diff --git a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/settings/push-to-talk-shortcut.vue b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/settings/push-to-talk-shortcut.vue
index 0d2c0ebb23..506e668820 100644
--- a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/settings/push-to-talk-shortcut.vue
+++ b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/settings/push-to-talk-shortcut.vue
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const devices = useSettingsAudioDevice()
 const { accelerator, registrationError } = usePushToTalkShortcutSettings()
 const listShortcuts = useElectronEventaInvoke(electronShortcutList)
 const recording = shallowRef(false)
-const active = computed(() => devices.enabled && hearing.inputMode === 'push-to-talk')
+const active = computed(() => devices.listening && hearing.inputMode === 'push-to-talk')
 
 const shortcutLabel = computed(() => recording.value
   ? tt('actions.recording')
diff --git a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/controls-island-microphone.browser.test.ts b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/controls-island-microphone.browser.test.ts
index 8dbde97cd0..6208eb399f 100644
--- a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/controls-island-microphone.browser.test.ts
+++ b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/controls-island-microphone.browser.test.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ afterEach(() => {
 })
 
 describe('controls Island microphone', () => {
-  it('turns the microphone on after permission and off again without opening Hearing controls', async () => {
+  // The Island button must close the microphone for every feature, not only stop listening.
+  it('starts listening after permission, then turns the microphone off without opening Hearing controls', async () => {
     const { screen, device, askPermission } = mountControlsIsland()
     askPermission.mockResolvedValue(true)
     const microphone = screen.getByTestId('controls-island-microphone')
@@ -91,16 +92,33 @@ describe('controls Island microphone', () => {
     await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true')
     await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAccessibleName('Turn off microphone')
     expect(device.enabled).toBe(true)
+    expect(device.off).toBe(false)
     expect(askPermission).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
     expect(screen.getByTestId('hearing-config-dialog').query()).toBeNull()
 
     await microphone.click()
 
     await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false')
-    expect(device.enabled).toBe(false)
+    expect(device.off).toBe(true)
+    expect(device.enabled).toBe(true)
     expect(askPermission).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
   })
 
+  it('turns the microphone on again and listens without a second permission request', async () => {
+    localStorage.setItem('settings/audio/input/enabled', 'true')
+    localStorage.setItem('settings/audio/input/off', 'true')
+    const { screen, device, askPermission } = mountControlsIsland()
+    const microphone = screen.getByTestId('controls-island-microphone')
+    await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false')
+
+    await microphone.click()
+
+    await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true')
+    expect(device.off).toBe(false)
+    expect(device.listening).toBe(true)
+    expect(askPermission).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
   it('ignores presses while the permission prompt is pending', async () => {
     const { screen, device, askPermission } = mountControlsIsland()
     const permission = Promise.withResolvers<boolean>()
diff --git a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/index.vue b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/index.vue
index 59ca49cfc3..367e0ef450 100644
--- a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/index.vue
+++ b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/index.vue
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ const { dock, isLeft, isTop, motionPhase } = placement
 const settingsAudioDeviceStore = useSettingsAudioDevice()
 const settingsStore = useSettings()
 const context = useElectronEventaContext()
-const { enabled } = storeToRefs(settingsAudioDeviceStore)
+const { enabled, listening, off: microphoneOff } = storeToRefs(settingsAudioDeviceStore)
 const { alwaysOnTop, controlsIslandIconSize } = storeToRefs(settingsStore)
 const openSettings = useElectronEventaInvoke(electronOpenSettings)
 const isLinux = useElectronEventaInvoke(electron.app.isLinux)
@@ -141,22 +141,30 @@ function setOverlay(key: string, active: boolean) {
 
 /** True while the microphone button waits for the permission prompt. The button is disabled, so a second press cannot start another request. */
 const microphonePending = ref(false)
-const microphoneLabel = computed(() => enabled.value
+const microphoneLabel = computed(() => listening.value
   ? t('tamagotchi.stage.controls-island.disable-microphone')
   : t('tamagotchi.stage.controls-island.enable-microphone'))
 
 /**
- * Turns the microphone preference on or off. The Hearing input mode still decides when the microphone captures.
- * Only this press asks for permission. A refusal opens Hearing controls, which show the reason from the device store.
+ * Turns listening on, or turns the microphone off. The button is on while AIRI listens.
+ *
+ * Off is the microphone switch, so no feature can record until the microphone is on again. The listening preference
+ * stays, so the next press listens again without a permission request.
+ * On turns the microphone on. Only a first listening press asks for permission. A refusal opens Hearing controls,
+ * which show the reason from the device store. The Hearing input mode still decides when the microphone captures.
  */
 async function toggleMicrophone() {
   if (microphonePending.value)
     return
-  if (enabled.value) {
-    enabled.value = false
+  if (listening.value) {
+    microphoneOff.value = true
     return
   }
 
+  microphoneOff.value = false
+  if (enabled.value)
+    return
+
   microphonePending.value = true
   try {
     if (await settingsAudioDeviceStore.askPermission()) {
@@ -642,13 +650,13 @@ function resetMainWindowPosition() {
               data-testid="controls-island-microphone"
               :button-style="adjustStyleClasses.button"
               :aria-label="microphoneLabel"
-              :aria-pressed="enabled"
+              :aria-pressed="listening"
               :aria-busy="microphonePending"
               :disabled="microphonePending"
               @click="toggleMicrophone"
             >
               <Transition name="fade" mode="out-in">
-                <IndicatorMicVolume v-if="enabled" :class="adjustStyleClasses.icon" />
+                <IndicatorMicVolume v-if="listening" :class="adjustStyleClasses.icon" />
                 <div v-else :class="['i-ph:microphone-slash text-neutral-800 dark:text-neutral-300', adjustStyleClasses.icon]" />
               </Transition>
             </ControlButton>
diff --git a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/indicator-mic-volume.vue b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/indicator-mic-volume.vue
index a36264133d..552baade5b 100644
--- a/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/indicator-mic-volume.vue
+++ b/apps/stage-tamagotchi/src/renderer/components/stage-islands/controls-island/indicator-mic-volume.vue
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { computed, onMounted, onUnmounted, watch } from 'vue'
 
 const props = withDefaults(defineProps<{ colorClass?: string }>(), { colorClass: 'text-primary-500 dark:text-primary-200' })
 const settingsAudio = useSettingsAudioDevice()
-const { stream, enabled } = storeToRefs(settingsAudio)
+const { stream, listening } = storeToRefs(settingsAudio)
 
 const { audioContext } = storeToRefs(useAudioContext())
 const { startAnalyzer, stopAnalyzer, volumeLevel } = useAudioAnalyzer()
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function teardown() {
 
 async function setup() {
   teardown()
-  if (!enabled.value || !stream.value)
+  if (!listening.value || !stream.value)
     return
 
   const ctx = audioContext.value
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ async function setup() {
 }
 
 onMounted(() => {
-  watch([enabled, stream], () => setup(), { immediate: true })
+  watch([listening, stream], () => setup(), { immediate: true })
 })
 
