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How to Set Up Screen Operating Hours Using ScreenCloud
How to Set Up Screen Operating Hours Using ScreenCloud

This article will go through how to set up operating hours for your digital screens connected with ScreenCloud.

Updated over a month ago

1. What is the benefit of using screen operating hours?

Screen Operating Hours (also called "Space Operating Hours") is used for scheduling days and times for your screens to run. This allows organizations to set the time your screens should be on, and outside of these hours, the screens go to sleep and become inactive. The screens are still considered " Live " and online/connected in your ScreenCloud account ready to display content at your next scheduled time, but functions to keep your digital screens inactive outside of your operating hours.

This is useful for:

  • Easily coordinating operating hours for your screens

  • Managing screentime hours for any office, location, and timezone

  • Scheduling screens for any days during the week to turn inactive and sleep

  • Saving energy and resources as a low power mode for digital screens connected

You can use this feature to set operating hours specific to your Spaces managed in ScreenCloud. For example, if you have two office locations in different timezones (e.g. New York, USA, and California, USA) you can manage the operating hours independently using the spaces created for them in your account.

2. How can I schedule operating hours for my screens?

There are three ways you can set operating hours for your digital screens using this feature.

2.1. Space operating hours for teams and locations

You can set operating hours specific to the Spaces (i.e. teams) in your ScreenCloud account.

2.1.1. Get started by visiting your Account Settings in the lower left-hand corner of your ScreenCloud account.

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2.1.2. From the settings navigation, select Spaces.

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2.1.3. Select any space from your list of managed spaces. Click on the Settings option that appears in the pop-up window.

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2.1.4. You'll see an option for Operating Hours, click on the gear icon to the right.

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2.1.5. Once you've accessed the operating hours menu, click the toggle next to Enable Operating Hours to activate the feature.

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2.1.6. Next, review the days of the week and set the times you'd like for the operating hours to be set.

Please note, that this feature only sets operating hours for the specific space you're editing. This will not set operating hours for every Space across your ScreenCloud account if you're managing multiple teams, each Space requires the feature to be activated if you'd like to use it.

2.1.7. Once you're finished, click Save and you'll be asked to confirm the operating hours activated for your Space.

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2.1.8. Select Set Operating Hours from the pop-up window and now all of your screens in this space will run on the schedule set.

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Please note, that all of your screens in the space will default to Use Space's hours under the Operating Hours setting from your Screens section.

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2.2. Always on

You can set this for screens to always stay on, regardless of running content.

2.2.1. Visit your Screens section and click on any screen.

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2.2.2. While viewing a screen, visit your screen settings from the right-hand navigation to find the Operating Hours option. Click on the drop-down menu to switch the screen to Always On. This will set the screen to always stay on and no longer sync with the operating hours set up for your Space.

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2.3. Custom operating hours for a screen

You can set custom hours for any screen you'd like directly.

2.3.1. Visit your Screens section and click on any screen.

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2.3.2. While viewing a screen, visit your screen settings from the right-hand navigation to find the Operating Hours option. Click on the drop-down menu to switch the screen to Custom. This will prompt a pop-up window for you to set specific days and times of operating hours for the screen.

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2.3.3. Next, review the days of the week and set the times you'd like for the operating hours to be set. Once you're done setting your schedule, click on the Apply button and confirm your operating hours by selecting Set Operating Hours for your screen.

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2.3.4. Please note, when operating hours are activated you will receive a message on your screens that is using the feature that is in Sleep Mode. This message is to confirm that your screen is running on the operating hours' setup and will not display content outside of the selected timeframes.

Sleep Mode Example

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Operating Hours Activated Example

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3. Frequently asked questions

How do I fix a screen not turning off or that's out of sync with the operating hour schedule?
ScreenCloud works by syncing with the timezone and date you have set up on the device that you're using for digital signage. For example, if you're on GMT and set up schedules in your ScreenCloud account based on this, then your Amazon Fire TV Stick that is running the ScreenCloud app must be on the GMT timezone in order to sync properly. We recommend checking your timezone/date settings both on the device you're using to display signage and in the Screens section of your account. From here, you can adjust your "Time Zone" settings accordingly to run your content properly on the screen.

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How do Daylight Savings and other time changes affect operating hours?
When daylight saving time passes and regional times are adjusted, this can affect the timing of your schedules or content displaying properly for signage. Please review your timezone/date settings on the device you're using as the time shift can cause your operation hours to sync incorrectly.

What if operation hours are not activated for a certain day?
If you activate operating hours for space or screen, any day left inactive will keep the screen remaining asleep until the next scheduled day has been reached.

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How can I turn off operating hours?
You can turn your operating hours from Space or Screen settings. For example, if you'd like to turn off or make changes to operating hours for your Los Angeles, CA, USA location, visit "Settings" while editing the space. If you'd like to turn it off for a screen, visit your "Screens" and switch the drop-down menu to "Always on".

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