Samsung TV — DisplayHUB Sideload Guide

Method A — Via the Apps Screen (most common)

1. On the TV remote, press the Home button.
2. Navigate to and open Apps.
3. When the Apps screen is open, use the remote to press: 1 2 3 4 5 in sequence.
4. A Developer Mode dialog will appear.
5. Toggle Developer Mode ON.
6. Enter the IP address of the DisplayHUB controller (shown on your DisplayHUB dashboard).
7. Press OK — the TV will reboot.

Method B — Via Settings (newer models)

1. Press Home on the remote.
2. Go to Settings (gear icon).
3. Navigate to Support.
4. Look for Developer Options or Developer Mode.
5. Toggle Developer Mode ON.
6. Enter the IP address of the DisplayHUB controller.
7. The TV will reboot to apply the change.

Note: The exact menu path varies by TV model year. If you don’t see Developer Options under Support, use Method A.

Find It on the Dashboard

Log into your DisplayHUB controller dashboard. The controller’s IP address is shown in the browser’s address bar and at the top of the Sideload section in the install modal.

It Changes If the Network Changes

If the controller was moved to a new network or received a new IP address, Developer Mode must be re-entered with the new IP. The TV will not accept sdb connections from any other IP.

One Controller Per TV

Only one Host PC IP can be set at a time. If you manage multiple locations, each site’s controller must be set as the host on that site’s TVs.

⚠ “Port open but sdb not ready”

The TV accepted the network connection but is not responding to the sideload tool. Most likely cause: the wrong IP address is set in Developer Mode.

Fix: Go back to the TV’s Apps screen, press 1-2-3-4-5, and re-enter Developer Mode with the correct controller IP. The TV will reboot, then try sideloading again.

⚠ “Developer Mode is no longer active”

Samsung TVs can deactivate Developer Mode automatically after a period of inactivity, a firmware update, or a power cycle on some models.

Fix: Re-enable Developer Mode using the steps above. Once re-enabled, click Sideload Again in the dashboard — you do not need to re-enter the controller IP if it hasn’t changed.

⚠ “Failed to connect” / sdb error

The sideload tool cannot establish a connection to the TV’s debugging interface.

Steps to try:

1. Confirm the TV is powered on and on the Home screen (not in an app or screensaver).
2. Confirm Developer Mode is ON and the controller IP is correct.
3. Disable Developer Mode on the TV, wait 10 seconds, re-enable it — this restarts the TV’s debugging service.
4. Try sideloading again from the dashboard.

⚠ Developer Mode menu not found

The location of Developer Mode varies by TV model year. If you cannot find it:

• Try the Apps screen method: open Apps, then press 1-2-3-4-5 on the remote.
• Some models require pressing the number buttons in rapid succession.
• On commercial/hospitality displays, Developer Mode may not be available or may be in a different location — contact us for model-specific guidance.

⚠ App installs but then disappears

Sideloaded apps can be removed by Samsung firmware updates or a factory reset.

Fix: Run the sideload again from the dashboard — the process is the same as the initial install. The app will be reinstalled in under a minute.

⚠ “Allow” dialog appeared — what do I do?

During the sideload process, the TV may display an Allow or Permit dialog requesting permission for the controller to connect.

Select Allow. If you miss the dialog or it times out, the connection will fail. Simply click Sideload Again in the dashboard to retry — the dialog will reappear.