 onUnmounted(() => teardown())
diff --git a/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/settings.yaml b/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/settings.yaml
index eb96a73d7c..5c6bc0f350 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/settings.yaml
+++ b/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/settings.yaml
@@ -940,9 +940,13 @@ pages:
             description: Select the suitable speech recognition provider
           microphone:
             title: Microphone
-            label: Microphone
-            description: Turn on the microphone for Hearing. The input mode controls when AIRI listens.
             error: The microphone is not available
+          microphone-switch:
+            label: Use microphone
+            description: When this is off, no feature in AIRI can use the microphone.
+          listen:
+            label: Listen
+            description: AIRI listens in the input mode above. This needs the microphone.
           input-device:
             label: Input device
             description: Select the microphone that AIRI uses.
diff --git a/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/stage.yaml b/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/stage.yaml
index 2158699e0d..c571651f83 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/stage.yaml
+++ b/packages/i18n/src/locales/en/stage.yaml
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ chat:
     push-to-talk-unavailable: This device has no Push to Talk key, so AIRI does not listen. Change the input mode in Hearing settings.
     wake-word: Listen for wake words
     hearing-settings: More Hearing settings…
+    use-microphone: Use microphone
+    microphone-off: The microphone is off
+    microphone-off-description: Turn on the microphone to record.
+    turn-on-microphone: Turn on
     options-hint: Hover or right-click for options
     recording: Recording
     stop: Stop recording
diff --git a/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/settings.yaml b/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/settings.yaml
index 56b53d81d3..5ef2a67498 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/settings.yaml
+++ b/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/settings.yaml
@@ -891,9 +891,13 @@ pages:
             description: 选择合适的语音转文本的服务来源
           microphone:
             title: 麦克风
-            label: 麦克风
-            description: 为听觉打开麦克风。输入模式决定 AIRI 何时聆听。
             error: 麦克风不可用
+          microphone-switch:
+            label: 启用麦克风
+            description: 关闭后，AIRI 的所有功能都不能使用麦克风。
+          listen:
+            label: 聆听
+            description: AIRI 按上面的输入模式聆听。需要启用麦克风。
           input-device:
             label: 输入设备
             description: 选择 AIRI 使用的麦克风。
diff --git a/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/stage.yaml b/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/stage.yaml
index 0153c680d3..ce2adf2e93 100644
--- a/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/stage.yaml
+++ b/packages/i18n/src/locales/zh-Hans/stage.yaml
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ chat:
     push-to-talk-unavailable: 当前设备没有「按住说话」按键，所以 AIRI 不会聆听。请在听觉设置中更改输入模式。
     wake-word: 监听唤醒词
     hearing-settings: 更多听觉设置…
+    use-microphone: 启用麦克风
+    microphone-off: 麦克风已关闭
+    microphone-off-description: 打开麦克风后才能录音。
+    turn-on-microphone: 打开
     options-hint: 悬停或右键查看选项
     recording: 正在录音
     stop: 停止录音
diff --git a/packages/stage-layouts/src/components/Layouts/MobileInteractiveArea.vue b/packages/stage-layouts/src/components/Layouts/MobileInteractiveArea.vue
index 68758298f1..eadf5d0d54 100644
--- a/packages/stage-layouts/src/components/Layouts/MobileInteractiveArea.vue
+++ b/packages/stage-layouts/src/components/Layouts/MobileInteractiveArea.vue
@@ -166,12 +166,7 @@ const viewControlsEnabled = computed(() => {
   return false
 })
 const settingsAudioDevice = useSettingsAudioDevice()
-const { enabled, stream } = storeToRefs(settingsAudioDevice)
-
-watch(hearingOpen, async (open) => {
-  if (open)
-    await settingsAudioDevice.askPermission()
-})
+const { listening, stream } = storeToRefs(settingsAudioDevice)
 
 function restoreComposerFocus(event: Event) {
   event.preventDefault()
@@ -282,7 +277,7 @@ function teardownAnalyzer() {
 
 async function setupAnalyzer() {
   teardownAnalyzer()
-  if (!enabled.value || !stream.value)
+  if (!listening.value || !stream.value)
     return
   if (audioContext.state === 'suspended')
     await audioContext.resume()
@@ -293,7 +288,7 @@ async function setupAnalyzer() {
   analyzerSource.connect(analyser)
 }
 
-watch([enabled, stream], () => {
+watch([listening, stream], () => {
   setupAnalyzer()
 }, { immediate: true })
 
@@ -449,7 +444,7 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
         >
           <span
             aria-hidden="true"
-            :class="[enabled ? 'i-solar:soundwave-bold' : 'i-solar:soundwave-linear', 'size-5']"
+            :class="[listening ? 'i-solar:soundwave-bold' : 'i-solar:soundwave-linear', 'size-5']"
           />
         </BasicButton>
         <input ref="imageInput" type="file" accept="image/png,image/jpeg,image/webp,image/gif" multiple :class="['hidden']" @change="selectFiles">
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.browser.test.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.browser.test.ts
index 025841afe2..ef2bc568da 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.browser.test.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.browser.test.ts
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 import { render } from 'vitest-browser-vue'
 import { defineComponent, h, ref, shallowRef } from 'vue'
 import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
+import { Toaster } from 'vue-sonner'
 
 import VoiceInputButton from './voice-input-button.vue'
 
 import { pushToTalkTriggerKey } from '../../../../composables/push-to-talk-trigger'
-import { getSpeechBusContext, voiceInputCommand, voiceMessageCommand, voiceMessagesChanged, voiceRequestSnapshot, voiceSnapshotChanged } from '../../../../services/speech/bus'
+import { getSpeechBusContext, voiceInputCommand, voiceLevelMonitor, voiceMessageCommand, voiceMessagesChanged, voiceRequestSnapshot, voiceSnapshotChanged } from '../../../../services/speech/bus'
 
 const cleanups: (() => void)[] = []
 
@@ -55,8 +56,9 @@ async function mountButton(options: { afterFinish?: Partial<VoiceMessageSnapshot
   const attachment = document.body.appendChild(document.createElement('div'))
   cleanups.push(() => status.remove(), () => attachment.remove())
   const button = shallowRef<{ sendPending: (text: string) => Promise<'none' | 'sent' | 'failed'> }>()
+  // The Toaster shows the toasts that the button raises, as the app root does.
   const component = defineComponent({ setup() {
-    return () => h(VoiceInputButton, {
+    return () => [h(Toaster), h(VoiceInputButton, {
       'modelValue': draft.value,
       'onUpdate:modelValue': (value: string) => draft.value = value,
       'ref': button,
@@ -64,7 +66,7 @@ async function mountButton(options: { afterFinish?: Partial<VoiceMessageSnapshot
       'attachmentElement': attachment,
       'sessionId': 'alice',
       'onSubmit': () => submitted.push(true),
-    })
+    })]
   } })
   const screen = await render(component, {
     global: {
@@ -88,6 +90,79 @@ describe('voiceInputButton', () => {
     await expect.element(screen.getByTestId('voice-menu-push-to-talk-stranded')).toHaveTextContent('stage.chat.voice-composer.push-to-talk-unavailable')
   })
 
