Screen-aware prompting
Lets you ask Claude about what is actually on your screen, with screenshots taken from each monitor and labels for primary and secondary displays.
Claude Overlay
Claude Overlay is a Windows desktop overlay for Claude Code that reads your screen so you can ask questions, inspect content, and request edits without leaving the current app. It runs on your existing Claude subscription through the Claude CLI, so no separate API key is required.
What Claude Overlay is
Claude Overlay is a Windows desktop overlay for Claude Code that sits on top of other apps and uses the current screen as context for answers. It is described as a floating, screen-aware chat window that can read what is visible on one or more monitors, then respond without requiring you to copy and paste text into a separate chat.
The project is built around your own Claude subscription and the local Claude CLI, not a separate API key. The README and setup guide describe it as a frameless, always-on-top window that can collapse into a small orb, be shown and hidden with a global hotkey, and act as a full Claude Code agent that can edit files, run commands, and interact with apps already open on your screen.
Features
Floating overlay UI
Runs as a frameless, always-on-top overlay and can collapse to a small draggable orb when not in use, so it stays available without taking over the workspace.
Agent-based actions
Uses the full Claude Code agent under the hood, so it can edit files and run commands instead of only returning chat replies.
Own-subscription workflow
Runs on your own Claude CLI login, which means it uses your existing Claude subscription and does not require a separate API key.
Image and screenshot input
Accepts pasted images with Ctrl+V and can also capture screenshots automatically on each message.
Polished chat workflow
Includes a context-usage meter, streaming responses, tool-call chips, an in-place model switcher, and DPI-aware, resizable UI behavior.
Common use cases
Inspect what is on screen
Ask Claude what is wrong in a screenshot, error dialog, or document that is already open, without copying the text elsewhere.
Edit files in place
Keep working inside a slide deck, spreadsheet, or document while asking Claude to make changes to the file you are viewing.
Work without leaving the current window
Use the overlay during presentations, screen shares, or calls when you need a quick fact-check, translation, or explanation without switching apps.
Compare content across monitors
Capture every monitor at once when information is split across displays and you need Claude to reconcile the visible content.
Review pasted images
Paste an image into the overlay to ask questions about a screenshot, chart, or other visual reference.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Reads the screen directly, including multiple monitors, so you can ask about visible content without copying text.
- Uses your own Claude subscription, so there is no separate API key to manage.
- Can edit files and run commands through Claude Code instead of only answering questions.
- Designed to stay out of the way with an always-on-top overlay, collapse-to-orb behavior, and a global show/hide hotkey.
- Supports pasted images and automatic screenshots, which broadens the kinds of content it can analyze.
Cons
- It is Windows 10/11 only at this stage.
- Setup depends on the Claude Code CLI and Python, so it is not a single-click web app.
- Because the agent can act on your screen and files, the README notes that important documents should be sanity-checked before relying on automated edits.
FAQ
What does Claude Overlay do?
It is a floating Claude Code chat overlay for Windows that can see your screen and answer based on what is visible, rather than requiring you to copy text into another app.
Which platforms does it support?
The setup guide says it is for Windows 10 and 11. The app uses Windows-specific APIs and is described as Windows-only for now.
Do I need an API key?
No. The project is designed to run on your existing Claude subscription through the Claude CLI, so you do not need a separate API key.
What do I need to install it?
The setup flow requires the Claude Code CLI, Python 3.10+, and your own Claude login. The included setup script can install the CLI if it is missing and installs the Python dependencies.
How is it used during work?
The README describes it as a floating, always-on-top window that can collapse to a draggable orb and can be shown or hidden globally with Ctrl+Alt+Space.
Quick Facts
- Category
- AI Chat / Developer Tool
- Platform
- Windows 10 / 11
- Primary use
- Screen-aware Claude Code chat overlay
- Pricing model
- Uses your existing Claude subscription; no API key required
- Source domain
- github.com
- Workflow
- Overlay UI → claude-agent-sdk → Claude CLI → Anthropic
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