Quick Start: Your First Presentation

This guide walks you through everything from a blank text file to standing on stage with SpeakerView running. If you’d rather skip straight to trying the app, use the Load Sample Speech button mentioned in Step 2 below — no file needed.

Step 1: Write your speech as a plain text file

Open a plain-text editor (not Word, not Pages) and write your speech, placing a line containing only --- between each cue card. Save it as a .txt file somewhere reachable from your iPhone, like iCloud Drive.

Full details: Formatting Your Speech File

Just want to try the app first? You can skip this step entirely — see Step 2.

Step 2: Bring your speech into SpeakerView

Open SpeakerView and, on the home screen, either:

Tap Import Speech File and choose your .txt file, or
Tap Load Sample Speech to try the app with a built-in example first

Full details: Importing a Speech File

Step 3 (optional): Translate for a co-presenter

If someone else will be reading a translated version alongside you — a translator, or a bilingual co-host — tap Translate Cards, pick their language, and SpeakerView translates every card right on your device. This step is entirely optional; skip it if you’re presenting solo in one language.

Full details: Bilingual / Co-Presenting Setup

Step 4 (optional but recommended): Check your Settings

Tap the gear icon on the home screen to review:

Font size — pick something comfortable to read at arm’s length
When Text Overflows — Auto-Shrink (fits everything on one screen) or Paginate (splits long cards into multiple pages)
Color Mode — Dark mode is a popular choice for on-stage use, since a bright white screen can be distracting under stage lighting
Pacing Timer — turn this on if you want live feedback on whether you’re on schedule

Full details: Settings Reference

Step 5: Start your presentation

Tap Start Presentation on the home screen. You’re now in full-screen cue card mode.

Tap anywhere on the screen (or tap the right arrow at the bottom) to move to the next card.
Tap the left arrow to go back.
If you enabled the pacing timer, a Start Timer button floats above the navigation controls — tap it the moment you actually begin speaking (not when the screen first appears), so your pacing stays accurate.
If you connected a Bluetooth remote, you can advance and go back using its buttons instead of touching the screen. See Bluetooth Remote Compatibility.

Step 6: Exit when you’re done

Tap the ✕ button in the top-right corner. SpeakerView will ask you to confirm before exiting, so an accidental tap mid-speech won’t kick you out of the presentation.

That’s it

You’ve completed a full run from blank file to finished presentation. For anything unexpected along the way, check the Troubleshooting section — it covers the most common snags, from import issues to remote pairing to timer colors.