# Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the questions people ask most, before they start and once their displays are running. Each answer links to the page with the details.

> **Type:** reference
> **For:** anyone who uses Szenera or is thinking about it
> **Prerequisite:** none
> **Where in the portal:** **Help**

## Getting started

### Can I try Szenera first?

Yes. The trial runs for 30 days with one display and the full Pro package, without payment details and without becoming a contract. See [Packages, trial, and what you pay for](/billing/about-packages-and-seats).

### Do I need a player, or can I use my TV?

Today, every display runs as a web display: a TV, computer, or tablet with a current browser opens the display's address. The Szenera players are announced and come with automatic updates and remote maintenance once they can be ordered. See [Which hardware do you need?](/devices/choose-hardware).

### Which TVs work?

Any TV or monitor with a free HDMI input works with a player. For a web display, the TV needs a browser that can run the display software, roughly from model year 2020. A TV built for all-day use lasts longer and doesn't switch itself off. See [Which hardware do you need?](/devices/choose-hardware).

### How long does setting up a display take?

About 15 minutes for the first one: connect the device, pair it with the code it shows, and assign content. See [Your first display in 15 minutes](/getting-started/first-display).

## Displays and hardware

### What counts as a display?

Every TV or monitor that the platform drives. A video wall of four TVs counts as four, and a player that drives two TVs counts as two. See [Packages, trial, and what you pay for](/billing/about-packages-and-seats).

### Can a display hang in portrait?

Yes. Set the orientation on the display's **Screen** tab, and design your content in portrait. See [Set up the TV for all-day use](/devices/tv-settings).

### Can the displays switch off at night?

Yes, in two ways. An off-air time in the program keeps the display blank while the device keeps running. With the Pro package, a player can also put the TV into standby. See [Schedule off-air time](/programs/schedule-off-air).

### What happens during an internet outage?

The displays keep playing, because content, media, and apps are stored on the device. When the network returns, the device fetches the latest state by itself. See [What happens when the network goes down?](/getting-started/about-network-outages).

### What happens after a power cut?

A player starts by itself and shows what it should. A TV comes back only if it is set to switch on after a power cut. See [Set up the TV for all-day use](/devices/tv-settings).

### What if a device fails?

Every player comes with a 12-month warranty. Your content, programs, and settings are stored in the platform, so a replacement device is paired in a minute and shows the same as before. See [Re-pair, reset, remove, or report a device as lost](/devices/device-lifecycle).

### Can I install my own software on a player?

No. The player is a closed device that runs only Szenera. Other content you show as a web page or through an app. See [Web page](/apps/webpage).

## Content and scheduling

### Which files can I upload?

Images as JPEG, PNG, WebP, or SVG, videos as MP4 or WebM, and documents as PDF. There is no limit per file, only a shared storage pool. See [File types, sizes, and storage](/content/file-types-and-storage).

### Can I use designs from Canva or PowerPoint?

Yes. Export them as images, a video, or a PDF, and upload the file. See [Work with Canva, PowerPoint, and Google Slides](/content/external-design-tools).

### Do videos play with sound?

Videos from your library play without sound. For sound, use the YouTube or Live stream app. See [A video stutters or doesn't play](/help/video-playback).

### How fast do changes reach the displays?

Usually within seconds, as soon as you publish or assign. A display that is offline catches up when it is back online. See [Check what a display is showing now and will show today](/displays/check-now-playing).

### Can different displays show different content?

Yes. Each display gets its own program, or displays that should show the same share one. See [Create a program](/programs/create-program).

### How do I show an urgent notice right away?

On a single display, use **Show something else now**. For several displays at once, add a one-off program entry to the program they share. See [Show something else now, such as an urgent notice](/programs/start-override).

### Is a blank display with “Off air” a fault?

No. Someone planned an off-air time in the program, and the display shows when playback resumes. See [Schedule off-air time](/programs/schedule-off-air).

### Are apps updated automatically?

Updates that ask for nothing new arrive by themselves. An update that asks for new permissions waits for the Owner to accept it. See [When an app update is waiting for your decision](/apps/app-update-decision).

## Team and account

### Can several people work in the portal?

Yes. Invite your team and give each person a role: Owner, Manager, or Member. See [Invite members and decide on join requests](/organization/invite-members).

### Can we see who changed what?

Yes. The **Change log** records every action with time and person. See [Read and export the change log](/organization/read-change-log).

### Is the portal available in English?

Yes, the portal and the display software come in English and German. Each person chooses the language in their own account. See [My account: profile, time zone, theme, and language](/organization/my-account).

## Contract and data

### Can I change the package later?

At any time. An upgrade applies right away and is billed pro rata for the rest of the period. A downgrade is credited on the next invoice. See [Change your contract: displays, package, add-ons](/billing/change-contract).

### Is there a minimum term?

Not with monthly payment, which you can cancel at the end of any period. The annual contract runs twelve months and costs less. See [Cancel the contract or delete the organization](/billing/cancel-or-delete).

### What happens to our content if we cancel?

Playback ends at the end of the paid period, and your content stays available for another 30 days. Deleting the organization removes everything for good. See [Cancel the contract or delete the organization](/billing/cancel-or-delete).

### Where is our data stored?

On servers in Germany, with encrypted connections to the devices. A data processing agreement under Article 28 GDPR is part of every contract. The binding details are in the contract documents in the footer of the website.

## Related

- [Troubleshooting: where to start](/help/troubleshooting)
- [How does Szenera work?](/getting-started/about-szenera)
- [Support: where to turn and what to send](/help/support)
