Just got a Yoto? Setup, Wi-Fi fixes and what to do first

Setting up a new Yoto is quick when it works. When it gets stuck, the problem is usually the Wi-Fi. So here is how to set it up, what to check when the Wi-Fi doesn't work, and what I would do first once it's running.

How to set it up

It's the same for the Yoto Player and the Mini. Yoto also has its own setup guide. If the app looks different from what I describe, follow theirs.

You need the app for this. There is no way to enter Wi-Fi details on the player itself.

1. Charge the player and turn it on.
2. Install the Yoto app on your phone and create an account.
3. Put the player in pairing mode. With no card in, press and hold both orange buttons for about 5 seconds. A 6-letter code appears on the screen.
4. Tap “Set up a Player” in the app and type in the code from the player's screen.
5. Join the player's Wi-Fi. Your phone asks to connect to a network that comes from the player itself. Tap Join.
6. Choose your home Wi-Fi and enter the password. The code on the player turns green when it connects.
7. Leave it switched on, on the charger, for 30 to 60 minutes. Yoto recommends this so the player can download and install its latest software update.

When the Wi-Fi doesn't work

The player has no error messages. Instead it shows a face on the screen:

• White face: the player can't connect to your Wi-Fi, or it isn't set up yet.
• Green face: it is connected to your Wi-Fi, but your Wi-Fi has no internet. Restart your router.

If you see the white face, check these:

• Distance. Do the setup right next to the router. You can move the player afterwards.
• VPN. If you have a VPN on your phone, turn it off during setup.
• The password. Special characters, like an apostrophe, can cause problems.
• The network name. Names longer than 31 characters don't work.
• 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Many routers have both under one name. Parents on Reddit say setup worked once their phone was on the 2.4GHz network, or once they connected to the player's network from the phone's Wi-Fi settings instead of from the app.

If nothing helps, set it up using your phone's hotspot. You can add your home Wi-Fi later from the app. Yoto also has a Wi-Fi help page with more fixes.

If it's a gift

If the Yoto is for your own child, set it up before you wrap it. Otherwise the first thing your child does with their new present is wait for Wi-Fi and updates. Once it's set up, you can put it back in the box.

If it's a gift for another family, don't. The player is linked to the account that sets it up, so they should do the setup with their own app.

After setup, put each card in once and let it start playing. This downloads the audio to the player. Then leave it on the charger for about half an hour. After that the cards play right away, even without Wi-Fi.

What to do first

Make your own card. Blank Make Your Own cards can play anything you have the audio for. The ones kids love most are usually recordings of family, like grandma reading a story. Here's how MYO cards work.

Add icons. Kids who can't read yet use the little picture on the screen to know which track is playing. We have free icons, including animated ones, and you can save them straight to your Yoto account.

Label your cards. Blank cards all look the same. The card size guide has a free template, and our sticker labels are ready to print.

Use a ready playlist. Choosing what to put on a card takes time. Our playlists are ready to use, with a link for every track.

Check the free content in the app. The Yoto app has free stories, music, radio and podcasts. Try them before you buy more cards.