The Talkwish desktop app keeps ringing for calls even when its window is closed. A few settings decide whether it’s running when a call comes in, and they’re all in one place: the Talkwish icon.
Get the app
The Talkwish app for Windows 10 and 11 is free in the Microsoft Store. Open the Windows app page and select Download from the Microsoft Store, or search for Talkwish in the Microsoft Store app. Then select Get or Install, open Talkwish from the Start menu and sign in.
The Mac app works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 13 or later. Open the Mac app page, select Download for Mac, open the file and drag Talkwish into Applications. The first time you open it, choose Open when macOS asks about an app downloaded from the internet.
Find the Talkwish icon
- Windows: Talkwish waits in the system tray, by the clock. If you don’t see it, select the arrow next to the clock to show hidden icons. Select the icon to open Talkwish, or right-click it for the menu and settings.
- Mac: the Talkwish icon is in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click it for the menu and settings.
The top of the menu tells you whether Talkwish can take calls. Ready for calls means you’re set. If it says Connecting, You’re offline, Can’t reach Talkwish, Calling is down or Signed out, calls can’t ring on this computer right now.
Keep it running in the background
On Windows, Keep running when the window is closed is on to start with. Closing the window then leaves Talkwish running in the tray, so calls still ring. If you turn it off, closing the window quits Talkwish.
On a Mac, closing the window always leaves Talkwish running in the menu bar.
Quit Talkwish in the menu closes the app completely. Calls stop ringing on this computer until you open Talkwish again. If you’re on a call, Talkwish asks before it quits.
Start Talkwish when you sign in
Start Talkwish when I sign in on Windows, or Open at login on a Mac, is on to start with. Talkwish then opens quietly in the background each time you sign in to your computer, so calls ring after every restart without you opening anything.
If you installed Talkwish from the Microsoft Store, the menu shows Startup settings instead. Choose it, and turn Talkwish on in the list of apps that start with Windows.
You’ll find the same switches in Talkwish’s own settings too: open Settings, then Desktop app.
When a call comes in
A small card with Answer and Decline pops up in the corner of your screen, on top of other apps, even when the Talkwish window is closed. It doesn’t take over your keyboard, so whatever you’re typing stays put.
- Show incoming-call popup in the menu turns the card off. Calls then show as a regular notification instead.
- Show names and previews in alerts decides whether the card and notifications show who’s calling and what texts say. Turn it off if other people can see your screen.
After sleep or locking your computer
A computer that’s asleep can’t ring. When it wakes up, or when you unlock it, Talkwish reconnects by itself, so calls can ring again. If the menu doesn’t go back to Ready for calls, check your internet connection, then open Talkwish to see if it needs you to sign in.
If you’re expecting calls, change your computer’s power settings so it doesn’t go to sleep while you’re away from it.
Focus assist, Do not disturb and Focus
Focus assist on Windows 10, Do not disturb on Windows 11 and Focus on a Mac hide notifications while they’re on. The incoming-call card isn’t a notification, so it still pops up. Notifications about texts and missed calls can be held back, though. If you turned the incoming-call card off, calls arrive as notifications and can be hidden too.
To let Talkwish through, add it to the apps that are allowed to notify you in your computer’s Focus or Do not disturb settings.
Talkwish also has its own Do Not Disturb, which silences calls on all your devices at once. See Silence calls with Do Not Disturb.
Allow the microphone
Calls need your microphone. If people can’t hear you, check your computer’s privacy settings:
- Windows 11: open Settings, then Privacy & security, then Microphone. Turn on Microphone access and Let desktop apps access your microphone.
- Windows 10: open Settings, then Privacy, then Microphone. Turn on Allow apps to access your microphone and Allow desktop apps to access your microphone.
- Mac: open System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Microphone, and turn on Talkwish. You may need to quit Talkwish and open it again afterwards.
To choose which microphone and speaker Talkwish uses, open Settings in Talkwish, then Audio.
Updates
On Windows, the Microsoft Store keeps Talkwish up to date. To check for an update yourself, open the Microsoft Store, go to Library and select Get updates.
On a Mac, Talkwish lets you know when an update is ready. You can also download the latest version from the Mac app page at any time and drag it into Applications to replace the old one.
Still not ringing?
See Fix calls that don’t ring or keep dropping and Allow microphone access in your browser, which also covers your computer’s microphone settings.