---
title: "Set Start and End Dates for Signage Content | EasySignage"
description: "Use playback times in EasySignage to give a playlist layer a start and end date, a daily time range, and a weekly schedule so content expires on its own."
url: https://easysignage.com/how-to/playlists/how-to-set-content-start-and-end-dates/
---

# How to Set Start and End Dates for Digital Signage Content?

Learn how to use playback times in EasySignage so content starts and stops on its own without anyone editing the playlist.

## How do I make content expire on its own?

Use [playback times](https://easysignage.com/digital-signage-features/media-lifetime/) (previously called media lifetime), which gives a playlist layer a start and end date plus a start and end time. The layer stops playing once the end date and time pass, so a promotion, an event notice, or a seasonal campaign comes off screen without anyone editing the playlist.

Playback times are set per layer, so each layer in a layout can have its own dates.

## How do I set up playback times?

-   Click **PLAYLISTS**
-   Open an existing playlist or create a new one
-   Click one of the layers in the layout preview, at least one layer must exist
-   Click **PLAYBACK TIMES**
-   Under **Date/Time Range**, tick **Play only between dates**
-   Enter a valid start date and end date
-   Enter a valid start time and end time
-   Click **Save**

## Can I also set a weekly pattern?

Yes. Inside the same Playback times dialog you can add a weekly schedule so the layer only plays at certain times on certain days.

-   Tick **Enable Scheduling**
-   Select the day you want to set, for example Wednesday
-   Click **Schedule**, or tick **Disable Playback** to keep the layer off screen that day
-   Edit the start and end times
-   Click **Apply to the Entire Week** to copy the same timing to every day
-   Click **Add Schedule** to add another slot, up to 3 per day
-   Click **Save**, then publish to the screen

Make sure the screen is set to the correct timezone, otherwise the schedule fires at the wrong local time.

## Playback times or a schedule: which one do I need?

Playback times control a layer inside one playlist. A [schedule](https://easysignage.com/how-to/schedule/how-to-schedule-content-on-digital-signage-screens/) controls which playlist plays on a screen at a given time. Use playback times to retire a single item, and a schedule when the whole playlist should change.

## What happens when the playback time ends?

The layer stops playing on the display. The rest of the playlist keeps running, so nothing goes blank as long as another layer or another item is still active.

## Helpful Links

-   [How to Schedule Content on Digital Signage Screens?](https://easysignage.com/how-to/schedule/how-to-schedule-content-on-digital-signage-screens/)

-   [How to Create a Daypart Food Menu in One Playlist?](https://easysignage.com/how-to/playlists/how-to-create-day-part-food-menus/)

-   [Playback Times](https://easysignage.com/help/playlists/3.8-media-lifetime/)