ScreenCloud Dashboards Set Up Guide

When choosing a digital signage solution, security isn't optional — it's essential. Whether you're in retail, hospitality, manufacturing, or running a SaaS operation, the data you put on screen often reflects the data you trust most: live sales figures, operational dashboards, team metrics, and customer insights. Keeping that information protected while still making it visible to the right people is a challenge many organisations face.

As businesses continue to shift toward remote and hybrid work, the need for secure, real-time data visibility has never been greater. ScreenCloud Dashboards is built for exactly this — a GDPR-compliant solution that lets you display private, password-protected web pages and dashboards on your digital screens without compromising security or your team's workflow.

In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about ScreenCloud Dashboards: what it is, which tools it supports, and how to get set up in just a few steps.

1. What is the “ScreenCloud Dashboards” feature?

ScreenCloud Dashboards lets you display private, password-protected, or iframe-restricted web pages on your digital screens without exposing credentials or storing browser data.

It works by recording a login journey in your browser using a Chrome extension. ScreenCloud captures a real-time snapshot of your dashboard and renders it on-screen. The recorded steps are replayed securely on the backend your credentials are never stored in plaintext or transmitted to screens.

This feature is useful for displaying internal analytics, team dashboards, operations data, or any web page that requires a login to access.

Upgraded plan required: Dashboards is a premium add-on and is only available on a Pro subscription or higher. You can trial an account that contains the feature free for 14 days on the Pro trial or request for your current account to be upgraded here.

Infrastructure and security: ScreenCloud Dashboards runs on AWS infrastructure across EU and US regions and is GDPR-compliant. Your credentials are never stored in plaintext and login steps are replayed securely on the backend. For more detail, see ScreenCloud's White Paper on Dashboards here and review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

2. Before you get started

Make sure you have the following before starting setup:

Internet browser

Google Chrome version 87 or later. Microsoft Edge (with extension support) also works.

Browser extension

The ScreenCloud Dashboards Recorder Chrome extension, available in the Chrome Web Store.

If your Google (Chrome) or Microsoft (Edge) account is managed by your organisation, you may not be able to install extensions without administrator approval. Contact your IT team if you encounter restrictions.

ScreenCloud account requirement

ScreenCloud subscription on the Pro or Enterprise plan so that Dashboards is available. If you are on the Core plan, learn about pricing and request an upgrade here.

Dashboard credentials

Login details for the service you want to display. Username and password with an authenticator app OTP are the recommended setup.

Your dashboard login must not require manual external approval, device-based MFA (e.g. push notifications), or be restricted to specific regions, IP addresses, or networks. The site also needs to be publicly accessible. ScreenCloud cannot reach dashboards behind a firewall or VPN.

Supported authentication types

• Username & password (basic login)
• Token-based multi-factor authentication (Microsoft, Google, Jira)

Unsupported authentication types

• HTTP authentication (browser pop-up)
• CAPTCHA / bot verification
• Device-based approval (push notifications)
• Email-based login confirmation
• SMS one-time passwords

Learn more about supported authentication types for Dashboards here.

IP connection requirements

Dashboards from studio.eu.screencloud.com (EU)

34.242.195.87 
52.211.24.90 
63.34.216.119

Dashboards from studio.us.screencloud.com (US)

18.190.88.55 
18.223.54.252 
3.17.82.86

Learn more about IP requirements for restricted sites.

2. Which services are currently supported?

Whether you're looking to display data dashboards or production dashboards, ScreenCloud supports a number of services:

• Tableau
• Grafana
• Salesforce
• Looker Studio (Formerly Google Data Studio)
• Trello
• PowerBi (Use the dedicated Microsoft Power BI app)
• Github
• Sentry
• Proving Ground
• JIRA
• DataDog
• Zendesk (You can also use the Zendesk Reports app)
• CloudWatch

Other services not listed here may also work. If you have trouble connecting a service, contact support@screencloud.com with your company name and the URL you want to display.

4. ScreenCloud Dashboard setup walkthrough

The setup process has two parts: installing the Chrome extension, then recording your dashboard login journey.

Install the Dashboard extension in your browser

4.1. Install Google Chrome

If you don't already have it, download Chrome here. Version 87 or later is required. Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) is also supported as long as you can install Google Chrome apps.

4.2. Add the ScreenCloud Dashboards Recorder extension

Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for ScreenCloud Dashboards Recorder, or click here to go directly to the extension.

Select Add to Chrome and Add extension.

4.3. Enable the extension in Incognito mode

ScreenCloud recommends running the recorder in Incognito mode to prevent existing cookies and sessions from interfering with your journey.

Go to chrome://extensions, find the extension, and toggle Allow in Incognito.

In Edge, enable Allow in InPrivate instead.

