Start here · First-time setup

Start here

First-time setup

A ten-minute checklist that takes a fresh install to a working, activated, tested bay.

Follow these steps in order on the bay PC right after installing SimLock. Everything happens in SimLock Admin.

1. Log in to SimLock Admin

The installer opens the Admin panel for you. Later, open it from the SimLock Admin desktop shortcut, the Start Menu, or by double-clicking the shield icon in the system tray (the tray asks for the admin password first).

SimLock Admin login window The login window. The hint under the button reminds you of the default password.

Type the admin password in Admin Password and click Login (or press Enter). The default password is admin123. A wrong password shows "Incorrect password" and clears the field.

The panel opens on the Dashboard. The header shows "Version X.Y.Z" so you can confirm which build is installed.

2. Activate your license

Until the kiosk is activated, the lock screen shows an "Activation Required" message instead of the splash screen.

  1. On the Dashboard, find the LICENSE card. The status reads Not Activated.
  2. Type the email address you used to buy SimLock in the box.
  3. Click Check License. The button reads "Checking..." while it contacts simlock.golf.
  4. The status turns green and reads Activated, the email appears with a Deactivate button, and the card shows your Machine ID.

A red message instead means a typo in the email, no internet connection, or no activations left on that license. See Licensing.

3. Change the admin password and unlock code

Click General in the sidebar.

General page The General page. Operating Mode at the top, Security in the middle, Process Monitor settings below.

Under Security:

  • 4-Digit Unlock Code — the code returning golfers type on the lock screen. The default is 1234. It must be exactly four digits.
  • Admin Password — the password for this panel, the tray menu and the Manager Override button on the lock screen. Change it from admin123.

Write the new admin password down

The admin password is the only way back in. If you lose it, staff cannot open the Admin panel or use Manager Override.

4. Pick an operating mode

At the top of General, choose one:

  • Process Monitor — lock screen launches when the simulator software starts (default)
  • Reservation Mode — lock screen follows Google Calendar events

The sidebar changes to match. Process Monitor shows a Buttons page; Reservation Mode shows Calendar and Customers pages instead. If you are not sure, start with Process Monitor. You can switch later. See Overview for how the two modes differ.

5. Tell SimLock what to watch (Process Monitor only)

Still on General, under Process Monitor:

  • Monitored Process (without .exe) — the program that should trigger the lock screen. The default is gspro.
  • Click Select Software to pick from the programs currently running on this PC, or click the GSPRO Launcher quick-select button.

Start your simulator software first so it appears in the Select Software list.

If you chose Reservation Mode, skip this step and go to the Calendar page after saving. The Calendar guide walks through connecting Google and choosing the calendar for this bay.

6. Add your branding and tutorial video

Optional now, easy to change later.

  • Appearance — set the splash Title and Subtitle, and drop your logo into Logo Image. See Appearance.
  • Video — paste a YouTube Video URL and click Download Video from URL, or browse to a file in Local Video Path. First-time golfers watch this to the end before they play. See Video.

7. Save

Click Save in the header. The button flashes "Saved!" for a moment.

Save checks two things first and refuses with a warning if either fails: the unlock code must be exactly four digits, and the admin password cannot be empty.

Settings apply live

The Monitor and a running lock screen both watch config.json. Most changes, including colors, text and button visibility, show up on the lock screen within a second of clicking Save. You do not need to restart anything.

8. Test the lock screen

Click Test in the header (or Test Lock Screen at the bottom of the Dashboard). This starts the real lock screen, full-screen and on top of everything.

In Process Monitor mode you see the splash screen. Touch anywhere, tap Returning Golfer, and enter the unlock code from step 3. The lock screen closes, exactly as it will for a golfer.

In Reservation Mode you see the idle screen, and the Monitor keeps it running because no booking is active. To get back to the desktop, tap Manager Override in the top-right corner and enter the admin password. This puts the kiosk into maintenance mode. When you are done, click Lock Kiosk in the Admin header (or right-click the tray icon and choose Launch Lock Screen) to relock it.

9. Confirm the Monitor is running

Look for the shield icon in the system tray; hovering shows "SimLock Monitor". If it is missing, start SimLock Monitor from the Start Menu. With Start SimLock Monitor with Windows checked during install, it returns after every reboot.

In Process Monitor mode, do one last check: close the simulator software, start it again, and confirm the lock screen appears on top.