Digital Display Menus

Digital menu boards create a professional, modern impression while allowing you to update prices, specials, and seasonal items instantly. They’re perfect for restaurants, cafes, bars, spas, salons, and any business that wants to showcase offerings dynamically.

Benefits of Digital Menus

• Instantly update prices and offerings
• Highlight daily specials without reprinting
• Enhance customer experience with professional visuals
• Save money on printing costs long-term
• Showcase different menus at different times of day

USB Drive Digital Menu Boards

If you already have a flat-panel TV (or are planning to purchase one), you can easily turn it into a stunning digital menu board with just a USB thumb drive. This method is:

• Extremely cost-effective - just $5-10 for a USB drive
• Universal - works with most modern TVs
• Simple to set up - no technical expertise needed
• Easy to update - just replace the file on your USB

Perfect for displaying daily specials, seasonal offerings, or your complete menu without expensive digital signage systems or ongoing service fees. Create, update, and display your menu on your own schedule.

Create Your USB Digital Menu in 9 Easy Steps

1. Create a new menu: Start with a new blank menu using File > New Menu

2. Set up for TV display: Use File > Page Setup and select:

   • Paper Size > HDTV
   • Orientation > Landscape (best for most TV displays)

3. Choose your layout: Most digital menus look best with columns:

   • Go to Design > Switch Menu Styles > In this many columns
   • Choose 3 columns (or adjust to fit your content needs)

4. Design your menu: Create your menu with these digital display tips:

   • Use larger fonts (TV viewers may be further away)
   • Add high-quality images (they’ll look great on HD screens)
   • Create clear sections with bold headings
   • Consider your TV’s aspect ratio when designing

5. Save your work: Use File > Rename Menu to give it a name and File > Save Menu

6. Export as image: Create a JPG file with:

   • Tools > Create JPG
   • Select format option High quality
   • Click Create

7. Save to your computer: When the JPG appears in a new browser tab:

   • Click the save page button (or right-click and select “Save Image As”)
   • Note where it’s saved or drag it to your desktop

8. Copy to USB drive: Transfer the JPG file to a USB flash drive. If you don’t already have one, they’re available at Best Buy, Walmart, or Amazon for just a few dollars.

9. Display on your TV:

   • Plug the USB drive into your TV’s USB port
   • Use your TV remote to navigate to USB or Media input
   • Select and display your menu image
   • Some TVs have a “slideshow” option for rotating multiple images

Pro Tip

Create multiple JPGs for different menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and use your TV’s slideshow feature (if available) to cycle between them, or manually change them throughout the day.

How to Make a Digital Menu

What size TV works best for digital menus?

Most businesses use 32”-55” TVs depending on viewing distance. For best results, use a TV with at least 1080p resolution.

Can I display multiple menus on one TV?

Yes! Create separate JPG files for each menu and use your TV’s slideshow feature (if available) to rotate between them.

How do I update my menu once it’s on display?

Simply make your changes in iMenuPro, create a new JPG, and replace the file on your USB drive.

Can I schedule different menus for different times of day?

With the USB method, you’ll need to manually change menus. With the iPad method, you can use scheduling apps (such as Kiosker Pro) to automatically change what’s displayed at specific times.

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iPad-Powered Digital Menu Boards

Already created your iPad menu? Great! You can easily display it on larger screens with the methods below:

Method 1: Connect via Cable (Most Reliable)

Connect your iPad directly to your television using a cable.

For iPads with USB-C Connector (Newer Models)

Modern iPads with USB-C ports make connection simple.

1. If the charge cable that came with your iPad isn’t compatible with the port on your display, TV, or projector, do the following:

2. Plug a USB-C Display AV Adapter or USB-C VGA Multi-port Adapter into the charging port on iPad.

3. Connect an HDMI or VGA cable to the adapter.

4. Connect the other end of the HDMI or VGA cable to the display, TV, or projector.

5. If necessary, switch to the correct video source on the display, TV, or projector. If you need help, use the display’s manual.

