From 3bffb762210ac935aa79c319654d81fe20e9b558 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:10:40 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 01/10] Add hideTaskbarWhileRunning setting and UI

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 src/main/store/config.store.ts                |  6 +++
 .../custom/settings/hide-taskbar-field.tsx    | 22 ++++++++
 src/renderer/components/custom/titlebar.tsx   | 52 +++++++++++--------
 src/renderer/hooks/use-hide-taskbar.ts        | 21 ++++++++
 src/renderer/i18n/locales/en.ts               |  8 ++-
 src/renderer/i18n/locales/ru.ts               |  8 ++-
 src/renderer/pages/configuration/index.tsx    |  2 +
 src/renderer/types/config.ts                  |  3 ++
 8 files changed, 97 insertions(+), 25 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 src/renderer/components/custom/settings/hide-taskbar-field.tsx
 create mode 100644 src/renderer/hooks/use-hide-taskbar.ts

diff --git a/src/main/store/config.store.ts b/src/main/store/config.store.ts
index c5741139..d65b4e08 100644
--- a/src/main/store/config.store.ts
+++ b/src/main/store/config.store.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ export interface RuntimeConfig {
   // mock interview: also generate what the live assistant would have suggested for each
   // question. On by default - see the note on the default value below.
   mockLiveHintsEnabled: boolean;
+
+  // Hide the taskbar/Dock icon, pin on top and drop minimize while a live interview runs.
+  // Off by default: the window is a normal window unless stealth mode is on.
+  hideTaskbarWhileRunning: boolean;
 }
 
 // Default runtime configuration
@@ -86,6 +90,7 @@ const DEFAULT_RUNTIME_CONFIG: RuntimeConfig = {
   // the only answer they are ever offered - and the session bar still turns it off for the run
   // where composing unaided is the point.
   mockLiveHintsEnabled: true,
+  hideTaskbarWhileRunning: false,
 };
 
 // interviewConf (full name, profile, context) used to be cached under `runtime`, but it's now
@@ -307,6 +312,7 @@ export const configStore = new ConfigStore();
       ?.mockLiveSuggestionsEnabled;
     migration.mockLiveHintsEnabled = typeof legacy === 'boolean' ? legacy : true;
   }
+  if (raw?.hideTaskbarWhileRunning === undefined) migration.hideTaskbarWhileRunning = false;
   // perform migration only if there are values to set
   if (Object.keys(migration).length > 0) {
     configStore.updateConfig(migration);
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/custom/settings/hide-taskbar-field.tsx b/src/renderer/components/custom/settings/hide-taskbar-field.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..53f94b8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/components/custom/settings/hide-taskbar-field.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { Checkbox } from '@/components/ui/checkbox';
+import { useHideTaskbar } from '@/hooks/use-hide-taskbar';
+import { useT } from '@/i18n';
+
+export function HideTaskbarField() {
+  const t = useT();
+  const { enabled, setEnabled } = useHideTaskbar();
+
+  return (
+    <label className="flex cursor-pointer items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-lg border p-3">
+      <div>
+        <p className="text-sm font-medium">{t.hideTaskbarField.label}</p>
+        <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{t.hideTaskbarField.description}</p>
+      </div>
+      <Checkbox
+        checked={enabled}
+        onCheckedChange={(v) => setEnabled(v === true)}
+        aria-label={t.hideTaskbarField.label}
+      />
+    </label>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/components/custom/titlebar.tsx b/src/renderer/components/custom/titlebar.tsx
index 8b09f099..9a6f13e3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/components/custom/titlebar.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/components/custom/titlebar.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tooltip';
 import { useAppState } from '@/hooks/use-app-state';
 import { useCommandPaletteStore } from '@/hooks/use-command-palette';
+import { useHideTaskbar } from '@/hooks/use-hide-taskbar';
 import { useInterviewLock } from '@/hooks/use-interview-lock';
 import useIsStealthMode from '@/hooks/use-is-stealth-mode';
 import { useT } from '@/i18n';
@@ -57,6 +58,9 @@ export default function Titlebar() {
   // surface is the same one.
   const { locked } = useInterviewLock();
 
