Peek Documentation

Peek Documentation

Peek for macOS

Peek is a lightweight desktop AI assistant for quick questions, automatically saved chats, saved-chat memory, saved-chat labels, code, Quick Copy, Vision, quizzes, links, voice dictation, shortcuts, and flexible window controls. This page covers setup, daily use, plans, limits, permissions, Vision, voice input, Quick Copy, saved chats, and troubleshooting.

Getting Started Troubleshooting Back to Documentation

Getting Started

Peek is designed for fast everyday use. Open the app, accept the required Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, then ask a question from the main Ask view.

  • Launch Peek and allow any required permissions when prompted.
  • Review and accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy to enable chat.
  • Peek automatically selects and manages a safe AI model in the background.
  • Type a prompt in the Ask field and submit it to start a conversation.
  • Use Settings to adjust chat behavior, window behavior, shortcuts, notifications, Vision, clipboard behavior, and support options.

Chat Basics

Peek uses a clean transcript-style chat view designed to remain smooth while conversations grow.

  • Assistant replies are capped per response for performance and readability.
  • Peek manages model readiness and refresh in the background.
  • Responses reveal word by word while the answer is written.
  • The Ask button changes to Hmm while Peek is thinking.
  • The transcript follows new text automatically while Peek writes.
  • You can scroll away while Peek writes, then return to the bottom to resume live autoscroll.
  • Chats are saved automatically as you use Peek.
  • Code, markdown, links, and plain text are supported directly in chat.
  • Supported web and email links can be opened in your default app.
  • If a chat reaches the app’s size limit, Peek may ask you to start a new chat.

Plans and Limits

Peek includes Free and Peek Pro plans. Both use the same core experience, but usage limits, memory depth, request pacing, and Vision time differ.

  • AI requests: Free includes 25 per day; Peek Pro includes 250 per day.
  • Saved-chat memory: Free includes basic automatic memory; Peek Pro includes deeper automatic memory.
  • Request pacing: Free uses standard pacing; Peek Pro supports higher pacing.
  • Response length: both plans are capped at 3500 characters per reply.
  • Prompt length: Free supports 500 characters; Peek Pro supports 1000 characters.
  • Vision watch: Free supports up to 30 seconds; Peek Pro supports up to 5 minutes.
  • See the Free vs Peek Pro page for the complete comparison.

Saved Chats

Peek automatically saves chats so answers, workflows, stories, code, and reference conversations remain available.

  • Chats are saved automatically as you use Peek.
  • Open the Saved tab to browse previous chats.
  • Use the Saved search bar to find previous chats.
  • Search can find chats by title, topic label, or recent context.
  • Peek automatically labels saved chats by topic when it can identify a clear category.
  • Saved-chat labels include Travel, Code, Writing, School, Planning, Work, Research, Finance, Health, Food, Shopping, Home, Entertainment, Tech, Career, Personal, Ideas, Language, Nature, Support, Legal, and Design.
  • Labels are automatic; there is no setup required.
  • Pinned chats stay at the top of the Saved list.
  • Pinned chats are protected from Smart Cleanup.
  • Peek can use relevant saved-chat excerpts when your prompt clearly refers to something saved.
  • Saved-chat memory works automatically without requiring manual chat selection.
  • Peek Pro can use deeper saved-chat memory than Free.
  • Saved-chat memory provides context but does not change or delete chats.

Vision

Vision lets Peek watch your screen during a session you explicitly start, then summarize the activity and provide useful takeaways.

  • Vision requires macOS screen recording permission.
  • Vision only runs when explicitly started inside Peek or with the enabled Vision shortcut.
  • The Vision shortcut is configurable in Settings > App.
  • Free sessions last up to 30 seconds; Peek Pro sessions last up to 5 minutes.
  • Peek adapts its response based on the activity it sees.
  • Vision can recognize coding, research, studying, creative work, troubleshooting, browsing, and general activity.
  • Sessions containing several kinds of work can be combined into one useful summary.
  • Longer sessions can provide more context, clearer timelines, and more detailed takeaways.
  • Captured screen context is used for the current request and is not stored as saved-chat images.

Quick Copy

Quick Copy is an optional chat setting for copying directly from Peek responses without manually selecting text.

  • Enable or disable Quick Copy in Chat Settings.
  • Single-click assistant text to copy a word.
  • Double-click assistant text to copy a section.
  • Click the Peek label above a response to copy the complete response.
  • Click a code block header, such as HTML, CSS, Swift, or JavaScript, to copy that code block.
  • Response and code copying include visual confirmation animations.
  • The You label is not copyable.
  • Quick Copy works after a response finishes writing.
  • Clicking a supported link opens it instead of triggering Quick Copy.
  • Auto-clear clipboard can remove Peek-copied text one minute after you leave Peek.

App Settings

App Settings contain controls for window behavior, navigation feedback, and configurable shortcuts.

