NixPlay frame hacking

April 26, 2025

Disclaimer

Do this at your own risk. This might brick your device.

I fully own the hardware and this does not involve bypassing any DRM protection.

Introduction

So NixPlay decided to do the bait and switch and i didnt want my frame to just be another e-waste product in the landfill.

After searching around a bit i found this youtube video by yo-less which i took inspiration from.

The NixPlay frame is apparently an Android device, its running Android 7 to we can get some more use of it.

This is a quick overview how i went about it.

Open the frame

My Model:

Its easy to open the frame. I used a opening tool from iFixit, went along the frame and pried it open. There is a plastic clip about every 1-2cm.

Be careful when you get the top open because the screen is loose inside the frame.

When you get it open you can carefully lift the screen and you will see the pcb under it.

Here you will find a debug usb port to connect to.

Installing software:

You will need ADB(Android Debug Bridge) to connect to the device.

1. Disable NixPlay applications.
These commands will disable NixPlay applications. I disabled the applications instead of uninstalling because that might break the device.
```
adb -d shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.kitesystems.nix.prod
adb -d shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.kitesystems.nix.frame
    
```
2. Add your own stuff
To install your own apps with adb you use this command make use the apps support Android 7:
```
adb -d install FILENAME_HERE.apk
    
```
For me this is the applications i installed:
Applauncher
Nova Launcher
RDP software
RustDesk
Files
MaterialFiles
Screensaver software for viewing images
AerialViews
3. Activate screensaver when device goes to powersave
When the device goes to sleep we want it go into screensaver.
```
adb -d shell settings put secure screensaver_activate_on_sleep 1
    
```
4. Other settings
Now you can use scrcpy to control your screen through adb.
Edit the settings and make sure RustDesk works.
- Set sleep timer to something like 15-30 sec
- Make sure Rustdesk and Nova launcher has full permisions.
- Make sure Ruskdesk runs on boot.
- Set Aerialviews as screensaver
5. Viewing images
For me, i created an SMB share on my TrueNas machine and added the images i wanted to view into that.
I then added that SMB share to AerialViews.
You can add clock,date,etc. in AerialViews if you like.
My frame had about 10gig of local storage, so you could add photos to the device instead.
Then your done! Make sure everything works, even after reboot before you close up the frame again.