+  // No taskbar icon to restore from, and main refuses minimize in this mode too.
+  const { enabled: minimizeBlocked } = useHideTaskbar();
+
   if (isStealth) return null;
 
   return (
@@ -121,30 +125,32 @@ export default function Titlebar() {
 
           {!isMac && (
             <>
-              <Tooltip>
-                <TooltipTrigger asChild>
-                  <button
-                    onClick={handleMinimize}
-                    aria-label={t.titlebar.minimize}
-                    className="h-7 w-8 flex items-center justify-center rounded hover:bg-muted"
-                    style={NO_DRAG}
-                  >
-                    <svg
-                      xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-                      className="h-4 w-4"
-                      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-                      fill="none"
-                      stroke="currentColor"
-                      strokeWidth={2}
+              {!minimizeBlocked && (
+                <Tooltip>
+                  <TooltipTrigger asChild>
+                    <button
+                      onClick={handleMinimize}
+                      aria-label={t.titlebar.minimize}
+                      className="h-7 w-8 flex items-center justify-center rounded hover:bg-muted"
+                      style={NO_DRAG}
                     >
-                      <path d="M5 12h14" strokeLinecap="round" />
-                    </svg>
-                  </button>
-                </TooltipTrigger>
-                <TooltipContent>
-                  <p>{t.titlebar.minimize}</p>
-                </TooltipContent>
-              </Tooltip>
+                      <svg
+                        xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+                        className="h-4 w-4"
+                        viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                        fill="none"
+                        stroke="currentColor"
+                        strokeWidth={2}
+                      >
+                        <path d="M5 12h14" strokeLinecap="round" />
+                      </svg>
+                    </button>
+                  </TooltipTrigger>
+                  <TooltipContent>
+                    <p>{t.titlebar.minimize}</p>
+                  </TooltipContent>
+                </Tooltip>
+              )}
               <Tooltip>
                 <TooltipTrigger asChild>
                   <button
diff --git a/src/renderer/hooks/use-hide-taskbar.ts b/src/renderer/hooks/use-hide-taskbar.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c77c478a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/hooks/use-hide-taskbar.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { useCallback } from 'react';
+import { toast } from 'sonner';
+
+import { currentTranslation } from '@/i18n';
+
+import { useConfigStore } from './use-config-store';
+
+/** Whether the app hides its taskbar/Dock icon during a live interview, plus a persisting setter. */
+export function useHideTaskbar() {
+  const { config } = useConfigStore();
+
+  const setEnabled = useCallback((enabled: boolean) => {
+    const { updateConfig } = useConfigStore.getState();
+    updateConfig({ hideTaskbarWhileRunning: enabled }).catch((e) => {
+      console.error('Failed to save hide taskbar setting', e);
+      toast.error(currentTranslation().settingsToasts.saveHideTaskbarFailed);
+    });
+  }, []);
+
+  return { enabled: config?.hideTaskbarWhileRunning === true, setEnabled };
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/i18n/locales/en.ts b/src/renderer/i18n/locales/en.ts
index c4f5a2f7..b3987fb5 100644
--- a/src/renderer/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -348,6 +348,11 @@ export const en = {
       `Keeps a live transcript docked under your suggestions. Turn it off for more room to read them. Toggle any time with ${combo}.`,
   },
 
+  hideTaskbarField: {
+    label: 'Hide taskbar icon during live interviews',
+    description:
+      'Off by default. When on, the app leaves the taskbar (and the Dock on macOS) and stays on top of other windows while a live interview is running. The window cannot be minimized while this is on. If the window gets lost, launch the app again to bring it back.',
+  },
   mockHintsField: {
     label: 'Show hints in mock interviews',
     description:
@@ -929,7 +934,7 @@ export const en = {
     lostWindow: {
       title: 'Lost the window?',
       body: (appName: string) =>
-        `In stealth mode ${appName} leaves the taskbar and the macOS Dock so it is not visible when you share your screen, which also means a minimized window has no button to click. Just launch ${appName} again: it does not start a second copy, it brings this window back. Outside stealth mode the usual taskbar button and Dock icon are there.`,
+        `In stealth mode ${appName} leaves the taskbar and the macOS Dock so it is not visible when you share your screen, which also means a minimized window has no button to click. Just launch ${appName} again: it does not start a second copy, it brings this window back. Outside stealth mode the usual taskbar button and Dock icon are there, unless you turned on "Hide taskbar icon during live interviews".`,
     },
 
