Screenshots
Seeing what a screen is actually showing, taking a fresh screenshot on demand, why a screenshot is sometimes unavailable, and how to turn capture off entirely.
ScreenlyOS screens send a screenshot about every 15 minutes. They appear as thumbnails in the screens list and full size in the Screenshot card on each screen's Overview tab, with the time it was captured under the image.
This is the only way to confirm what a display is really showing without standing in front of it. Status tells you a screen is healthy. A screenshot tells you the content is right, the rotation is right, and nothing is sitting on top of it.
A screenshot shows one moment. For a record of what actually played over time, see Proof of play.
[!NOTE] Screenly Anywhere screens do not support screenshots. The card says so rather than sitting empty.
Taking a screenshot on demand
When 15 minutes is too long to wait, such as right after you change a playlist, press Take screenshot in the Screenshot card. The screen captures what it is showing at that moment, and the new screenshot appears on the page as soon as it arrives.
It works on a screen that is online, not in privacy mode, and running ScreenlyOS 26.9.0 or newer. It also needs a live connection between the screen and Screenly, so a screen that is between connections or still starting up cannot take one yet.
If the button cannot work for a screen, pressing it says why:
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| This screen needs an update | The screen runs a ScreenlyOS version older than 26.9.0. Updates install on their own, so there is nothing to do |
| Screen isn't connected | No live connection right now. Try again once it reconnects |
Either way, the screen keeps sending its regular screenshot about every 15 minutes, and the latest one shows in the card.
When there is no image
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| No screenshots yet | The screen has not captured anything yet. Normal on a screen set up minutes ago |
| This screen is offline | With the last captured screenshot still viewable, if there is one |
| This screen is disabled | Enable it to resume playback and capture |
| This screen is protected | Privacy mode is on |
| Screenshots unavailable | A Screenly Anywhere screen, which cannot take them |
| Couldn't load screenshot | Usually temporary. Try again |
Privacy mode
Some screens should not be captured at all: one in a secure area, one showing personal data, one where a photograph of the display would itself be a disclosure.
Privacy mode, under Security and privacy on the screen's Actions tab, stops screenshots of that screen being captured or stored. It is per screen, so you can protect the few that need it without giving up visibility of the rest.
You lose the ability to check that screen remotely, which is the whole trade. Status, the Details tab, and Now playing all still work, so you still know how the screen is doing, without the picture.