diff --git a/src-tauri/src/actions.rs b/src-tauri/src/actions.rs
index 76d12df..4a738df 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/actions.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/actions.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "macos", target_arch = "aarch64"))]
 use crate::apple_intelligence;
 use crate::audio_feedback::{play_feedback_sound, play_feedback_sound_blocking, SoundType};
-use crate::audio_toolkit::is_microphone_access_denied;
+use crate::audio_toolkit::{is_microphone_access_denied, is_no_input_device_error};
 use crate::managers::audio::AudioRecordingManager;
 use crate::managers::history::HistoryManager;
 use crate::managers::transcription::TranscriptionManager;
@@ -436,6 +436,8 @@ impl ShortcutAction for TranscribeAction {
             if let Some(err) = recording_error {
                 let error_type = if is_microphone_access_denied(&err) {
                     "microphone_permission_denied"
+                } else if is_no_input_device_error(&err) {
+                    "no_input_device"
                 } else {
                     "unknown"
                 };
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/mod.rs b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/mod.rs
index a25360a..f973dae 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/mod.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/mod.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ mod utils;
 mod visualizer;
 
 pub use device::{list_input_devices, list_output_devices, CpalDeviceInfo};
-pub use recorder::{is_microphone_access_denied, AudioRecorder};
+pub use recorder::{is_microphone_access_denied, is_no_input_device_error, AudioRecorder};
 pub use resampler::FrameResampler;
 pub use utils::{read_wav_samples, save_wav_file, verify_wav_file};
 pub use visualizer::AudioVisualiser;
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs
index 01a033d..ef94a98 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/audio/recorder.rs
@@ -342,9 +342,16 @@ pub fn is_microphone_access_denied(error_message: &str) -> bool {
         || normalized.contains("0x80070005")
 }
 
+pub fn is_no_input_device_error(error_message: &str) -> bool {
+    let normalized = error_message.to_lowercase();
+    normalized.contains("no input device found")
+        || (normalized.contains("failed to fetch preferred config")
+            && normalized.contains("coreaudio"))
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::is_microphone_access_denied;
+    use super::{is_microphone_access_denied, is_no_input_device_error};
 
     #[test]
     fn detects_access_is_denied() {
@@ -365,6 +372,24 @@ mod tests {
     fn does_not_match_unrelated_errors() {
         assert!(!is_microphone_access_denied("device not found"));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn detects_no_input_device() {
+        assert!(is_no_input_device_error("No input device found"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn detects_coreaudio_config_error() {
+        assert!(is_no_input_device_error(
+            "Failed to fetch preferred config: A backend-specific error has occurred: An unknown error unknown to the coreaudio-rs API occurred"
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn does_not_match_other_errors_for_no_device() {
+        assert!(!is_no_input_device_error("permission denied"));
+        assert!(!is_no_input_device_error("device not found"));
+    }
 }
 
 fn run_consumer(
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/mod.rs b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/mod.rs
index a94f27c..304be5f 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/mod.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/audio_toolkit/mod.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ pub mod utils;
 pub mod vad;
 
 pub use audio::{
-    is_microphone_access_denied, list_input_devices, list_output_devices, read_wav_samples,
-    save_wav_file, verify_wav_file, AudioRecorder, CpalDeviceInfo,
+    is_microphone_access_denied, is_no_input_device_error, list_input_devices,
+    list_output_devices, read_wav_samples, save_wav_file, verify_wav_file, AudioRecorder,
+    CpalDeviceInfo,
 };
 pub use text::{apply_custom_words, filter_transcription_output};
 pub use utils::get_cpal_host;
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs b/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
index 3b1ac73..b3378b7 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/managers/audio.rs
@@ -297,6 +297,18 @@ impl AudioRecordingManager {
         let settings = get_settings(&self.app_handle);
         let selected_device = self.get_effective_microphone_device(&settings);
 
