diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts b/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts
index f14c2ad8..ab379de3 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/db/app-settings.ts
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ const defaultSettings: AppSettingsData = {
   preferences: {
     launchAtLogin: true,
     showWidgetWhileInactive: true,
+    showWidgetWhileActive: true,
     showInDock: true,
   },
   transcription: {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts b/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts
index 6f97e201..7f863ec2 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/db/schema.ts
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ export interface AppSettingsData {
     launchAtLogin?: boolean;
     minimizeToTray?: boolean;
     showWidgetWhileInactive?: boolean;
+    showWidgetWhileActive?: boolean;
     showInDock?: boolean;
   };
   telemetry?: {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts b/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts
index c9e179a8..77df2ae4 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/main/core/app-manager.ts
@@ -188,12 +188,14 @@ export class AppManager {
       "preferences-changed",
       async ({
         showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged,
+        showWidgetWhileActiveChanged,
         showInDockChanged,
       }: {
         showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged: boolean;
+        showWidgetWhileActiveChanged: boolean;
         showInDockChanged: boolean;
       }) => {
-        if (showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged) {
+        if (showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged || showWidgetWhileActiveChanged) {
           const recordingManager =
             this.serviceManager.getService("recordingManager");
           const isIdle = recordingManager.getState() === "idle";
@@ -217,7 +219,11 @@ export class AppManager {
     const settingsService = this.serviceManager.getService("settingsService");
     const preferences = await settingsService.getPreferences();
 
-    if (preferences.showWidgetWhileInactive || !isIdle) {
+    const shouldShow = isIdle
+      ? preferences.showWidgetWhileInactive
+      : preferences.showWidgetWhileActive;
+
+    if (shouldShow) {
       this.windowManager.showWidget();
     } else {
       this.windowManager.hideWidget();
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx
index 2d0dc387..d5371c17 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/main/pages/settings/preferences/index.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ export default function PreferencesSettingsPage() {
     });
   };
 
+  const handleShowWidgetWhileActiveChange = (checked: boolean) => {
+    updatePreferencesMutation.mutate({
+      showWidgetWhileActive: checked,
+    });
+  };
+
   const handleMinimizeToTrayChange = (checked: boolean) => {
     updatePreferencesMutation.mutate({
       minimizeToTray: checked,
@@ -48,6 +54,8 @@ export default function PreferencesSettingsPage() {
 
   const showWidgetWhileInactive =
     preferencesQuery.data?.showWidgetWhileInactive ?? true;
+  const showWidgetWhileActive =
+    preferencesQuery.data?.showWidgetWhileActive ?? true;
   const minimizeToTray = preferencesQuery.data?.minimizeToTray ?? false;
   const launchAtLogin = preferencesQuery.data?.launchAtLogin ?? true;
   const showInDock = preferencesQuery.data?.showInDock ?? true;
@@ -123,6 +131,25 @@ export default function PreferencesSettingsPage() {
 
             <Separator />
 
+            {/* Show Widget While Active Section */}
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+              <div className="space-y-1">
+                <Label className="text-base font-medium text-foreground">
+                  Show widget while active
+                </Label>
+                <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  Show the widget on screen when recording
+                </p>
+              </div>
+              <Switch
+                checked={showWidgetWhileActive}
+                onCheckedChange={handleShowWidgetWhileActiveChange}
+                disabled={updatePreferencesMutation.isPending}
+              />
+            </div>
+
+            <Separator />
+
             {/* Show in Dock Section (macOS only) */}
             {isMac && (
               <>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts b/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts
index 1d9cc803..5da6e557 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/services/settings-service.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export interface AppPreferences {
   launchAtLogin: boolean;
   minimizeToTray: boolean;
   showWidgetWhileInactive: boolean;
+  showWidgetWhileActive: boolean;
   showInDock: boolean;
 }
 
@@ -289,6 +290,7 @@ export class SettingsService extends EventEmitter {
       launchAtLogin: preferences?.launchAtLogin ?? true,
       minimizeToTray: preferences?.minimizeToTray ?? true,
       showWidgetWhileInactive: preferences?.showWidgetWhileInactive ?? true,
+      showWidgetWhileActive: preferences?.showWidgetWhileActive ?? true,
       showInDock: preferences?.showInDock ?? true,
     };
   }
@@ -316,6 +318,8 @@ export class SettingsService extends EventEmitter {
       changes: preferences,
       showWidgetWhileInactiveChanged:
         preferences.showWidgetWhileInactive !== undefined,
+      showWidgetWhileActiveChanged:
+        preferences.showWidgetWhileActive !== undefined,
       showInDockChanged: preferences.showInDock !== undefined,
     });
   }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts b/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts
index ae7472d4..cf7392f7 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/trpc/routers/settings.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ const AppPreferencesSchema = z.object({
   launchAtLogin: z.boolean().optional(),
   minimizeToTray: z.boolean().optional(),
   showWidgetWhileInactive: z.boolean().optional(),
+  showWidgetWhileActive: z.boolean().optional(),
   showInDock: z.boolean().optional(),
 });