T16:34:12Z")

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Yes, Anthias is still in development and we’re actively developing and shipping fixes and features.

[Previous page](https://forums.screenly.io/t/screenly-shows-black-screen-only-with-google-docs/667.md?page=1)
