There are two kinds of tech gifts. The first kind comes in a box, gets opened, and then sits unused for three days while the recipient figures out how to connect it to WiFi, download the right app, and update the firmware. The second kind comes out of the box ready to go — photos already loaded, clock face already set, firmware already updated. That second kind is the one people remember.
If you are giving a Times Frame, Pixoo-64, Ditoo Pro, or Times Gate as a gift, you can do the setup work yourself before handing it over. It takes about twenty minutes per device, and the result is a gift that works the moment the box opens.
Here is the step-by-step process for pre-configuring any Divoom device so the recipient gets a ready-to-use experience instead of a setup project.
That video walks through the basic Pixoo-64 setup flow — app download, device pairing, and content loading. The same Divoom app handles all four devices covered here, so even if you are gifting a different model, the process is nearly identical. The differences are in what content you preload, not in how you connect.
Step 1 — Download the Divoom App and Create an Account
Before touching the device, download the Divoom app on your phone. It is available for free on both iOS and Android. Search for "Divoom" in the App Store or Google Play and look for the official app published by Divoom.
Open the app and create an account using your email address. You need an account to manage devices, access the community gallery, and sync content. If you do not want the recipient to use your account, you can create a dedicated gifting account — but in practice, most recipients will want to set up their own account after receiving the device. The account you create here is just for the initial setup phase.
Once the account is active, keep the app open and move to the next step.
Step 2 — Connect the Device to WiFi
Power on the Divoom device using the included USB-C cable and a wall adapter. Most Divoom devices boot within a few seconds and display a pairing prompt on screen.
In the Divoom app, tap the "+" icon to add a new device. The app will search for nearby Divoom devices over Bluetooth. When your device appears, tap it to begin pairing.
For WiFi-enabled devices (Times Frame, Pixoo-64, and Times Gate), the app will prompt you to select a WiFi network and enter the password. Use your own WiFi for now — the recipient will reconfigure this step on their network after unboxing. The key is that the device is already registered in the app, firmware is current, and content is loaded.
The Ditoo Pro connects via Bluetooth only, so this step is even simpler: just pair it through the app and skip WiFi entirely. Bluetooth pairing is all the Ditoo Pro needs for setup.
Step 3 — Update Firmware Before Handing It Over
Once the device is connected, check for firmware updates. In the Divoom app, go to the device settings page and look for "Firmware Update" or "Check for Updates." If an update is available, install it.
Firmware updates typically take 2 to 5 minutes. The device may restart during the process. Keep it plugged in and do not close the app until the update completes.
This step matters more than it seems. Divoom regularly releases firmware improvements — better WiFi stability, new clock face options, bug fixes for pixel art rendering. If you skip this step, the recipient's first experience might include a mandatory update prompt that blocks them from using the device until it finishes. By updating now, you remove that friction from their unboxing experience entirely.
Step 4 — Pre-load Photos, Pixel Art, and Clock Faces
This is where the gift becomes personal. The content you preload is what the recipient sees when they turn the device on for the first time. Think of it as setting the wallpaper on a new phone before giving it to someone — it transforms a generic device into their device.
The type of content you preload depends on which Divoom device you are gifting:
Times Frame — Pre-load Photos and Videos
The Times Frame is a 10.1-inch transparent IPS smart display with 64GB of storage. It is designed for photos, short videos, clock faces, and widgets. To preload content, open the Divoom app, select the Times Frame, and use the photo upload feature to send images directly to the device's storage.
You can upload family photos, vacation pictures, or a curated set of images that match the recipient's interests. The Times Frame supports both static images and short video clips (up to 15 seconds). Once uploaded, the photos appear immediately on the display — so when the recipient opens the box, the frame is already showing a picture they will recognize.
You can also set a default clock face and enable weather widgets before gifting. These small touches make the device feel configured rather than blank.
Pre-load photos, videos, and clock faces so the recipient sees something personal on day one.
Pixoo-64 — Pre-load Pixel Art and Community Designs
The Pixoo-64 is a 64x64 LED pixel art display. The Divoom app's community gallery contains millions of user-created pixel art designs — animated characters, game sprites, holiday themes, abstract patterns. Browse the gallery, save designs you like, and push them to the device.
You can also create custom pixel art using the app's built-in editor. A simple design — initials, a favorite animal, a birthday message — takes a few minutes to make and adds a personal touch that store-bought content cannot match.
Set a default clock face and configure the weather widget before packaging. If the recipient is a streamer or content creator, you can even pre-configure a social media subscriber counter (YouTube, Twitch, Instagram) so it is ready to display live numbers.
Pre-load community pixel art, custom designs, and live social counters before gifting.
