Overlay Buttons (Android Only)

  • Updated

This article is written for: Zello Work Zello Friends & Family.

An overlay button is a Zello talk button that remains accessible while you're in other apps, enabling users to transmit messages without opening Zello's talk screen. This promotes more seamless, streamlined communication and multitasking, and it's ideal for users who need to stay connected without interrupting other workflows. 

Functionality 

Overlay buttons are enabled on a contact (or channel)-by-contact basis—meaning you can have multiple overlay buttons if desired. 

  1. Open the Zello app. Then open the talk screen of your preferred contact or channel. 

  2. Tap the down-pointing arrow to open the contact/channel's menu. Select Open overlay button.
    overlay button - enable.png

  3. Tap the overlay button to send a message. Note that overlay buttons function as if they're in toggle mode—meaning you tap the button once to start transmission, and once to end transmission. 
    Screenshot_20250509-095338.png
  4. To clear a user's overlay button, go to their talk screen and tap the down-pointing arrow like you did for enablement. Then tap Clear overlay button. 
    Screenshot_20250509-095903.png

Button Behavior

  1. Toggle mode: All buttons will be automatically on toggle mode until push to talk is supported. This means that you only need to tap once to begin transmitting and tap again to stop. 
  2. Place them anywhere: Tapping and holding the button will unlock its position so you can drag it around the screen. Releasing it will leave the button at that position and you can now tap to talk or hold again to drag.
  3. Open as many as you want: As you may have noticed, each overlay button has the name of the channel, group, or contact you are talking to. This is because you can open one button for each conversation you want from their respective talk screens.

Admins: Enable Overlay Buttons

Access to overlay buttons requires admin enablement. To enable overlay buttons, an admin should:

  1. Sign in to the Management Console at (yournetworkname).zellowork.com. 

  2. Open the  Settings tab. Select Android from the side menu, and find the Allow overlay buttons setting near the end of the General section. Toggle it on to enable. 

    Screenshot 2025-05-09 at 9.41.11 AM.png

  3. Click Save and Apply.