What’s Going On?

Google has announced changes to how third-party apps (like DAKboard) access Google Photos.

From 31 March 2025, UpBoards using Google Photos will stop displaying new photos unless you update your setup.

This isn’t a bug—it’s because Google is locking down access to make their platform more private. It affects everyone, not just UpBoard users.

What You Need to Do

You’ve got two easy options to keep your family photos showing:

Option 1: Move to Google Drive

• Create a new folder in your Google Drive account.

• Upload the photos you want displayed on your UpBoard into that folder.

• We’ll re-link your UpBoard to pull images from Google Drive instead of Google Photos.

(If you’re stuck, drop us a line and we’ll walk you through it.)

Option 2: Import Photos Directly into DAKboard’s Media Library

• DAKboard now lets you import selected Google Photos into their Media Library.

• You’ll need a Dakboard Essential Plan (or higher) subscription to use this feature.

• Once imported, your UpBoard will display them exactly like before.

Note: After importing, you’ll need to manually re-import any new photos you want displayed (it won’t automatically sync like before).

A Few Tips for the Best Results:

• Apple Photos users: You can still sync up to 500 photos.

• Google Photos via DAKboard Media Library: Originally allowed up to 10,000 photos.

• Photo orientation: Vertical (portrait) photos display much better than landscape on your UpBoard.

Need Help?

If you’re not sure what to do—or just don’t want to deal with it—send us a message. We’ll make sure your UpBoard keeps running smoothly with your favourite memories on display.

One of the best things about using UpBoard is how flexible and powerful it is — especially when it comes to auto events.

That means you can have your board automatically display things like:

ACT public holidays

• NRL fixtures (Eg Raiders ganmes)

• School term dates

• Paydays, bin nights, or whatever else matters to you

Here’s how to do it:

✅ Step 1: Find the calendar you want

Look for iCal / .ics links online. These are live feeds that automatically update.

A few good examples:

• ACT Public Holidays:
  https://www.calendarlabs.com/ical-calendar/holidays/australia-act-holidays-66

• NRL Draw (Google Calendar):
  https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=c_6p1bhq0k4bfu3qei9vplvqj69k@group.calendar.google.com

• School Term Dates:
  Search your state’s education website for .ics links (we’re happy to help find them too)

Step 2: Add it to your calendar account

If you use Google Calendar:

Open Google Calendar

1. On the left side, click the “+” next to Other Calendars

2. Choose “From URL”

3. Paste in the .ics link

4. Hit Add Calendar

Done. It’ll now sync with your main calendar feed.

If you use Apple Calendar:

1. Open the Calendar app on your Mac

2. Go to File > New Calendar Subscription

3. Paste the .ics URL

4. Hit Subscribe and name the calendar

5. Make sure it’s set to auto-refresh

Step 3: It Just Works on Your UpBoard

If your UpBoard is already synced to your calendar (Google or Apple), it’ll now pull in these events — no extra steps needed.

Your display will now show:

• Public holidays

• Raiders game days

• School holidays
  ...and anything else you’ve linked in.

Tip: Keep it tidy

You can colour-code or rename these auto calendars in your phone or computer so you always know what’s what.

Need help?

If you’re not sure how to add them — or want us to add them for you — just send us a message. We’ll sort it.

We came across a new issue today that’s worth sharing.

If you're using UpBoard with your Google Calendar but notice that some events aren’t appearing on your display, don’t worry — this is a simple one to fix.

The issue is caused by where your Samsung phone is saving your events. Even if your Google Calendar is connected to UpBoard, Samsung’s default Calendar app allows you to save events to different locations:

• Google Calendar (your Gmail account) — fully synced with UpBoard

• Samsung Account / My Phone / Local Calendar — stored only on your phone, not synced online

UpBoard can only display events that exist inside your Google Calendar. Events saved to Samsung’s local calendars won’t appear on UpBoard.

✅ How to fix it:

1️⃣ Check where your events are saved

• Open any missing event in your Samsung Calendar app

• Look for the Calendar field

• If it says My Phone or Samsung Account, that event isn’t synced to Google Calendar (and won’t show on UpBoard)

2️⃣ Update your Samsung Calendar settings

• Open Samsung Calendar → Menu → Manage Calendars

• Turn off any calendars that are not your Google Calendar (e.g. My Phone, Samsung Account)

• This helps prevent future events being accidentally saved in the wrong place

3️⃣ Set Google Calendar as your default (if available)

• Some Samsung devices allow you to set a default calendar:

• Go to Samsung Calendar Settings → Default Calendar → Google Calendar

4️⃣ Use Google Calendar app (recommended)

• Install the official Google Calendar app from the Play Store

• This guarantees all new events are saved directly to your Google Calendar and will appear on UpBoard automatically

🔄 What about existing events?

If you already have important events saved to your phone’s local calendar, you’ll need to manually move them into Google Calendar.

• Open the event → Edit → Move to another calendar → select your Google Calendar.

Need more help?

If you're still having trouble, or you want help transferring existing events over, just reach out to us — we're happy to help get your UpBoard working exactly the way you want.

Your UpBoard has been set up with a balance of clarity and brightness for everyday use — but every room is different.

If you find that the photos feel too bright for the space, especially in darker rooms (like where you watch TV at night), you can always turn the brightness down to suit.

This won’t affect the calendar section much, but it can really help with comfort when viewing photo slideshows.

You’ve got full control via the buttons on the back of the screen — feel free to adjust if needed, and you can always return it to default if you change your mind.Find the buttons
On the back-right of the screen (as you face it), you’ll find 4 small buttons in a vertical row. These control the on-screen display (OSD) menu.

• Press the bottom button
  This opens the menu. It might be labelled "Menu" or just be the lowest button on the panel.

• Navigate using the middle buttons
  Use the middle two buttons (up/down) to scroll to “Picture” or “Brightness” directly (depending on your firmware).

• Select and adjust
  Press the top button (or second from bottom depending on the model) to select, then adjust Brightness using the up/down buttons.

• Exit the menu
  Press the bottom button again to exit the menu.