How to use a teleprompter
To use a teleprompter, write your script the way you speak, put the text as close to the camera lens as you can, make it large in a narrow column, and let it scroll at your speaking pace (or follow your voice). Rehearse once out loud, then read slightly ahead of the word you're saying and pause at the end of each sentence.
The five steps
- Write the script for speaking. Short sentences, everyday words and contractions. Read it out loud once and rewrite anything you trip over.
- Put the text next to the lens. On a laptop, a narrow window at the top of the screen under the webcam. On a rig, the glass in front of the lens.
- Set the font and width. Large, plain text in a narrow column, light on dark, so your eyes barely move.
- Choose how it scrolls. A steady speed set to your pace, a remote or pedal, or voice tracking that follows you as you speak.
- Rehearse, then record. Do one full run-through out loud, fix the lines that feel awkward, then record a few takes.
The rest of this guide covers each step, plus the problems people usually hit and how to fix them.
Pick your setup
| Setup | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop or webcam | Video calls, webinars, quick recordings | A narrow window at the top of the screen, just under the webcam. No extra hardware. |
| Phone or tablet | Social videos, recording on the go | An app on the device you film with, text near the front camera. |
| Glass rig | Studio-quality video, longer scripts | A screen under the lens shows the text mirrored; angled glass reflects it in front of the lens. |
New to the hardware side? Start with what a teleprompter is and how it works. For a laptop or webcam, ourfree online teleprompter runs in the browser with nothing to install.
Put the text next to the lens
Viewers judge eye contact by where your eyes are relative to the camera. The closer the line you're reading is to the lens, the more it looks like you're talking to them.
- Laptop: make the teleprompter window narrow and drag it to the top-centre of the screen, under the webcam. Keep the reading line near the top of the window.
- External webcam: mount it on the screen you read from, and put the text directly beneath it.
- Glass rig: turn on mirror mode so the reflection reads the right way round, and run the prompter full screen on the device under the glass.
More on this in how to make eye contact on video calls.
Teleprompter font, size and width
- Plain sans-serif. Simple letter shapes are easier to read at a glance than decorative fonts.
- Mixed case, not ALL CAPS. Normal capitalisation keeps word shapes familiar and easier to read quickly.
- Large enough to read without leaning in from where you sit or stand. Increase it until reading feels effortless, then go one step bigger for nerves.
- A narrow column of a few words per line, so your eyes don't sweep left and right (a clear sign of reading on camera).
- Light text on a dark background is the usual choice; it's easy on the eyes and, on a rig, reflects cleanly in the glass.
In our online teleprompter, use A− and A+ for size, and Settings (⚙) for text width, colours (white on black, yellow on black, black on white) and where the reading line sits.
Write the script for the ear
A script that reads well on paper often sounds stiff out loud. Rewrite it for speaking:
| Written for the page | Written for speaking |
|---|---|
| In this session, participants will be provided with an overview of the key functionality that has been introduced in the latest release. | Today I'll show you what's new in this release. There are three changes. Let's start with the biggest one. |
| Revenue increased by approximately 23% year-over-year. | Revenue grew by about a quarter compared with last year. |
- Short sentences, one idea each. Start a new line where you'd breathe.
- Contractions (I'll, we're, it's) and everyday words.
- Write numbers the way you'd say them, and spell out names you might stumble on.
- Read it out loud once. Any line you trip over, rewrite rather than practise.
Want something to practise with? Our sample teleprompter scripts are written for speaking and open straight in the teleprompter.
Choose how it scrolls
| Scroll control | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Steady speed | Narration, voice-over, an even read | Too slow and you wait; too fast and you rush. Set it to your measured pace. |
| Remote, pedal or operator | Studio shoots, long scripts, manual control | Needs hardware or a second person. |
| Voice tracking | Natural delivery with pauses and ad-libs, solo recording, calls | Needs a microphone and works best in a quiet room. |
Voice tracking matches what you say to the script, so the text waits when you pause and catches up if you skip a line. Our online teleprompter does it free in Chrome, Edge and Safari; see how voice tracking works.
Set the speed to your pace
If you use a steady speed, don't guess. Take the speaking speed test (read a short passage out loud) and use your words per minute as the starting speed. For reference, the National Center for Voice and Speech gives about 150 words per minute as the average for US English speakers. Most presenters land somewhere between 120 and 160. If you know you rush, set it a little slower and let the text pace you (how to speak slower).
How to read naturally
- Read slightly ahead. Let your eyes run a few words ahead of your voice, so you see the end of the sentence coming.
- Pause at full stops. A breath at the end of each sentence makes reading sound like talking.
- Stress one word per sentence. Flat emphasis is what makes reading sound like reading.
- Glance away now and then on longer pieces, as you would in conversation, then come back to the line.
- Do a warm-up take. The first read is usually the stiffest. Record two or three and keep the best.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| You sound robotic | Written-style script, no pauses | Rewrite for speaking; pause at full stops; stress key words. |
| Your eyes visibly move | Wide column, small text, text far from the lens | Narrow the column, enlarge the text, move it under the camera. |
| You lose your place | Fixed speed that doesn't match you | Adjust the speed, or use voice tracking so it follows you. |
| You rush | Nerves, or the script is too long for the slot | Slow the scroll; cut content using the speech time calculator. |
| Text is backwards in the glass | Mirror mode is off | Turn on Mirror (and Upside down if your rig needs it). |
On video calls and for YouTube
- Zoom, Google Meet, Teams: the teleprompter for Zoom guide shows the window setup. A browser tab can't stay on top of a full-screen meeting; SocialAI Prompter for Mac (private beta) keeps the script in a strip under the webcam, on top of the call.
- YouTube and social videos: record from your webcam inside our online teleprompter with ● Rec. The video stays on your device and has no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
How do you read a teleprompter without looking like you are reading?
Keep the text close to the lens and the column narrow, so your eyes barely move. Write the way you talk, pause at the ends of sentences, and stress one word in each sentence. Rehearse once out loud first; most of the "reading voice" comes from words you haven't said before.
What is the best speed for a teleprompter?
Your own speaking pace. Most people present at around 120 to 160 words per minute; measure yours with a speaking speed test and start there. Voice tracking avoids the question: the text moves when you speak and waits when you pause.
What is the best font for a teleprompter?
A plain sans-serif font, large enough to read without effort from where you sit, in mixed case rather than all capitals. Use light text on a dark background and a narrow column of a few words per line.
Can I use my laptop as a teleprompter?
Yes. Open an online teleprompter in a narrow window at the top of the screen, right under the webcam, and use a large font. For live video calls, a teleprompter app that stays on top of the meeting window works better than a browser tab.
Should I use voice tracking or a fixed speed?
Voice tracking suits natural delivery with pauses and ad-libs, because the script waits for you. A fixed speed suits narration and voice-over, where you want an even pace. A remote or pedal suits a second person running the prompter, or anyone who prefers manual control.
How long does it take to get comfortable with a teleprompter?
It varies by person. Practising with short scripts helps: read a one-minute script a few times, record it, and watch it back. Our practice scripts open straight in the teleprompter.