Customize your volunteer check-in kiosk

This feature is available on the Pro Plan.
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The Check-in Kiosk gives volunteers a simple way to check in and out when they arrive onsite. Set it up on an iPad or tablet at a reception desk, check-in area, or wherever volunteering is taking place.
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Volunteers can use the kiosk to check in for scheduled shifts and events. You can also enable walk-in check-ins for Active volunteers who arrive without a scheduled shift and need to log their volunteer time onsite.
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From the Kiosk Editor, you can customize the design and messages, choose which check-in options are available, and preview the experience before opening your kiosk.

Go to Kiosk Editor → Design to set the background and colours used across your kiosk. Your selections will carry across the entire kiosk experience, giving volunteers a consistent look as they check in and out.
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Choose a background

Select a solid colour, pattern, or upload your own image. Choose something that reflects your organization or event and works well in the space where your kiosk will be used.
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A simple brand colour is an easy place to start. You could also create a subtle pattern using your logo or other brand elements, or choose a photo that represents your organization, community, or event. Since the kiosk content appears in white boxes over the background, photos work best when they don’t rely on faces, text, or other details as the main focus.
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For best results: Use a high-resolution landscape image for photo backgrounds. Keep the design simple so the kiosk feels welcoming without distracting volunteers from checking in.

Select a button colour

Choose a colour for your kiosk buttons. We’ll also use this colour for highlights throughout the kiosk, including icons and other interactive elements, to keep everything looking consistent.
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If you know your organization’s HEX code, enter it directly. You can also use the eyedropper to pick a colour from your website or an image, or simply use the colour picker to find one you like.
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Timecounts will automatically use light or dark text depending on the button colour you choose. If you’re using a custom colour, we recommend checking the contrast with the WebAIM Contrast Checker to make sure it’s easy for everyone to read.

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Select title and message colours

Choose the colours used for titles and messages throughout your kiosk. For a simple, coordinated look, try matching your title colour to your button colour and keeping your message text a darker, neutral colour.
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Titles and messages appear on white content boxes, so avoid very light colours, including white, that may be difficult to read.

Test your design

The editor gives you an idea of how your design will look as you make changes. When you’re happy with it, click Save, then Open Kiosk in the top right corner to see the full experience on your device. We recommend testing your kiosk before using it onsite to make sure everything is easy to see and read.

Go to Kiosk → Details and turn on the Live Check-In Activity toggle to see real-time kiosk activity on your organization dashboard, including who has checked in and who may be running late.
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Once enabled, this activity will be visible to all admins who have permission to view the dashboard.
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Go to Kiosk → Details and turn on the Walk-In Check-In toggle if you want to offer walk-in opportunities for volunteers without a scheduled shift.
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Walk-in check-ins require some additional setup, including adding the positions volunteers can choose from. If you only use the kiosk for scheduled shifts and events, leave the toggle turned off.
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Learn how to set up walk-in check-ins →

Go to Kiosk → Details to set the titles and messages volunteers see throughout the check-in and check-out experience. Timecounts provides default text to get you started, so you only need to change what makes sense for your organization.

Some titles are automatically generated by Timecounts and are marked with a lock icon. These can’t be edited because they update dynamically for each volunteer. For example, we’ll add the volunteer’s name to confirmation screens and adjust greetings between morning, afternoon, and evening based on your organization’s local time.
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Landing screen
This is the default welcome screen volunteers see when they first arrive at the kiosk. Set a title and message to welcome volunteers and provide any instructions they need before getting started. A search bar will appear below your message for volunteers to find themselves and begin checking in.
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Check-in selection screen
Set the messages volunteers see when choosing whether to check in or check out. The title is automatically personalized with the volunteer’s name and a greeting based on the time of day. You can add a different message for volunteers checking in and those checking out.

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Walk-in screen
If you use walk-in check-ins, you can change the default title and message to match the language your organization uses for these types of opportunities. The walk-in positions you’ve set up will appear below the message for volunteers to choose from.

Check-in and check-out confirmation screens
The confirmation title is automatically personalized with the volunteer’s name and makes it clear that they’ve successfully checked in or out. You can add a message below to provide any final information they need.
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Think about what would be most helpful at that moment. For check-in, you might share where to go next, who to find, or a reminder before they get started. For check-out, you might let them know what happens next or simply thank them for their time. This is the last screen volunteers see before starting or finishing their volunteering, so a thoughtful message can help them leave the kiosk feeling informed and appreciated.

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Think of the titles and messages you save in the Kiosk Editor as your organization’s default templates. They’ll be used whenever a new kiosk is launched, so it’s best to keep them relevant to all your volunteers rather than a specific event, position, or location.
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When launching a kiosk onsite, you can adjust the messages for that kiosk without changing your saved templates. This is useful if you have a reminder or instruction that only applies to that location or day.
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If you make changes to your templates later, kiosks that are already running won’t be updated automatically. Simply log out and relaunch the kiosk when you’re ready to use the new messages. This also means any messages you’ve adjusted onsite won’t be overwritten.