+  // A hover opens the menu. Users saw the system microphone indicator turn on while microphone input was off,
+  // because the menu asked the host for a level, and the host opened the microphone for it.
+  it('asks the host for no level while microphone input is off', async () => {
+    const monitorRequests: unknown[] = []
+    cleanups.push(getSpeechBusContext().on(voiceLevelMonitor, ({ body }) => monitorRequests.push(body)))
+    const { screen } = await mountButton()
+
+    await screen.getByTestId('voice-input-button').click({ button: 'right' })
+    await expect.element(screen.getByTestId('voice-menu-device')).toBeVisible()
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 100))
+
+    expect(monitorRequests).toEqual([])
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('voice-menu-level').query()).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('shows the level while microphone input holds the microphone open', async () => {
+    localStorage.setItem('settings/audio/input/enabled', 'true')
+    const monitorRequests: unknown[] = []
+    cleanups.push(getSpeechBusContext().on(voiceLevelMonitor, ({ body }) => monitorRequests.push(body)))
+    const { screen } = await mountButton()
+
+    await screen.getByTestId('voice-input-button').click({ button: 'right' })
+
+    await expect.element(screen.getByTestId('voice-menu-level')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    await expect.poll(() => monitorRequests.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+  })
+
+  it('starts no recording while the microphone is off', async () => {
+    localStorage.setItem('settings/audio/input/off', 'true')
+    const { screen, commands } = await mountButton()
+    const button = screen.getByTestId('voice-input-button')
+    await expect.element(button).toHaveAccessibleName('stage.chat.voice-composer.microphone-off')
+
+    await button.click()
+
+    await expect.element(screen.getByText('stage.chat.voice-composer.microphone-off-description')).toBeVisible()
+    expect(commands).toEqual([])
+    await expect.element(button).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false')
+  })
+
+  // The microphone switch and a capture lease finish a recording on the host. The control stayed on its spinner.
+  it('frees the control and keeps the recording when the host finishes it', async () => {
+    const { screen, commands } = await mountButton()
+    const button = screen.getByTestId('voice-input-button')
+    await button.click()
+    await expect.element(screen.getByTestId('voice-status-bar')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    const record = commands[0] as Extract<VoiceMessageCommand, { type: 'record' }>
+
+    getSpeechBusContext().emit(voiceMessagesChanged, [{ id: record.id, sessionId: 'alice', phase: 'ready', audio: new Blob(['wav'], { type: 'audio/wav' }) }])
+
+    await expect.element(button).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'false')
+    await expect.element(screen.getByTestId('voice-status-bar')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(commands).toHaveLength(1)
+  })
+
+  it('turns the microphone off and on from the menu', async () => {
+    const { screen } = await mountButton()
+    await screen.getByTestId('voice-input-button').click({ button: 'right' })
+    const microphone = screen.getByTestId('voice-menu-microphone')
+    await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAttribute('aria-checked', 'true')
+
+    await microphone.click()
+
+    await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAttribute('aria-checked', 'false')
+    expect(localStorage.getItem('settings/audio/input/off')).toBe('true')
+    await expect.element(screen.getByTestId('voice-menu-listen')).toHaveAttribute('data-disabled')
+
+    await microphone.click()
+
+    await expect.element(microphone).toHaveAttribute('aria-checked', 'true')
+    expect(localStorage.getItem('settings/audio/input/off')).toBe('false')
+  })
+
   it('shows no Push to Talk warning in the menu when the host has a trigger', async () => {
     localStorage.setItem('settings/hearing/input-mode', 'push-to-talk')
     const { screen } = await mountButton({ pushToTalkTrigger: true })
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.vue b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.vue
index da5eb8f8f6..0d927a8872 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.vue
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/components/voice-input-button.vue
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ const listenLabelKeys = {
   'wake-word': 'stage.chat.voice-composer.wake-word',
 } as const satisfies Record<HearingInputMode, string>
 const devices = useSettingsAudioDevice()
-const { audioInputOptions, permission, selectedAudioInput, enabled: listening } = storeToRefs(devices)
+const { audioInputOptions, heldOpen, off: microphoneOff, permission, selectedAudioInput, enabled: listening } = storeToRefs(devices)
 const controls = useVoiceControlsStore()
 
 /** Composer text before dictation started. The live transcript is shown after it until the input ends. */
@@ -129,6 +129,14 @@ watch(transcript, (text) => {
 async function toggle() {
   menu.close()
   if (!active.value) {
+    // The microphone switch is off, so nothing records. The toast tells why and turns the microphone on only on request.
+    if (microphoneOff.value) {
+      toast(t('stage.chat.voice-composer.microphone-off'), {
+        description: t('stage.chat.voice-composer.microphone-off-description'),
+        action: { label: t('stage.chat.voice-composer.turn-on-microphone'), onClick: () => microphoneOff.value = false },
+      })
+      return
+    }
     if (mode.value === 'transcription' && !voice.transcriptionConfigured.value) {
       toast(t('stage.chat.voice-composer.configure-title'), {
         description: t('stage.chat.voice-composer.configure-description'),
@@ -165,32 +173,22 @@ useEventListener(window, 'keydown', (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
     void cancel()
 })
 
-// NOTICE:
-// A browser resumes the microphone AudioContext only after a user activation, and a hover is none.
-// So the meter waits for sticky activation. Electron plays without a gesture.
-// Source: `microphoneSource` in packages/audio/src/browser/sources.ts awaits `context.resume()`.
-// Remove when that source stops waiting for resume.
-const monitor = useIntervalFn(() => {
-  if (navigator.userActivation?.hasBeenActive ?? true)
-    controls.monitorLevel(LEVEL_MONITOR_RENEW_MS * 1.5)
-}, LEVEL_MONITOR_RENEW_MS, { immediate: false, immediateCallback: true })
-watch(menuOpen, async (open) => {
-  monitor.pause()
-  if (!open)
-    return
-  // The meter must not cause a permission prompt on hover. Without granted permission it stays empty.
-  const permission = await navigator.permissions?.query({ name: 'microphone' as PermissionName }).catch(() => undefined)
-  if (menuOpen.value && (!permission || permission.state === 'granted'))
-    monitor.resume()
-})
+/**
+ * The meter shows only while the microphone preference already holds the microphone open.
+ * A hover opens the menu, and a hover must never open the microphone, cause a permission prompt, or turn on the system
+ * microphone indicator. While the microphone is closed, the menu shows the device without a meter.
+ */
+const meterVisible = computed(() => menuOpen.value && heldOpen.value)
+const monitor = useIntervalFn(() => controls.monitorLevel(LEVEL_MONITOR_RENEW_MS * 1.5), LEVEL_MONITOR_RENEW_MS, { immediate: false, immediateCallback: true })
+watch(meterVisible, visible => visible ? monitor.resume() : monitor.pause(), { immediate: true })
 