+        // Pre-flight check: if no device was selected/configured AND no devices
+        // exist at all, fail early with a clear error instead of letting cpal
+        // produce a cryptic backend-specific message.
+        if selected_device.is_none() {
+            let has_any_device = list_input_devices()
+                .map(|devices| !devices.is_empty())
+                .unwrap_or(false);
+            if !has_any_device {
+                return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("No input device found"));
+            }
+        }
+
         if let Some(rec) = recorder_opt.as_mut() {
             rec.open(selected_device)
                 .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to open recorder: {}", e))?;
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index e09ade6..ea378e5 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ function App() {
           defaultValue: t("errors.micPermissionDenied.generic"),
         });
         toast.error(t("errors.micPermissionDeniedTitle"), { description });
+      } else if (error_type === "no_input_device") {
+        toast.error(t("errors.noInputDeviceTitle"), {
+          description: t("errors.noInputDevice"),
+        });
       } else {
         toast.error(
           t("errors.recordingFailed", { error: detail ?? "Unknown error" }),
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json
index a228f1d..55ce0fe 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ar/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "امنح الوصول إلى الميكروفون في إعدادات النظام ← الخصوصية والأمان ← الميكروفون.",
       "linux": "امنح الوصول إلى الميكروفون في إعدادات الصوت أو الخصوصية في نظامك."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "لم يتم العثور على ميكروفون",
+    "noInputDevice": "لم يتم اكتشاف أي جهاز إدخال صوتي. يرجى توصيل ميكروفون أو سماعة رأس والمحاولة مرة أخرى.",
     "recordingFailed": "فشل في بدء التسجيل: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "فشل في تحميل النموذج: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "نموذج غير معروف"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json
index 877ccdb..0dd34f3 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/cs/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Povolte přístup k mikrofonu v Nastavení systému → Soukromí a zabezpečení → Mikrofon.",
       "linux": "Povolte přístup k mikrofonu v nastavení zvuku nebo soukromí vašeho systému."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Mikrofon nebyl nalezen",
+    "noInputDevice": "Nebylo detekováno žádné zvukové vstupní zařízení. Připojte mikrofon nebo sluchátka a zkuste to znovu.",
     "recordingFailed": "Nepodařilo se spustit nahrávání: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Nepodařilo se načíst model: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "neznámý model"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json
index d476002..249c274 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/de/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Erteilen Sie den Mikrofonzugriff in Systemeinstellungen → Datenschutz & Sicherheit → Mikrofon.",
       "linux": "Erteilen Sie den Mikrofonzugriff in den Sound- oder Datenschutzeinstellungen Ihres Systems."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Kein Mikrofon gefunden",
+    "noInputDevice": "Es wurde kein Audio-Eingabegerät erkannt. Bitte schließen Sie ein Mikrofon oder Headset an und versuchen Sie es erneut.",
     "recordingFailed": "Aufnahme konnte nicht gestartet werden: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Modell konnte nicht geladen werden: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "unbekanntes Modell"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
index f7cf056..583bdbb 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/en/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Grant microphone access in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.",
       "linux": "Grant microphone access in your system's sound or privacy settings."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "No Microphone Found",
+    "noInputDevice": "No audio input device was detected. Please connect a microphone or headset and try again.",
     "recordingFailed": "Failed to start recording: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Failed to load model: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "unknown model"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json
index fb3644f..dcfdef8 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/es/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Conceda el acceso al micrófono en Ajustes del Sistema → Privacidad y seguridad → Micrófono.",
       "linux": "Conceda el acceso al micrófono en la configuración de sonido o privacidad de su sistema."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "No se encontró micrófono",
+    "noInputDevice": "No se detectó ningún dispositivo de entrada de audio. Conecta un micrófono o auriculares e inténtalo de nuevo.",
     "recordingFailed": "Error al iniciar la grabación: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Error al cargar el modelo: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "modelo desconocido"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json
index 0deb8e2..7953c44 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/fr/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Accordez l'accès au microphone dans Réglages du système → Confidentialité et sécurité → Microphone.",
       "linux": "Accordez l'accès au microphone dans les paramètres de son ou de confidentialité de votre système."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Aucun microphone trouvé",
+    "noInputDevice": "Aucun périphérique d'entrée audio n'a été détecté. Veuillez connecter un microphone ou un casque et réessayer.",
     "recordingFailed": "Échec du démarrage de l'enregistrement : {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Échec du chargement du modèle : {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "modèle inconnu"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json
index c7cf6a8..259d0b3 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/it/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Concedi l'accesso al microfono in Impostazioni di Sistema → Privacy e sicurezza → Microfono.",
       "linux": "Concedi l'accesso al microfono nelle impostazioni audio o sulla privacy del tuo sistema."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Nessun microfono trovato",
+    "noInputDevice": "Non è stato rilevato alcun dispositivo di ingresso audio. Collega un microfono o delle cuffie e riprova.",
     "recordingFailed": "Impossibile avviare la registrazione: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Impossibile caricare il modello: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "modello sconosciuto"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json
