diff --git a/src-tauri/src/actions.rs b/src-tauri/src/actions.rs
index f19ce58..5966b2c 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/actions.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/actions.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Instant;
-use tauri::AppHandle;
 use tauri::Manager;
+use tauri::{AppHandle, Emitter};
 
 /// Drop guard that notifies the [`TranscriptionCoordinator`] when the
 /// transcription pipeline finishes — whether it completes normally or panics.
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ impl ShortcutAction for TranscribeAction {
         let is_always_on = settings.always_on_microphone;
         debug!("Microphone mode - always_on: {}", is_always_on);
 
-        let mut recording_started = false;
+        let mut recording_error: Option<String> = None;
         if is_always_on {
             // Always-on mode: Play audio feedback immediately, then apply mute after sound finishes
             debug!("Always-on mode: Playing audio feedback immediately");
@@ -341,35 +341,48 @@ impl ShortcutAction for TranscribeAction {
                 rm_clone.apply_mute();
             });
 
-            recording_started = rm.try_start_recording(&binding_id);
-            debug!("Recording started: {}", recording_started);
+            if let Err(e) = rm.try_start_recording(&binding_id) {
+                debug!("Recording failed: {}", e);
+                recording_error = Some(e);
+            }
         } else {
             // On-demand mode: Start recording first, then play audio feedback, then apply mute
             // This allows the microphone to be activated before playing the sound
             debug!("On-demand mode: Starting recording first, then audio feedback");
             let recording_start_time = Instant::now();
-            if rm.try_start_recording(&binding_id) {
-                recording_started = true;
-                debug!("Recording started in {:?}", recording_start_time.elapsed());
-                // Small delay to ensure microphone stream is active
-                let app_clone = app.clone();
-                let rm_clone = Arc::clone(&rm);
-                std::thread::spawn(move || {
-                    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
-                    debug!("Handling delayed audio feedback/mute sequence");
-                    // Helper handles disabled audio feedback by returning early, so we reuse it
-                    // to keep mute sequencing consistent in every mode.
-                    play_feedback_sound_blocking(&app_clone, SoundType::Start);
-                    rm_clone.apply_mute();
-                });
-            } else {
-                debug!("Failed to start recording");
+            match rm.try_start_recording(&binding_id) {
+                Ok(()) => {
+                    debug!("Recording started in {:?}", recording_start_time.elapsed());
+                    // Small delay to ensure microphone stream is active
+                    let app_clone = app.clone();
+                    let rm_clone = Arc::clone(&rm);
+                    std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                        std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
+                        debug!("Handling delayed audio feedback/mute sequence");
+                        // Helper handles disabled audio feedback by returning early, so we reuse it
+                        // to keep mute sequencing consistent in every mode.
+                        play_feedback_sound_blocking(&app_clone, SoundType::Start);
+                        rm_clone.apply_mute();
+                    });
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    debug!("Failed to start recording: {}", e);
+                    recording_error = Some(e);
+                }
             }
         }
 
-        if recording_started {
+        if recording_error.is_none() {
             // Dynamically register the cancel shortcut in a separate task to avoid deadlock
             shortcut::register_cancel_shortcut(app);
+        } else {
+            // Starting failed (for example due to blocked microphone permissions).
+            // Revert UI state so we don't stay stuck in the recording overlay.
+            utils::hide_recording_overlay(app);
+            change_tray_icon(app, TrayIconState::Idle);
+            if let Some(err) = recording_error {
+                let _ = app.emit("recording-error", err);
+            }
         }
 
         debug!(
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs
index 8326e7c..f9c00ab 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ impl AudioRecorder {
 
         let (sample_tx, sample_rx) = mpsc::channel::<Vec<f32>>();
         let (cmd_tx, cmd_rx) = mpsc::channel::<Cmd>();
+        let (init_tx, init_rx) = mpsc::sync_channel::<Result<(), String>>(1);
 
         let host = crate::audio_toolkit::get_cpal_host();
         let device = match device {
@@ -76,56 +77,108 @@ impl AudioRecorder {
         let level_cb = self.level_cb.clone();
 
         let worker = std::thread::spawn(move || {
-            let config = AudioRecorder::get_preferred_config(&thread_device)
-                .expect("failed to fetch preferred config");
+            let init_result = (|| -> Result<(cpal::Stream, u32), String> {
+                let config = AudioRecorder::get_preferred_config(&thread_device)
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to fetch preferred config: {e}"))?;
 
-            let sample_rate = config.sample_rate().0;
-            let channels = config.channels() as usize;
+                let sample_rate = config.sample_rate().0;
+                let channels = config.channels() as usize;
 
-            log::info!(
-                "Using device: {:?}\nSample rate: {}\nChannels: {}\nFormat: {:?}",
-                thread_device.name(),
-                sample_rate,
-                channels,
-                config.sample_format()
-            );
+                log::info!(
+                    "Using device: {:?}\nSample rate: {}\nChannels: {}\nFormat: {:?}",
+                    thread_device.name(),
+                    sample_rate,
+                    channels,
+                    config.sample_format()
+                );
 