Why incognito?

A clean session ensures your recorded login steps work exactly the same each time ScreenCloud replays them in the background.

Record your Dashboard journey

In your ScreenCloud account, select Dashboards from the left-hand navigation and click Setup your first Dashboard or New Dashboard.

If you see the below window and you have already setup the required extension, select Don’t show this again. Review the steps above if you have not yet set it up.

4.3 Enter the URL

Paste the URL of the dashboard you want to display. Use the final destination URL where possible — the fewer steps from login to dashboard, the more reliable the session. Click Start Recording.

4.4. Log in to your service

A pop-up window will open. Sign in using your dashboard credentials. See the supported authentication types above if you're unsure whether your login method is compatible.

Common error: "No associated password" This happens when a username input field has no password step paired with it — for example, if your login form asks for a username twice but a password only once. To fix it: click the journey step showing the error, change the Type from Username to Text, then click Save. (See full fix guide here)

Common error: "Username/password mismatch" This happens when ScreenCloud incorrectly identifies two separate fields as username inputs — for example, capturing both a username field and a subsequent text field as Username type. To fix it: click the cog icon next to the affected step (usually the second username step), change the Type from Username to Text, then save. (See full fix guide here)

4.5. Navigate to your dashboard

Once logged in, browse to the exact view you want to display. The Actions panel on the left records each step automatically.

4.6. Capture your view

When you've reached the page you want to display, make sure it's in full-screen or select the specific area by hovering until the red dotted rectangle appears. Click Finish Journey, then Take Snapshot.

4.7. Set the session refresh rate

Under Manage Session, configure how often ScreenCloud reloads the page. As a rule of thumb, set this slightly shorter than your dashboard's session timeout — for example, if your dashboard times out after 30 minutes, set the refresh rate to 25 minutes. If unsure, leave the default (45 minutes).

4.8. Name your Dashboard

Give it a clear, unique name using the text editor in the top toolbar.

4.9. Save and preview your Dashboard

Click Save & Preview in the top-right corner and select Confirm.

The dashboard will begin rendering — this may take a few minutes depending on the service.

If the "Save" button is greyed out, check the journey steps for any red error messages and resolve them before saving. All steps must be error-free for the button to activate.

If the Save & Preview screen is still showing the first login input screen, this usually means your site is restricted to your company network or approved devices. While the Dashboard journey runs successfully on your computer, the login steps are then replayed on ScreenCloud's servers — which may not have access to your restricted site. Refer to this article to find out which IP addresses need to be allowlisted so ScreenCloud can connect to your site.

4.10. Show your Dashboard on your Screens

Once saved, your dashboard is available to add to any playlist, channel, or screen in ScreenCloud. Use any of ScreenCloud's standard scheduling and display features to manage it from there.

5. Frequently asked questions

Which dashboard tools are supported?

Grafana, Salesforce, Tableau, Trello, Microsoft Power BI (see the dedicated Microsoft Power BI app), Looker Studio (previously Google Data Studio), GitHub, Sentry, JIRA, DataDog (via AWS), Zendesk (Zendesk Reports app), and CloudWatch. Other sites and services not mentioned here should also work. We recommend reviewing our Dashboard guides to see which types of sites are not supported.

Which two-step verification methods does Dashboards support?

Google, Microsoft and Jira. Learn more here.

Which authentication types are not supported with Dashboards?

Bot verification steps, CAPTCHA, Device authentication (e.g. clicking "Yes" or "No" on another logged-in device), Email authentication (e.g. receiving an email to confirm your login), HTTP authentication (e.g. entering credentials in a browser pop-up), and SMS authentication (e.g. OTP sent via SMS). Learn more about supported and unsupported authentication types for Dashboards.

Does Dashboards support HTTP authentication?

No. HTTP authentication is not supported. HTTP authentication is in use if you encounter a mini Chrome pop-up prompting for credentials when visiting the page.

Can I display locally hosted internal sites with Dashboards?

No. If your organisation has an internal site that is behind a firewall or accessed via a VPN, this will not work with Dashboards. Sites need to be accessible via the public internet. However, it may be possible to display your internal link using Links in Studio with certain players (Windows or macOS), as long as your paired screen is on the same network that provides the site and the site does not require inputting login steps. Learn more here.

Can Dashboards display videos?

No. Dashboards are not able to display videos, as the integration can only screen capture the site every 5 seconds, which is the minimum refresh rate.

Why can't I click the Save & Preview button after I've completed my Dashboard journey?

Check your Dashboard journey steps for any red error messages, and make sure to resolve these as instructed. Once you've cleared all error messages, you will be able to save your Dashboard app.

How can I fix the "No associated password" or "Username/password mismatch" error?

