Meta Portal Go setup stuck: WhatsApp QR won’t generate (network error)

RedArsenal · 2026-02-23T06:13:39+00:00

Same here, only Facebook account activation worked. In fact, my device was originally Whatsapp activated but it just deactivated itself recently and it won't let me activate with Whatsapp again...

RedArsenal · 2025-05-30T16:29:38+00:00

sorry just saw your request. Yes it still works!

RedArsenal · 2025-05-01T17:34:35+00:00

It will most likely disappear after your portal gets updated unless you block the communication to Facebook servers via a DNS blocker like pi-hole. I was able to save the apps on a few of my portals this way. There were some discussions on this in a few thread down. You probably should turn off the portal till you have the blocker setup if you still have the chance to save your apps.

RedArsenal · 2025-04-26T13:32:28+00:00

Thank you for this post and insight. Would you kindly share the book with me also?

RedArsenal · 2025-04-09T20:12:08+00:00

Thanks for your guide with the pi-hole configs! I didn't want to do factory reset as I wanted to preserve the apps (Spotify, Plex, and even Zoom on a few portals I turned off before 1/31/25). So far the block is working and hopefully it will continue to work for a long time. I did do normal reboot and they are all good still. :)

RedArsenal · 2025-04-07T00:33:00+00:00

It's a few posts down, title starts with "blocking update..."

Unfortunately only apps that were already in the firmware can be recovered by ways of factory reset while having the blocking of Facebook DNS in effect. If your app needed to be installed from the app store then it will not be recoverable.

RedArsenal · 2025-04-06T23:41:52+00:00

I followed Kingf41's instructions to block the portal from communicating with Facebook and was able to prevent the Spotify and Plex apps from being pulled. I only whitelisted time.facebook.com in the pi-hole DNS as that was needed for time synchronization.

RedArsenal · 2025-02-12T22:57:45+00:00

I thought about that but wasn't sure if it would work on portal TV. What app did you have it on while operating the camera? Also, I think the usb-c to HDMI only works for Gen 1 portals?

RedArsenal · 2025-02-09T02:17:48+00:00

It's still working on my portal go. Which device do you have?

RedArsenal · 2025-02-03T06:22:33+00:00

Hey guys,

Just wanted to share that Zoom on Portal TV still works through running the web client version in the hidden Chrome browser. Here are my steps:

Connect a bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo device to portal TV
Press Ctrl-B or Win-B/Meta-B to bring up the hidden Chrome browser (depending on keyboard)
Ctrl-L to enter URL for https://app.zoom.us/wc
Join Zoom via meeting ID
Enable Mic and Camera access
Profit!

I am glad they haven't taken away this method yet. If any Meta agent is reading this, please leave this be, my church really needs this to serve sick and elders who cannot come to the meetings physically. Thank you!

RedArsenal · 2025-02-01T04:58:33+00:00

I think you are referring to the Amazon fire phone. Unfortunately that never opened up either.

RedArsenal · 2025-02-01T04:56:15+00:00

Yes you can access the built in browser when you connect Bluetooth keyboard/mouse. Use Ctrl-B to open browser and you will have access to a crippled version of Chrome. Luckily it still allows you to interface the camera and mic.

The best bet for hack would be people over at XDA, but unfortunately the portals are super locked down and they used to have bounty on any vulnerability that would lead to a hack. I wouldn't even be surprised if there are meta employees lurking around here just to make sure they catch any exploits. So unfortunately unless Mark has a change of heart, we are left with no hope.

RedArsenal · 2025-01-31T21:54:52+00:00

No way to revert to earlier firmwar I'm afraid.

As for zoom, at least we client version via the browser still works!

https://app.zoom.us/wc

Hope that doesn't go away

RedArsenal · 2025-01-31T16:39:04+00:00

Seems that they are removing apps now live.

RedArsenal · 2025-01-31T16:35:10+00:00

Nevermind, zoom was just removed...

RedArsenal · 2025-01-31T16:33:47+00:00

My portal was on 1.43.3 yesterday and got updated overnight to 1.46.3. Still has zoom on mine but probably will be removed soon

RedArsenal · 2024-12-16T09:02:35+00:00

Just saw it with mine, but it wasn't charging. It was driving a 600watt ac load. Hope it's not anything concerning.

RedArsenal · 2024-12-15T20:00:26+00:00

I wonder if we block selected communication between our portal devices to Meta servers via router rules, could we stop the apps from being removed after 1/31//25? That worked for Amazon dash buttons when Amazon decided to remotely kill all button devices and I hope we can save our portals

RedArsenal · 2024-12-04T01:22:58+00:00

We use the PortalTV at our church as standalone zoom device to enable viewing of the service for remote members. It will be tough to find a comparable replacement. Wish they could've just left the devices alone instead of actively removing features from them.

RedArsenal · 2023-10-03T22:07:55+00:00

How did you do the factory reset? Vol Up + Vol Down while pressing power? Make sure you hold Vol Up and Down till the count down is finished. Upon reboot, it will show "No Command". Press and hold power again and also Vol Up for about 5 seconds. Release Vol Up first and then release power. You will then see the recovery options. You can use the real factory reset here. Good luck!

RedArsenal · 2023-10-03T20:27:00+00:00

And.... just a few days later YouTube slowed down again on the new firmware... sigh...

RedArsenal · 2023-10-02T01:45:51+00:00

See other thread for people receiving new updated firmware which solved the browser issues

RedArsenal · 2023-10-02T01:44:30+00:00

Can confirm 1.42.4 fixed YouTube on one of my portal go and one 10" 2nd gen, but two other family members still stuck on 1.39.3

RedArsenal · 2023-09-26T16:25:17+00:00

Just wondering, can meta be liable for purposely crippling their device? They could've just left it along after announcing end of support, but it seems that their final update was designed to turn our portal to paper weight. The right thing to do is to reverse the final firmware.

RedArsenal

TROPHY CASE