index 5fdc8c3..815baee 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ja/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "システム設定 → プライバシーとセキュリティ → マイクでマイクへのアクセスを許可してください。",
       "linux": "システムのサウンドまたはプライバシー設定でマイクへのアクセスを許可してください。"
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "マイクが見つかりません",
+    "noInputDevice": "オーディオ入力デバイスが検出されませんでした。マイクまたはヘッドセットを接続してから再試行してください。",
     "recordingFailed": "録音の開始に失敗しました: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "モデルの読み込みに失敗しました: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "不明なモデル"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json
index e1c8ccb..e76569e 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ko/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "시스템 설정 → 개인 정보 보호 및 보안 → 마이크에서 마이크 접근을 허용하세요.",
       "linux": "시스템의 소리 또는 개인 정보 설정에서 마이크 접근을 허용하세요."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "마이크를 찾을 수 없음",
+    "noInputDevice": "오디오 입력 장치가 감지되지 않았습니다. 마이크 또는 헤드셋을 연결한 후 다시 시도해 주세요.",
     "recordingFailed": "녹음을 시작하지 못했습니다: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "모델을 불러오지 못했습니다: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "알 수 없는 모델"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json
index 36c2c96..7b6ae7c 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/pl/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Przyznaj dostęp do mikrofonu w Ustawienia systemowe → Prywatność i ochrona → Mikrofon.",
       "linux": "Przyznaj dostęp do mikrofonu w ustawieniach dźwięku lub prywatności systemu."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Nie znaleziono mikrofonu",
+    "noInputDevice": "Nie wykryto żadnego urządzenia wejściowego audio. Podłącz mikrofon lub słuchawki i spróbuj ponownie.",
     "recordingFailed": "Nie udało się rozpocząć nagrywania: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Nie udało się załadować modelu: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "nieznany model"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json
index 3d62a17..c092dfe 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/pt/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Conceda o acesso ao microfone em Ajustes do Sistema → Privacidade e Segurança → Microfone.",
       "linux": "Conceda o acesso ao microfone nas configurações de som ou privacidade do seu sistema."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Nenhum microfone encontrado",
+    "noInputDevice": "Nenhum dispositivo de entrada de áudio foi detectado. Conecte um microfone ou fone de ouvido e tente novamente.",
     "recordingFailed": "Falha ao iniciar a gravação: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Falha ao carregar o modelo: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "modelo desconhecido"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json
index cb88f67..cdfc56a 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ru/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Предоставьте доступ к микрофону в Системные настройки → Конфиденциальность и безопасность → Микрофон.",
       "linux": "Предоставьте доступ к микрофону в настройках звука или конфиденциальности вашей системы."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Микрофон не найден",
+    "noInputDevice": "Аудиоустройство ввода не обнаружено. Подключите микрофон или гарнитуру и попробуйте снова.",
     "recordingFailed": "Не удалось начать запись: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Не удалось загрузить модель: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "неизвестная модель"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json
index 4574b6c..a005f35 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/tr/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Sistem Ayarları → Gizlilik ve Güvenlik → Mikrofon bölümünden mikrofon erişimini verin.",
       "linux": "Sisteminizin ses veya gizlilik ayarlarından mikrofon erişimini verin."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Mikrofon bulunamadı",
+    "noInputDevice": "Ses giriş aygıtı algılanamadı. Lütfen bir mikrofon veya kulaklık bağlayın ve tekrar deneyin.",
     "recordingFailed": "Kayıt başlatılamadı: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Model yüklenemedi: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "bilinmeyen model"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json
index 1aa0eb0..e031f53 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/uk/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Надайте доступ до мікрофона в Системні налаштування → Конфіденційність і безпека → Мікрофон.",
       "linux": "Надайте доступ до мікрофона в налаштуваннях звуку або конфіденційності вашої системи."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Мікрофон не знайдено",
+    "noInputDevice": "Не виявлено жодного пристрою введення звуку. Підключіть мікрофон або гарнітуру та спробуйте знову.",
     "recordingFailed": "Не вдалося розпочати запис: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Не вдалося завантажити модель: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "невідома модель"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json
index e406b44..bacbb7b 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/vi/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "Cấp quyền truy cập micrô trong Cài đặt hệ thống → Quyền riêng tư & Bảo mật → Micrô.",
       "linux": "Cấp quyền truy cập micrô trong cài đặt âm thanh hoặc quyền riêng tư của hệ thống."
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "Không tìm thấy micrô",
+    "noInputDevice": "Không phát hiện thiết bị đầu vào âm thanh nào. Vui lòng kết nối micrô hoặc tai nghe và thử lại.",
     "recordingFailed": "Không thể bắt đầu ghi âm: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "Không thể tải mô hình: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "mô hình không xác định"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json
index 6f27da2..f5c1421 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "在系統設定 → 隱私與安全性 → 麥克風中授予麥克風存取權限。",
       "linux": "在系統的聲音或隱私設定中授予麥克風存取權限。"
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "找不到麥克風",
+    "noInputDevice": "未偵測到音訊輸入裝置。請連接麥克風或耳機後重試。",
     "recordingFailed": "錄音啟動失敗: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "載入模型失敗: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "未知模型"
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json b/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json
index de6efc8..3958e23 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh/translation.json
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@
       "macos": "在系统设置 → 隐私与安全性 → 麦克风中授予麦克风访问权限。",
       "linux": "在系统的声音或隐私设置中授予麦克风访问权限。"
     },
+    "noInputDeviceTitle": "未找到麦克风",
+    "noInputDevice": "未检测到音频输入设备。请连接麦克风或耳机后重试。",
     "recordingFailed": "录音启动失败: {{error}}",
     "modelLoadFailed": "加载模型失败: {{model}}",
     "modelLoadFailedUnknown": "未知模型"