# Verify your screen is playing


> Check the screen's status, confirm it is in sync, and see what it is showing right now without standing in front of it.
Your playlist is assigned. The last step is confirming it actually arrived, which you can do from the dashboard without going anywhere near the display.

## Check the status

Open **Screens**. Your screen should show two things:

- Online, meaning it is reachable and checking in.
- In sync, meaning it has downloaded everything currently assigned to it.

Online and in sync together mean the screen has your playlist and is playing it.

Here is what each status means and what to do about it:

| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Reachable and checking in normally | Nothing |
| Out of sync | Reachable, still downloading | Wait. Large video takes longer |
| Offline | Not checking in | See [common setup issues](/docs/get-started/troubleshooting/setup-issues/) |
| Inactive | Disabled, and not using a license | Re-enable it to bring it back |

> [!NOTE]
> Out of sync is not an error. A screen that was given new content moments ago is expected to sit there briefly while it downloads. It keeps playing its previous content throughout.

## See what it is showing

Status tells you the screen is healthy. To confirm it is showing the right thing, take a remote screenshot.

1. Open the screen in the dashboard.
2. Request a screenshot. The device captures what is on the display and sends the image back, so you can confirm your content is up, correctly oriented, and not sitting behind an error.

This is the fastest way to check a screen in another building, and the only way that does not depend on someone being there to look.

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Remote screenshots can be turned off per device with Privacy Mode, for screens that display sensitive information. If screenshots are unavailable on a screen, check whether Privacy Mode is enabled on it.

## If something is wrong

A few things are worth checking before you go digging:

If the screen is online but showing nothing, the playlist is probably not reaching it. Check that the screen you picked, or the label you used, matches what is on the playlist.

If the content is stretched or has black bars, its shape does not match the display's. Change the screen's scaling setting, or re-export the content to match.

If the screen never came online at all, work through [common setup issues](/docs/get-started/troubleshooting/setup-issues/).

## You are set up

That is the full loop: a workspace, a connected screen, content, a playlist, and an assignment joining the last two together. Everything else in Screenly is a deeper version of one of those steps.

Where to go next depends on what you are doing:

- Curious what else the product does: [What you can do with Screenly](/docs/get-started/overview/features/).
- Putting live data on screen: browse the [App Store](/apps/).
- Choosing a plan before the trial ends: [Plans for Screenly](/docs/get-started/plans/plans-for-screenly/).