How to Use Cliqer

Once you have successfully installed Cliqer on your Mac or Windows computer, using it to control your presentations is simple. The general workflow is similar for both platforms.

Basic Usage Steps

1. Start Cliqer:
   • Launch the Cliqer application on your host computer (the one running the presentation software).
2. License Activation (First Use):
   • If it's your first time running Cliqer, you may need to sign in to your free Cliqer account or enter your license key. You can typically find your license key in your account area on the Cliqer website or in your order confirmation email.
3. Enable Presenter Control:
   • In the Cliqer application window, ensure that the toggle or option labeled similar to "Allow presenter to control left/right" (or general presenter control) is ON.
   • Cliqer will display a unique URL or code.
4. Share the Link/Code:
   • Share this unique URL or code with your presenter(s). They can open this link on any device with a web browser (smartphone, tablet, another computer).
5. Test Connection:
   • Ask the presenter to access the link and test the control buttons (e.g., next/previous slide).
   • On the host computer, the Cliqer app shows visual indications when a presenter connects and when they press control buttons (buttons change color to indicate active state). This confirms a successful connection.
6. Minimize Cliqer (Optional):
   • You can safely minimize the Cliqer application on the host computer. It will continue running in the background.
7. Start Your Presentation:
   • Open your presentation software (PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides, etc.) and start your slideshow in full-screen mode.
8. Remote Control:
   • The presenter can now control the slideshow using the interface on their device from anywhere in the world, as long as both devices have an internet connection.

Important Considerations

• Internet Connection: Both the host computer and the presenter's device require a stable internet connection for Cliqer to function.

• Firewall: Ensure your firewall (Windows Defender or third-party) allows Cliqer to make outgoing connections. Presenter devices and your host application exchange connection details through Cliqer's signalling service, then talk peer to peer, with an encrypted relay only as a fallback when a direct path is blocked.
• Software Updates: Keep Cliqer, your operating system, and your presentation software updated for the best performance and security. Cliqer checks for updates on launch and updates itself in place.

Screen Sharing

Stream your screen to connected presenters with real-time video.

Starting Screen Share

1. Click the Screen Share button in the host app
2. Select the screen or window to share
3. All connected presenters automatically receive the stream

Global Screen Share Toggle

Enable screen sharing for all connected and future presenters with a single toggle.

Settings → Behavior → Screen Sharing, When enabled, all current and new presenters automatically receive your screen share.

Video Encoding Options

Configure video quality in Settings → Video Encoding:

Screen Share Audio

Share system audio or microphone with presenters during screen sharing.

Settings → Audio → Screen Share Audio:

Select specific audio devices from the dropdown. A live volume meter shows input levels in real-time.

Multi-Presenter Laser Pointers

Multiple presenters can use laser pointers simultaneously. Each presenter gets a colored dot with their name displayed.

Each presenter gets a color from their name, so their dot and their drawing are the same color on every screen.

Drawing

Presenters can draw freehand over the shared screen. Tap the pen button in the presenter toolbar, then draw on the video with a finger or the mouse. Tap the pen again to go back to the laser pointer.

• Drawing uses the host's Laser Pointer setting (Settings → Behavior). When it is off, the pen button is hidden and existing drawings are cleared.
• The pen is offered when the shared screen can take presses: a single shared screen on the presenter device, not covered by the click buttons. In landscape with the buttons over the video, turn on Screen only or Buttons at bottom first.
• Drawings appear on the host screen and on every presenter watching the same screen. They are not part of the NDI output or the studio program output.
• A drawing stays until a presenter taps Clear drawing (the eraser button, shown while drawing), until Cliqer changes the slide (next, back, first, last, go to or blackout, from a presenter, the buttons in the Cliqer app or a clicker connected to Cliqer), or until the host turns off the Laser Pointer setting.

Slide Controls

Besides next and back, presenters can black out the screen and jump to the first slide, the last slide or a slide number. The slide controls button (next to the settings button) opens them in a sheet. Only the controls the host's presentation app supports are shown:

• Slide controls need the same permission as the click buttons. When the host turns clicking off for a presenter, they are hidden too.
• With several hosts in a room, a control is shown only when every host supports it, so all decks stay on the same slide.
• Blackout: while the screen is black, every presenter sees a "Screen is black" button to bring it back. Pressing next or back while the screen is black brings the slide back without moving to another slide. If someone presses B, or ends and restarts the show, on the host computer directly, Cliqer does not see it.

Keyboard shortcuts

With Keyboard shortcuts turned on in the presenter settings (desktop browsers), these keys work when the host supports the command:

Timer

Control presentation timing with countdown or count-up modes.

Count Up/Down Mode

Settings → Behavior → Count Down/Up toggle

• Disabled (default): Timer counts down from your set time (default 15 minutes)
• Enabled: Timer counts up from 0:00 to track elapsed time

Presets

Four quick-set presets (default: 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes) let you switch durations instantly. Edit a preset by selecting it and adjusting the minutes, changes sync to connected Stream Deck devices automatically.

Quick Adjust

Use +1, +2, +5 or −1, −2, −5 buttons to add or subtract minutes without stopping the timer.

Fullscreen Timer Display

Open a dedicated fullscreen window for confidence monitors or stage displays. Ideal for giving presenters a clear view of remaining time.

See Timer (Advanced) for the full Timer API and detailed configuration.

Host to Client Chat

Send messages directly to connected presenters during presentations.

1. Open the Chat panel from your session view
2. Type your message and send
3. All connected clients see your message instantly and can respond
4. Send to individual presenters or broadcast to everyone

Sound Effects

Click Volume Control

Adjust click feedback sounds independently from system volume.

Settings → Audio → Sound Effects, Enable sound effects, then use the Click Volume slider to adjust the level.

Free Plan

The Free plan is permanent, not a time-limited trial. It needs a free Cliqer account in the app with a confirmed email address and no card, and it unlocks the core toolkit, screen sharing, timer, laser pointer and draw, chat, NDI and Stream Deck, so you can evaluate everything before you buy. Callers and Studio start on Pro.

• Video output carries a watermark
• Hardware devices (cue lights, Stream Deck, BLE clickers) run for 10 minutes per session
• One room and one remote client
• Unlimited session time, no countdown and no card required
• Team and management features (multi-host, Client API, whitelabel branding, custom domains, SSO/SCIM) need a paid plan

Advanced Features

Beyond the basics, Cliqer offers (see each guide for the plan it needs):

• Multi-Host Support, Connect multiple hosts for backup redundancy or synchronized control (each connected host uses one seat on your licence)
• Screen Share Per Host, Each host streams independently; presenters see all available streams
• Callers, Bring remote video guests into your production with a Studio
• Custom API Access, Build integrations with the Cliqer API
• Stream Deck Support, Control slides and timer with an Elgato Stream Deck via USB or plugin
• NDI Timer Output, Broadcast the timer as an NDI source for production software

See Advanced Topics for detailed guides.

Next, explore the various Use Cases for Cliqer.