Video holds attention in a way a static image does not, and it is the most forgiving content to deploy, because the file is downloaded to the device before it plays.
That means no buffering, no dependence on connection quality, and playback that carries on if the network drops mid-rotation.
Formats
MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, MPG and MPEG, WebM, OGG, FLV, M4V, WMV, and ASF.
YouTube and Vimeo URLs work too: paste the video page URL instead of downloading the file.
You do not need to transcode
Screenly re-encodes video centrally on upload, so one file serves a fleet mixing Screenly players, Player Max devices, and Screenly Anywhere screens.
Upload what your camera or editor produced. There is no codec check to do and no need for a version per device.
Encoding for best results
If you are producing video specifically for signage:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920x1080 |
| Frame rate | 30 fps maximum |
| Codec | h264, profile high, level 4.1 |
| Quality | CRF 20 |
| Audio | MP3 |
Anything outside this still plays. Performance varies more by device.
Duration
A video plays for its own length, and that cannot be edited. It is the one content type whose duration you do not set.
A video showing no duration in the library never finished processing. Delete it and upload it again.
4K
4K needs both halves: a device that can do 4K, meaning a Player Max, and a Business or Enterprise plan.
Upgrading the plan does not make a 1080p device show 4K, and a Player Max on Starter still plays at 1080p. See Plans for Screenly.
Size
There is no file size limit, but a large file takes longer to reach every device on its first sync. Compressing before upload usually costs nothing visible on a display and saves real time across a fleet.