Whether gifting a TRMNL to a friend or relative (we like you already), there are many reasons you may want to set up the WiFi credentials on your TRMNL device beforehand:
The recipient did not setup their WiFi
The recipient has no phone, laptop, or other device to complete setup
The recipient has restricted or limited movement
No matter the reason, here's our recommend trick for getting things set up, because your TRMNL device can store multiple credentials at once!
Using your Phone's Mobile Hotspot Feature
You will need to know at least the SSID and Password of your recipient's network. Ideally, you would also know the protocol used (e.g., WPA2).
First, configure your phone's hotspot to match the recipients network SSID, password, and settings. This varies by phone and carrier, but make sure that if you are setting up a TRMNL (OG), you are using the "Maximum Compatibility" mode on iPhones and setting Samsung's hotspot to "2.4Ghz."
Second, active the captive portal on your TRMNL device:
TRMNL (OG): Hold the button on the back for 5-7 seconds, then release.
Finally, connect to the TRMNL network broadcast by your device and follow the normal setup procedure to enter the credentials, pressing CONNECT to send them to the device. If everything was correct, your device will automatically display your next playlist item. You can now disable your hotspot.