> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.4cast.world/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.4cast.world/6.-configuration/autoplay.md). # Autoplay **Autoplay** turns the MVP into a sequential playback server. With one switch, the device automatically advances to the next clip in the active Configuration Slot at the end of every video or DMX clip. No triggering, no operator intervention, and no laptop required. This is the feature you reach for when: * You're running **walk-in, intermission, or pre-show ambience** and want a continuous loop of clips with zero touch. * You want a **standalone kiosk or installation** that boots, starts the show, and runs forever. * You're touring without a dedicated playback operator and need a "set it and forget it" mode. Autoplay is **per-domain**: you can enable it for Video, for Lighting, for both, or for neither. The two domains advance independently — your video clips can autoplay while your DMX clips stay on direct-trigger, or vice versa. *** ### Where to Find It 1. Click the **gear icon** in the top-right corner of any page. 2. Select **System** to open the System Settings dialog. 3. Expand the **Autoplay** panel (play-circle icon).
The panel header shows the current state at a glance — `Off`, `Video`, `Lighting`, or `Video + Lighting`. Inside the panel are two switches, **Video** and **Lighting**. Flipping either switch is applied to the device immediately; you don't need to click a separate Apply or Save button. *** ### How Autoplay Advances When a clip finishes naturally, autoplay searches for the **next non-empty assignment** in the **currently active Configuration Slot** and starts it. The advance logic is identical to the **Next** MIDI transport: * **Empty assignments are skipped.** If your active slot has clips at notes 1, 2, 4, and 7, autoplay advances 1 → 2 → 4 → 7 → 1 → 2 → ... * **Wraps within the active slot.** After the last assignment, it returns to the first. Autoplay never crosses into another slot. * **Anchored on the current clip.** If you manually triggered Note 5 mid-show, the next advance is from Note 5 — not from wherever autoplay left off the last time. If the active slot is **empty**, autoplay idles silently. It will not start anything until you add an assignment or switch to a different slot. *** ### Still Images Auto-Advance After 5 Seconds To make autoplay work for slideshows, every still image is shown for **5 seconds** and then auto-advanced to the next assignment. This duration is hardcoded. Re-triggering the same still resets the 5-second timer; manually changing to a different clip cancels the pending advance cleanly. The 5-second timer is **only active when Autoplay → Video is enabled**. With autoplay off, stills behave the way they always have: they stay on screen until you trigger something else. *** ### Boot Behavior When **Autoplay** is enabled at startup, the device skips the default video and instead starts the **first non-empty assignment** in the active Configuration Slot. This makes the MVP suitable for unattended use: connect HDMI, connect power, and the show runs. * If Autoplay → Video is on at boot, the first non-empty video assignment starts playing as soon as HDMI is detected. * If Autoplay → Lighting is on at boot, the first non-empty DMX assignment starts as soon as the artnet daemon is up. * If both are on, both start simultaneously and run independently. * If the active slot has no assignments, the device idles in blackout / black until you assign something or switch slots. *** ### Manual Triggers Do Not Disable Autoplay This is a deliberate design choice. With autoplay on, you can still: * Trigger any individual clip by MIDI note (or HID keyboard, or UI play button) * Step manually with **Prev / Next** (Notes 101 / 102) * Use the dashboard playback controls Each of these plays the clip you asked for. **Autoplay does not turn itself off** — at the next end-of-clip, the show keeps advancing from wherever you landed. *** ### Interaction with Other Features * **Prev / Next** — treated as autoplay navigation, not as a "disable autoplay" command. After stepping, autoplay continues from the new position. * **Loop Mode Override** — **autoplay wins.** Even if a clip has a per-video override set to Loop, Freeze, or Blank, autoplay advances at the natural end of the clip. Loop Mode Override only applies when autoplay is off. * **Timecode (LTC / MTC)** — autoplay is suppressed while timecode is actively driving playback. The timecode source owns the transport. When timecode stops, autoplay resumes responsibility at the next end-of-clip. * **Blackout (Note 0)** — clears the current position. Autoplay will not auto-start from blackout — trigger a clip manually (or wait for the next boot / config change) to resume sequencing. *** ### Related Pages * [MIDI Transport — Previous / Next](/5.-triggering/midi-transport-prev-next.md) — Hand-driven equivalent of Autoplay advance * [Loop Mode Override](/2.-video-setup/loop-mode-override.md) — Per-clip end-of-stream behavior (when Autoplay is off) * [Configuration Slots](/6.-configuration/configuration-slots.md) — How A–E slots organize your shows * [Timecode Overview](/4.-timecode-setup/timecode-overview.md) — How timecode interacts with manual transport