Presenting Mentimeter to a live audience? This guide covers everything to check beforehand: your tech setup, how your audience will join, a backup plan if something goes wrong, and what to do if issues come up mid-session.
Quick checklist (print or screenshot this section for easy reference on the day):
Device meets Mentimeter's requirements
Internet connection tested. Run a self-check
Projector/screen connected and displaying correctly
Backup plan ready in case Wi-Fi drops
Test run completed in Presenter view and as a participant
Results cleared after testing (how to clear)
Join code, QR code, or link ready to share
1. Tech setup
If IT support is available at your venue, this is the section to loop them in on.
Check your setup against Mentimeter's requirements for running Mentimeter (browser, device, and connection).
Run the self-check page on the device you'll present from.
Confirm your internet connection can handle your audience size. You can see recommended bandwidth in the requirements guide.
If you're using a projector or screen, confirm with your IT contact that you have the right cables/adapters, and test the connection beforehand.
Test any microphones or AV equipment you're relying on.
On a laptop? Charge it fully or keep it plugged in throughout.
Having login or access issues ahead of time? See what to do if you can't log in or access Mentimeter.
2. Audience access
Your audience needs a way to access your Menti quickly, and you need a plan in case that doesn't go smoothly.
Join code: they go to menti.com and enter the code on your screen
QR code: they scan it with their phone camera
Direct link: you share a URL they click straight into
Set your audience up for success:
Confirm they have a smartphone or computer to participate with.
Confirm they have internet access. For larger audiences, ask people to use mobile data rather than venue Wi-Fi, since shared Wi-Fi can struggle under load from hundreds of devices connecting at once.
Display the join instructions on screen before you start, and use the Instructions slide or press "i" during presenting to show detailed voting instructions again if people are still joining.
If venue Wi-Fi is unreliable:
Test the actual venue network in advance. Signal and capacity can be very different on-site.
Have a fallback ready: know your audience's mobile carrier coverage at the venue, or prepare a non-interactive version of key slides (e.g., a PDF export) you can fall back to if connectivity fails entirely.
If you lose connection mid-session, refreshing the page is usually the fastest fix. See the troubleshooting section below for more details.
3. Test run-through
Before the real thing, test your Menti from both sides: as presenter and as a participant.
As the presenter:
Click Present to enter Presentation view and run through your slides.
Navigate with your arrow keys.
For quiz slides, press Enter to start the countdown.
Press K anytime during your Menti to bring up keyboard shortcuts if you forget one.
Want to control your presentation from your phone instead of standing at your laptop? Try the Mentimote to use your phone as a remote.
As a participant:
Join your own Menti at menti.com on a second device to see the audience experience first hand.
Preview results with sample data using test responses, without needing real submissions.
Use Preview Mode to see the presenter and audience view side by side in one final pass.
Before the real session: reset your results to clear any test responses.
4. Final checks before starting
Confirm the projector/screen is connected and displaying Mentimeter correctly.
Press Start presentation to hide the edit view.
Confirm that you're starting from the first slide.
Have your join code, QR code, or link visible and ready to share.
5. While presenting
Give your audience time to connect at the start. Press "i" to bring up detailed voting instructions if people need a reminder.
Allow enough time per question. Open-ended questions take longer to answer than multiple choice. You can see your response count in the bottom right of each slide.
Pause after each question to talk through the results with your audience. This is often where the best discussion happens.
Use blank screen (in the presentation menu) if you need to pause and address the room without results on display.
6. Troubleshooting mid-session
If something looks stuck or broken, refresh the page. This resolves most display issues and won't affect responses already submitted.
If the audience can't connect, double-check that the join code is current and visible, and remind them to go to menti.com rather than searching for it.
If the Wi-Fi drops entirely, switch to your prepared backup (see Section 2) and let the audience know you're troubleshooting rather than going silent.