  • Navigation hover highlights footer tabs and Back when the pointer moves over them.
  • Keep Peek Visible keeps the Peek window above other windows until you dismiss it.
  • Keep Peek Visible is off by default.
  • An optional configurable shortcut can turn Keep Peek Visible on or off.
  • The Global shortcut can open or dismiss Peek from the keyboard.
  • The Global shortcut is off by default and configurable in Settings > App.
  • The Voice shortcut can open Peek and dictate directly into the Ask field.
  • The Voice shortcut and Auto-send voice are off by default.
  • The Vision shortcut can be changed in Settings > App.
  • Configured shortcuts and settings are remembered between launches.
  • Click Peek in the Dock once to establish its opening position.
  • After moving the Dock icon, click it once to refresh the shortcut opening position.
  • Mouse side buttons can be mapped to Peek’s keyboard shortcut using your mouse software.

Voice Input

Voice Input lets you dictate into Peek’s Ask field using a configurable keyboard shortcut.

  • Enable and configure the Voice shortcut in Settings > App.
  • Voice Input requires microphone and speech recognition permission from macOS.
  • Your speech appears live in the Ask field.
  • You can review or edit the transcription before sending.
  • A responsive waveform appears while Peek is listening.
  • Press Enter or click Ask to send normally.
  • Optional Auto-send voice can submit after you stop talking.
  • Auto-send waits when the wording appears incomplete, helping avoid mid-sentence submissions.

Quizzes

Peek can create interactive quizzes that run directly inside the chat area.

  • Ask Peek to create a quiz to begin an interactive quiz.
  • Answers are selected directly inside Peek.
  • Peek shows whether a selected answer is correct or incorrect.
  • You can exit a quiz and resume it later from the same chat.
  • Completed quizzes are remembered instead of restarting.
  • Inactive quiz sessions can expire automatically.
  • PDF export includes quiz information and selected answers when available.

Links

Supported links in Peek responses can be opened directly without interfering with Quick Copy.

  • HTTP and HTTPS links open in your default browser.
  • Email links open in your default mail app.
  • Peek detects supported links in plain-text and formatted responses.
  • Clicking a link opens it instead of copying the linked text.
  • Unsupported or malformed link types are not opened.

Vision Modes

You do not need to choose a Vision mode. Peek decides what kind of summary is useful based on the screen activity.

  • Coding mode focuses on files, code changes, errors, warnings, debugging clues, and next steps.
  • Research mode focuses on pages, topics, comparisons, sources, and findings.
  • Study mode focuses on concepts, learning material, definitions, and what to review.
  • Creative mode focuses on writing, design, planning, ideas, and progress.
  • Troubleshooting mode focuses on visible problems, likely causes, and practical fixes.
  • General activity mode provides a clear summary when activity does not fit one category.

Chat Performance

Peek includes safeguards so long conversations remain usable without extra setup.

  • The transcript is designed to remain responsive in long chats.
  • Current-chat context can be compacted internally before sending a request.
  • Compaction is used for AI context only and does not delete the saved chat.
  • Saved-chat memory can use compact summaries or excerpts to keep requests efficient.
  • Chats still have size limits so Peek can remain fast and reliable.
  • If a chat becomes too large to continue, start a new chat.

Smart Cleanup

Smart Cleanup helps keep saved chats tidy without requiring manual cleanup.

  • Smart Cleanup is optional and can be controlled in Chat Settings.
  • It starts when saved chats exceed 30.
  • It prioritizes recent, active, pinned, and currently selected chats.
  • Older unused chats are removed first when cleanup is needed.
  • If the list remains over the limit, Peek may trim the oldest overflow chats.
  • The currently selected chat is protected.
  • Pinned chats are protected.

Troubleshooting

If Peek is not behaving as expected, check these items before reinstalling or resetting anything.

  • If the model is not ready, confirm your connection and reopen Peek.
  • If internet is disconnected, Peek shows a warning and asks you to check your connection before trying again.
  • If chat is unavailable, confirm that the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy were accepted.
  • If Vision does not start, confirm screen recording permission in macOS settings.
  • If Vision gives a broad summary, try a longer session or keep the relevant window visible.
  • If saved-chat memory does not recall something, confirm the chat still exists and use a clear reference.
  • Pinned chats are intentionally protected from Smart Cleanup.
  • If a shortcut does not work, confirm it is enabled and includes a modifier key.
  • If a shortcut is unavailable, choose a combination not used by macOS or another app.
  • If Voice Input does not start, confirm microphone and speech recognition access in macOS settings.
  • If Voice Auto-send waits, Peek may think the phrase is unfinished; keep speaking or send manually.
  • If a mouse side button does not work, map it to Peek’s shortcut in your mouse software.
  • If auto-clear clipboard does not clear immediately, remember it starts after you leave Peek and only clears unchanged Peek-copied text.
  • If Quick Copy does not copy a response, wait until the response finishes writing.
  • If a response looks unusual, try asking again with a shorter or clearer prompt.
  • If a chat becomes too large, start a new chat.

Support and Legal

Peek uses hosted AI features and requires an internet connection for core chat functionality. You can generate a privacy-safe diagnostic file from Settings > Support when troubleshooting.

  • The support file includes the Peek version, build, macOS version, locale, and timezone.
  • It includes plan and daily usage status, model status, recent bounded errors, permission states, enabled settings, and safe chat counts.
  • It can report whether Vision or Voice Input is active when the file is generated.
  • It does not include prompts, assistant responses, voice transcripts, saved-chat titles, or custom shortcut combinations.
  • Documentation Hub
  • Free vs Peek Pro
  • Software Terms of Use
  • Software Privacy Policy
  • Apple EULA
  • Cherrium Software