diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 2e540b4..93222cb 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -423,15 +423,14 @@
     box-shadow:0 6px 22px rgba(59,110,246,.45);display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;
   }
   .micfab:active{transform:scale(.92)}
-  .micfab.live{background:var(--red);box-shadow:0 6px 22px rgba(226,72,61,.5);animation:pulse 1.1s infinite}
   .vmodal{position:fixed;inset:0;z-index:60;display:none;align-items:center;justify-content:center;
           padding:20px;background:rgba(20,24,35,.4)}
   .vmodal.show{display:flex}
-  /* capture window: floating, docked bottom-right ABOVE the mic; no dimming, mic stays clickable (it sits at a higher z-index) */
+  /* capture window: floating, docked bottom-right ABOVE the + button; no dimming, + stays clickable (higher z-index) */
   #vmodal{background:transparent;pointer-events:none}
   #vmodal.show{justify-content:flex-end;align-items:flex-end;padding:0 18px 102px 0}
   #vmodal.show .capwrap,#vmodal.show .caprestore{pointer-events:auto}
-  /* minimized chat: collapse the window to a small restore pill above the mic */
+  /* minimized chat: collapse the window to a small restore pill above the + button */
   .capmin{font-size:18px;line-height:1;font-weight:800;padding:5px 11px 8px}
   .caprestore{display:none;align-items:center;gap:9px;background:var(--surface);color:var(--ink);
         border-radius:15px;box-shadow:0 16px 50px rgba(20,24,35,.28);border:1px solid var(--line);
@@ -502,7 +501,7 @@
   .mini{flex:none;width:30px;height:30px;border-radius:9px;background:var(--accent-soft);color:var(--accent);font-size:16px;font-weight:700;
         display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center}
   .mini:active{transform:scale(.92)}
-  .cappanel.chatp .caprow{flex:none}  /* keep the mic row pinned & visible */
+  .cappanel.chatp .caprow{flex:none}  /* keep the input row pinned & visible */
   .crow.col{flex-direction:column;align-items:stretch;gap:7px}
   .caphead{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:10px;margin-bottom:12px}
   .ttsbtn{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;color:var(--ink-2);background:#eef0f4;border-radius:8px;padding:7px 11px}
@@ -668,7 +667,7 @@
   <button class="sbicon" title="New project" onclick="addProject()">
     <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.7" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M3.5 6.2h5.2l1.4 1.6h6.4v8.6a1.6 1.6 0 0 1-1.6 1.6H5.1a1.6 1.6 0 0 1-1.6-1.6V6.2z"/><path d="M10 10.2v4.2M8 12.3h4"/></svg>
   </button>
-  <button class="sbicon" title="New (talk to assistant)" onclick="micFabTap()">
+  <button class="sbicon" title="Open assistant" onclick="micFabTap()">
     <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.9" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M10 4.5v11M4.5 10h11"/></svg>
   </button>
   <button class="sbicon" title="Process a conversation transcript" onclick="openTranscript()">
@@ -756,7 +755,9 @@
   </div>
 </main>
 
-<button class="micfab" id="micFab" onclick="micFabTap()" aria-label="Talk to assistant">🎙</button>
+<button class="micfab" id="micFab" onclick="micFabTap()" aria-label="Open assistant">
+  <svg width="28" height="28" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.2" stroke-linecap="round"><path d="M10 4.5v11M4.5 10h11"/></svg>
+</button>
 
 <div class="vmodal" id="vmodal">
   <div class="capwrap">
@@ -780,8 +781,9 @@ <h3>Assistant</h3>
           <input type="file" accept=".txt,.md,.vtt,.srt,.text,text/plain" style="display:none" onchange="attachTranscript(this)">
           <svg width="19" height="19" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.7" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M15.5 9.2l-5.4 5.4a3.3 3.3 0 0 1-4.7-4.7l6-6a2.2 2.2 0 0 1 3.1 3.1l-6 6a1.1 1.1 0 0 1-1.6-1.6l5.4-5.4"/></svg>
         </label>
-        <input id="capInput" class="capinput" placeholder="Type, or tap the mic below…" autocomplete="off"
+        <input id="capInput" class="capinput" placeholder="Type, or tap the mic to talk…" autocomplete="off"
           onkeydown="if(event.key==='Enter'){event.preventDefault();sendTurn();}">
+        <button class="micbtn" id="capVoice" type="button" onclick="toggleListen()" aria-label="Voice chat" title="Voice chat">🎙</button>
         <button class="capsend" id="capSend" onclick="sendTurn()">Send</button>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/app/main.js b/src/app/main.js
index 3281b36..ec55535 100644
--- a/src/app/main.js
+++ b/src/app/main.js
@@ -1547,11 +1547,12 @@ function pushApproved(){ if(!PROP) return; snap(); let np=0;
 /* ---- continuous mic: stays live, auto-sends each finished sentence as a turn until you
         stop it. Finished sentences are queued so a slow extract call never drops one. ---- */
 let capQueue=[], speaking=false, micPaused=false;
-function setMic(on){ listening=on; const f=$id("micFab"); if(f) f.classList.toggle("live",on); }
-/* the bottom-right mic is the only mic: tap to open the chat (if needed) and talk; tap again to stop */
+function setMic(on){ listening=on; const v=$id("capVoice"); if(v) v.classList.toggle("live",on); }
+/* bottom-right + opens chat; voice is started from the mic button beside Send */
 function micFabTap(){ const m=$id("vmodal");
-  if(CAP&&m&&m.classList.contains("min")){ restoreCapture(); return; }   // expand instead of toggling mic
-  if(!CAP){ openCapture(); setTimeout(toggleListen,150); } else toggleListen(); }
+  if(CAP&&m&&m.classList.contains("min")){ restoreCapture(); return; }
+  if(!CAP) openCapture();
+  else setTimeout(()=>$id("capInput")?.focus(),50); }
 function pushTurn(text){ capQueue.push(text); drainQueue(); }
 async function drainQueue(){ if(!CAP||CAP.busy) return;
   while(capQueue.length){ $id("capInput").value=capQueue.shift(); await sendTurn(); } }