Articles on: Overlay Controls

Configure Overlay Dwell Actions

Overlay dwell lets you activate an individual on-screen button without a physical click. Each dwell-enabled control can inherit global timing defaults or use its own overrides.


Overlay dwell is different from the Dwell trigger in a profile mapping. Profile Dwell reacts when the system pointer stops anywhere; overlay dwell targets a specific on-screen control.


Before you start


  • Add the required buttons to the on-screen overlay.
  • Use Hover activation for hands-free pointer or gaze dwell.
  • Enable Main Output when testing real actions.


Set the global dwell defaults


  1. Open Overlay from the PlayAbility sidebar.
  2. Select Open Overlay, then Edit Overlay.
  3. Select Settings in the overlay.
  4. Open the Dwell tab.
  5. Choose the default Box action:
    • Tap once sends a short press and release.
    • Hold while active presses and holds the action.
    • Toggle on/off changes between pressed and released after each completed dwell.
    • Repeat sends repeated taps while the action remains active.
  7. Set Global dwell time between 0.2 and 5 seconds.
  8. Use Test dwell time to rest the pointer or gaze on the target and feel the activation delay without sending a game action.
  9. Expand Advanced dwell timing if you need to adjust:
    • Reactivation delay: how long the same box must wait before it can activate again.
    • Look-away tolerance: how long a brief exit pauses, instead of cancels, dwell progress.
    • Repeat speed: the interval between taps for a Repeat action.
    • Release on look away: whether Hold or Repeat stops when the pointer or gaze leaves.
  11. Close the Settings panel.


Controls without a per-button override follow these global defaults. Changing a value from an individual button’s menu creates an override for that button.


Enable dwell on a button


  1. In overlay edit mode, select the gear button attached to the on-screen control.
  2. Turn on Dwell mode.
  3. Set Activation mode to Hover, or choose Use global default after setting the global activation mode to Hover under overlay Settings.
  4. Keep the inherited values or choose a per-button:
    • Box action
    • Dwell time
    • Reactivation delay
    • Look-away tolerance
    • Repeat speed, when Repeat is selected
    • Release on look away, when Hold or Repeat is selected
  6. Close the properties panel.
  7. Select Save and exit.


In Click activation mode, dwell begins only after the button is clicked. Use Hover for click-free dwell and for eye tracking.


Choose the right action


Tap once


Use for jump, select, click, reload, or other actions that need one brief press.


Hold while active


Use for aim, accelerate, sprint, or another action that must remain pressed.


  • With Release on look away enabled, leaving the box releases the action.
  • With it disabled, dwell on the same box again to release it.


Toggle on/off


Use when one completed dwell should hold the action and the next completed dwell should release it. This can reduce fatigue, but always keep a reachable Release All control.


Repeat


Use for repeated menu navigation, repeated clicks, or another action that needs regular taps.


  • Repeat speed controls the interval.
  • With Release on look away enabled, leaving the box stops repetition.
  • With it disabled, dwell on the box again to stop.


Verify dwell safely


  1. Keep the overlay in play mode over a safe application or controller test screen.
  2. Move the pointer or gaze onto the dwell-enabled button.
  3. Keep it still and watch the progress feedback fill.
  4. Confirm that the action occurs when the progress completes.
  5. Move away and verify the expected release behavior.
  6. For Toggle or Repeat, activate the box a second time and confirm that it stops.


Troubleshooting and limitations


  • No progress appears: Confirm that Dwell mode is enabled and the button uses Hover activation. Click-mode dwell requires an initial click.
  • Progress repeatedly resets: Increase Look-away tolerance, use larger and more widely spaced controls, or improve eye-tracker stability.
  • The action activates too easily: Increase Dwell time or Reactivation delay.
  • Repeat is too fast or too slow: Adjust Repeat speed.
  • Hold or Repeat does not stop when you leave: Turn on Release on look away, or dwell on the control again to stop it.
  • A global change does not affect one button: That button has a per-button override. Open its gear menu and set the value to the global value, or configure it directly.
  • The wrong nearby control acquires dwell: Increase spacing or reduce overlapping control areas. Eye-tracking snap assist can also make nearby targets easier to distinguish.
  • A button remains active unexpectedly: Activate Release All, then review its Box action and release-on-look-away setting.
  • A combo or joystick needs dwell behavior: Per-button Dwell mode applies to overlay buttons. Combos do not expose the same dwell properties; virtual joysticks use their own activation settings.

Updated on: 29/07/2026