     language: {
@@ -1114,6 +1119,7 @@ export const en = {
     saveSuggestionModeFailed: 'Failed to save the suggestion mode',
     saveTranscriptPanelFailed: 'Failed to save transcription panel setting',
     saveMockHintsFailed: 'Failed to save live suggestions setting',
+    saveHideTaskbarFailed: 'Could not save the taskbar setting. Please try again.',
     saveUiLanguageFailed: 'Failed to save the app language',
   },
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/i18n/locales/ru.ts b/src/renderer/i18n/locales/ru.ts
index fcf319d9..34de2a58 100644
--- a/src/renderer/i18n/locales/ru.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/i18n/locales/ru.ts
@@ -360,6 +360,11 @@ export const ru: Translation = {
       `Показывает расшифровку разговора под подсказками. Выключите, чтобы освободить место для чтения подсказок. Переключается в любой момент по ${combo}.`,
   },
 
+  hideTaskbarField: {
+    label: 'Скрывать значок на панели задач во время собеседования',
+    description:
+      'По умолчанию выключено. Когда включено, приложение убирается с панели задач (и из Dock на macOS) и остаётся поверх других окон, пока идёт живое собеседование. Пока настройка включена, окно нельзя свернуть. Если окно потерялось, запустите приложение ещё раз - оно вернётся.',
+  },
   mockHintsField: {
     label: 'Показывать подсказки в пробных собеседованиях',
     description:
@@ -937,7 +942,7 @@ export const ru: Translation = {
     lostWindow: {
       title: 'Потеряли окно?',
       body: (appName: string) =>
-        `В скрытом режиме ${appName} убирает себя с панели задач и из Dock на macOS, чтобы его не было видно при демонстрации экрана, - а значит, у свёрнутого окна нет кнопки, на которую можно нажать. Просто запустите ${appName} ещё раз: вторая копия не откроется, вернётся это же окно. Вне скрытого режима кнопка на панели задач и значок в Dock на месте.`,
+        `В скрытом режиме ${appName} убирает себя с панели задач и из Dock на macOS, чтобы его не было видно при демонстрации экрана, - а значит, у свёрнутого окна нет кнопки, на которую можно нажать. Просто запустите ${appName} ещё раз: вторая копия не откроется, вернётся это же окно. Вне скрытого режима кнопка на панели задач и значок в Dock на месте, если вы не включили настройку «Скрывать значок на панели задач во время собеседования».`,
     },
 
     language: {
@@ -1121,6 +1126,7 @@ export const ru: Translation = {
     saveSuggestionModeFailed: 'Не удалось сохранить вид подсказок',
     saveTranscriptPanelFailed: 'Не удалось сохранить настройку панели расшифровки',
     saveMockHintsFailed: 'Не удалось сохранить настройку живых подсказок',
+    saveHideTaskbarFailed: 'Не удалось сохранить настройку панели задач. Попробуйте ещё раз.',
     saveUiLanguageFailed: 'Не удалось сохранить язык приложения',
   },
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/pages/configuration/index.tsx b/src/renderer/pages/configuration/index.tsx
index c356f25a..7ce9a04e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/pages/configuration/index.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/pages/configuration/index.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
 
 import { HotkeyCheatsheetDialog } from '@/components/custom/hotkey-cheatsheet';
 import PageHeader from '@/components/custom/page-header';
+import { HideTaskbarField } from '@/components/custom/settings/hide-taskbar-field';
 import { LanguageField } from '@/components/custom/settings/language-field';
 import { MicrophoneField } from '@/components/custom/settings/microphone-field';
 import { MockHintsField } from '@/components/custom/settings/mock-hints-field';
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ export default function ConfigurationPage() {
         <MockHintsField />
         <ZoomField />
         <TranscriptPanelField />
+        <HideTaskbarField />
 
         {/* The wizard is not a one-time thing the user is stuck having skipped. Reachable here
             rather than only on a first launch, which is also what lets it be skippable without
diff --git a/src/renderer/types/config.ts b/src/renderer/types/config.ts
index 4b63fff7..523107c4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/types/config.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/types/config.ts
@@ -38,4 +38,7 @@ export interface Config {
   // Mock interview: also show what the live assistant would have suggested. The default; the
   // session bar turns it off for the run where composing unaided is the point.
   mockLiveHintsEnabled: boolean;
+
+  // Hide the taskbar/Dock icon, pin on top and drop minimize while a live interview runs.
+  hideTaskbarWhileRunning: boolean;
 }

From 3d18c530e870ac5363c44537c224a9ba0ab00f8c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:11:50 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 02/10] Gate taskbar hiding, pin and minimize on the setting

Re-raise the window on an interval while hidden.