Note

If the display doesn’t turn on when you connect it to iPad, unplug it from iPad, then plug it back in. If that doesn’t work, unplug the display from its power source, then plug it in again.

See the Apple Support article Charge and connect with the USB-C port on your iPad.

For iPads with Lightning Connector (Older Models)

If your iPad has the older Lightning port, follow these steps:

1. Plug a Lightning Digital AV Adapter or Lightning to VGA Adapter into the charging port on iPad.

2. Connect an HDMI or VGA cable to the adapter.

3. Connect the other end of the HDMI or VGA cable to the display, TV, or projector.

4. If necessary, switch to the correct video source on the display, TV, or projector. If you need help, see the manual that came with your display.

Note

To charge your iPad while it’s connected to the display, TV, or projector, insert one end of your charge cable into the extra port on the adapter, insert the other end of the charge cable into the power adapter, then plug the power adapter to a power outlet.

Caution

For the most up-to-date instructions, please see Apple’s support page regarding this topic

Method 2: Connect Wirelessly via Screen Mirroring

For a wire-free setup, use screen mirroring to display your menu. This works with Apple TV and AirPlay-compatible smart TVs.

Requirements:

• iPad/iPhone and display device connected to the same Wi-Fi network
• AirPlay-compatible device (Apple TV or compatible smart TV)

1. On your iPad with iPadOS 13 or later: Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen. (On iPhone 8 or earlier or iOS 11 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.)

2. Tap the Screen Mirroring button in the Control Center.

3. The Screen Mirroring button appears highlighted among the Control Center modules. Select your TV or Mac from the list.

4. Available devices appear for selection under Screen Mirroring.

Note

To stop mirroring your iPhone or iPad, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring. Or press the Menu button on your Apple TV Remote.

Caution

Due to different iOS versions and Apple updates, these instructions may not be up-to-date. Always refer to Apple support for the most up-to-date instructions on screen mirroring

Important: Display Ratio Considerations

When using iPad methods to connect to a TV, you may encounter display ratio issues:

• Space at bottom or sides: iPad aspect ratios (1.43:1) don’t match most 16:9 TVs (1.77:1), so you might see space at the bottom or sides of your menu.

This issue is specific to iPad connection methods (both cable and AirPlay). The USB/JPG method (listed at the top of the this page) doesn’t have this issue because you can design/size your menu specifically for your TV dimensions.

Display Enhancements

Once your menu is showing on screen, these tools will help create a polished, professional display experience:

Apple’s Native Kiosk Mode

Follow our simple guide here to activate Apple’s built-in Kiosk Mode (Guided Access). This locks your iPad to display only your menu, preventing:

• Accidental app switching
• Unwanted notifications

Kiosker Pro  third-party app

Various third-party tools allow you to put your iPad in fullscreen mode, cycle through pages, PDFs, and more. Kiosker Pro: Web Kiosk is one such utility you can use to display your digital live-sync menu.

Kiosker offers many options to customize how your menu can be displayed.

Using your Live-Sync menu with Kiosker Pro

To use Kiosker Pro with iMenuPro Live-Sync, you can use the same Live-Sync Public Link URL you used when setting up your iPad menu.

Using your JPG or PDF menu with Kiosker Pro

You can also supply a JPG or PDF file directly to Kiosker Pro. Simply upload your files (the ones you used when setting up your USB Menus to the Kiosker Pro dashboard and select the appropriate display settings.

For furthur instructions on how to use Kiosker Pro, please refer to their documentation

Disclaimer

Softcafe/iMenuPro is not associated with or endorsed by Kiosker or any of its products or services. Any use of Kiosker software is solely at your own risk, and by using it, you agree that Softcafe/iMenuPro is not liable for any issues, damages, or claims that may arise from such use. Please carefully evaluate and verify the suitability of Kiosker for your specific needs before proceeding.