Capture key moments in real time on Plaud Desktop by adding highlights, typed notes, or screenshots so your final summary is built around the exact details you need.
What is Highlights (Multimodal Input)?
Highlights help you capture and prioritize crucial details during an active recording. Mark specific points during meetings or interviews so no context is lost. Plaud uses these inputs to extract your exact insights and structure a precise AI summary. You can add three types of input while recording:
- Flag a timestamp: click the flag icon to mark a precise moment without typing.
- Type a note: add text to capture a specific thought or context.
- Take a screenshot: capture visual details like slides, whiteboards, or charts.
Add highlights only while your audio is actively running. You can open the feature from the Widget (mini control panel) or the Main Panel (full interface). To use the screenshot tool, grant screen-capture access to Plaud Desktop.
How to add a highlight during recording?
- While recording, open the Highlights panel from either:
- Widget → click Highlights.
- Main Panel → click Highlights.
The Highlights panel opens and shows an empty or existing highlights list.
- Widget → click Highlights.
- Add a highlight using one of three methods:
- Add a note: In the Notes input, type the key point (for example, "Decision: launch on Friday" or "Action: Alex to share doc").
Save the note by pressing Enter or clicking Save if available. A new highlight appears in the list with a timestamp and the note text.
- Mark the moment with a flag: Click the flag icon to mark the current moment.
A flagged highlight is added at the current timestamp.
- Capture a screenshot: Click the camera icon to take a screenshot.
If prompted, grant screen-capture permission and retry. A screenshot highlight is added with a timestamp and a preview if supported.
- Add a note: In the Notes input, type the key point (for example, "Decision: launch on Friday" or "Action: Alex to share doc").
- Stay in the Highlights panel to verify your markers. Each entry shows a precise timestamp and its content type (note, flag, or screenshot), and new entries populate as you keep recording. After the recording, review your captured highlights in the Summary view, where Plaud automatically links every marker to its precise timestamp.
FAQ about Highlights
Can I add highlights after a recording is finished?
No. Highlights, typed notes, and photos can only be added while a recording is active.
What happens if I don't have screen-capture permission?
The screenshot tool remains disabled, though flags and typed notes will function normally. Enable access via your system settings:
- macOS: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording and toggle Plaud Desktop on.
- Windows: Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Screenshots and screen recording and allow Plaud Desktop.
Restart the desktop application to apply these changes.
How do my highlights, notes, and photos affect the AI summary?
Plaud extracts these markers to structure your final intelligence. The summary prioritizes your exact context while maintaining broader conversation details.
Can I take notes and capture context while the meeting is happening?
Yes. During an active capture, Plaud Desktop lets you add context in real time. Type notes so you don't forget key details, mark important moments so you can find them later, and take screenshots to preserve visual context. All notes, highlights, and screenshots are saved within the same meeting session and are available when you review the transcript, summary, or note afterward.
When should I use a highlight?
Use a highlight when you hear or say something you'll need to act on or find again later. Highlights tell Plaud's AI which moments matter most when it generates your summary. Moments worth highlighting include decisions that were agreed on, action items someone committed to, key numbers or deadlines you'll need verbatim, risks or objections that need follow-up, and next steps after the meeting ends.
Highlights work best when they're selective. If you flag every sentence, the AI treats them as equally important, which reduces their value in the final summary. Reserve highlights for moments that would be easy to miss when you review a long transcript.