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 src/main/consts.ts                          |  3 +
 src/main/ipc/config.ts                      |  5 ++
 src/main/ipc/window.ts                      |  2 +-
 src/main/services/window-control.service.ts | 90 ++++++++++++++++++---
 4 files changed, 90 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/main/consts.ts b/src/main/consts.ts
index c9a244c9..32fefbb7 100644
--- a/src/main/consts.ts
+++ b/src/main/consts.ts
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ export const SUGGESTION_STALL_MS = 15_000;
 export const ACTION_LOCK_MAX_HOLD_MS = 180_000;
 
 // Stealth mode opacity levels (cycles on each toggle; default = second highest)
+// How often a hidden-surface window is moved back to the top of the z-order.
+export const RAISE_INTERVAL_MS = 2000;
+
 export const OPACITY_LEVELS = [0.2, 0.5, 0.73, 0.9] as const;
 export const OPACITY_DEFAULT = OPACITY_LEVELS[OPACITY_LEVELS.length - 2]; // 0.73
 
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/config.ts b/src/main/ipc/config.ts
index c1cd906d..54d6cd3f 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/config.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/config.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { ipcMain } from 'electron';
 
 import { appStateService } from '../services/app-state.service.js';
+import { setHideTaskbarWhileRunning } from '../services/window-control.service.js';
 import { configStore, RuntimeConfig } from '../store/config.store.js';
 
 export function registerConfigHandlers(): void {
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@ export function registerConfigHandlers(): void {
       // changing, which is enough: the re-seed is a no-op once a real interview has started.
       if (updates.uiLanguage !== undefined) appStateService.refreshPlaceholderLanguage();
 
+      if (updates.hideTaskbarWhileRunning !== undefined) {
+        setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(config.hideTaskbarWhileRunning);
+      }
+
       return config;
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to update config:', error);
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/window.ts b/src/main/ipc/window.ts
index 1fbafda6..8bfaf45b 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/window.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/window.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export function registerWindowHandlers(): void {
 
   ipcMain.on('window:minimize', () => {
     const win = window();
-    if (win && !win.isDestroyed()) win.minimize();
+    if (win && !win.isDestroyed() && windowControls.canMinimize()) win.minimize();
   });
 
   ipcMain.on('window:maximize', () => {
diff --git a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
index 07902e73..ffd2c13e 100644
--- a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { app, BrowserWindow, screen } from 'electron';
 
-import { MIN_HEIGHT, MIN_WIDTH, OPACITY_LEVELS } from '../consts.js';
+import { MIN_HEIGHT, MIN_WIDTH, OPACITY_LEVELS, RAISE_INTERVAL_MS } from '../consts.js';
 import { configStore } from '../store/config.store.js';
 import { RunningState } from '../types/app-state.js';
 import { isMockInterviewSessionActive } from '../types/mock-interview.js';
@@ -24,6 +24,15 @@ const ALWAYS_ON_TOP_LEVEL = 'screen-saver' as const;
 let win: BrowserWindow | null = null;
 let _stealth = configStore.getStealth();
 
+// Cached so the window events that run applySurfaceVisibility do not hit the disk each time.
+let _hideTaskbarWhileRunning = readHideTaskbarSetting();
+
+// Last pin state we asked for ...
+
+// While surfaces are hidden the window is re-raised on this interval, since something else
+// (a call app, a fullscreen share) can still end up above it.
+let raiseTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+
 // Last z-order state we asked for. `null` means nothing has been applied to this window yet,
 // which is what makes the first call after a window is registered always go through.
 let alwaysOnTopApplied: boolean | null = null;
@@ -33,6 +42,15 @@ let dockVisible: boolean | null = null;
 let lastDockCallAt = 0;
 let dockRecheckTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
 
