Arrivals Board Help

Arrivals Board turns your iPad or Apple TV into a beautiful split-flap display -- the kind you see in train stations and airports. Messages from your favorite services flip into view one character at a time, complete with that satisfying mechanical clatter.

Board overview screenshot

What can Arrivals display?

Arrivals pulls in content from a wide range of sources and shows each message as a row on the board:

Source Description
Mastodon Posts from your home timeline or specific accounts
Bluesky Posts from your Bluesky feed
Threads Posts from Threads accounts you follow
RSS / Atom Headlines from any RSS or Atom feed
MQTT Messages from an MQTT broker (great for home automation)
Calendar Upcoming events from your calendars
Weather Current conditions and forecasts for your location
Push Notifications Messages sent via push notifications
HTTP API Messages posted to the built-in API
Manual Input Your own custom messages, typed directly into the board

  • Getting Started

    Set up Arrivals on your iPad or Apple TV in minutes.

  • Message Sources

    Connect Mastodon, Bluesky, RSS, MQTT, and more.

  • Settings

    Customize the display, sound, and behavior.

  • Automation

    Control Arrivals with Siri Shortcuts, URL schemes, and the API.

  • Apple TV

    Tips and features specific to the big screen.

  • Troubleshooting

    Solutions for common issues.

What you'll find here

  • Getting Started -- Launch walkthrough for iPad and Apple TV, including adding your first source.
  • The Board -- How the display works: the header, clock, message rows, and navigation.
  • Message Sources -- Setup guides for each of the ten supported sources.
  • Settings -- Colors, fonts, flip speed, sound, and screen behavior.
  • Automation -- Siri Shortcuts, URL schemes, and the API.
  • Apple TV -- Remote control tips, QR code sign-in, and display rotation.
  • Use Cases -- Ideas for ambient displays, office dashboards, and home automation setups.
  • Troubleshooting -- Fixes for common problems.