-/** Level of the selected microphone while the menu is open. The host's level from an earlier capture is not shown. */
+/** Level of the selected microphone while the meter shows. The host's level from an earlier capture is not shown. */
 const meterLevel = shallowRef(0)
 watch(() => controls.level, (value) => {
-  if (menuOpen.value)
+  if (meterVisible.value)
     meterLevel.value = value
 })
-watch(menuOpen, () => meterLevel.value = 0)
+watch(meterVisible, () => meterLevel.value = 0)
 
 const currentDevice = computed(() => {
   const option = audioInputOptions.value.find(item => item.value === selectedAudioInput.value)
@@ -235,10 +233,14 @@ const iconClass = computed(() => {
     return 'i-svg-spinners:ring-resize'
   if (active.value)
     return 'i-solar:stop-bold'
+  if (microphoneOff.value)
+    return 'i-mingcute:mic-off-fill'
   return activeMode.value === 'audio' ? 'i-solar:microphone-3-bold' : 'i-solar:text-field-focus-linear'
 })
 
 const buttonLabel = computed(() => {
+  if (!active.value && microphoneOff.value)
+    return t('stage.chat.voice-composer.microphone-off')
   if (!active.value)
     return t(`stage.chat.voice-composer.${mode.value}`)
   return t(autoSendEnabled.value ? 'stage.chat.voice-composer.stop-send' : 'stage.chat.voice-composer.stop')
@@ -248,6 +250,7 @@ const itemClasses = [
   'w-full flex cursor-pointer select-none items-center gap-2 rounded-lg px-3 py-2 text-left',
   'text-sm leading-none outline-none text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200',
   'data-[highlighted]:bg-primary-100/80 dark:data-[highlighted]:bg-primary-900/40',
+  'data-[disabled]:cursor-not-allowed data-[disabled]:opacity-50',
   'transition-colors duration-150 ease-in-out',
 ]
 const radioItemClasses = [
@@ -330,12 +333,25 @@ const separatorClasses = ['mx-2 my-1 h-px bg-neutral-200/80 dark:bg-neutral-700/
         <DropdownMenuLabel :class="labelClasses">
           {{ t('stage.chat.voice-composer.input-device') }}
         </DropdownMenuLabel>
-        <!-- The current microphone and its live level. Its submenu lists the other devices. -->
+        <!-- The microphone switch. Off closes the microphone for every feature, and nothing records until it is on again. -->
+        <DropdownMenuCheckboxItem
+          :model-value="!microphoneOff"
+          data-testid="voice-menu-microphone"
+          :class="itemClasses"
+          @update:model-value="value => microphoneOff = !value"
+          @select.prevent
+        >
+          <span :class="['flex-1']">{{ t('stage.chat.voice-composer.use-microphone') }}</span>
+          <span aria-hidden="true" :class="switchTrackClasses(!microphoneOff)">
+            <span :class="switchThumbClasses(!microphoneOff)" />
+          </span>
+        </DropdownMenuCheckboxItem>
+        <!-- The current microphone, with its live level while the microphone is open. Its submenu lists the other devices. -->
         <DropdownMenuSub>
           <DropdownMenuSubTrigger data-testid="voice-menu-device" :class="[itemClasses, 'py-1.5']">
             <span :class="['min-w-0 flex flex-1 flex-col gap-1.5']">
               <span :class="['truncate']">{{ currentDevice }}</span>
-              <span aria-hidden="true" :class="['h-1 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-neutral-900/10 dark:bg-white/10']">
+              <span v-if="meterVisible" aria-hidden="true" :class="['h-1 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-neutral-900/10 dark:bg-white/10']">
                 <span
                   data-testid="voice-menu-level"
                   :class="['block h-full rounded-full bg-primary-500 transition-[width] duration-75 motion-reduce:transition-none']"
@@ -390,8 +406,8 @@ const separatorClasses = ['mx-2 my-1 h-px bg-neutral-200/80 dark:bg-neutral-700/
             <span :class="switchThumbClasses(autoSendEnabled)" />
           </span>
         </DropdownMenuCheckboxItem>
-        <DropdownMenuCheckboxItem :model-value="listening" data-testid="voice-menu-listen" :class="itemClasses" @update:model-value="setListening" @select.prevent>
-          <!-- The switch turns on the Hearing input mode. The mode itself is chosen in Hearing settings. -->
+        <DropdownMenuCheckboxItem :model-value="listening" :disabled="microphoneOff" data-testid="voice-menu-listen" :class="itemClasses" @update:model-value="setListening" @select.prevent>
+          <!-- The switch turns on the Hearing input mode. The mode itself is chosen in Hearing settings. It waits while the microphone is off. -->
           <span :class="['flex-1']">{{ t(listenLabelKeys[inputMode]) }}</span>
           <span aria-hidden="true" :class="switchTrackClasses(listening)">
             <span :class="switchThumbClasses(listening)" />
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/composables/use-voice-composer.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/composables/use-voice-composer.ts
index cacf74ad0b..282165a9ec 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/composables/use-voice-composer.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/chat/composables/use-voice-composer.ts
@@ -120,7 +120,9 @@ export function useVoiceComposer(options: UseVoiceComposerOptions) {
         active.value = undefined
       }
       // A recording finished without sending becomes a pending message. The control is free for the next recording.
-      else if (snapshot.phase === 'ready' && recording.finishing && !recording.send) {
+      // The host can also finish a recording that the user did not stop, when the microphone turns off or another
+      // window takes it. That recording waits for the user too.
+      else if (snapshot.phase === 'ready' && (!recording.finishing || !recording.send)) {
         active.value = undefined
       }
       // The host owns a message that it sends. The send can wait in the session queue behind a reply, so the control
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.browser.test.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.browser.test.ts
index 95ae34314d..79925c7aed 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.browser.test.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.browser.test.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,29 @@ describe('hearing config audio device ownership', () => {
     localStorage.clear()
   })
 
+  // The island and the mobile Hearing drawer show these controls. Users must be able to close the microphone there.
+  it('turns the microphone off for every feature, and keeps listening waiting until it is on again', async () => {
+    const { app, host } = mountHearingConfig()
+    const offSwitch = () => host.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="hearing-microphone-off-switch"] [role="switch"]')!
+    await nextTick()
+    expect(offSwitch().getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true')
+
+    offSwitch().click()
+
+    await expect.poll(() => offSwitch().getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('false')
+    expect(localStorage.getItem('settings/audio/input/off')).toBe('true')
+    expect(microphoneSwitch(host).disabled).toBe(true)
+
+    offSwitch().click()
+
+    await expect.poll(() => offSwitch().getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true')
+    expect(microphoneSwitch(host).disabled).toBe(false)
+    expect(audioDeviceMocks.storeAskPermission).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    app.unmount()
+    host.remove()
+  })
+
   it('does not request microphone permission when the controls render', async () => {
     const { app, host } = mountHearingConfig()
     await nextTick()
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.vue b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.vue
index 6c448f0a20..afd8c6f250 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.vue
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/dialogs/audio-input/hearing-config.vue
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const { t } = useI18n()
 const { inputMode } = storeToRefs(useHearingStore())
 const { available: pushToTalkAvailable, stranded: pushToTalkStranded } = usePushToTalkTrigger()
 const deviceStore = useSettingsAudioDevice()
-const { audioInputOptions, enabled, error, permission, selectedAudioInput } = storeToRefs(deviceStore)
+const { audioInputOptions, enabled, error, off: microphoneOff, permission, selectedAudioInput } = storeToRefs(deviceStore)
 // A phone shows this config in a bottom drawer. A select there opens a second floating layer, so choices are rows.
 const { isDesktop } = useBreakpoints()
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ const enabling = shallowRef(false)
  * Only this explicit switch action asks for microphone permission. Rendering the controls never opens the microphone.
  * A denied request leaves the switch off. The device store keeps the reason in `error`, which the callout shows.
  */
-async function setMicrophoneEnabled(value: boolean) {
+async function setListening(value: boolean) {
   if (enabling.value)
     return
   if (!value) {
@@ -78,6 +78,15 @@ async function setMicrophoneEnabled(value: boolean) {
 