+function readHideTaskbarSetting(): boolean {
+  try {
+    return configStore.getConfig().hideTaskbarWhileRunning === true;
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('Failed to read hideTaskbarWhileRunning:', e);
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
 // helper: return the display the window mostly occupies (fallback to primary)
 function getCurrentDisplay(): Electron.Display {
   if (win && !win.isDestroyed()) {
@@ -84,6 +102,7 @@ export function setWindowReference(window: BrowserWindow): void {
   // The tracked z-order belongs to the previous window, not this one. Carrying it over would
   // read the first real call as a no-op and leave the new window unpinned.
   alwaysOnTopApplied = null;
+  stopRaiseTimer();
 
   // The shell re-registers the taskbar button whenever the window is re-shown or re-shaped, and
   // most of those paths are not ours to intercept - Alt+Tab restoring a minimized window, for one.
@@ -93,6 +112,7 @@ export function setWindowReference(window: BrowserWindow): void {
     window.on('restore', applySurfaceVisibility);
     window.on('maximize', applySurfaceVisibility);
     window.on('unmaximize', applySurfaceVisibility);
+    window.on('closed', stopRaiseTimer);
   }
 
   applySurfaceVisibility();
@@ -120,12 +140,52 @@ function isAssistantRunning(): boolean {
  * above the call.
  *
  * Two independent inputs, either of which is enough. Stealth is the explicit request for it.
- * A running assistant is the implicit one: that is precisely when a screen share is likely to be
- * live, and when the suggestions are useless if the call window covers them. The two are not
- * nested - leaving stealth mid-session must not hand the taskbar button back.
+ * A running assistant is the implicit one, but only when the user opted in with
+ * `hideTaskbarWhileRunning`: otherwise the window is an ordinary one, icon and z-order included.
+ * The two are not nested - leaving stealth mid-session with the setting on must not hand the
+ * taskbar button back.
  */
 function shouldHideSurfaces(): boolean {
-  return _stealth || isAssistantRunning();
+  return _stealth || (_hideTaskbarWhileRunning && isAssistantRunning());
+}
+
+/**
+ * Minimize is unavailable whenever the setting is on (even at idle, so there is no gap around a
+ * session) and in stealth: with the taskbar button gone there is nothing to restore from.
+ */
+export function canMinimize(): boolean {
+  return !_stealth && !_hideTaskbarWhileRunning;
+}
+
+/** Apply a changed `hideTaskbarWhileRunning` setting to the live window. */
+export function setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(value: boolean): void {
+  _hideTaskbarWhileRunning = value;
+  refreshWindowSurfaces();
+}
+
+function stopRaiseTimer(): void {
+  if (!raiseTimer) return;
+  clearInterval(raiseTimer);
+  raiseTimer = null;
+}
+
+function syncRaiseTimer(hidden: boolean): void {
+  if (!hidden) {
+    stopRaiseTimer();
+    return;
+  }
+  if (raiseTimer) return;
+  raiseTimer = setInterval(() => {
+    if (!win || win.isDestroyed() || !win.isVisible() || win.isMinimized()) return;
+    try {
+      // moveTop does not take focus and does not re-register the taskbar button, unlike
+      // re-issuing setAlwaysOnTop.
+      win.moveTop();
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('moveTop failed:', e);
+    }
+  }, RAISE_INTERVAL_MS);
+  raiseTimer.unref?.();
 }
 
 /**
@@ -146,7 +206,9 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
   if (win && !win.isDestroyed()) {
     // Z-order first. Changing it re-registers the window with the shell and hands the taskbar
     // button back, so setSkipTaskbar below has to be the one that runs last of the two.
-    applyAlwaysOnTop(hidden);
+    const pinChanged = applyAlwaysOnTop(hidden);
+    // setVisibleOnAllWorkspaces can drop the Dock icon for a moment on macOS, so re-assert it.
+    if (pinChanged && isMac) dockVisible = null;
 
     try {
       win.setSkipTaskbar(hidden);
@@ -154,6 +216,15 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
       console.warn('setSkipTaskbar failed:', e);
     }
 
