Getting Started with Sidecue
Real-time answer cues for conversations happening in your browser. Here's everything you need to know.
1 How It Works
Sidecue captures audio directly from a Chrome browser tab. When you start a session, it listens to what's being said, transcribes the conversation in real time, detects questions or talking points, and generates suggested answer cues you can glance at while you talk.
Your meeting must be running inside Chrome — not in a desktop app. Sidecue captures audio from browser tabs only.
2 Set Up
3 Join Your Meeting in Chrome
Sidecue can only capture audio from browser tabs. If your meeting opens in a desktop app, you'll need to switch to the browser version. Here's how for the most common platforms:
No changes needed. Google Meet runs in the browser by default. Just join at href="https://meet.google.com" target="_blank">meet.google.com.
When the meeting link prompts you to open the Zoom app, don't click Open. Wait a moment, then click "Join from your browser" below the prompt.
When prompted, click "Continue on this browser" instead of opening the desktop app. Or join from teams.microsoft.com.
Click "Join from your browser" instead of downloading or opening the Webex app.
Most meeting platforms offer a "Join from browser" option. If you don't see it right away, look for a small link below the app download prompt.
4 Starting a Session
A live transcript will appear at the bottom of the panel, and cue cards will appear as questions are detected. No microphone permission is needed — Sidecue only listens to tab audio.
Nothing is transcribed or sent to the AI until you click Start. You can click the Sidecue icon early to prepare, then start the session right as your meeting begins.
Make sure you click the Sidecue icon while you're on the meeting tab. If you click it from a different tab, it will connect audio from that tab instead.
5 Reading Cues
When Sidecue detects a question or talking point, a cue card appears in the side panel with:
- The detected question — extracted and cleaned up from the speaker's words.
- A suggested answer — written in first person, with key phrases, numbers, and names bolded for quick scanning.
Cues are meant as a reference, not a script. Glance at the bolded key points and speak naturally.
6 Floating Overlay
If you'd rather keep the side panel closed, click the picture-in-picture icon in the controls bar. A draggable overlay appears on top of your meeting tab showing the latest cue. Click the X on the overlay to close it.
7 Adding Context
Sidecue generates better cues when it knows about you. Go to the Knowledge tab in the Extension or the web dashboard and add your resume, the job description, project notes, or any talking points you want Sidecue to reference.
You can paste text directly or upload files (.txt, .md, .pdf, .docx). Your knowledge base syncs automatically between the Extension and the dashboard. Uploaded files are securely stored in your account and referenced by the AI at session start.
The more specific your context, the better the cues. Include real project names, metrics, tech stacks, and outcomes. Note: more uploaded files may add a few seconds to session start time while they are prepared for the AI.
8 Session History
After each session, your transcript and generated cues are saved to your account and available in the web dashboard. You can review what was asked, what cues were generated, and delete any sessions you no longer need.
9 Key Settings
Find these under Settings → Cues:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Questions only | When on, cues are generated only for direct questions. Turn off to also get cues for general statements and topics. |
| Response style | Ranges from Casual to Executive. Match it to the tone of your conversation. |
| Response length | Brief (2–3 sentences), Balanced, or Detailed. |
| Bullet points | Shows concise talking points instead of full text. Easier to scan during fast-paced conversations. |
| Silence threshold | How long Sidecue waits after the speaker stops talking before generating a cue. Increase if the speaker pauses mid-sentence. |
| Stick to my knowledge | Only uses information from your Knowledge tab. Prevents the AI from inventing details. |
| Web grounding | Lets the AI search the web for richer answers. May add slight latency. |
You can also set a custom interviewer label (e.g., "Sarah" or "HR") to replace the default "THEM" in the transcript.
10 Keyboard Shortcuts
Two shortcuts let you control Sidecue without leaving the keyboard:
- Alt + S — connect tab audio on the current meeting tab (same as clicking the Sidecue icon). You still click Start in the side panel to begin transcription.
- Alt + P — pause / resume the current session.
To change either shortcut, go to chrome://extensions/shortcuts in your browser.
11 Tips
- Prepare early, start late. Click the Sidecue icon (or hit Alt + S) while waiting in the lobby. The Ready state will sit there until you click Start — nothing counts against your usage quota.
- Pause when you don't need it. Hit Alt + P during small talk or breaks to save your usage quota.
- Don't read cues word for word. Glance at the bolded key points and speak naturally.
- Check your language setting. If the conversation isn't in English, go to Settings → Language and select the correct speech language. Mismatched language causes poor transcription.
12 Troubleshooting
Side panel says "Open your meeting tab and click the Sidecue icon"
The side panel opened but no tab audio is connected. Switch to your meeting tab, click the Sidecue icon in the toolbar, then click Start in the panel.
"Can't capture this page"
You clicked the Sidecue icon while on a Chrome-internal page (like chrome://, the Web Store, or the new tab page). Switch to your meeting tab and click the icon there.
Transcript is empty or inaccurate
Check that the correct speech language is selected in Settings → Language. Also make sure your meeting tab is actually playing audio and isn't muted at the tab level.
Session takes a moment to start
After clicking Start, the badge shows Connecting… for a second or two while Sidecue authenticates and connects to the transcription service. If you have knowledge files uploaded, this also includes preparing them for the AI — typically a few seconds total.
Meeting opens in a desktop app
See the platform-specific instructions in Section 3. Look for "Join from browser" or "Continue on this browser" when opening meeting links in Chrome.
Need help? Contact us at href="mailto:contact@sidecue.app">contact@sidecue.app
