# Show something else now, such as an urgent notice

An override puts other content on a display right away, for 30 minutes, an hour, a day, or until you end it. The program stays untouched and takes over again when the override ends.

> **Type:** guide
> **For:** anyone who needs to show something else on a display at short notice, such as a notice, an announcement, or a closure
> **Prerequisite:** the Owner or Manager role, and the content that should run: a program, a scene, a playlist, or a media file
> **Where in the portal:** **Displays** › display › **Program** › **Show something else now**

## Steps

### Start an override

1. Open **Displays**, choose the display, and switch to the **Program** tab.
2. In the **Show something else now** card, click **Choose content**.
3. Under **What should run now?**, choose a program, a scene, a playlist, or a media file.
4. Under **For how long?**, choose **30 minutes**, **1 hour**, **1 day**, or **Permanent**. Below it, the card shows when the override ends.
5. Click **Start override**. The portal confirms with **Override is running**.

![The Program tab of a display: below the Program card is the Show something else now card with the Choose content button (1), the For how long? setting with the four spans (2), and the Start override button (3), which takes effect only once content is chosen](/programs/bilder/985e2d3b-override-card.png)

### End an override

Open the display's **Program** tab. The card is now called **Override is running**. Click **End override**, and the program takes over again at once. An override with a time limit ends on its own, a permanent one only when you end it.

![The red-bordered Override is running card in the Program tab: the Override badge above the name of the chosen content (1), the Runs until line with the end time (2), the Set by you on line (3), and the End override button (4)](/programs/bilder/dd940fed-override-running.png)

> **Caution:** While an override runs, nothing else applies on that display, not even an off-air time. Choose a time limit whenever you can, so a forgotten override doesn't run for days.

## Reach several displays at once

An override applies to one display. To show a notice on several displays at once, use the program they share. Add a **One-off only** program entry for today, from now until the notice should end. A one-off entry beats every recurring entry, so it appears on every display that runs the program. See [Show content at specific times](/programs/create-program-entry).

> **Tip:** Prepare a scene for urgent notices in advance, such as "Closed today" with your logo. In an emergency, you then only need to choose it.

## Check the result

- The **Override is running** card shows the content, **Runs until …** or **Permanent — until you end it.**, and who set it when.
- On the **Overview** tab, the display names **Override** as the source of what it shows.
- The timeline on the **Program** tab shows the override above the program entries and the base program. **Show composition** reveals the layers.

## If something goes wrong

| Symptom | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The card says **Part of a video wall** | The video wall decides what its displays show. | Follow **Go to the video wall** and change the content there, see [Set up a video wall](/displays/create-video-wall). |
| **Start override** is grayed out | No content is chosen, or your role doesn't allow it. | Choose content first. Otherwise ask someone with the Owner or Manager role. |
| **Setting the override failed** | Saving didn't go through. | Reload the page and start the override again. |
| An override has been running for days | It was set to **Permanent**. | Click **End override**. |
| The display doesn't change | The device hasn't loaded the change yet. | Wait a moment, or send **Reload content**, see [Remote maintenance: send commands to a display](/displays/remote-maintenance). |

## Related

- [How does a display decide what to play?](/programs/about-programs)
- [Assign a program to a display](/displays/assign-program)
- [Check what a display is showing now and will show today](/displays/check-now-playing)