The iPad is the ideal device for presenting with NEHIA. Generous screen, a battery that lasts hours, one-handed control from the pulpit or stage table, and a landscape orientation that fits almost any stand. But a poorly configured iPad turns into more distraction than help: notifications that pop up, inadequate brightness, a screen that sleeps after 2 minutes, font too small to read from a distance.
This guide walks you through the full iPad Presenter Mode setup in 5 minutes: requirements, installation, keyboard shortcuts, system settings, and troubleshooting for the most common issues.
Requirements
- iPad with iPadOS 16 or higher (any model from iPad 6th gen, iPad Air 3rd gen, iPad Pro 11" 1st gen, or newer).
- Safari as the browser (recommended for full PWA compatibility).
- Active NEHIA account with at least one session ready to present.
- Physical stand that holds the iPad in landscape at eye level. A music stand, an adjustable mount, or a side table all work.
Installing NEHIA on iPad (PWA)
- Open Safari on your iPad and go to nehia.app/en.
- Sign in with your email (you'll receive a 6-digit code or a magic link).
- Tap the Share button in Safari's toolbar (square with an up arrow).
- Select Add to Home Screen. NEHIA will appear as an icon on your home screen just like any native app.
- Open NEHIA from the home-screen icon (not from Safari) for a full-screen experience without browser bars.
iPad settings before you present
Three system tweaks that prevent the most common issues:
1. Disable auto-lock
Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock → Never. Without this, your iPad sleeps after 2-5 minutes in the middle of your sermon. NEHIA also requests Wake Lock automatically during an active session, but this manual setting is the definitive backstop.
2. Turn on Do Not Disturb (Focus)
Settings → Focus → Do Not Disturb. Activate focus before you start. If a call or notification comes in mid-message, the screen gets interrupted.
Tip: create a custom Focus called "Preaching" that activates automatically when you open NEHIA. Once it's set up, you never think about it again.
3. Brightness at 80-90% (not 100%)
100% brightness drains the battery quickly and can create uncomfortable glare if there are direct lights above the iPad. 80-90% is readable and efficient.
Activating Presenter Mode in NEHIA
- Open NEHIA on your iPad (from the home-screen icon).
- Go to Sessions and open the session you're going to present.
- Tap the "Presenter Mode" button (full-screen icon, usually top-right).
- NEHIA asks for permission to keep the screen on (Wake Lock). Accept.
- NEHIA enters full-screen. You'll see the big central timer, the current block name, the next one, and the global progress bar.
Keyboard shortcuts (if you use an external keyboard)
If you present with an iPad and Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, or any Bluetooth keyboard, these shortcuts save time:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Space | Start / pause the timer |
→ | Next block |
← | Previous block |
R | Restart current block |
F | Enter / exit full-screen |
N | Open block notes |
L | Open / close block list |
Esc | Close panel or exit |
Touch-only (no external keyboard)
If you present with just the iPad and no keyboard, every control is one tap away:
- Play / pause: central bottom button.
- Next block: right-arrow button.
- Previous block: left-arrow button.
- Restart block: reset icon (circular arrow).
- Open block list: ListTodo button (slides in from the right).
Every button has a generous hit target (44 × 44 px minimum) so you can tap accurately mid-sermon.
Advanced setup: second screen
If your iPad isn't comfortably visible from where you preach or teach, you can mirror NEHIA to a second screen:
- Apple TV or AirPlay monitor: mirror the iPad screen from Control Center. NEHIA shows on the external display with the same quality.
- USB-C / Lightning to HDMI: direct cable from the iPad to projector or monitor. Works on any iPad with USB-C (iPad Pro M1+, iPad Air 4+, iPad mini 6+) or Lightning (older models).
- Auditorium setup: iPad on a podium visible to the speaker, AirPlay mirroring to a confidence monitor next to the pulpit. Speaker and the AV/video team see the same times.
Troubleshooting
The iPad sleeps during the sermon
Wake Lock didn't activate or iPadOS ignored the permission. Verify auto-lock is set to "Never" in Settings. When you open Presenter Mode, NEHIA requests Wake Lock — accept it if the prompt appears. On iPadOS 17+ the permission is sometimes granted without a visible prompt.
NEHIA shows browser bars (not full-screen)
You opened NEHIA from Safari, not from the PWA icon. Exit Safari and open from the home-screen icon.
Notifications interrupt the screen
Turn on Do Not Disturb before starting. Better: configure a custom Focus that activates automatically when you open NEHIA.
The timer font looks too small
Presenter Mode uses clamp(7rem, 22vw, 16rem) for the timer — it scales automatically with screen size. If it still looks small, try landscape orientation (it should be readable from 6-10 feet away).
NEHIA doesn't work offline
Presenter Mode works offline once the session is loaded. If the session wasn't loaded online first, NEHIA needs a connection the first time. Recommendation: open the session at least once with internet before the day of the event.
The timer doesn't update in real time
Rare iPadOS issue with certain battery-saver settings. Solution: turn off "Low Power Mode" in Settings → Battery before you start.
Final checklist before you present
- iPad charged at 80%+ or plugged in.
- Auto-lock set to "Never."
- Do Not Disturb on.
- Brightness at 80-90%.
- NEHIA open from the PWA icon (not Safari).
- Session loaded and open in Presenter Mode.
- iPad on a stable stand at eye level.
- If using an external keyboard: paired and battery checked.
With this setup, your iPad becomes an invisible ally during the sermon, class, or session. The structure is visible, NEHIA handles the timing, distractions are blocked, and your full attention stays on the message and the people in front of you.
Related resources
If this is your first time setting up NEHIA on iPad and you want to see Presenter Mode in action, watch the animated demo on the homepage — it shows a real session with block transitions, Live Coach alerts, and the progress bar.