 <template>
   <div :class="['flex flex-col gap-4']">
+    <!-- The microphone switch. Off closes the microphone for every feature, so listening below waits until it is on. -->
+    <FieldCheckbox
+      data-testid="hearing-microphone-off-switch"
+      :model-value="!microphoneOff"
+      :label="t('settings.pages.modules.hearing.sections.section.microphone-switch.label')"
+      :description="t('settings.pages.modules.hearing.sections.section.microphone-switch.description')"
+      @update:model-value="value => microphoneOff = !value"
+    />
+
     <FieldSelect
       v-if="isDesktop"
       v-model="inputMode"
@@ -107,10 +116,10 @@ async function setMicrophoneEnabled(value: boolean) {
     <FieldCheckbox
       data-testid="hearing-microphone-switch"
       :model-value="enabled"
-      :disabled="enabling"
-      :label="t('settings.pages.modules.hearing.sections.section.microphone.label')"
-      :description="t('settings.pages.modules.hearing.sections.section.microphone.description')"
-      @update:model-value="setMicrophoneEnabled"
+      :disabled="enabling || microphoneOff"
+      :label="t('settings.pages.modules.hearing.sections.section.listen.label')"
+      :description="t('settings.pages.modules.hearing.sections.section.listen.description')"
+      @update:model-value="setListening"
     />
 
     <MicrophonePicker
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/providers/transcription-playground.vue b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/providers/transcription-playground.vue
index 08df274935..f2a6466876 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/providers/transcription-playground.vue
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/components/scenarios/providers/transcription-playground.vue
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@ import { errorMessageFrom } from '@moeru/std'
 import { encodeWav } from '@proj-airi/audio/encoding'
 import { capture as captureAudio, observe } from '@proj-airi/pipelines-audio'
 import { Button, FieldRange } from '@proj-airi/ui'
-import { computed, onScopeDispose, ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import { computed, onScopeDispose, ref, toRef, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 
 import MicrophonePicker from '../settings/microphone-picker.vue'
 
 import { useAudioDevice } from '../../../composables/audio/audio-device'
+import { useSettingsAudioDevice } from '../../../stores/settings/audio-device'
 import { LevelMeter, TestDummyMarker, ThresholdMeter } from '../../gadgets'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
@@ -21,7 +22,8 @@ const props = defineProps<{
 }>()
 
 const { t } = useI18n()
-const devices = useAudioDevice()
+// The playground picks its own device, but the microphone switch of AIRI still applies to it.
+const devices = useAudioDevice(ref(''), { off: toRef(useSettingsAudioDevice(), 'off') })
 const { audioInputOptions, permission, selectedAudioInput } = devices
 const speakingThreshold = ref(25)
 const isMonitoring = ref(false)
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/audio/audio-device.browser.test.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/audio/audio-device.browser.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f2c66df117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/audio/audio-device.browser.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { createPinia, disposePinia } from 'pinia'
+import { afterEach, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createApp, defineComponent, h, ref } from 'vue'
+import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
+
+import { useAudioDevice } from './audio-device'
+
+const cleanups: (() => void)[] = []
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  cleanups.splice(0).forEach(cleanup => cleanup())
+  vi.restoreAllMocks()
+})
+
+function mountDevice() {
+  const off = ref(false)
+  const selected = ref('')
+  let device!: ReturnType<typeof useAudioDevice>
+  const app = createApp(defineComponent({ setup() {
+    device = useAudioDevice(selected, { off })
+    return () => h('div')
+  } }))
+  // Analytics reads a store and translations.
+  const pinia = createPinia()
+  app.use(pinia).use(createI18n({ legacy: false, locale: 'en', messages: { en: {} }, missingWarn: false, fallbackWarn: false })).mount(document.createElement('div'))
+  cleanups.push(() => {
+    app.unmount()
+    disposePinia(pinia)
+  })
+  return { device, off, selected }
+}
+
+// Users must be able to turn the microphone off for every feature, and see the system indicator turn off.
+it('closes every capture and opens no new one while the microphone is off', async () => {
+  const { device, off, selected } = mountDevice()
+  // The device list decides which device the system default opens. A later list change replaces the input.
+  await device.askPermission()
+  await expect.poll(() => selected.value).not.toBe('')
+  const subscription = new AbortController()
+  const reader = device.input.value.subscribe({ signal: subscription.signal }).getReader()
+  await reader.read()
+  const track = device.stream.value!.getAudioTracks()[0]
+
+  off.value = true
+
+  await expect.poll(() => track.readyState).toBe('ended')
+  expect(await reader.read()).toEqual({ done: true, value: undefined })
+  const openMicrophone = vi.spyOn(navigator.mediaDevices, 'getUserMedia')
+  await expect(device.input.value.subscribe().getReader().read()).rejects.toThrow('The microphone is turned off in AIRI')
+  await expect(device.unprocessedInput.value.subscribe().getReader().read()).rejects.toThrow('The microphone is turned off in AIRI')
+  expect(openMicrophone).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+  off.value = false
+  const reopened = new AbortController()
+  cleanups.push(() => reopened.abort())
+  await device.input.value.subscribe({ signal: reopened.signal }).getReader().read()
+
+  expect(openMicrophone).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+})
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/audio/audio-device.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/audio/audio-device.ts
index 50c89ddce4..280f6fde53 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/audio/audio-device.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/audio/audio-device.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ function audioDeviceErrorCode(error: unknown): 'permission_denied' | 'device_una
  */
 export type MicrophonePermission = 'granted' | 'denied' | 'prompt' | 'unknown'
 
+/**
+ * The error of a capture that starts while the user has turned the microphone off in AIRI.
+ * Controls check the switch before they start, so this error reaches only a consumer that did not check it.
+ */
+export class MicrophoneOffError extends Error {
+  constructor() {
+    super('The microphone is turned off in AIRI')
+    this.name = 'MicrophoneOffError'
+  }
+}
+
 /** Prefers the system default microphone, then the first detected input. */
 function resolvePreferredAudioInput(audioInputs: readonly MediaDeviceInfo[]) {
   return audioInputs.find(device => device.deviceId === 'default')?.deviceId || audioInputs[0]?.deviceId || ''
@@ -58,8 +69,13 @@ function resolvePreferredAudioInput(audioInputs: readonly MediaDeviceInfo[]) {
  *
  * `selectedAudioInput` can be a persisted preference. An empty or unavailable selection falls back to the
  * preferred device once the browser lists device IDs, so controls show the device that capture uses.
+ *
+ * While `off` is true, the microphone stays closed for every consumer. Turning it off ends every open subscription
+ * of both inputs, so the system microphone indicator turns off at once. A new subscription then fails with
+ * {@link MicrophoneOffError} and opens no device.
  */
-export function useAudioDevice(selectedAudioInput: Ref<string> = ref('')) {
+export function useAudioDevice(selectedAudioInput: Ref<string> = ref(''), options: { off?: Readonly<Ref<boolean>> } = {}) {
+  const off = options.off ?? ref(false)
   const { trackMicrophonePermissionDenied } = useAnalytics()
   const { devices, audioInputs } = useDevicesList({ requestPermissions: false })
   const permissionGranted = ref(false)
@@ -109,21 +125,37 @@ export function useAudioDevice(selectedAudioInput: Ref<string> = ref('')) {
   const input = shallowRef(markRaw(new AudioInput(source.value, { historyMs: MICROPHONE_HISTORY_MS })))
   const unprocessedInput = shallowRef(createUnprocessedInput())
 
