Playing video from YouTube and Vimeo

You play video from YouTube or Vimeo by adding a video app under Files > New > New app. There are four apps: YouTube, YouTube Playlist, YouTube Channel, and Vimeo. In the app, you paste the address of the video, playlist, or channel.

Adding a video app

  1. Go to Files in the sidebar.
  2. Click New and choose New app.
  3. Choose the app that matches your source.
  4. Paste the address and set the options.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Put the app on a screen with Send to screen, or put it in a playlist or schedule.

YouTube

Plays a single YouTube video.

  • YouTube URL: the address of the video, from youtube.com or youtu.be
  • Loop: the video starts over when it ends, on by default
  • Captions: show subtitles, off by default
  • Start time (sec): start further into the video, in seconds
  • End time (sec): stop earlier, in seconds

YouTube playlist

Plays a whole YouTube playlist.

  • URL: the address of the playlist
  • Loop: the playlist starts over when it ends, on by default
  • Shuffle: play videos in random order, off by default
  • Captions: show subtitles, off by default

YouTube channel

Plays the newest videos from a channel.

  • URL: the address of the channel
  • Max videos: how many videos get included, 10 by default, 1 to 50
  • Loop: start over after the last video, on by default
  • Captions: show subtitles, off by default

Vimeo

Plays a single Vimeo video.

  • URL: the address of the Vimeo video
  • Loop: the video starts over when it ends, on by default
  • Autoplay: start playing on its own, on by default

What doesn't work

Screenbird supports YouTube and Vimeo. Live streams over HLS (.m3u8) and camera feeds over RTSP cannot be played.

If you have your own video file, upload it as a file instead of using one of these apps. See Uploading files.

The video doesn't play

  • Check that the video is public or shareable through a link. Private videos and videos with playback restrictions won't work.
  • Check that the address matches the app you picked: a playlist address won't work in the single-video app.
  • If the video sits on a channel that blocks playback on other websites, the screen stays black. Use a different video in that case.

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