Character House: Desktop Companion features three distinct display modes: Standing Mode, Sit-in-a-Row Mode, and Hiding in the Corner. Each mode changes how your custom desktop pet moves, interacts with your screen, and responds to your daily computer workflow.
Choosing the right mode depends on whether you want an active companion wandering across your wallpaper, an interactive typing buddy, or an unobtrusive avatar parked out of your way.
Three Desktop Modes Compared
The official Steam store page and developer documentation define each mode by its movement pattern and desktop footprint.
| Display Mode | Official Description | Desktop Behavior | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standing Mode | Just stands there... though it does wander around from time to time | Moves autonomously across the screen and can drift over open windows | Casual monitoring, relaxed browsing, and showcasing dynamic outfit animations |
| Sit-in-a-Row Mode | Keeps you company while you work, syncing with every keystroke | Sits stationary, animates typing motions with every key pressed, and advances a key counter | Writing, coding, office work, and aligning multiple characters at once |
| Hiding in the Corner | Lurking at the edge of your screen, watching over you quietly without getting in the way | Stays pinned to the screen boundary with minimal animation footprint | Full-screen workflows, dual-monitor edges, and extended work sessions where screen space is critical |
Standing Mode
Standing Mode is the default exploratory state for your companion. In this mode, the character stands on your desktop and periodically wanders around your screen space.
Because the character walks autonomously, it will naturally cross over active windows if window-layering settings allow it. If you enjoy the visual charm of a walking pet but find it distracting during precision tasks, you can right-click the character to toggle Auto walk off. Disabling Auto walk keeps the avatar in a static standing stance without letting it drift across your workspace.
Sit-in-a-Row Mode
Sit-in-a-Row Mode (often called Sitting Mode or Typing Mode) places your companion in a seated position. This mode actively registers your keyboard inputs:
- Every keystroke triggers a synchronized typing animation on the companion.
- A built-in keystroke counter tracks your typing activity as you work.
- The character stays grounded in one spot rather than roaming freely.
If you manage multiple custom companions on one desktop, Sit-in-a-Row Mode has a specific utility function noted in developer patch notes: switching several characters into row mode automatically snaps them into a neat line, saving you from manually dragging each companion to tidy up your screen.
Hiding in the Corner
Hiding in the Corner (Corner Mode) tucks your companion against the outer edge of your monitor. The character stays anchored along the perimeter, observing silently without overlapping your primary workspace or browser tabs.
This is the least intrusive setup available in the game. It is designed specifically for long work sessions, gaming, or setups with limited desktop space where active walking animations would get in the way.
Essential Settings for Managing Display Modes
Right-clicking any character opens the desktop management menu. Adjusting these settings helps keep your selected mode compatible with your daily programs:
- Auto walk: Turns autonomous roaming on or off (primarily used to control Standing Mode).
- Always on top: Forces the companion to float above all other active windows. An official taskbar shortcut was added to toggle this setting on the fly when launching full-screen games.
- Switch monitor: Moves the character to a secondary display.
- Size: Scales the character up or down to match your monitor resolution.
- Frame rate options: Allows capping the overlay frame rate at 30 FPS, 60 FPS, or unlimited to reduce system resource usage when running intensive background applications.
To relocate a character in any mode, simply drag it across the screen. For small or downscaled characters, right-clicking and dragging makes the companion follow your cursor for more stable placement.
Troubleshooting Placement Issues
If a character accidentally drifts off-screen during mode changes or resolution adjustments, you do not need to restart the game. Right-click the Character House icon directly from the Windows taskbar and select the reset option to snap the companion back into visible screen bounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stop a character from moving without changing out of Standing Mode?
Yes. Right-click the character and toggle Auto walk to off. The character will remain in Standing Mode without wandering across your screen.
How do I line up multiple companions quickly?
Switch your characters into Sit-in-a-Row Mode. The game automatically groups and aligns multiple companions into a tidy row, which avoids having to drag each character individually.
Does Sit-in-a-Row mode work when gaming?
Sit-in-a-Row mode detects keyboard presses to trigger typing animations and advance the keystroke counter. However, if Always on top is enabled, the companion will render over full-screen games; use the taskbar shortcut to disable Always on top before starting games.
