> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chief.bot/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Starting a Live Session

> You need the Chief desktop app installed on your Mac and paired with your account.

## Before you start

You need the **Chief desktop app** [installed on your Mac](/help/meetings-live-sessions/installing-the-chief-desktop-app-mac-required-for-capture) and [**paired** with your account](/help/meetings-live-sessions/pairing-managing-devices-updating-the-app).

<Warning>
  ⚠️ **Important:** A Live Session is captured by the Mac app. You can't start one from the web app — it's where you read the results.
</Warning>

## Start capturing

1. Open the **Chief** app on your Mac before or at the start of your meeting. (It can also [detect a meeting and prompt you](/help/meetings-live-sessions/automatic-meeting-detection).)
2. Click **Start Live Session** in the app's toolbar and let it listen.
3. Hold your meeting as normal. Chief [transcribes both your microphone and your computer's audio](/help/meetings-live-sessions/how-transcription-works-speaker-attribution).

## Watch it build in the web app

1. In the web app, open **Live Sessions** from the left navigation.
2. Open [the session](/help/meetings-live-sessions/what-are-live-sessions) that's recording — it shows a red **Live** badge while capture is active.
3. As the meeting goes, the **Transcript**, [**Summary**, **Decisions**, and **Action items**](/help/meetings-live-sessions/auto-generated-summaries-decisions-action-items-chat-suggestions) fill in.

<Note>
  ℹ️ **Good to know:** While a session shows the **Live** badge, the **Delete** option is hidden — you can only delete a session after it has finished recording.
</Note>

## Name your session

New sessions may appear as **Untitled session**. To rename, open the session, click the pencil icon next to the title (or open the actions menu and choose **Edit**), type a name, and press **Enter**.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The session is recording but the transcript is empty. What's wrong?">
    Chief isn't hearing audio. [Confirm the Mac app has microphone and system-audio permission](/help/troubleshooting/a-meeting-didnt-transcribe) in macOS, and that the meeting audio is actually playing through your computer. The page shows "No transcript yet" until audio arrives.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why can't I delete a session?">
    **Delete** is intentionally unavailable while a session is still recording (it shows the **Live** badge). Once capture ends, the delete option returns.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I run a Live Session without joining a video call?">
    Yes — Chief captures whatever audio reaches your Mac (your mic and system audio), so it works for in-person discussions too, as long as the app is running and has audio access.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>