Setting Up Hearth in Under 15 Minutes

You've just unboxed your Hearth display. Maybe the kids are hovering with questions, or your partner is already asking when it'll be on the wall. Good news: you don't need a tech background, a full afternoon, or a toolbox the size of a toolbox to get Hearth up and running. We'll have you done in 15 minutes flat — including mounting.

What's in the Box

Before you start, make sure you have everything from the box: the Hearth display unit, a magnetic wall mount bracket, a power adapter and 6-foot cable, a mounting template sheet, two wall anchors and screws, and a quick-start card. If anything is missing, email us at hello@hearthdisplay.org before proceeding — we'll get a replacement to you fast.

You'll also need the Hearth companion app installed on your phone. It's free and available for both iOS and Android. Download it now so it's ready when you need it.

Step 1: Choose Your Spot (2 Minutes)

The best location for your Hearth display is where your family naturally gathers and pauses — typically a kitchen wall near the entryway, a hallway by the garage door, or a mudroom wall. You want it somewhere visible at a glance, not tucked in a corner.

Height matters. For families with young kids, we recommend mounting the bottom of the display at about 42 inches from the floor — low enough for kids to see their routines, high enough that toddlers can't reach it easily. For families without small children, eye-level for adults (around 60–64 inches to center) tends to work best.

Check that a power outlet is within 6 feet of your chosen spot, or plan to run the cable to a nearby outlet with a cable cover. Hearth doesn't require any hardwiring — just a standard outlet.

Step 2: Mount the Bracket (5 Minutes)

Tape the included mounting template sheet to your wall at the chosen height. The template shows exactly where to drill. Use a level (most phone camera apps have one) to make sure it's straight. Mark the two screw points through the template, then set the template aside.

Drill pilot holes at your marks, insert the wall anchors, and drive the two screws — leave about a quarter-inch of the screw head exposed. The magnetic mount bracket slides onto those screws and locks in place. Give it a firm tug to make sure it's secure. Total time for this step: about 5 minutes if you've hung a picture frame before.

Step 3: Power Up and Connect (3 Minutes)

Hang the display on the mount bracket — it clicks into place magnetically and is held by both the magnet and the screw saddles. Connect the power adapter to the display's USB-C port and plug into your outlet. The Hearth display will boot up in about 30 seconds.

On first boot, the display will show a QR code. Open the Hearth app on your phone, tap "Set up a new display," and scan the QR code. The app will walk you through connecting to your home Wi-Fi network. Most families complete this step in under two minutes.

Step 4: Connect Your Calendars (3 Minutes)

Once your display is online, the app prompts you to connect your calendars. Hearth integrates with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook. Tap "Connect calendar," select your provider, and authorize access. Color-coding is automatic — each family member's events appear in a distinct color that shows up on both the display and the app.

Add additional family members from the app's People screen. Each person can connect their own calendar from their own phone — no need for them to share passwords with you. Just send them an invite from the app and they'll go through the same short authorization flow.

You're Done — Now the Fun Part

That's it. Your Hearth display is live, pulling in your family's calendars, and showing today's schedule. From here, take a few extra minutes to set up kid routines (find them under "Routines" in the app), upload a few family photos for the rotating wallpaper, and if you're on the Family or Premium plan, activate AI meal planning for the week ahead.

The first time your kid walks up to the display and checks off their morning routine on their own — without being reminded twice — you'll understand why 12,000 families have made Hearth part of their home. Welcome to the club.