+  /** Refuses to open the device while the microphone is off. The check runs for each new connection. */
+  function guard(source: MicrophoneSource): MicrophoneSource {
+    return {
+      live: true,
+      get stream() {
+        return source.stream
+      },
+      get echoCancellation() {
+        return source.echoCancellation
+      },
+      open: signal => off.value
+        ? new ReadableStream({ start: controller => controller.error(new MicrophoneOffError()) })
+        : source.open(signal),
+    }
+  }
+
   function createSource(constraints: MediaStreamConstraints): MicrophoneSource {
-    const created = markRaw(microphoneSource(constraints, {
+    const created = markRaw(guard(microphoneSource(constraints, {
       contextOptions: MICROPHONE_CONTEXT,
       // A replaced device can close after the new one opened. Only the selected source updates the view.
       onStream: (opened) => {
         if (source.value === created)
           stream.value = opened
       },
-    }))
+    })))
     return created
   }
 
   /** Keyword spotting needs no history, because a wake starts its input after the keyword. */
   function createUnprocessedInput() {
-    return markRaw(new AudioInput(markRaw(microphoneSource(unprocessedConstraints.value, { contextOptions: MICROPHONE_CONTEXT }))))
+    return markRaw(new AudioInput(markRaw(guard(microphoneSource(unprocessedConstraints.value, { contextOptions: MICROPHONE_CONTEXT })))))
   }
 
   // Browsers hide device IDs until permission, so the fallback waits for a list with IDs.
@@ -142,11 +174,33 @@ export function useAudioDevice(selectedAudioInput: Ref<string> = ref('')) {
     unprocessedInput.value = createUnprocessedInput()
   })
 
+  // Closing ends the subscriptions without an error, as if the device stopped. Owners of an active recording
+  // stop it first in their own watchers of the same switch, so a closed input never looks like finished speech.
+  watch(off, (value) => {
+    if (!value)
+      return
+    void input.value.close()
+    void unprocessedInput.value.close()
+  })
+
   /**
-   * Subscribes until the first block arrives, then leaves. It reports a denied or missing device.
-   * Device labels need enumeration after permission, so this also refreshes the device list.
+   * Gets microphone access, and refreshes the device list, because device labels need enumeration after permission.
+   *
+   * With access already granted, it only refreshes the list. Every capture turns on the system microphone indicator,
+   * so a capture only to check access shows the indicator although nothing records. A missing device then fails at
+   * the first real capture.
+   * Without granted access, it subscribes until the first block arrives, then leaves. That asks the user for access,
+   * and it reports a denied or missing device.
    */
   async function askPermission() {
+    // The state comes from the Permissions API watch above, not from a new query. The probe must open in the same
+    // task as the click that called it, so that the click still counts as a user gesture for its AudioContext.
+    if (permission.value === 'granted') {
+      permissionGranted.value = true
+      devices.value = await navigator.mediaDevices.enumerateDevices()
+      return
+    }
+
     const probe = new AbortController()
     const reader = input.value.subscribe({ signal: probe.signal }).getReader()
     try {
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/voice-input-mode.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/voice-input-mode.ts
index 4f79e74a98..f2d02201e3 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/voice-input-mode.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/composables/voice-input-mode.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export function useVoiceListening() {
   const devices = useSettingsAudioDevice()
   const hearing = useHearingStore()
 
-  watch(() => hearing.enabled && devices.enabled && listensContinuously(hearing.inputMode), (listen) => {
+  watch(() => hearing.enabled && devices.listening && listensContinuously(hearing.inputMode), (listen) => {
     if (listen)
       voice.startListening()
     else
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export function useVoicePushToTalk(options: VoicePushToTalkOptions = {}) {
   const sessions = useChatSessionStore()
 
   return useVoiceHold({
-    enabled: () => hearing.enabled && devices.enabled && hearing.inputMode === 'push-to-talk',
+    enabled: () => hearing.enabled && devices.listening && hearing.inputMode === 'push-to-talk',
     sessionId: () => sessions.activeSessionId,
     begin: (sessionId) => {
       if (!hearing.configured) {
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.browser.test.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.browser.test.ts
index 3d0da1b41b..def3c89c8e 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.browser.test.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.browser.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { createPinia, disposePinia } from 'pinia'
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { createApp, defineComponent, h } from 'vue'
 import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ function mountDevices() {
 
 afterEach(() => {
   cleanups.splice(0).forEach(cleanup => cleanup())
+  vi.restoreAllMocks()
   localStorage.clear()
 })
 
@@ -129,6 +130,21 @@ describe('microphone settings through the browser adapter', () => {
     await expect.poll(() => track.readyState).toBe('ended')
   })
 
+  // Turning microphone input on asked for access first, then opened the microphone again for the hold.
+  // The system microphone indicator then flashed on, off, and on.
+  it('opens no microphone to ask for access that is already granted', async () => {
+    const devices = mountDevices()
+    expect(await devices.askPermission()).toBe(true)
+    await expect.poll(() => devices.permission).toBe('granted')
+    await expect.poll(() => devices.stream).toBeUndefined()
+    const openMicrophone = vi.spyOn(navigator.mediaDevices, 'getUserMedia')
+
+    expect(await devices.askPermission()).toBe(true)
+
+    expect(openMicrophone).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(devices.audioInputOptions.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+  })
+
   it('keeps the selected device and exposes unavailable-device failures', async () => {
     localStorage.setItem('settings/audio/input', 'missing-test-microphone')
     const devices = mountDevices()
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.ts
index b5e0a69276..177f5fdd97 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/settings/audio-device.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { errorMessageFrom } from '@moeru/std'
 import { useLocalStorageManualReset } from '@proj-airi/stage-shared/composables'
 import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
-import { onScopeDispose, ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import { computed, onScopeDispose, ref, watch } from 'vue'
 
 import { useAudioDevice } from '../../composables/audio'
 import { listensContinuously, useHearingStore } from '../modules/hearing'
@@ -13,28 +13,43 @@ function isAbort(cause: unknown) {
 /**
  * Stores microphone preferences and keeps the selected microphone open while it is enabled.
  *
+ * Two persisted preferences control the microphone:
+ * - `off` is the microphone switch. While `off` is true, no feature in AIRI can open the microphone. Setting it to
+ *   true ends every open capture at once. Controls then show the microphone as off and do not start a recording.
+ * - `enabled` is the listening preference. It has effect only while `off` is false. Then the Hearing input mode
+ *   controls when AIRI listens. `listening` combines the two.
+ *
  * `input` is the shared input for the selected device. Consumers subscribe with their own signal.
  * `unprocessedInput` is the same device without browser processing. Only keyword spotting subscribes to it, so the
  * preference does not hold it open.
- * The enabled preference holds one extra subscription, so later consumers start without waiting for permission.
+ * While AIRI listens, the store holds one extra subscription, so later consumers start without waiting for permission.
  * A Hearing input mode that does not listen continuously, such as Push to Talk, skips that subscription.
  * Then the microphone opens only while a speech input or a voice message uses it.
  */
 export const useSettingsAudioDevice = defineStore('settings-audio-devices', () => {
   const selectedAudioInput = useLocalStorageManualReset<string>('settings/audio/input', '')
-  const device = useAudioDevice(selectedAudioInput)
   const enabled = useLocalStorageManualReset<boolean>('settings/audio/input/enabled', false)
+  const off = useLocalStorageManualReset<boolean>('settings/audio/input/off', false)
+  const device = useAudioDevice(selectedAudioInput, { off })
   const hearing = useHearingStore()
   const error = ref<string>()
   let permissionStatus: PermissionStatus | undefined
   let disposed = false
   let initialized = false
   let holding: AbortController | undefined
+  /** True while AIRI listens in the Hearing input mode: the microphone is on and the listening preference is on. */
+  const listening = computed(() => enabled.value && !off.value)
+  /**
+   * True while the preference keeps the microphone open in the window that initialized this store.
+   * Each window computes it from the same persisted settings. A level meter observes the input only while this is
+   * true, so a meter alone never opens the microphone.
+   */
+  const heldOpen = computed(() => listening.value && listensContinuously(hearing.inputMode))
 