-            let stream = match config.sample_format() {
-                cpal::SampleFormat::U8 => {
-                    AudioRecorder::build_stream::<u8>(&thread_device, &config, sample_tx, channels)
-                        .unwrap()
-                }
-                cpal::SampleFormat::I8 => {
-                    AudioRecorder::build_stream::<i8>(&thread_device, &config, sample_tx, channels)
-                        .unwrap()
-                }
-                cpal::SampleFormat::I16 => {
-                    AudioRecorder::build_stream::<i16>(&thread_device, &config, sample_tx, channels)
-                        .unwrap()
-                }
-                cpal::SampleFormat::I32 => {
-                    AudioRecorder::build_stream::<i32>(&thread_device, &config, sample_tx, channels)
-                        .unwrap()
-                }
-                cpal::SampleFormat::F32 => {
-                    AudioRecorder::build_stream::<f32>(&thread_device, &config, sample_tx, channels)
-                        .unwrap()
-                }
-                _ => panic!("unsupported sample format"),
-            };
+                let stream = match config.sample_format() {
+                    cpal::SampleFormat::U8 => AudioRecorder::build_stream::<u8>(
+                        &thread_device,
+                        &config,
+                        sample_tx,
+                        channels,
+                    )
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to build input stream: {e}"))?,
+                    cpal::SampleFormat::I8 => AudioRecorder::build_stream::<i8>(
+                        &thread_device,
+                        &config,
+                        sample_tx,
+                        channels,
+                    )
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to build input stream: {e}"))?,
+                    cpal::SampleFormat::I16 => AudioRecorder::build_stream::<i16>(
+                        &thread_device,
+                        &config,
+                        sample_tx,
+                        channels,
+                    )
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to build input stream: {e}"))?,
+                    cpal::SampleFormat::I32 => AudioRecorder::build_stream::<i32>(
+                        &thread_device,
+                        &config,
+                        sample_tx,
+                        channels,
+                    )
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to build input stream: {e}"))?,
+                    cpal::SampleFormat::F32 => AudioRecorder::build_stream::<f32>(
+                        &thread_device,
+                        &config,
+                        sample_tx,
+                        channels,
+                    )
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to build input stream: {e}"))?,
+                    sample_format => {
+                        return Err(format!("Unsupported sample format: {sample_format:?}"));
+                    }
+                };
 
-            stream.play().expect("failed to start stream");
+                stream
+                    .play()
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start microphone stream: {e}"))?;
 
-            // keep the stream alive while we process samples
-            run_consumer(sample_rate, vad, sample_rx, cmd_rx, level_cb);
-            // stream is dropped here, after run_consumer returns
+                Ok((stream, sample_rate))
+            })();
+
+            match init_result {
+                Ok((stream, sample_rate)) => {
+                    let _ = init_tx.send(Ok(()));
+                    // Keep the stream alive while we process samples.
+                    run_consumer(sample_rate, vad, sample_rx, cmd_rx, level_cb);
+                    drop(stream);
+                }
+                Err(error_message) => {
+                    let normalized_error = normalize_microphone_error(error_message);
+                    log::error!("{normalized_error}");
+                    let _ = init_tx.send(Err(normalized_error));
+                }
+            }
         });
 
-        self.device = Some(device);
-        self.cmd_tx = Some(cmd_tx);
-        self.worker_handle = Some(worker);
-
-        Ok(())
+        match init_rx.recv() {
+            Ok(Ok(())) => {
+                self.device = Some(device);
+                self.cmd_tx = Some(cmd_tx);
+                self.worker_handle = Some(worker);
+                Ok(())
+            }
+            Ok(Err(error_message)) => {
+                let _ = worker.join();
+                let kind = if is_microphone_access_denied(&error_message) {
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::PermissionDenied
+                } else {
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::Other
+                };
+                Err(Box::new(Error::new(kind, error_message)))
+            }
+            Err(recv_error) => {
+                let _ = worker.join();
+                Err(Box::new(Error::new(
+                    std::io::ErrorKind::Other,
+                    format!("Failed to initialize microphone worker: {recv_error}"),
+                )))
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     pub fn start(&self) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
@@ -239,6 +292,21 @@ impl AudioRecorder {
     }
 }
 
+fn is_microphone_access_denied(error_message: &str) -> bool {
+    let normalized = error_message.to_lowercase();
+    normalized.contains("access is denied")
+        || normalized.contains("permission denied")
+        || normalized.contains("0x80070005")
+}
+
+fn normalize_microphone_error(error_message: String) -> String {
+    if is_microphone_access_denied(&error_message) {
+        return "Microphone access was denied by the operating system. On Windows, enable Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone (including desktop app access), then restart Handy.".to_string();
+    }
+
+    error_message
+}
+
 fn run_consumer(
     in_sample_rate: u32,
     vad: Option<Arc<Mutex<Box<dyn vad::VoiceActivityDetector>>>>,
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs b/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
index 0add01f..0fd3f0e 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
@@ -332,15 +332,16 @@ impl AudioRecordingManager {
 
