Getting started

Install PlayOverlay

Download the build for your computer from the download page. There are versions for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Linux (.deb and .rpm).

The macOS builds are signed and notarised and open like any other app. The Windows installer isn't signed yet, so Windows warns you the first time you open it. That is expected, and the download page shows how to get past the warning.

On first launch PlayOverlay suggests a language based on your system. Confirm it or pick another. You can change it later in System Settings.

The two windows

PlayOverlay always runs two windows:

• The control window is the dashboard you work from. It has the match clock, both scores, the penalty shootout, the buttons that choose what is on air, and a live preview of the output.
• The display window shows only the graphics, on a solid key colour (blue unless you change it). This is the window your mixer sees. Move it to the screen output that goes into your mixer and make it full screen.

If you stream with OBS on the same computer, you don't need the display window on a second screen. Turn on the OBS browser source instead and the graphics go straight into OBS with a transparent background. See Output setup.

The settings panels open from the column of icons on the right of the dashboard: Match Settings (the people icon, labelled Team Settings), Custom Graphics (the picture icon), Window Settings (the monitor icon) and System Settings (the cog).

Your first match in five minutes

1. Enter the teams. Open Match Settings and fill in each team's name, a short abbreviation for the score bug (three letters works best), and its background and text colours. Add logos if you have them. Set the venue, kick-off time and half length.
2. Choose how the graphics leave the laptop. For a hardware mixer, check the key colour in Window Settings and pick one neither team wears. For OBS, open System Settings and switch on OBS Browser Source.
3. Put the display window on the right screen. With the laptop connected to the mixer, open Window Settings, choose Move to Screen 2, then Toggle Fullscreen. Lock Windows keeps both windows where they are for the rest of the match.
4. Run the Go live check. The tab next to the screen keys checks the output window, the second display, team logos and graphics, keyboard shortcuts, the OBS source and the phone remote. It only looks and never changes anything.
5. Before kick-off, put Match Title on air. It shows both teams, the venue and a countdown to kick-off.
6. At kick-off, press First Half. The clock starts and, with Auto switch screens on start and stop turned on, the score bug goes on air by itself.
7. When a goal goes in, press Home Team Scored or Away Team Scored. The score updates and a goal banner goes on air.
8. At half-time, press Stop. The match title comes back on air. Press Second Half when play restarts.
9. At full time, press Stop and put the End Screen on air for the final score and the scorers.

Where to go next

• Match settings and club presets: save the clubs you play every week.
• Output setup: keying on an ATEM Mini, the OBS browser source and venue screens in detail.
• Running a match: stoppage time, scorers, penalties, undo and crash recovery.