Host writes and clears
Only the private Host workspace opens the message drawer and controls its text, size, color, and removal.
Display message
Put the next cue beside the live timer.
Write one short public instruction from Host, choose its emphasis, and show it with the active timer. A room-wide Display Message helps speakers, the production team, and the shared screen follow the next live moment without stopping the clock.
Updated August 10, 2026 · About 4 minutes to read
A Display Message is a room-wide cue, not a private note.
Use it for the one instruction the room should understand now: a next-speaker prompt, a Q&A reminder, or a return-to-seat cue. It is visible in shared timing views, remains in place until Host changes or clears it, and does not pause, reset, or otherwise control the active timer.
Display message workflow
Show the cue, keep the timer moving, then clear the screen.
- STEP 01
Open Room Display Message from Host
Keep Host on the device operated by the person running the session. In the active timer area, open Room Display Message. This control creates one room-wide message; it is not available from a shared Display, Speaker, Moderator, or Agenda link.
Message controls stay with the Host operator, alongside the active timer controls.
- STEP 02
Write one short, public cue
Write a message that people can act on at a glance, such as Q&A opens in 2 minutes or Next speaker: please be ready. Messages support up to 80 characters. Treat this as a public room cue, not a private note: anyone with the relevant shared timing view can read it.
The Host drawer shows the character count, four size choices, six color tones, and a live preview before the message is shown. - STEP 03
Choose size and color for the moment
Choose S, M, L, or XL according to the viewing distance, then select default, green, amber, red, blue, or white for emphasis. Color supports the cue; it does not change the timer state or pause the session. Keep the visual choice simple enough that the wording remains the instruction.
Size establishes readability. Color adds emphasis but should not be the only way people understand the cue.
- STEP 04
Show it and check the receiving view
Select Show, then check the screen the room is actually using. The room-wide message appears alongside the active timer in Display View and is also visible in the Speaker and Moderator views. The timer continues running as before, so the cue adds context without changing the clock.
Display View keeps the timer visible while carrying one concise room-wide cue. - STEP 05
Clear or replace the message when the moment passes
Use Clear from Host as soon as the instruction is no longer useful, or update the text for the next live moment. A room message remains active across timer changes until Host changes or clears it, so clearing stale instructions is part of running a clean shared display.
A room-wide message persists until the Host removes or replaces it, even when the active timer changes.
Who sees what
One operator writes. The relevant timing views receive it.
Display carries the public cue
The shared screen shows the message beside the active timer without exposing editing or control tools.
Speaker and Moderator receive it
The same room-wide cue is visible to the presenter and production monitor along with their timing context.
Writing a live cue
Make the message useful from a distance.
A good cue names one action or one immediate change. It is readable in seconds, works for the full room, and can disappear once the action has passed.
Write an action, not an essay
Good
Next speaker: please be ready
Avoid
We will soon move into the next portion of today's program, so please begin preparing now.
Keep one message for the whole room
Good
Q&A opens in 2 minutes
Avoid
Speaker 2: use the left lectern. Producer: roll the next slide. Audience: return to seats.
Use only public information
Good
Please return to your seats
Avoid
Call Alex at 555-0100 or use the backstage Wi-Fi password.
Before the session starts
A fast message check.
- The Host operator opened Room Display Message from the private Host workspace.
- The message is short, public, and useful to everyone who can see the shared timing view.
- Its size is readable from the real viewing distance and the wording remains clear without relying on color alone.
- Display, Speaker, or Moderator View has been checked after the message is shown.
- A stale message will be cleared or replaced before the next live instruction is needed.
FAQ
Common Display Message questions
How long can a Display Message be?
A Display Message can contain up to 80 characters. In practice, use as few words as possible so a speaker, audience, or stage team can understand it from the shared screen without stopping to read.
Which PresentationTimer views show the room message?
Host can preview and control the room message. Display View shows it beside the active timer, while Speaker and Moderator views show the same room-wide cue in their timing context. Agenda View remains focused on the run of show rather than acting as the message surface.
Does showing a message pause or reset the timer?
No. A Display Message adds context beside the active timer. It does not start, pause, reset, select, or adjust the timer, and it does not change the active agenda item.
Does the message disappear when I switch to another timer?
No. The message belongs to the Room, so it stays active across timer changes until Host replaces it or selects Clear. Remove it after the instruction has passed so the next audience does not see a stale cue.
Can I use a Display Message for private producer notes?
No. It is a room-wide cue visible in shared timing views. Keep sensitive details, private contact information, credentials, or role-specific backstage instructions out of the message.
Can I change the message size and color?
Yes. Host offers four sizes and six color tones. Choose the size for readability first, then use color as extra emphasis rather than as the only way people can understand the instruction.
Next steps
Use one Room to keep the timer and the cue aligned.
Host View
Keep display-message controls private with the person running the timer Room.
Learn moreDisplay View
Set up the shared screen that carries the timer and room-wide message.
Learn moreConference Timer
Use public timing cues during live handoffs, speaker changes, and audience transitions.
Learn more