The fastest way to make a kiosk or signage display turn on and off automatically at set times is to use the display’s built-in On/Off timer, found in the same settings menu as picture and sound. For a single screen, this alone is usually enough — no extra hardware or software required.
This matters more than it sounds: leaving a display on 24/7 shortens panel life, wastes electricity overnight, and on some panel types risks image retention if the same content sits static for hours. A schedule that matches your actual operating hours avoids all of that with no daily manual effort.
Step 1: Set the display’s own On/Off timer
Most commercial displays and smart TVs include this feature out of the box.
- Step 1: Open the settings menu using the remote or the buttons on the display itself.
- Step 2: Look under “Power” or “Timer” for an option called “On Timer / Off Timer.”
- Step 3: Set the on and off times for each day of the week and save.
- Step 4: Let it run for a full day and confirm the screen actually turns on and off as scheduled.
Step 2: Add a power schedule in your signage CMS
If you’re managing screens across multiple stores or locations, relying on each display’s local timer means visiting or remotely accessing every unit just to check the setting. A signage CMS with a built-in power schedule solves this from one dashboard.
- Step 1: Open your CMS admin and go to the list of screens or players.
- Step 2: Select a store or a group of screens and open “Power Schedule” or “Operating Hours.”
- Step 3: Enter on/off times to match store hours, adjusting by day of week or by location as needed.
- Step 4: Save, then confirm from the dashboard that each screen’s power state changes on schedule.
Why you want both, not just one
The display’s own timer keeps working even after a power outage or reboot, acting as a fallback that doesn’t depend on network connectivity. The CMS schedule, on the other hand, gives you remote control to adjust hours instantly across every location without touching a single screen in person. Running both together protects against a screen staying on overnight or missing opening time if one system fails, while also extending panel life and cutting electricity costs across every location you manage.
As the number of storefronts grows, manually turning screens on and off stops being realistic. Managing power schedules centrally from a signage dashboard means store hours can change, or a new location can open, without anyone needing to visit each screen in person.
For easier remote management of store displays, consider a signage CMS like Y-Board.