+    try {
+      win.setMinimizable(canMinimize());
+      if (!canMinimize() && win.isMinimized()) win.restore();
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('setMinimizable failed:', e);
+    }
+
+    syncRaiseTimer(hidden);
+
     // `titleBarStyle: 'hidden'` draws the traffic lights as native chrome, independent of
     // setSkipTaskbar/the Dock icon - they stay on screen in stealth mode unless hidden here too.
     //
@@ -185,9 +256,9 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
  * invisible: on Windows it re-raises the window to the front of the topmost band, and on macOS
  * Electron re-runs the whole level lookup and the Cocoa call with no early return of its own.
  */
-function applyAlwaysOnTop(pinned: boolean): void {
-  if (!win || win.isDestroyed()) return;
-  if (alwaysOnTopApplied === pinned) return;
+function applyAlwaysOnTop(pinned: boolean): boolean {
+  if (!win || win.isDestroyed()) return false;
+  if (alwaysOnTopApplied === pinned) return false;
 
   try {
     if (pinned) {
@@ -214,6 +285,7 @@ function applyAlwaysOnTop(pinned: boolean): void {
   }
 
   alwaysOnTopApplied = pinned;
+  return true;
 }
 
 /**

From ce391292561c8c2ab7554e9fba53f9df4b712ab1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:13:53 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 03/10] Update tests and docs for the taskbar setting

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 CLAUDE.md                                   |  2 +-
 README.md                                   |  2 +-
 SPEC.md                                     |  2 +-
 src/main/services/app-state.service.ts      |  4 +-
 src/main/services/window-control.service.ts |  2 +-
 test/config-store.test.mjs                  |  6 +++
 test/running-surface.test.mjs               | 50 +++++++++++++++++++--
 test/stealth-dock.test.mjs                  |  1 +
 test/stealth-surface.test.mjs               |  2 +-
 9 files changed, 61 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 681b65eb..cc2356eb 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -722,7 +722,7 @@ The outer container keeps `overflow-auto` as a safety valve for large zoom facto
 
 The app keeps itself off the surfaces a screen share exposes, but only where it has to. There is never a desktop shortcut (the NSIS installer creates none, and `build/installer.nsh` deletes one left by an older install). The taskbar button and the macOS Dock icon are driven by `applySurfaceVisibility()` in [src/main/services/window-control.service.ts](src/main/services/window-control.service.ts) - `setSkipTaskbar(hidden)` plus, on macOS, `app.setActivationPolicy('accessory')` + `app.dock.hide()` going in and `'regular'` + `app.dock.show()` coming out. There is deliberately no `LSUIElement` in the packaged Info.plist: it would pin the app to accessory from launch and there would be no Dock icon to give back.
 
-`hidden` comes from `shouldHideSurfaces()`, which is `_stealth || isAssistantRunning()`. **The two inputs are independent, not nested.** A running assistant is when a screen share is most likely live, so it hides the same surfaces stealth does; leaving stealth mid-session must therefore *not* hand the taskbar button back. The macOS traffic lights are the deliberate exception - they follow `_stealth` alone, because a merely running window is still focusable and interactive and needs its close and minimise buttons. `test/running-surface.test.mjs` pins all of it.
+`hidden` comes from `shouldHideSurfaces()`, which is `_stealth || (_hideTaskbarWhileRunning && isAssistantRunning())`. `hideTaskbarWhileRunning` is an opt-in config setting, off by default: with it off a running assistant leaves the icon, z-order and minimize alone. **The two inputs are independent, not nested.** With the setting on, leaving stealth mid-session must *not* hand the taskbar button back. While hidden the window is also re-raised with `moveTop()` every `RAISE_INTERVAL_MS`, and `canMinimize()` (false in stealth and whenever the setting is on) drives `setMinimizable`, the `window:minimize` handler and the titlebar's minimize button. The macOS traffic lights are the deliberate exception - they follow `_stealth` alone, because a merely running window is still focusable and interactive and needs its close and minimise buttons. `test/running-surface.test.mjs` pins all of it.
 
 Two consequences. A window minimized *in stealth mode* has no button to click, so it can only be brought back by relaunching the app - the single instance lock routes to `restoreWindow()`. And `window-all-closed` quits on every platform including macOS, because a windowless process in stealth mode would otherwise sit there holding the global hotkeys unreachable. `test/stealth-surface.test.mjs` pins all of it.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e3dbf97c..fc39b4d0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ Stay on top of the conversation with live ASR:
 
 ### Staying Out of Sight
 
-The app keeps itself off the surfaces a screen share exposes. There is no desktop shortcut, and stealth mode hides the window from screen capture while also removing the Windows taskbar button and the macOS Dock icon and Cmd+Tab entry. Outside stealth mode the app behaves like any other window, taskbar button and Dock icon included.
+The app keeps itself off the surfaces a screen share exposes. There is no desktop shortcut, and stealth mode hides the window from screen capture while also removing the Windows taskbar button and the macOS Dock icon and Cmd+Tab entry. Outside stealth mode the app behaves like any other window, taskbar button and Dock icon included, unless you turn on "Hide taskbar icon during live interviews" in Configuration.
 