     /* ---------- recording --------------------------------------------------- */
 
-    pub fn try_start_recording(&self, binding_id: &str) -> bool {
+    pub fn try_start_recording(&self, binding_id: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
         let mut state = self.state.lock().unwrap();
 
         if let RecordingState::Idle = *state {
             // Ensure microphone is open in on-demand mode
             if matches!(*self.mode.lock().unwrap(), MicrophoneMode::OnDemand) {
                 if let Err(e) = self.start_microphone_stream() {
-                    error!("Failed to open microphone stream: {e}");
-                    return false;
+                    let msg = format!("{e}");
+                    error!("Failed to open microphone stream: {msg}");
+                    return Err(msg);
                 }
             }
 
@@ -351,13 +352,12 @@ impl AudioRecordingManager {
                         binding_id: binding_id.to_string(),
                     };
                     debug!("Recording started for binding {binding_id}");
-                    return true;
+                    return Ok(());
                 }
             }
-            error!("Recorder not available");
-            false
+            Err("Recorder not available".to_string())
         } else {
-            false
+            Err("Already recording".to_string())
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 454ccd2..faebb87 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useState, useRef } from "react";
-import { Toaster } from "sonner";
+import { toast, Toaster } from "sonner";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+import { listen } from "@tauri-apps/api/event";
 import { platform } from "@tauri-apps/plugin-os";
 import {
   checkAccessibilityPermission,
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ const renderSettingsContent = (section: SidebarSection) => {
 };
 
 function App() {
-  const { i18n } = useTranslation();
+  const { t, i18n } = useTranslation();
   const [onboardingStep, setOnboardingStep] = useState<OnboardingStep | null>(
     null,
   );
@@ -93,6 +94,16 @@ function App() {
     };
   }, [settings?.debug_mode, updateSetting]);
 
+  // Listen for recording errors from the backend and show a toast
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unlisten = listen<string>("recording-error", (event) => {
+      toast.error(t("errors.recordingFailed", { error: event.payload }));
+    });
+    return () => {
+      unlisten.then((fn) => fn());
+    };
+  }, [t]);
+
   const checkOnboardingStatus = async () => {
     try {
       // Check if they have any models available
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json
index 103c8b7..0882d21 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "تجاهل"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "خطأ في تحميل المجلد: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "خطأ في تحميل المجلد: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "لغة التطبيق",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json
index bfdc33e..acdf41a 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Zavřít"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Chyba při načítání adresáře: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Chyba při načítání adresáře: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Jazyk aplikace",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json
index 2b5e6c3..cf349b7 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Schließen"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Fehler beim Laden des Verzeichnisses: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Fehler beim Laden des Verzeichnisses: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Anwendungssprache",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
index eb0fa60..c934961 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Dismiss"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Error loading directory: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Error loading directory: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Application Language",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json
index d917da9..1c6a585 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Descartar"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Error al cargar el directorio: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Error al cargar el directorio: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Idioma de la aplicación",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json
index 0f1443a..b52f5b6 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Ignorer"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Erreur lors du chargement du répertoire : {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Erreur lors du chargement du répertoire : {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Langue de l'application",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json
index 26b5737..7b87668 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Ignora"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Errore di caricamento cartella: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Errore di caricamento cartella: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Lingua Applicazione",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json
index f5700af..1bd8149 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "閉じる"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "ディレクトリの読み込みエラー: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "ディレクトリの読み込みエラー: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "アプリケーション言語",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json
index dbd0587..880d895 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "닫기"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "디렉토리 로딩 오류: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "디렉토리 로딩 오류: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "애플리케이션 언어",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json
index df99c49..5197ae4 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Zamknij"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Błąd wczytywania katalogu: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Błąd wczytywania katalogu: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Język aplikacji",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json
index 571a66d..4d92cf6 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Dispensar"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Erro ao carregar diretório: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Erro ao carregar diretório: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Idioma da Aplicação",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json
index a3f9544..dde5af6 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Увольнять"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Ошибка загрузки каталога: {{error}}."
+    "loadDirectory": "Ошибка загрузки каталога: {{error}}.",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Язык приложения",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json
index 89daab4..13ceb15 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Yoksay"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Dizin yüklenirken hata oluştu: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Dizin yüklenirken hata oluştu: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Uygulama Dili",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json
index 9c9b2c3..b16ea43 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Закрити"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Помилка завантаження папки: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Помилка завантаження папки: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Мова інтерфейсу",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json
index e8e1bed..6fd7e8b 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "Bỏ qua"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "Lỗi khi tải thư mục: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "Lỗi khi tải thư mục: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "Ngôn ngữ ứng dụng",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json
index 92e0704..a40877c 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "關閉"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "載入目錄時發生錯誤: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "載入目錄時發生錯誤: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "應用程式語言",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json
index ac389e2..d8594f8 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@
     "dismiss": "关闭"
   },
   "errors": {
-    "loadDirectory": "加载目录时出错: {{error}}"
+    "loadDirectory": "加载目录时出错: {{error}}",
+    "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}"
   },
   "appLanguage": {
     "title": "应用语言",