PluelyPluelyDocs

Getting Started

Microphone & Screen Permissions for Pluely

Pluely v1 relies on two categories of system permission to work fully: microphone access and screen access. This page explains what each permission unlocks, where to grant it on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and how to diagnose the most common permission-related problems.

Why Pluely asks for permissions

Pluely's overlay sits on top of your other windows and listens or looks at your screen only when you use its features:

  • Microphone powers Listen mode and push-to-talk, letting you talk to Pluely directly.
  • Screen access does two jobs: it lets Pluely capture system audio so Listen mode can hear the other side of a call, and it lets Pluely take screenshots you can ask about.

Without screen access granted, Listen mode still works, but it will only hear you — not the other participant in a call or meeting. Screenshots will also fail until this permission is granted.

Granting permissions on macOS

  1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security.
  2. Find Microphone in the list and enable Pluely.
  3. Find Screen Recording and enable Pluely.
  4. If shortcuts or the overlay behave unexpectedly, also check Accessibility and enable Pluely there.
  5. macOS usually requires you to quit and reopen Pluely after toggling Screen Recording or Accessibility for the change to apply.

Granting permissions on Windows

  1. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and confirm Pluely is allowed.
  2. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Screen recording (the exact label can vary by Windows version) and confirm Pluely is allowed.
  3. If a prompt appeared when you first used Listen mode or took a screenshot, accepting it usually grants access without visiting Settings manually.

Granting permissions on Linux

Linux permission flows vary by distribution and desktop environment:

  1. Check your desktop's privacy, sound, or screen-sharing settings panel for a Pluely entry.
  2. If your system uses a portal-based permission model, a one-time dialog may appear the first time Pluely requests microphone or screen access — accept it.
  3. If no prompt appears automatically, manually enable microphone and screen-sharing access for Pluely in your system settings.

Confirming permissions are working

  1. Open Pluely and start Listen mode during a test call or with audio playing.
  2. If you hear yourself transcribed but not the other side, screen/audio-sharing access is not yet granted.
  3. Try a screenshot from inside Pluely — if it fails or returns blank, the same permission is the cause.

Troubleshooting

  • Granted the permission but nothing changed — quit Pluely completely (not just close the overlay) and reopen it; macOS in particular requires a full restart of the app.
  • Permission toggle is grayed out or missing — restart your computer, then check the setting again; this is a known quirk on some macOS versions after an OS update.
  • Listen mode only hears me — this is almost always the screen/audio-sharing permission, not the microphone permission; re-check that setting on your OS.
  • Screenshots return a blank or black image — screen access has not been granted, or was granted before a required app restart.
  • Permissions reset after an update — OS-level app permissions can occasionally reset after a Pluely update; re-check your system's privacy settings if features stop working right after updating.

Last updated 2026-07-10 · pluely.com