diff --git a/linux/CHANGELOG.md b/linux/CHANGELOG.md
index 0662836..a960661 100644
--- a/linux/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/linux/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,22 @@ The version is defined in [`blitztext/__init__.py`](blitztext/__init__.py).
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+- **Pause wakeword (tray)**: a reversible "Pause wakeword" toggle appears in the
+  system-tray menu when the wakeword is enabled. It pauses/resumes hands-free
+  detection by toggling the `/tmp/wake_muted` flag (external scripts may toggle
+  the same file).
+
+### Fixed
+- **Wakeword stuck muted**: a leftover `/tmp/wake_muted` flag silently disabled
+  detection with no in-app way to clear it. The state is now exposed and
+  reversible from the tray, so a stale flag no longer kills hands-free use.
+- **Notification storm / lock-screen pile-up**: desktop notifications are now
+  sent as transient with a short expiry and reuse a single bubble, so they no
+  longer stack in the notification log or persist on the lock screen.
+- **Quiet hands-free sessions**: per-dictation notifications are suppressed for
+  wakeword-triggered sessions (audio cues are used instead).
+
 ## [1.2.0] - 2026-06-05
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/linux/blitztext/tray.py b/linux/blitztext/tray.py
index c430ec7..0ce1de8 100644
--- a/linux/blitztext/tray.py
+++ b/linux/blitztext/tray.py
@@ -87,6 +87,20 @@ class Tray:
             menu.append(item)
 
         menu.append(Gtk.SeparatorMenuItem())
+
+        # Hands-free wakeword: a reversible pause toggle. Without this, a stale
+        # /tmp/wake_muted flag would silently disable detection with no way back.
+        if getattr(self.app.cfg, "wakeword_enabled", False):
+            from . import wakeword
+
+            self.mute_item = Gtk.CheckMenuItem(label="Pause wakeword")
+            self.mute_item.set_active(wakeword.is_muted())
+            self.mute_item.connect(
+                "toggled", lambda i: wakeword.set_muted(i.get_active())
+            )
+            menu.append(self.mute_item)
+            menu.append(Gtk.SeparatorMenuItem())
+
         for label, cb in (
             ("Show panel", self.app.show_panel),
             ("Settings…", self.app.open_settings),
diff --git a/linux/blitztext/wakeword.py b/linux/blitztext/wakeword.py
index 037769c..b1283f3 100644
--- a/linux/blitztext/wakeword.py
+++ b/linux/blitztext/wakeword.py
@@ -19,7 +19,24 @@ from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from . import logbuffer
 
-_MUTE_FILE = "/tmp/wake_muted"
+MUTE_FILE = "/tmp/wake_muted"
+
+
+def is_muted() -> bool:
+    """True if wakeword detections are currently paused via the mute flag."""
+    return os.path.exists(MUTE_FILE)
+
+
+def set_muted(muted: bool) -> None:
+    """Pause (create flag) or resume (remove flag) wakeword detection."""
+    try:
+        if muted:
+            open(MUTE_FILE, "a").close()
+        elif os.path.exists(MUTE_FILE):
+            os.remove(MUTE_FILE)
+    except OSError as e:  # noqa: BLE001 - mute is best-effort, never crash
+        logbuffer.log(f"[wakeword] Could not update mute flag: {e}")
+
 
 class WakewordListener:
     def __init__(self, uri: str, model: str, mic: str, on_detect):
@@ -142,8 +159,8 @@ class WakewordListener:
         if time.time() < self._cooldown_until:
             return
             
-        if os.path.exists(_MUTE_FILE):
-            logbuffer.log("[wakeword] Detected, but muted via /tmp/wake_muted")
+        if is_muted():
+            logbuffer.log("[wakeword] Detected, but paused (resume via tray)")
             return
             
         logbuffer.log(f"[wakeword] Detected '{self.model}'!")