Ditoo Pro — Pre-load Alarms, White Noise, and Pixel Animations
The Ditoo Pro is a retro-styled Bluetooth speaker with a pixel LED display. Since it connects via Bluetooth rather than WiFi, setup is the simplest of all four devices — pair it, update firmware, and load content.
Use the Divoom app to set a default alarm time (morning wake-up is the most common), choose a pixel animation for the display, and select a white noise track. The Ditoo Pro includes built-in white noise options like rain, ocean, and fan sounds. Pre-selecting one means the recipient can start using it as a sleep aid the first night without navigating menus.
You can also load a few pixel art animations from the community gallery onto the Ditoo Pro's display. A retro game animation or music-themed design matches the device's aesthetic perfectly.
Pre-load alarms, white noise, and pixel animations for a plug-and-play gifting experience.
Times Gate — Pre-configure Data Screens
The Times Gate has five independent LCD screens. Use the Divoom Smart app to assign a data stream to each screen: clock, weather, stock ticker, social media counter, or calendar countdown. You can set up all five screens before gifting so the recipient sees a fully configured dashboard when they power it on.
Pre-configure the RGB ambient lighting to a neutral warm tone — the recipient can customize it later, but a pleasant default makes the first impression better than a blank white backlight.
Step 5 — Test Everything and Repackage
Before putting the device back in its box, do a final test. Power the device off, wait ten seconds, and power it back on. Check that:
- The device boots up and shows the pre-loaded content
- The WiFi connection re-establishes automatically (for WiFi-enabled devices)
- The clock is set to the correct time zone
- No error messages or update prompts appear on screen
- All accessories (cable, adapter, manual) are in the box
Once everything checks out, power the device off and carefully repackage it. If you loaded personal photos or custom pixel art, consider leaving a small note inside the box mentioning that the device is already set up and ready to use — this prevents the recipient from accidentally resetting it during an unboxing setup attempt.
Quick Setup Reference
Not sure how much setup each device needs? This table summarizes the key differences.
| Device | Connection | What to Pre-load | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Times Frame Smart photo display |
WiFi | Photos, videos, clock faces, weather widgets | 15–20 min |
|
Pixoo-64 Pixel art display |
WiFi + Bluetooth | Pixel art, community designs, clock faces, social counters | 10–15 min |
|
Ditoo Pro Retro Bluetooth speaker |
Bluetooth only | Alarms, white noise, pixel animations | 5–10 min |
|
Times Gate Five-screen dashboard |
WiFi | Data streams (clock, weather, stocks, social), RGB lighting | 15–20 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the recipient need to redo the WiFi setup on their own network?
Yes. WiFi credentials are device-specific, so when the recipient powers on the device on their home network, they will need to enter their own WiFi password through the Divoom app. However, everything else — firmware, pre-loaded content, clock settings — stays intact. The WiFi reconnection takes about thirty seconds and is the only setup step the recipient needs to handle.
Can I pre-load content without the recipient knowing?
Yes. All pre-loading happens through your own phone and Divoom account. The recipient will not see any setup activity — they will simply open the box and find a device that is already showing photos, pixel art, or a configured clock face. If you want it to be a surprise, avoid telling them and let the unboxing speak for itself.
Does the recipient need to download the Divoom app?
For basic functionality — displaying pre-loaded photos, pixel art, or clock faces — the device works on its own without the app. However, to change content, add new photos, access the community gallery, or reconfigure WiFi, the recipient will need the Divoom app. We recommend including a note suggesting they download it, but the device will not be useless without it.
What happens if the recipient resets the device?
A factory reset will erase all pre-loaded content and return the device to its original state. This is why a brief note inside the box — something like "This device is already set up and ready to use" — can prevent an accidental reset. If they do reset it, no harm is done; they simply set it up from scratch like any new device.
Which Divoom device is easiest to set up before gifting?
The Ditoo Pro is the simplest to prepare. It connects via Bluetooth (no WiFi needed), and the main pre-loading tasks are setting an alarm, choosing a white noise track, and selecting a pixel animation. Total setup time is under ten minutes. The Pixoo-64 is also quick since pixel art loads directly from the community gallery.
Ready to Gift
Twenty minutes of setup work transforms a Divoom device from a project into a gift. The recipient opens the box, plugs it in, and immediately sees photos, pixel art, or a configured dashboard — no app downloads, no firmware updates, no WiFi prompts on day one.
The only thing they need to do is connect the device to their own WiFi, which takes about thirty seconds through the Divoom app. Everything else is already done.
For detailed setup walkthroughs, app configuration guides, and troubleshooting for every Divoom product, the Divoom product manual covers each device with step-by-step instructions and screenshots.