 **Lost the window?** Launch Power Interview again. It does not start a second copy - the running app brings its window back and focuses it.
 
diff --git a/SPEC.md b/SPEC.md
index 8208a830..45a14f1a 100644
--- a/SPEC.md
+++ b/SPEC.md
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ Nothing in it is a trap: Skip is on every step, every setting has a working defa
 
 ### Session Window Behaviour
 
-While the assistant is running - or while stealth mode is on - the window is pinned above other windows (`screen-saver` level, and visible over a fullscreen call on macOS) and drops its taskbar button and Dock icon. The two conditions are independent: switching stealth off mid-session leaves both in place until the session actually stops. macOS traffic lights stay visible outside stealth, since the window is still interactive. Service: [src/main/services/window-control.service.ts](src/main/services/window-control.service.ts).
+While stealth mode is on - or while the assistant is running with the opt-in "Hide taskbar icon during live interviews" setting enabled - the window is pinned above other windows (`screen-saver` level, visible over a fullscreen call on macOS), re-raised every 2 seconds, cannot be minimized, and drops its taskbar button and Dock icon. With the setting off (the default) a running assistant leaves the window alone. The two conditions are independent: switching stealth off mid-session with the setting on leaves everything in place until the session stops. macOS traffic lights stay visible outside stealth, since the window is still interactive. Service: [src/main/services/window-control.service.ts](src/main/services/window-control.service.ts).
 
 ### Interview Config Sync
 
diff --git a/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts b/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts
index fabd11ca..e41f78f1 100644
--- a/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts
@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ export class AppStateService {
       this.notifyRenderer();
     }
 
-    // The taskbar button, the Dock icon and always-on-top follow the running state as well as
-    // stealth, and this is the only place a run starts or ends. Done after the state is written,
+    // The taskbar button, the Dock icon and always-on-top follow the running state (when the
+    // hideTaskbarWhileRunning setting is on) as well as stealth, and this is the only place a run starts or ends. Done after the state is written,
     // since window-control reads it back. Never allowed to fail the update itself.
     if (runningChanged) {
       try {
diff --git a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
index ffd2c13e..bb90ba08 100644
--- a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
     // button back, so setSkipTaskbar below has to be the one that runs last of the two.
     const pinChanged = applyAlwaysOnTop(hidden);
     // setVisibleOnAllWorkspaces can drop the Dock icon for a moment on macOS, so re-assert it.
-    if (pinChanged && isMac) dockVisible = null;
+    if (pinChanged && isMac && !hidden && dockVisible === true) dockVisible = null;
 
     try {
       win.setSkipTaskbar(hidden);
diff --git a/test/config-store.test.mjs b/test/config-store.test.mjs
index 787f1d16..5776581d 100644
--- a/test/config-store.test.mjs
+++ b/test/config-store.test.mjs
@@ -126,6 +126,12 @@ export async function run(userDataDir) {
     store.configStore.getConfig().mockLiveHintsEnabled === true
   );
 
