Start a live show
This works in projects saved in Studio. Anyone with the code can come in, so on a project that isn’t public, only the project’s owner can go live.
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Open the Live dialog
In the editor’s top bar, click Live, just left of Remote. In a narrow window it’s in the More (⋯) menu. Opening the dialog doesn’t start anything.
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Go live
Click Go live. “You’re live.” appears, and the dialog shows a QR, the address to join at, and a six-character code. A dot lights up on Live in the top bar.
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Let your audience in
Have your audience scan the QR in the dialog with their phone cameras. If they can’t scan it, they open s.show/play on the phone and enter the code. They’re in as soon as all six characters are in, with no sign-in. You can also click Copy link and send the address in a chat. How many have joined shows next to Audience at the bottom of the dialog.
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Start presenting
Click Start the show. The dialog closes and the show starts from the first scene. The triangle-shaped Play from this scene button or the F5 key starts it too. Your audience’s phones follow the scenes and animation you advance through.
Your audience’s screens
Your audience’s phones show the scene you’re presenting, fitted to the screen, with “Live · presenter’s name” at the top center. If someone advances on their own, following stops, and Return to live starts it again. The × button next to it, Stop following, stops following altogether. Notes never go to the audience.
Their screens follow while Share live with viewers is on in Play Settings. It’s on from the start; turn it off, and screens don’t move even in a live show (Play settings).
On a phone held upright, words under the scene say what’s happening. While following, they show where the show is, like “Scene 2 / 5”, and “When the presenter moves on, so does this screen.” The other states are in the table below. On a wide screen with no room under the scene, a short line at the top center says it instead.
| What they see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Connecting… | The phone is joining the live show. After 15 seconds it reads “The connection is slow.”, and meanwhile they can go through it on their own. |
| Starting soon | They’re in, but the show hasn’t started yet. Once it starts, this screen moves with it. |
| Waiting | The show they were following has ended. When the presenter starts presenting again, they follow again. |
| You can’t see the presenter’s scene yet. | The scene the presenter is showing isn’t in the project the audience received. When the presenter moves to another scene, they follow again. |
| The live show has ended. | The presenter ended the live show, or 12 hours have passed. For a new live show, they tap Enter a code and enter the new code on the screen. |
| All audience seats are taken. | A project has up to 1,000 seats for people watching. Meanwhile they can go through it on their own, and tap Try again in a moment. The Live dialog shows “Some people couldn’t join: every seat is taken.” |
| The live show disconnected. | The phone couldn’t get back to the live show. They can go through it on their own, or tap Enter a code and enter it again. |
Show the code again for latecomers
When you start presenting on the first scene, a “Follow along on your phone” card appears at the bottom right of the presentation screen, with the QR, the address, and the code, so people can scan it right away. The card shows only while the live show is on, and it goes away when you leave that scene. Coming back to the first scene doesn’t bring it back.
If someone comes in late, press the Q key during the show. The card appears on the current scene; press it again to take it down.
When you present with Presenter view, the top bar of the Presenter view window shows the audience count, like “Live · 12 watching”, and a Show QR button. In the Presenter view window, click Show QR in place of the Q key. The card shows only in the audience window, never in the Presenter view window’s preview, so check whether the button looks pressed.
New code
If the code has spread where it shouldn’t, click New code in the Live dialog, then New code again in “Change the code?”. The current code, the QR, and any link you sent stop working, and the audience already in keeps watching.
A link you copied with Copy link works until the live show ends or you make a new code. Copying it doesn’t change the code.
Paused, and live again
If you leave the live show on and don’t present for 30 minutes, it pauses. The code and the audience stay, and Live in the top bar shows a ring in place of the dot.
When the host starts presenting, the live show goes live again by itself, and “You’re live again.” appears. Click End live show in that message to end it. In full screen, the message doesn’t show. To go live again without presenting, click Resume live in the Live dialog.
The host is whoever went live. People editing with you see “Name is hosting this live show.” in their Live dialog and can take it over with Take over. Only the host’s presentation reaches the audience.
End the live show
Ending your presentation leaves the live show on, and “Your live show is still on.” appears. Click End live show in that message or in the Live dialog, then once more in “End the live show?”.
The code and the QR stop working for good, and the audience’s screens read “The live show has ended.” Screens your audience already opened stay. Even if you don’t end it, a live show ends by itself 12 hours after it started.
Send cameras to your audience
If a scene has a camera stream, the cameras that are on reach your audience’s screens too during a live show. They go out only while this service’s administrator has sending to the audience turned on, and your audience hears the sound once they tap Unmute. Send to a live show’s audience has the details.
While you’re live, anyone with the code can see every scene
While the live show is on, anyone with the code or the QR sees this project with no sign-in, whatever its play access. Notes are never sent. If the code has spread, click New code, and end the live show when you’re done.
Projector · remote · play link
The Live dialog is fine on a projector. Your audience can only watch, so you can show the dialog’s QR and code on the big screen. It closes by itself when the show starts.
To advance from your phone. Your audience’s screens move along when you advance with the Phone remote too. The code in the Remote dialog is for advancing the show, so keep it from your audience.
To have people follow by link alone. People with the play link open follow your show too (Present remotely with a link). Only a live show sends them the scene’s cameras, though.
Shortcuts on this page
| Play from the Beginning | F5 |
|---|---|
| Live QR on or off | Q |
| End the presentation | esc |
Updated 10/24/2026