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LED Display Controller · WF1 Manual
Huidu WF1 Setup Guide
Your WF1 comes pre-programmed and ready to wear. This page walks you through connecting the LEDArt app, switching faces, uploading custom art, and fixing the most common issues.
ℹ️
The WF1 is a third-party controller made by Huidu Technology and resold by ProtoFrenz. We're happy to help with setup and common issues, but we're unable to offer custom firmware, hardware modifications, or deep technical support beyond what's covered on this page. For advanced questions, Huidu's documentation and support channels are the best resource.
Step 1
Connect the LEDArt app
1
2
Power on your controller
Plug a 5V MicroUSB power bank into the MicroUSB port on the controller. 5V, 2.4A or higher is recommended — lower current supplies can cause flickering or unstable behaviour.
The WiFi network name (e.g. WF1_e869086a488) is printed on a
label on the back of the controller. Wait a few seconds for the network to
appear after power-on.
3
Join the WF1 WiFi network
Go to your phone's WiFi settings and connect to the
WF1_xxxxxxxxx network shown on the controller label.
The default password is 88888888 (eight 8s).
When your phone asks "Stay connected to this network without internet?", choose Yes / Keep. Turn off Bluetooth and mobile data if the app has trouble finding the device. The WF1 network is closed — internet won't be available while you're connected to it.
4
Verify the device is online
Open LEDArt and tap the Device tab at the bottom. You should see your controller listed with status Normal play. If nothing appears, check that you're still connected to the WF1 network — phones often switch back to your home WiFi automatically.
Step 2
Change faces & brightness
1
Open the Remote screen
From the Device tab, tap your controller to open its detail page, then tap Remote. This gives you live control over what's on the panels right now.
2
Switch between faces
Use the ↑ / ↓ arrow buttons to cycle through the pre-loaded programs. Each program is a face or animation. Tap Looping ON/OFF to lock in a single face so it doesn't rotate automatically.
3
Adjust brightness
The brightness slider on the Remote screen dims or boosts the panels. Indoors, 30–50% is usually comfortable; brightly lit venues or outdoor spaces often need 80–100%. For long wear sessions, 60–70% is a good balance between visibility and heat.
Step 3
Upload custom faces
Art requirements
Image size
128 px wide × 32 px tall total. Design a 64×32 mirrored face — left half shown on one panel, right half on the other.
File format
PNG for static faces. GIF for animated faces — the WF1 supports GIF animation natively. Animation speed can be adjusted with the Speed setting in the program editor.
Scan setting in LEDArt
Hardware Settings → scan mode C5, color Full Color, gray level 8. This is the correct setting for ProtoFrenz P3 panels.
Face designer
Use the LED Display Face Maker at protofrenz.com — built specifically for the WF1's 64×32 panel layout.
128×32 px layout — actual pixel ratio
dashed line = panel split · each half mirrors to one panel
1
Create a new program
In LEDArt, go to the Program tab and tap New Program. The app creates a blank program and drops you into the editor with a default text area.
2
Remove the default text area
Tap the ✕ next to the "Text" element at the bottom of the editor. You want a clean canvas before adding your image.
3
Add your image
Tap the + button and choose Image from the menu, then Local image to pick your PNG or GIF from your phone's photo library or Files app.
4
Send to the controller
Tap Send in the top-right corner. The image transmits over WiFi and appears on the panels within a few seconds. Only this one program is sent — your other existing programs are unaffected.
5
Send multiple faces at once
Build each face as its own program in the Program list. When you're ready to load them all, check the box next to each program and tap Send from the main Program screen. All selected programs upload in a single batch. Use the Remote screen to switch between them on the fly.
Tips
Tips & tricks
Store up to 999 programs. The WF1 can hold a huge face
library. Build a collection of moods and switch between them with the Remote
arrows during a con without ever re-uploading.
Change the WiFi password for security at cons where many
people might guess
88888888. In LEDArt: Device → Password
Settings. Write it down — recovery requires a button hold on the Reset
button (see Troubleshooting below).
Turn off Bluetooth and mobile data before opening LEDArt.
Both can cause the phone to prefer other networks and silently drop the WF1
hotspot connection mid-session.
iPhone users: iOS aggressively disconnects from networks
without internet. If the app keeps losing connection, go to
Settings → WiFi → tap the ⓘ next to your WF1 network and
choose "Use Without Internet" when prompted. If problems persist,
Android is the more reliable option with the WF1.