Both errors are caused by ScreenCloud misidentifying a text input field as a username step during your login journey, but they occur in slightly different situations.
"No associated password" appears when a username field has no password step paired with it — for example, if your login form uses a username field twice but a password only once. To fix it: hover over the affected journey step, click Expand, and change the Type from Username to Text. Full steps here.
"Username/password mismatch" appears when ScreenCloud captures two separate fields as username inputs — for example, a username field and a subsequent text field both tagged as Username type. To fix it: click the cog icon next to the affected step (usually the second username step) and change the Type from Username to Text. Full steps here. fix guide for "Username/password mismatch".

I completed the Dashboard journey and clicked Save & Preview, but my dashboard still won't load. What should I do?

This may mean the site is only accessible on your company's local network or approved IP addresses. For Dashboards to work with your site, you need to allow connection with ScreenCloud's services. Please ask your IT team to whitelist the IP addresses required by ScreenCloud.

What can I do if my Dashboard content doesn't fit the screen?

Dashboards capture a screenshot of a selected section of a webpage. The size and layout are determined by the website itself and cannot be adjusted within ScreenCloud. If your content doesn't fit, try selecting a smaller section of the page, or create two separate Dashboards and capture them in two different app instances. This allows you to split the content across multiple apps and display them sequentially.

How often does Dashboards refresh?

Dashboards update based on how often the source site refreshes its data and the Session Refresh Rate set under Manage Session in ScreenCloud. The session refresh controls how often the page is reloaded (default is 10 minutes), while live data updates can appear on screen every few seconds if the dashboard itself updates that frequently. Learn more here.

If the site has its own refresh rate, what is the recommended duration I should set for Dashboards?

Select a time interval shorter than your dashboard's session timeout. For example, if your dashboard times out after 30 minutes, set the refresh rate to 25 minutes. Use the default setting (45 minutes) if unsure. Learn more here.

How can I set the timezone for my dashboard?

As you set up your Dashboard and complete the login, authentication, and screen capture steps, click the cog icon for Manage Session under Actions to change the timezone setting of the Dashboard.

I made changes to my Dashboard username and password. How can I update this without creating a new Dashboard?

Click the settings button for the dashboard instance and select Update credentials. This will allow you to change the username and password without re-recording the journey.

Can I make changes to my Dashboard journey after I save the app?

Yes. You can do this using the Re-record Journey option. This will replace all existing instances of the same dashboard in your playlist, channel, and on-screen. However, only the original creator of the dashboard can access this option.

Can I duplicate my Dashboard app instance?

No. It is not possible to create a copy of a Dashboard. Please create the app again using the same URL and login steps.

How can I see a preview of my Dashboard after I save and close it?

You can preview your Dashboard by adding it to a playlist, channel, or screen and viewing it from there. This provides an accurate representation of how it will appear on display. Currently, the final screen capture of a Dashboard is not visible within the Dashboard library or its thumbnails, and a standalone preview is only available immediately after the Dashboard is first created.

Can I display my dashboard in portrait mode?

Yes. Apply the following screen data items to the screen under Settings > Advanced Settings > Data to allow the dashboard to render for portrait size:

• For a 1080p portrait render, input "usePortrait" in key and true in value
• For a 4K portrait render, input "usePortraitUHD" in key and true in value

Can I display my dashboard in 4K?

Yes. In your screen's Settings > Advanced Settings > Data, add the screen data item useUHD in key and true in value to have the Dashboard screen render in 4K.

Is Dashboards interactive when used with ScreenCloud's Touch feature?

No. Dashboards are not interactive when displayed on a touch-enabled screen. Dashboards render as static screenshots and do not support clicking or interacting with their content. However, Microsoft Power BI dashboards can be interactive when used with the dedicated ScreenCloud Power BI app, which supports interactivity for Power BI content.

Where can I find additional help for ScreenCloud Dashboard issues and setup?

You can refer to Troubleshooting Dashboards and the dedicated Dashboards collection in the ScreenCloud Help Center.

My Dashboard is experiencing issues after saving. What should I provide to Support?

First, review the Troubleshooting ScreenCloud Dashboards article to see if any of the suggested steps help resolve the issue.

If the issue still persists, the most helpful information you can provide is your Dashboard ID (which can be copied from the Dashboard settings). This allows the team to quickly identify and investigate your Dashboard.

It’s also very helpful to provide a video or screen recording showing your Dashboard setup and the steps in your dashboard journey leading up to the issue. You can capture and send a screen recording by opening a chat and connecting with a live support agent.

Why do I see a "Dashboards Are Only Supported on Chrome" error when trying to setup my Dashboard?

You may see this even when you are using the Google Chrome browser. This issue means that the ScreenCloud Dashboard Recorder Extension is not installed on your browser.