---
title: "Explain what a screen shows and why"
method: GET
path: "/v1/screens/{id}/why"
tags: ["screens"]
---

# Explain what a screen shows and why

`GET /v1/screens/{id}/why`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.brixsignage.com`
- URL: `https://api.brixsignage.com/v1/screens/{id}/why`
- Auth: HTTP bearer

Get a plain-language explanation of why a screen is currently showing what it is showing. The explanation follows the order of precedence: emergency content, then manually assigned content, then scheduled content, then the default, including reasons such as a missing asset or a revoked share.

The resolution chain (deactivated → emergency → cast → assigned content), what the device reports on the glass, and warnings.

## Path parameters

- `id` string, required

## Response `200`

Success.

- object
  - `data` object, required
    - `summary` string, required
    - `currentContent` object, required
      - `kind` string, required: The winning layer, or `none`.
      - `id` string, nullable, required
      - `name` string, nullable, required
    - `renderTruth` object, required
      - `verdict` 'deactivated' | 'offline' | 'no-content' | 'render-failed' | 'wrong-content' | 'signature-mismatch' | 'blank' | 'frozen' | 'switching' | 'ok', required
      - `ok` boolean, required
      - `problem` boolean, required
      - `fault` 'user' | 'platform', nullable, required
      - `reason` string, nullable, required
    - `layers` object[], required
      - `layer` 'deactivated' | 'emergency' | 'cast' | 'scheduled' | 'default' | 'unassigned' | 'missing-asset' | 'share-revoked' | 'content-unplayable' | 'content-preparing' | 'schedule-empty' | 'schedule-gap', required
      - `active` boolean, required
      - `reason` string, required
      - `contentName` string
      - `startedAt` string: ISO-8601 timestamp (UTC).
      - `expiresAt` string: ISO-8601 timestamp (UTC).
    - `warnings` string[], required

## Other responses

- `401`: Missing, expired or revoked bearer token.
- `403`: The token lacks the permission this operation needs (see `x-brix-permission`).
- `404`: No such screen in this workspace.
- `5XX`: Server error. The body carries a `requestId` to quote to support.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/brixsignage/apis/brix-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/brixsignage/apis/brix-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/brixsignage/apis/brix-api/revisions/02fd3665dc7d?raw)