Commissioning a WinCC Unified Comfort Panel is one of the last and most critical steps in completing an HMI project. A smooth commissioning process ensures secure communication, reliable runtime behavior, and a system prepared for long-term operation.
In this guide, we walk through the essential steps for downloading, configuring, and commissioning a WinCC Unified Comfort Panel using Siemens TIA Portal. You will learn how to set network parameters, configure users and security, enable encrypted transfers, and successfully load your project to the device. As Siemens Solutions Partners, we also provide tips for common commissioning tasks to save time and prevent headaches in the field.
All example screenshots were captured using TIA Portal V20 and an MTP700 Unified Comfort Panel (6AV2 128-3GB06-0AX1), but the same concepts apply across the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel family.
Pre-requisites
Before you begin commissioning, your system must meet certain prerequisites. For instance, your TIA Portal project must be set up with the appropriate hardware, network connections, and screens developed, and your WinCC Unified Comfort Panel must be powered on. Here is how you download your project and commission your WinCC Unified Comfort Panel.
Change IP Address
On the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel, go to Network and Internet, then Network settings. Here, select the port you wish to set the IP address for, then select Specify an IP address. Enter your desired IP address and subnet mask and click the Set IP address button.
Configure Users
To configure users, go to “Security settings” > “Users and roles” in the TIA Portal project tree. From there, create an administrator user, set a password, and assign it all roles. To learn more about Users and roles, see a previous guide about setting up basic user profiles for WinCC Unified Runtime, here.
Configure Encrypted Transfer
An encrypted transfer ensures secure download of project files to your WinCC Unified Comfort Panel. On the panel, navigate to Service and commissioning > Transfer. Enable the Enable transfer checkbox and create a password.
In TIA Portal, go to Runtime settings under your HMI. In the General section, enable the Activate encrypted transfer checkbox and enter the same password that you created on your WinCC Unified Comfort Panel.
Download to the Unified Comfort Panel
Finally, it is time to download your developed screens and configured TIA Portal project to the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel. To do so, click on your HMI in the Project tree, then click the Download button in the toolbar. This opens the Extended download to device window.
From here, set the Type of PG/PC Interface to PN/IE, and the PG/PC Interface to your network adapter, and click Start search. If you do not see your device, you can see all compatible devices by selecting the drop-down menu above the table of possible target devices and choosing Show all compatible devices. When you see your HMI appear in the table, select it and click Load.
In the Load preview window, select Full download and click Load. Check to ensure that the option to download all users and authentication settings is selected. If successful, you should then see your TIA Portal screens loaded onto the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel!
Trusting the PLC Communication Certificate
By default, the Only allow secure PG/PC and HMI communication setting in your TIA Portal project for your PLC is enabled. Enabling this means that during the download of your TIA Portal Project to the PLC and HMI, a PLC communication certificate will be automatically generated and transferred to your WinCC Unified Comfort Panel. But this PLC communication certificate needs to be trusted by completing the following steps.
Go to Security>Certificates on the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel. In the Certificate store dropdown menu, select Other Certificates. Here you should see your certificate, and press Trust. Then, restart the HMI runtime software.
Additional Settings to Apply to Your HMI Panel
Beyond core commissioning steps, there are a handful of additional settings that can be helpful for further improving system reliability and maintainability. While they aren’t required for every project, these settings are commonly used to help reduce downtime, manage system access, and recover information and settings in the event of outages or reboots. Consider the settings below as they apply to your unique project requirements. Storage Device Set Up
Storage Device Set Up
When commissioning a WinCC Unified Comfort Panel, it is often recommended to activate the Automatic Backup option. This will ensure that the HMI device’s data is backed up to the storage device. If the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel becomes inoperable, you can simply purchase a replacement and insert it into the new HMI to resume operation.
To do this, slot in a SIMATIC HMI Memory (SD) Card into the X50 SYSTEM slot of the Unified Comfort Panel. Note, the system memory card of the comfort panel must be a SIMATIC HMI Memory Card.
Slotting in the storage device will cause a System memory card plugged dialog window to pop up. Click OK. This takes you to the settings Service and Commissioning/ Automatic Backup screen.
Here, click the Start button, and OK in the Start automatic backup dialog window to activate Automatic Backups. Once preparation is complete, the Status box will display automatic backup active.
Restrict Control Panel Access
To limit access to certain system settings, go to Security and Control panel access on the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel and click the checkbox to Enable password protection for control panel. This option requires a user with proper access to log in to use the WinCC Control panel, reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized changes.
Automatic Runtime Start
To set a delay time before the automatic start of a project, click the icon with a wrench and a play button. This will open the Runtime Properties page. Locate the Automatic runtime start section and select a time from the “Waiting time(s)” dropdown menu. This is a very helpful setting to allow for some time before the automatic start to access the control panel.
Enable Smart Server Access
Enabling Smart Server Access allows VNC access to the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel.
To enable this setting in TIA Portal, go to Runtime settings, > Remote Access, > Smart Server. Click the Enable Smart Server checkbox. You must then configure unique passwords for each User1 and User2.
If you wish to allow a user with that password to access the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel, click the Authorize User# for remote access to the panel checkbox. Upon your next download, the Smart Server will be enabled on the WinCC Unified Comfort Panel.
Firmware updates
Depending on the panel and the version of TIA Portal you are using, you may need to update the device firmware prior to commissioning. If this is the case, follow these steps:
- It can be helpful to connect to the maintenance port on the HMI (PN-X2).
- Right-click the HMI in the Project Tree while the device is offline. Go to HMI device maintenance and select Update operating system.
- TIA Portal will now prompt you to connect to the HMI via ethernet. Enter the IP address of the PN-X2 port. A pop-up with a progress bar should appear on the HMI, and a pop-up will appear on TIA Portal stating the firmware is being transferred.
Date and time
Operators can also set a date and time on their panel by clicking the world icon in the sidebar menu. This will open the Language, Region and Formats/Date and time UI, allowing you to set your local date and time.
Synchronizing Time
If the clocks between the HMI and PLC are not synchronized, HMI communication may be limited or blocked. If the HMI still cannot read tags from the PLC after following the steps above, first ensure the correct time zone is selected for the PLC. Then check the clock on the PLC through Online and Diagnostics. Under Functions > Set Time, select Take from PG/PC Interface to synchronize the PLC with your PC.
Conclusion
Commissioning a WinCC Unified Comfort Panel is about more than getting screens to load. Proper network configuration, security settings, and runtime behavior all play a critical role in building a reliable, maintainable HMI system. By taking the time to configure encrypted transfers, user access, certificates, and startup behavior correctly, you set your system up for long-term success in the field.
Whether you are bringing a new HMI online, modernizing an existing system, or troubleshooting communication and security challenges, we can support you at any stage of the project. Partner with DMC to streamline your Siemens automation efforts and commission your systems with confidence.
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