Sky viewing card help

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Your Sky box might not have the latest software version, so you’ll need to carry out a manual update before you activate your card.

Carry out a manual software update

Make sure your Sky box and any other connected devices, such as your TV, are switched off at the mains.

Press and hold the backup button on your Sky box, located on the front panel.

While still holding down backup, turn your Sky box on at the mains.

Continue to hold backup for up to 30 seconds until you see all four lights on the box’s front panel turn on.

If all four lights don’t appear, repeat from step 1.

If they still don’t appear, there may be a fault with your Sky box so you’ll need to contact us.

Release backup, reconnect any other connected devices and switch them back on.

You may see the onscreen message "Updating System Software" on your TV.

The software download takes up to 10 minutes and once it’s finished, your box will switch to standby.

Once your box is on standby, wait for at least three minutes, then press sky on your Sky remote to switch your box back on. A green light on the front panel means it’s successfully turned on.

You can now activate your viewing card.

Now that you've completed a software update, you can activate your viewing card either online or via the My Sky app.

Activate your viewing card online:

  1. Insert your card into the slot on the front of your Sky box
  2. Press services on your Sky remote, select Settings, and then Details. Make a note of your Sky box Version Number, 10 or 11-digit Serial Number, 9-digit Viewing Card Number, and Receiver ID.
  3. Sign into https://activatemychannels.sky.com/activate with your SkyID
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions, entering the details you made a note of earlier

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Card activation usually takes a few minutes, but can sometimes take up to four hours. Make sure that your Sky box remains connected and switched on until your channels are active.

Once you can watch live TV on channel 106, your card's been activated.

Activate your viewing card in the My Sky app:

  1. Insert your card into the slot on the front of your Sky box
  2. Press services on your Sky remote, select Settings, and then Details. Make a note of your Sky box Version Number, 10 or 11-digit Serial Number, 9-digit Viewing Card Number, and Receiver ID.
  3. Sign into the My Sky app with your SkyID
  4. Select Manage account, then TV followed by TV settings
  5. Select Activate next to Activate card and follow the on-screen instructions, entering the details you made a note of earlier.

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Card activation usually takes a few minutes, but can sometimes take up to four hours. Make sure that your Sky box remains connected and switched on until your channels are active.

Once you can watch live TV on channel 106, your card's been activated.