Looping ON vs OFF: with Looping ON, the controller cycles
through programs automatically on a timer. Looping OFF locks to a single face.
If your display keeps switching faces unexpectedly, open Remote and tap
Looping OFF.
USB thumb-drive updates skip the app entirely — useful at
cons where phone connectivity is unreliable. Programs must be created and
exported using HD2020
(Huidu's free PC software), then copied to a FAT32 USB drive. Insert the drive
while the controller is powered on and it loads automatically within 30 seconds.
Adjust brightness for the environment. 30–50% is comfortable
indoors; 80–100% helps in bright outdoor settings. For long wear sessions
(3+ hours), 60–70% is a good balance between visibility and heat.
Want more features? The WF1 doesn't include a boop sensor,
talking mouth, or browser-based control — no app required. The
ProtoFrenz 3.0 controller
adds all of that and is a drop-in upgrade for all head bases. Your shell
carries right over.
Help
Troubleshooting
App LEDArt can't find my controller ▼
The most common cause is the phone silently switching away from the WF1 hotspot to a network with internet.
- Open your phone's WiFi settings and confirm you're connected to the
WF1_xxxxxxxxxnetwork (not your home network). - Turn off Bluetooth and mobile data — both can force the phone to prefer other connections.
- When prompted "This network has no internet. Stay connected?", always choose Yes / Keep.
- If still failing, close LEDArt completely, reconnect to the WF1 WiFi, then reopen the app.
Display Blinking white/magenta stripes on the panels ▼
This happens when the controller and display panels lose sync — usually after a corrupted program send.
Fix: download the ProtoFrenz default program zip, unzip it onto a FAT32 USB drive (files go in the root directory, not a folder), insert it while the controller is powered on, and wait 30 seconds.
Alternatively, open LEDArt and send any valid program from the app — this will also re-sync the panels.
Tip from a customer: if the USB recovery drive isn't working, try unplugging the display panels from the controller first, inserting the USB drive and waiting for it to load (30 s), then replugging the panels.
Display Panels are on but showing wrong colors or scrambled image ▼
The scan mode may be set incorrectly for your panel type. In LEDArt:
- Go to Device → Hardware Settings (password:
888). - Select scan configuration C5 with Full Color and Gray Level 8. This is the correct setting for ProtoFrenz P3 panels.
- If the image looks inverted or dark, data polarity is reversed — try the next configuration option.
Also verify the 16-pin HUB75 ribbon cables are seated fully, with the tab/notch on the connector aligned to the slot. Data flows controller → first panel → second panel — arrows on the panel PCBs show the direction.
WiFi The WF1 network isn't showing up at all ▼
Check that the controller is powered on — the network only broadcasts when the unit is running. The network name is on the label on the back of the controller.
If the unit appears on but the network is still missing, insert a hex key
or thin tool into the Reset hole on the controller case and
press and hold the button inside for 10 seconds while powered on. On firmware
V4.24 and above this resets the WiFi password to 88888888 without
erasing your program.
WiFi I forgot my WiFi password ▼
The reset method depends on your controller's firmware version:
Firmware V4.24 or later (most units): while the controller
is powered on, insert a hex key into the Reset hole and hold
the button for 10 seconds. The WiFi password resets to 88888888
without erasing your program.
Older firmware: power off the controller, press and hold
the Reset button, then power it back on while still holding. Release after
10 seconds. The password resets to 88888888, but screen
parameters may also be reset — re-run Hardware Settings (scan mode C5,
Full Color, Gray Level 8) and re-upload your program afterward.
Display Panels flicker or restart randomly ▼
Almost always a power supply issue. The WF1 and two P3 panels draw meaningful current — especially at high brightness.
- Use a power bank rated 5V, 2.4A or higher. Cheap banks that only deliver 1A will cause instability.
- Check your MicroUSB cable. Many "charging only" cables drop voltage under load — use a quality data cable.
- Lower the brightness in LEDArt Remote to reduce current draw.
- Make sure the onboard coin-cell battery on the controller is seated firmly — a loose battery can cause erratic behaviour.
Recovery
Restore the default program
Via USB drive
Fastest — no app needed
Download the default program zip, unzip it, and copy the files to the root directory of a FAT32-formatted USB drive (not inside a folder). Insert the drive while the controller is powered on. Wait 30 seconds — done.
Via LEDArt app
Re-upload through WiFi
Connect to the WF1 network, open LEDArt, and send any program from your phone. Any valid program send will also re-sync the display if it was showing white/magenta stripes.
