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 Raspberry Pi is powered on and connected to the same network as your computer.
- Try connecting using the Pi’s IP address instead.
- 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?
- Username:
pi
- Password:
raspberry
If you changed it during flashing (e.g., using Raspberry Pi Imager), use your custom credentials.
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 Raspberry Pi.
- All runtime data is stored in:
/opt/smart-panel/var
This includes:
data/config.yaml
– Your panel configurationdb/database.sqlite
– The main system database
To fully reset your panel:
- Stop the services:
sudo systemctl stop smart-panel-backend
sudo systemctl stop smart-panel-display
- Delete the config and database files:
sudo rm /opt/smart-panel/var/data/config.yaml
sudo rm /opt/smart-panel/var/db/database.sqlite
- Restart the services and the onboarding will start fresh:
sudo systemctl start smart-panel-backend
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.
Still Need Help?
If you didn’t find what you were looking for, check out:
- GitHub Discussions
- Report an issue
- Join our community on Discord