   /** Holds the current input open. A failure other than release turns the preference off. */
   function hold() {
     holding?.abort('Microphone hold replaced')
-    if (!enabled.value || !listensContinuously(hearing.inputMode) || !initialized)
+    if (!heldOpen.value || !initialized)
       return
 
     const current = new AbortController()
@@ -48,7 +63,7 @@ export const useSettingsAudioDevice = defineStore('settings-audio-devices', () =
     })
   }
 
-  watch([enabled, () => hearing.inputMode, device.input], hold, { flush: 'sync' })
+  watch([heldOpen, device.input], hold, { flush: 'sync' })
 
   function initialize() {
     if (initialized || disposed)
@@ -89,6 +104,7 @@ export const useSettingsAudioDevice = defineStore('settings-audio-devices', () =
     error.value = undefined
     selectedAudioInput.reset()
     enabled.reset()
+    off.reset()
   }
 
   onScopeDispose(() => {
@@ -101,6 +117,9 @@ export const useSettingsAudioDevice = defineStore('settings-audio-devices', () =
   return {
     error,
     enabled,
+    off,
+    listening,
+    heldOpen,
     selectedAudioInput,
     audioInputs: device.audioInputs,
     audioInputOptions: device.audioInputOptions,
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.browser.test.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.browser.test.ts
index 488d927e4f..78839f8059 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.browser.test.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.browser.test.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 
 import { holdCaptureLease } from '../libs/voice/capture-lease'
 import { getSpeechBusContext, voiceMessageCommand, voiceMessagesChanged } from '../services/speech/bus'
+import { useSettingsAudioDevice } from './settings/audio-device'
 import { useVoiceCaptureLeaseStore } from './voice-capture-lease'
 import { useVoiceMessagesStore } from './voice-messages'
 
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ function connectHost() {
     disposePinia(pinia)
     element.remove()
   })
-  return { store, leases: useVoiceCaptureLeaseStore(pinia), latest: () => snapshots.at(-1) ?? [] }
+  return { store, leases: useVoiceCaptureLeaseStore(pinia), devices: useSettingsAudioDevice(pinia), latest: () => snapshots.at(-1) ?? [] }
 }
 
 describe('voice messages host', () => {
@@ -107,4 +108,39 @@ describe('voice messages host', () => {
 
     expect(await command({ type: 'record', id: 'message', sessionId: 'alice' })).toEqual({ status: 'accepted' })
   })
+
+  // The microphone switch in a composer menu or in Hearing controls must stop a recording at once.
+  // The user keeps the audio that was recorded before, as with a capture lease.
+  it('keeps a recording as a draft and closes the microphone when the microphone turns off', async () => {
+    const { store, devices, latest } = connectHost()
+    // The device list decides which device the system default opens. A later list change replaces the input.
+    expect(await devices.askPermission()).toBe(true)
+    await expect.poll(() => devices.selectedAudioInput).not.toBe('')
+    const command = defineInvoke(getSpeechBusContext(), voiceMessageCommand)
+    await command({ type: 'record', id: 'message', sessionId: 'alice' })
+    await expect.poll(() => latest()[0]?.phase).toBe('capturing')
+    await expect.poll(() => devices.stream?.getAudioTracks()[0].readyState).toBe('live')
+    const track = devices.stream!.getAudioTracks()[0]
+
+    devices.off = true
+
+    await expect.poll(() => latest()[0]?.phase).toBe('ready')
+    expect(store.isRecording).toBe(false)
+    await expect.poll(() => track.readyState).toBe('ended')
+    // Browser test files run in parallel and share storage. Turn the persisted switch back at once.
+    devices.off = false
+  })
+
+  it('does not record while the microphone is off', async () => {
+    const { devices } = connectHost()
+    const command = defineInvoke(getSpeechBusContext(), voiceMessageCommand)
+    devices.off = true
+    const refused = await command({ type: 'record', id: 'message', sessionId: 'alice' })
+    // Browser test files run in parallel and share storage. Turn the persisted switch back at once.
+    devices.off = false
+
+    expect(refused).toEqual({ status: 'closed' })
+
+    expect(await command({ type: 'record', id: 'message', sessionId: 'alice' })).toEqual({ status: 'accepted' })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.ts
index 1930476f03..ca30353181 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice-messages.ts
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ export const useVoiceMessagesStore = defineStore('voice-messages', () => {
     return completed ? text.trim() : (text.trim() || undefined)
   }
 
-  /** Returns false for a used ID, and while another window holds a capture lease. */
+  /** Returns false for a used ID, while another window holds a capture lease, and while the microphone is off. */
   function record(command: Extract<VoiceMessageCommand, { type: 'record' }>) {
-    if (opened.has(command.id) || captureLease.held)
+    if (opened.has(command.id) || captureLease.held || devices.off)
       return false
     opened.add(command.id)
     const message = new VoiceMessage(command.id, command.sessionId, devices.input, async (draft) => {
@@ -129,15 +129,17 @@ export const useVoiceMessagesStore = defineStore('voice-messages', () => {
         }
         return { status: 'accepted' }
       }),
-      // A capture lease needs the microphone alone. Keep what the user recorded as a draft that they can send or discard.
-      watch(() => captureLease.held, (held) => {
-        if (!held)
+      // A capture lease needs the microphone alone, and the microphone switch closes it for everyone.
+      // Keep what the user recorded as a draft that they can send or discard.
+      // The watcher is synchronous, so the recording stops before the device store closes the input.
+      watch(() => captureLease.held || devices.off, (stop) => {
+        if (!stop)
           return
         for (const message of messages.values()) {
           if (['pending', 'capturing'].includes(message.snapshot.phase))
             void message.finish()
         }
-      }),
+      }, { flush: 'sync' }),
     ]
     publish()
     return () => {
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.browser.test.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.browser.test.ts
index 136a6509e0..c25ad3f199 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.browser.test.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.browser.test.ts
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@ import { afterEach, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { createApp } from 'vue'
 import { createI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 
-import { getSpeechBusContext, voiceSpeechCommand } from '../services/speech/bus'
+import { getSpeechBusContext, voiceInputLevel, voiceLevelMonitor, voiceSpeechCommand } from '../services/speech/bus'
 import { useLlmStreamingControlStore } from './ai/chat-llm/streaming-control'
 import { useChatStore } from './chat'
 import { useSpeechStore } from './modules/speech'
+import { useSettingsAudioDevice } from './settings/audio-device'
 import { useVoiceStore } from './voice'
 
