--- title: "Autoplay a demo" slug: "/help/demos/edit/structure/autoplay" last_updated: "2026-04-15T19:29:20Z" zendesk_id: 32068509108115 zendesk_url: "https://help.walnut.io/hc/en-us/articles/32068509108115-Autoplaying-Demos" locale: "en-us" category: "Explore Walnut " section: "Glow Up Your Demos ✨" product: "demos" topic: "edit/structure" displayed_sidebar: "demosSidebar" sidebar_position: 24 tags: ["guided demos","settings","autoplay","autoplay guides","autoplay screens","non-guided demos","hybrid demos","unguided demos","blog link"] --- ## **Overview** **Autoplay** lets you create a more passive, guided viewing experience by automatically advancing screens or guide steps after a set duration. This is especially useful when you want a demo to feel more like a lightweight product tour, looping showcase, or self-running presentation. In Walnut, autoplay can be configured in two ways: - **Globally** at the template level for all screens or all guide steps - **Locally** on selected screens or selected guide steps only Autoplay works well for embedded product tours, event demos, kiosk-style experiences, and guided stories where you want viewers to watch rather than click through every step manually. --- ## **Global vs Local Autoplay** Walnut gives you flexibility to apply autoplay broadly across a template or only where it is needed. - **Global autoplay** applies autoplay to **all screens** or **all guide steps** in the template. - **Local autoplay** applies autoplay only to **specific screens** or **specific guide steps**. - If a global autoplay setting is turned on, it takes precedence over local autoplay settings for that same behavior type. :::warning[Best practice] Use **global autoplay** when you want a fully passive experience across the whole demo. Use **local autoplay** when only certain screens or guide steps should advance automatically. ::: For example, you might use local autoplay on an intro screen, a hero walkthrough, or a short sequence of announcement-style guide steps, while leaving the rest of the demo interactive. --- ## **Set Autoplay for All Screens** Turn this on when you want every screen in the template to advance automatically after a set delay. 1. Open the template in **Edit** mode. 2. Open **Template** **Settings.** 3. Open the **General** section. 4. Scroll to **Autoplay All Screens**. ![Autoplay all screens setting in Walnut template general settings](pathname:///images/f5cfe586084f8447.png) 1. Turn **Autoplay All Screens** on. 2. Set the **delay duration** in milliseconds. 3. Optional: turn on **Show Control Bar** if you want viewers to pause or resume autoplay. 4. Optional: turn on **Loop** if you want the demo to restart automatically after the final screen. 5. Click **Save**. Once enabled, the template will advance screen by screen using the timing you defined. --- ## **Set Autoplay for All Guide Steps** Turn this on when you want guide steps to play automatically in sequence across the template. :::note[Good to know] When autoplay is enabled for all guide steps, Walnut follows the existing guide order. Individual guide steps cannot override that sequence. ::: 1. Open the template in **Edit** mode. 2. In the right-hand toolbar, click the **Guides** icon to open the Guides panel. 3. In the Guides panel, click the **gear** icon to open guide settings. ![Guides panel gear icon and settings access in Walnut editor](pathname:///images/07b45e7d4dc45692.png) 1. Open the **Autoplay** section. ![Autoplay section in Walnut guide settings](pathname:///images/7b5e1f24123c526a.png) 1. Turn **Autoplay All Guide Steps** on. 2. Set the **delay duration** in milliseconds. 3. Optional: turn on **Show Control Bar** if you want viewers to pause or resume playback. 4. Optional: turn on **Loop** if you want the guide sequence to restart automatically after the final step. 5. Click **Save**. Once enabled, guide steps will progress automatically based on the template’s guide order and timing configuration. --- ## **Set Autoplay for Selected Screens** Use local screen autoplay when only certain screens should advance automatically. 1. Open the template in **Edit** mode. 2. In the left-hand screen list, right-click the screen you want to autoplay and select **Autoplay screen**. ![Autoplay screen option from Walnut screen menu](pathname:///images/f99c2485928467f5.png) 1. Set the **delay duration** in milliseconds. 2. Click **Done**. Repeat this process for each screen that should autoplay. --- ## **Set Autoplay for Selected Guide Steps** Use local guide autoplay when only certain guide steps should advance automatically. 1. Open the template in **Edit** mode. 2. Click the **Guides** icon in the right-hand toolbar to open the Guides panel. 3. Select the guide step you want to edit. 4. In the guide toolbar, click the **gear** icon to open guide-specific settings. 5. Turn on **Autoplay guide step** and set the **display duration**. 6. Click **Done**. Repeat this process for each guide step that should autoplay. --- ## **Guides with Audio Files** If a guide step includes an audio file, Walnut will play the **full audio track** before advancing to the next guide step, regardless of the autoplay delay you set. This ensures the audio experience is not cut off early when guide autoplay is enabled. :::note[Related resource] [**Convert Text to Speech**](/help/demos/edit/guides/text-to-speech-in-guides) ::: --- ## **Summary** Autoplay helps you turn a Walnut demo into a more passive, polished, self-running experience. Use **global autoplay** when you want consistent behavior across the full template, and **local autoplay** when only specific screens or guide steps should advance automatically. When audio is included, Walnut always prioritizes full audio playback before moving forward. :::note[Final takeaway] Autoplay is most effective when paired with a clear narrative, intentional timing, and the right format for your audience, especially for embedded tours, kiosk demos, and lightweight guided showcases. :::