CareTV Dementia Clock — Beginner Android 24/7 Setup

Goal: turn an old or new Android tablet into a simple powered clock appliance that stays awake, stays connected, and returns to the CareTV clock with as little human intervention as the device permits.

Before you start

You need an Android tablet or display with:

Android OS
Chrome
Wi-Fi
continuous external power

You do not need a CareTV account, subscription, signage service, database, or special Android app.

1. Connect permanent power

POWER FIRST

Use the device's normal approved charger and leave it connected for 24/7 use.

If the device has a battery, the battery can act like a small built-in UPS during brief household power failures. That is useful: a short outage may never shut the tablet down at all.

2. Join the home Wi-Fi

Open Settings → Network & Internet / Wi-Fi, choose the home network, enter the password, and verify that Android reconnects after a restart.

Names vary by Android manufacturer and version.

3. Open the CareTV clock in Chrome

Open Chrome and enter:

https://caretv.org/dementia-clock/

Chrome on supported Android versions can also install/add a web app or website shortcut to the Home screen. The menu wording may be Install app or Add to Home screen.

4. Make the screen stay awake while plugged in

The most useful standard Android setting is in Developer options:

Stay awake — screen will never sleep while charging.

On many Android devices:

Open Settings → About tablet / About phone.
Find Build number.
Tap Build number repeatedly until Android says Developer options are enabled.
Return to Settings and open System → Developer options (location varies).
Turn on Stay awake.

Important: the exact path differs by Samsung, Lenovo, Google, Amazon-derived Android products, and older Android versions. Search Settings for Stay awake if you cannot find it.

5. Disable screensavers / screen savers

In Android Settings, search for:

Screen saver
Daydream on some older Android versions
Ambient display or similar vendor wording

Set the screen saver to Off / None where the device offers that choice.

6. Disable automatic power scheduling

Some manufacturers include options such as:

Scheduled power on/off
Auto power off
Bedtime power saving
Battery saver schedules

If present, disable any schedule that can intentionally shut down or sleep this dedicated 24/7 appliance.

7. Avoid aggressive battery restrictions

This device is plugged in, so battery-saving behavior is not the goal. Disable Battery Saver schedules that interfere with the display. If the device offers per-app battery settings for Chrome, choose the least restrictive option when needed for reliable operation.

8. Full screen, normal view, and dimming

The CareTV clock itself has large Clock controls. Use the large menu button in the upper-right corner of the clock.

Inside are:

Full screen
Normal view
Clock brightness
Done
the exact CareTV clock version

The controls are intentionally large enough for gross-motor use rather than precise fingertip operation.

9. Test recovery from a normal restart

Restart Android.
Confirm Wi-Fi reconnects automatically.
Open the CareTV clock from its Home-screen icon or Chrome.
Verify the display stays awake while plugged in.

10. Test AC power failure

This is where Android hardware differs.

A tablet with a working battery

Unplug the charger briefly. The tablet should remain running on its battery. Restore AC power and confirm charging resumes. For short outages, this is the easiest and most reliable recovery because Android never shut down.

A device that completely powers off when AC disappears

Test whether it automatically boots when AC power returns. This is a hardware/firmware feature, not a universal Android feature. Some purpose-built kiosk/signage devices support it; many ordinary consumer tablets do not.

Do not promise automatic cold boot unless you physically test that exact device.
Android itself does not provide one universal setting that makes every tablet power on from a fully-off state when AC power returns.

11. About automatically opening Chrome after a cold boot

There is no single universal Android setting that guarantees Chrome will auto-launch after every cold boot on every manufacturer and Android version.

For CareTV, use the simplest reliable behavior the actual device provides:

If the tablet's battery keeps it alive through ordinary outages, leave the CareTV clock running continuously.
If the manufacturer provides an auto-start / startup app / kiosk / launch on boot setting, it may be used.
If the device cannot automatically cold-boot and reopen the clock without extra software, record that limitation rather than pretending the hardware passed.

12. 24/7 acceptance checklist

☐ Permanent power connected
☐ Wi-Fi reconnects automatically
☐ Chrome displays CareTV Dementia Clock
☐ Screen saver disabled
☐ Stay awake while charging enabled
☐ Battery Saver / scheduled sleep disabled if necessary
☐ No scheduled power-off
☐ Full-screen / normal-view controls tested
☐ Clock dimming tested
☐ Short AC outage tested
☐ Full shutdown + AC restoration tested if automatic cold-boot is claimed

For clinics, senior organizations, and family caregivers

The web clock itself is free and open to use. An older Android tablet that is no longer useful for its original purpose may be perfectly adequate as a dedicated orientation display.

CareTV's goal is not to make the person learn Android. The installer configures the underlying device once; the resident sees the clock.