Pluely Dashboard vs. Overlay: Which Window to Use

Reach for the overlay while you work and the dashboard when you configure — get that split right and Pluely feels fast instead of cluttered. This guide explains what each window is for and how to open it.

The overlay: built for in-the-moment use

The overlay is Pluely v1's small, always-on-top window that floats above everything else on screen. It's built to be glanced at during a live call, a coding session, or while reading — without switching away from what you're doing. The overlay is where you'll spend most day-to-day time: asking questions in Ask mode, running a live Listen mode session, picking a model, or triggering a shortcut.

Because it stays on top and stays discreet, the overlay is the right choice whenever you need Pluely available without letting it take over your screen or intrude on what you're presenting or sharing.

The dashboard: built for setup and review

The dashboard is Pluely v1's larger, full window — a typical desktop application window rather than a floating widget. It's where deeper configuration and review happen: connecting a provider or CLI, customizing keyboard shortcuts, adjusting overlay appearance, reviewing your saved history and library, and checking your license and plan usage.

You don't need the dashboard open during day-to-day use — it's a set-up-once destination, plus the occasional return trip to review a past transcript or change a setting.

When to use each

• Use the overlay when you're actively working: asking a quick question, capturing your screen, running a live Listen session, or triggering a shortcut mid-task.
• Use the dashboard when you're setting something up for the first time, changing a setting that doesn't need to happen mid-task, reviewing saved history or past meetings, or checking your license and plan usage.

Think of the overlay as the tool within arm's reach and the dashboard as the control room you visit occasionally.

Step-by-step: opening the overlay

1. If Pluely is already running, press the toggle-overlay keyboard shortcut to show or hide it instantly.
2. If it isn't running, launch the app — the overlay appears as part of normal startup.
3. Reposition or resize the overlay if it isn't where you want it.

Step-by-step: opening the dashboard

1. From the overlay, use the option that opens the full dashboard (near a settings or menu icon on the overlay itself).
2. Or open the dashboard directly from your system's application menu or dock/taskbar icon for Pluely.
3. Use the dashboard's sidebar to reach the section you need — shortcuts, providers, history, account, or appearance settings.
4. Close the dashboard when you're done; the overlay keeps running independently.

Keeping both open at once

The two windows are independent — keep both open without conflict. A common pattern: leave the overlay visible through the workday, open the dashboard briefly to check a past session or tweak a setting, then close it again. Dashboard changes — a new shortcut, a newly connected provider — take effect in the overlay immediately, without restarting either window.

Tips

• Overlay in your way during a screen share? Revisit Resize, move & style the overlay rather than closing it entirely.
• Use the dashboard's history and library right after a session to review or transform a transcript — see Manage conversation history.
• Memorize the overlay's toggle shortcut — it's the fastest way to bring Pluely in and out of view without touching the dashboard at all.
• If you only use Pluely for quick questions, you may rarely open the dashboard beyond initial setup.

Next

• Model selection — pick the right model for the task at hand.
• Plans, usage & limits — what to check in the dashboard's account area.