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This article covers how to use the Poll Everywhere Live during a live presentation to activate and deactivate polls without leaving your slide deck.
Insert polls into your slides
Open your presentation (Google Slides, PowerPoint, etc.).
In the Live App, click Insert poll.
Select one or more polls.
Paste the copied Poll Everywhere Live QR code directly into your slide.
Live QR codes are visually distinct and are automatically detected by the app.
How detection works
The Poll Everywhere Live App continuously scans your selected display for Poll Everywhere Live QR codes.
When no code is detected, the app shows a subtle pulsing circle animation.
When a Poll Everywhere Live QR code appears, the app enters a Ready to activate state.
Standard participant QR codes are ignored. Poll Everywhere Live QR codes are smart:
If scanned by the app, they control the poll
If scanned by a participant, they are routed to the join page
Activating and deactivating polls
When presenting:
A small floating control appears on screen
When a Poll Everywhere Live QR code is visible, the poll is ready to activate
Click the control to activate the poll.
To deactivate, you can press ->, <-, ESC, or the "Exit" button on screen. Escape and "Exit" will simply deactivate, while the arrow keys will deactivate and either move your presentation forward or back, depending on the button pressed.
Auto-activate (optional)
Auto-activate automatically activates a poll as soon as its Poll Everywhere Live QR code appears on screen.
This is useful for power users who want a fully hands-free flow.
Show a slide advancing → poll activates automatically → presenter deactivates
Because Auto-activate can trigger polls outside of presentation mode, it is off by default. Turn it off after presenting to avoid accidental activation.
What participants see
Participants do not see the Poll Everywhere Live App UI. They only see the poll activate and deactivate normally, as if it were launched from the web.
For advanced controls, continue to Advanced Settings & Clicker Support here: Poll Everywhere Live App: Advanced Settings & Clickers
If you have any questions or run into issues, please contact the Technical Support team