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Special Functions

How to set up custom behaviors on your device.

Written by Ryan Kulp
Updated over a month ago

TRMNL devices have a few interactive elements, but they're not obvious. Get started by selecting your device below.

TRMNL OG (7.5" screen)

The back of your OG TRMNL device has an on/off switch, USB-C input, and multi functional "boot" button.

The boot button does 3 things by default:

  1. Skip to the next screen in your playlist (click)

  2. Reset WiFi credentials (hold for 6-7 seconds)

  3. Soft reset your device (hold for 16-18 seconds)

But you can program a 4th function, which we call Special Functions.

Determining your special function action

If your device is running Firmware 1.6.1 or newer, special functions are enacted by a "medium press" button hold of 1-2s, then release.

If your device is running Firmware released before August 2025 (1.4.X, 1.5.X), special functions are enacted by a double-click on the boot button.

TRMNL X (10.3" screen)

Your model X has a touch bar that supports several different gestures. Over time this collection will grow, but as of February 2026 they are as follows:

  • Tap => skips to the next screen in your Playlist

  • Hold (for ~1s) => enables or disables OTG (ability to power other devices)

  • Swipe left => goes back a screen, reading from device memory

  • Swipe right => goes forward a screen, reads from device memory (requires a pervious "Left" swipe, otherwise reloads current screen)

You can also enter pairing mode with the following gesture:

If videos aren't your thing:

  1. Hold both ends until screen blinks

  2. Tap the middle to cancel, or hold the middle to enter pairing mode

Setting a Special Function

Visit your Device settings page and scroll down to the Special Function section.

There are several options, which we'll explain below.

As of February 2026, Special Functions are not yet available on the X model device. They will be soon however, and you'll be able to set a unique gesture per function versus restricted to 1.

Identify

Triggers a simple identification screen to help you determine which device is which.

This is helpful for customers with multiple devices who may not give them descriptive names, or who have their devices in the same room with a similar case color.

Sleep

Puts your device to sleep for 8 hours. In the future you may be able to customize this sleep period length.

Add WiFi

Instructs your device's firmware to activate the "TRMNL" WiFi portal so that you can connect to a new network, without resetting your existing credentials.

This works even on captive-portal / WPA-Enterprise networks. See details here.

Restart Playlist

Begins showing content from your Playlist at the top/first position. Think of this as an enhancement to the single-click "skip" feature, as it skips multiple screens all at once.

Rewind

Goes back to the previously viewed screen. Helpful if you noticed something interesting just as your TRMNL device began showing new content.

Send to me

Sends yourself an email with the latest (current) device screen content. Helpful if you want to save/bookmark something for later but don't want to search for it in your Playlist history.

Guest Mode

Switches your screen to any item of your choice. Helpful if strangers are nearby and you'd rather show the weather (for example) than a personal calendar.

This interface will appear once you set the Special Function dropdown to Guest Mode. Set an item from your playlist as well as a duration to ensure sensitive information does not re-appear until guests are gone.

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