diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index 79304c9..cbc444b 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ tauri-build = { version = "2", features = [] }
 
 [dependencies]
 once_cell = "1"
-tauri = { version = "2", features = ["tray-icon", 'image-png'] }
+tauri = { version = "2", features = [ "macos-private-api", "tray-icon", 'image-png'] }
 tauri-plugin-opener = "2"
 serde = { version = "1", features = ["derive"] }
 serde_json = "1"
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs b/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
index e5c8994..8ef90ff 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use crate::settings::get_settings;
 use log::{debug, info};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::Instant;
-use tauri::{App, Manager};
+use tauri::{App, LogicalSize, Manager, WebviewWindowBuilder};
 
 const WHISPER_SAMPLE_RATE: usize = 16000;
 
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ impl AudioRecordingManager {
                         binding_id: binding_id.to_string(),
                     };
                     debug!("Recording started for binding {binding_id}");
+                    self.show_overlay();
                     return true;
                 }
             }
@@ -239,6 +240,9 @@ impl AudioRecordingManager {
 
                 *self.is_recording.lock().unwrap() = false;
 
+                // Hide the overlay
+                self.hide_overlay();
+
                 // In on-demand mode turn the mic off again
                 if matches!(*self.mode.lock().unwrap(), MicrophoneMode::OnDemand) {
                     self.stop_microphone_stream();
@@ -258,4 +262,54 @@ impl AudioRecordingManager {
             _ => None,
         }
     }
+
+    /* ---------- overlay window -------------------------------------------- */
+
+    fn show_overlay(&self) {
+        if let Some(overlay_window) = self.app_handle.get_webview_window("recording_overlay") {
+            let _ = overlay_window.show();
+            let _ = overlay_window.set_focus();
+        } else {
+            // Get screen dimensions for positioning
+            if let Ok(monitors) = self.app_handle.primary_monitor() {
+                if let Some(monitor) = monitors {
+                    let size = monitor.size();
+                    let scale = monitor.scale_factor();
+                    let screen_width = (size.width as f64 / scale) as i32;
+                    let screen_height = (size.height as f64 / scale) as i32;
+
+                    // Position at bottom center, 30px from bottom
+                    let x = (screen_width - 150) / 2;
+                    let y = screen_height - 50 - 30;
+
+                    match WebviewWindowBuilder::new(&self.app_handle, "recording_overlay")
+                        .title("Recording")
+                        .position(x as f64, y as f64)
+                        .resizable(false)
+                        .maximizable(false)
+                        .minimizable(false)
+                        .closable(false)
+                        .decorations(false)
+                        .always_on_top(true)
+                        .skip_taskbar(true)
+                        .transparent(true)
+                        .build()
+                    {
+                        Ok(window) => {
+                            debug!("Recording overlay window created successfully");
+                        }
+                        Err(e) => {
+                            debug!("Failed to create recording overlay window: {}", e);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn hide_overlay(&self) {
+        if let Some(overlay_window) = self.app_handle.get_webview_window("recording_overlay") {
+            let _ = overlay_window.hide();
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index 5a0f2eb..7d82073 100644
--- a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     "frontendDist": "../dist"
   },
   "app": {
+    "macOSPrivateApi": true,
     "windows": [
       {
         "title": "Handy",
diff --git a/src/overlay/RecordingOverlay.css b/src/overlay/RecordingOverlay.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f66ff07
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/overlay/RecordingOverlay.css
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+.recording-overlay {
+  width: 150px;
+  height: 50px;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
+  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
+}
+
+.bars-container {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: end;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 3px;
+  height: 30px;
+}
+
+.bar {
+  width: 4px;
+  background: linear-gradient(to top, #FAA2CA, #F28CBB);
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  animation: pulse infinite ease-in-out;
+  min-height: 4px;
+}
+
+@keyframes pulse {
+  0%, 100% {
+    height: 4px;
+    opacity: 0.6;
+  }
+  50% {
+    height: 30px;
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/overlay/RecordingOverlay.tsx b/src/overlay/RecordingOverlay.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7629eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/overlay/RecordingOverlay.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import './RecordingOverlay.css';
+
+const RecordingOverlay: React.FC = () => {
+  return (
+    <div className="recording-overlay">
+      <div className="bars-container">
+        {Array.from({ length: 8 }, (_, i) => (
+          <div
+            key={i}
+            className="bar"
+            style={{
+              animationDelay: `${i * 100}ms`,
+              animationDuration: `${800 + Math.random() * 400}ms`
+            }}
+          />
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+};
+
+export default RecordingOverlay;
diff --git a/src/overlay/index.html b/src/overlay/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..08db593
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/overlay/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<!doctype html>
+<html lang="en">
+    <head>
+        <meta charset="utf-8" />
+        <title>Recording Overlay</title>
+        <style>
+            html,
+            body {
+                margin: 0;
+                padding: 0;
+                background: transparent;
+            }
+        </style>
+    </head>
+    <body>
+        <div id="root"></div>
+        <script type="module" src="/src/overlay/main.tsx"></script>
+    </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/src/overlay/main.tsx b/src/overlay/main.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..76053f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/overlay/main.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import React from "react";
+import ReactDOM from "react-dom/client";
+import RecordingOverlay from "./RecordingOverlay";
+
+ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById("root") as HTMLElement).render(
+  <React.StrictMode>
+    <RecordingOverlay />
+  </React.StrictMode>,
+);
diff --git a/vite.config.ts b/vite.config.ts
index 8c63787..4f5869c 100644
--- a/vite.config.ts
+++ b/vite.config.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { defineConfig } from "vite";
 import react from "@vitejs/plugin-react";
 import tailwindcss from "@tailwindcss/vite";
+import { resolve } from "path";
 
 // @ts-expect-error process is a nodejs global
 const host = process.env.TAURI_DEV_HOST;
@@ -9,6 +10,16 @@ const host = process.env.TAURI_DEV_HOST;
 export default defineConfig(async () => ({
   plugins: [react(), tailwindcss()],
 
+  // Multiple entry points for main app and overlay
+  build: {
+    rollupOptions: {
+      input: {
+        main: resolve(__dirname, "index.html"),
+        overlay: resolve(__dirname, "src/overlay/index.html"),
+      },
+    },
+  },
+
   // Vite options tailored for Tauri development and only applied in `tauri dev` or `tauri build`
   //
   // 1. prevent vite from obscuring rust errors