 const cleanups: (() => void)[] = []
@@ -89,3 +90,54 @@ it.each(['local', 'remote'] as const)('issue #3153: disabling %s speech preserve
   expect(cancelChat).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   await expect(generation.done).resolves.toEqual({ type: 'completed' })
 })
+
+// A level meter in a menu asks for the level when a hover opens the menu. Users saw the system microphone indicator
+// turn on although microphone input was off, because the host opened the microphone for the meter.
+it('publishes a requested level only while microphone input holds the microphone open', async () => {
+  const pinia = createPinia()
+  let voice!: ReturnType<typeof useVoiceStore>
+  let devices!: ReturnType<typeof useSettingsAudioDevice>
+  const app = createApp({ setup() {
+    voice = useVoiceStore()
+    devices = useSettingsAudioDevice()
+    return () => null
+  } }).use(pinia).use(createI18n({ legacy: false, locale: 'en', messages: { en: {} }, missingWarn: false, fallbackWarn: false }))
+  app.mount(document.createElement('div'))
+  cleanups.push(() => {
+    app.unmount()
+    disposePinia(pinia)
+  })
+  const output: SpeechOutput = {
+    playback: new Playback({ nowMs: () => 0, play: () => ({ done: new Promise<{ throughMs: number }>(() => {}), stop: async () => ({ throughMs: 0 }) }) }),
+    stream: async () => new ReadableStream(),
+  }
+  cleanups.push(voice.connectOutput(() => output))
+  devices.initialize()
+  // The device list decides which device the system default opens. A later list change replaces the input.
+  expect(await devices.askPermission()).toBe(true)
+  await expect.poll(() => devices.selectedAudioInput).not.toBe('')
+  await expect.poll(() => devices.stream).toBeUndefined()
+  const context = getSpeechBusContext()
+  const levels: number[] = []
+  cleanups.push(context.on(voiceInputLevel, ({ body }) => body && levels.push(body.level)))
+  const openMicrophone = vi.spyOn(navigator.mediaDevices, 'getUserMedia')
+
+  context.emit(voiceLevelMonitor, { until: Date.now() + 5000 })
+  await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 200))
+
+  expect(openMicrophone).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  expect(levels).toEqual([])
+
+  devices.enabled = true
+  context.emit(voiceLevelMonitor, { until: Date.now() + 10_000 })
+
+  // The first level waits for the device and the capture worklet, which is slow while other test files run.
+  await expect.poll(() => levels.length, { timeout: 10_000 }).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+  expect(openMicrophone).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  const track = devices.stream!.getAudioTracks()[0]
+
+  // The menu still asks for the level. Turning microphone input off must close the microphone anyway.
+  devices.enabled = false
+
+  await expect.poll(() => track.readyState).toBe('ended')
+})
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.ts b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.ts
index 9fc16f4ff4..39d1061c0c 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/src/stores/voice.ts
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ export const useVoiceStore = defineStore('voice', () => {
 
     const snapshot: VoiceHostSnapshot = {
       connected: true,
-      microphone: { enabled: devices.enabled, ready: !!devices.stream, error: devices.error },
+      microphone: { enabled: devices.listening, ready: !!devices.stream, error: devices.error },
       wakeWords: { preparation: wakeWordDetection.preparation, ...(wakeWordDetection.error ? { error: wakeWordDetection.error } : {}) },
       drafts: drafts.value.map(draft => ({ ...draft })),
       frontDraftId: frontDraftId.value,
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ export const useVoiceStore = defineStore('voice', () => {
 
   /** Begins an input that a control ends. Returns nothing while another window holds a capture lease. */
   function beginManual(sessionId: string) {
-    if (!hearing.enabled || captureLease.held)
+    if (!hearing.enabled || captureLease.held || devices.off)
       return undefined
     return beginInput({ sessionId, interruptTurns: activeTurns.value.filter(turn => turn.sessionId === sessionId), start: { kind: 'after-silence' }, cause: 'control' })
   }
@@ -267,7 +267,11 @@ export const useVoiceStore = defineStore('voice', () => {
    */
   function publishInputLevel() {
     let observation: AbortController | undefined
-    /** A control shows a level meter. It turns off when the newest request expires. */
+    /**
+     * A control shows a level meter. It turns off when the newest request expires.
+     * The meter reads the level only while the microphone preference holds the input open. A user can hover the meter
+     * without intent to speak, so the meter alone must not open the microphone. While the input is closed, no level arrives.
+     */
     const monitoring = shallowRef(false)
     let monitorTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
     const stopMonitor = getSpeechBusContext().on(voiceLevelMonitor, ({ body }) => {
@@ -280,7 +284,7 @@ export const useVoiceStore = defineStore('voice', () => {
         monitorTimer = setTimeout(() => monitoring.value = false, remaining)
     })
     const stop = watch(
-      [() => voiceMessages.isRecording || state.value?.phase === 'capturing' || monitoring.value, () => devices.input],
+      [() => voiceMessages.isRecording || state.value?.phase === 'capturing' || (monitoring.value && devices.heldOpen), () => devices.input],
       ([capturing, input]) => {
         observation?.abort('Voice capture changed')
         observation = undefined
@@ -346,6 +350,13 @@ export const useVoiceStore = defineStore('voice', () => {
         if (held)
           controller.activeInput?.cancel('Another window holds the microphone')
       }),
+      // The microphone switch ends every input, also dictation in a composer. The input is cancelled, not submitted,
+      // because the user turned the microphone off and did not finish speaking.
+      // The watcher is synchronous, so the input ends before the device store closes the microphone.
+      watch(() => devices.off, (off) => {
+        if (off)
+          controller.activeInput?.cancel('The microphone is turned off')
+      }, { flush: 'sync' }),
       publishInputLevel(),
       context.on(voiceGenerationEnded, ({ body }) => {
         if (!body)
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/vitest.browser.setup.ts b/packages/stage-ui/vitest.browser.setup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6c2c724abe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/vitest.browser.setup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// NOTICE:
+// Browser test files run in parallel as separate documents of one origin, so they share `localStorage`.
+// A browser fires a trusted `storage` event in every other document when one document writes. VueUse storage refs
+// listen to it, so a setting that one test file writes, such as the microphone switch, changed stores in another
+// file while its test ran. Tests then failed only when a certain other file ran at the same time.
+// This listener drops the trusted events. A test that dispatches its own `StorageEvent` still reaches its listeners,
+// because a dispatched event is not trusted.
+// Remove this when Vitest gives each browser test file its own storage.
+window.addEventListener('storage', (event) => {
+  if (event.isTrusted)
+    event.stopImmediatePropagation()
+}, { capture: true })
diff --git a/packages/stage-ui/vitest.config.ts b/packages/stage-ui/vitest.config.ts
index 60a254ba38..c37771c449 100644
--- a/packages/stage-ui/vitest.config.ts
+++ b/packages/stage-ui/vitest.config.ts
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
           name: 'browser',
           include: ['src/**/*.browser.test.ts'],
           exclude: ['**/node_modules/**'],
+          setupFiles: ['./vitest.browser.setup.ts'],
           browser: {
             enabled: true,
             headless: true,