+  // The taskbar-hiding setting is opt-in: an install that never saw it must read as off.
+  check(
+    'hideTaskbarWhileRunning defaults to off',
+    store.configStore.getConfig().hideTaskbarWhileRunning === false
+  );
+
   // `lastSessionMode` backed the control bar's split Start button, which no longer exists.
   // Seeded above, so this pins the scrub rather than merely that RuntimeConfig stopped declaring
   // it - every read and write in the store spreads the raw stored object through, and nothing
diff --git a/test/running-surface.test.mjs b/test/running-surface.test.mjs
index c706e735..79ada0a2 100644
--- a/test/running-surface.test.mjs
+++ b/test/running-surface.test.mjs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /**
- * The taskbar button, the Dock icon and always-on-top follow `stealth OR running`, not stealth
- * alone. A running assistant is exactly when a screen share is most likely to be live, and when
+ * The taskbar button, the Dock icon and always-on-top follow `stealth OR (running AND the
+ * hideTaskbarWhileRunning setting)`, not stealth alone. A running assistant is exactly when a screen share is most likely to be live, and when
  * suggestions are useless if the call window covers them.
  *
  * The trap this pins is that the two inputs are independent, not nested. Leaving stealth while a
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ export async function run() {
   const alwaysOnTop = [];
   const skipTaskbar = [];
   const workspaces = [];
+  const minimizable = [];
+  let moveTopCalls = 0;
   // One ordered log across both calls, so the sequence between them can be asserted.
   const order = [];
   const handlers = {};
@@ -37,6 +39,10 @@ export async function run() {
       order.push('skipTaskbar');
     },
     setWindowButtonVisibility: () => {},
+    setMinimizable: (v) => minimizable.push(v),
+    moveTop: () => {
+      moveTopCalls++;
+    },
     setVisibleOnAllWorkspaces: (on, opts) => workspaces.push({ on, opts }),
     setIgnoreMouseEvents: () => {},
     setFocusable: () => {},
@@ -56,6 +62,40 @@ export async function run() {
   check('idle out of stealth keeps the taskbar button', skipTaskbar.at(-1) === false);
   check('idle out of stealth is not pinned on top', alwaysOnTop.at(-1)?.enabled === false);
 
+  // 0. Setting off (the default): a running assistant leaves the window alone.
+  skipTaskbar.length = 0;
+  alwaysOnTop.length = 0;
+  start();
+  check('setting off: running keeps the taskbar button', skipTaskbar.at(-1) !== true);
+  check('setting off: running does not pin the window', alwaysOnTop.at(-1)?.enabled !== true);
+  check('setting off: minimize stays available', minimizable.at(-1) === true);
+  check('setting off: canMinimize is true', windowControl.canMinimize() === true);
+  stop();
+
+  // Turning the setting on mid-session applies at once, and also removes minimize at idle.
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(true);
+  check('setting on: minimize is removed even at idle', minimizable.at(-1) === false);
+  check('setting on: canMinimize is false', windowControl.canMinimize() === false);
+  check('setting on: idle still shows the taskbar button', skipTaskbar.at(-1) === false);
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(false);
+  start();
+  skipTaskbar.length = 0;
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(true);
+  check('toggling the setting on mid-run hides the button', skipTaskbar.at(-1) === true);
+  check('toggling the setting on mid-run pins the window', alwaysOnTop.at(-1)?.enabled === true);
+
+  // While hidden the window is re-raised on an interval, and only then.
+  moveTopCalls = 0;
+  await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2300));
+  check('hidden window is re-raised on the interval', moveTopCalls >= 1);
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(false);
+  moveTopCalls = 0;
+  await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 2300));
+  check('re-raising stops once surfaces are released', moveTopCalls === 0);
+  check('releasing the setting restores minimize', minimizable.at(-1) === true);
+  stop();
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(true);
+
   // 1. Running alone, no stealth involved.
   skipTaskbar.length = 0;
   alwaysOnTop.length = 0;
@@ -124,7 +164,11 @@ export async function run() {
   check('stopping the assistant unpins the window', alwaysOnTop.at(-1)?.enabled === false);
   check('and stops following the user across Spaces', workspaces.at(-1)?.on === false);
 
-  // 5. Stealth still works on its own with no session running.
+  // 5. Stealth still works on its own with no session running, whatever the setting says.
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(false);
+  check('stealth is never minimizable', (windowControl.enableStealth(), windowControl.canMinimize()) === false);
+  windowControl.disableStealth();
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(true);
   skipTaskbar.length = 0;
   alwaysOnTop.length = 0;
   windowControl.enableStealth();
diff --git a/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs b/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs
index 40228c27..87ada1c2 100644
--- a/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs
+++ b/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ export async function run() {
 
   await wait(1300);
   windowButtonVisible.length = 0;
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(true);
   appStateService.updateState({ runningState: RunningState.Running });
   windowControl.refreshWindowSurfaces();
   check('starting the assistant drops the Dock icon', surfaceIs(calls, 'hidden'));
diff --git a/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs b/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs
index e8ada87b..ef1650a6 100644
--- a/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs
+++ b/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export async function run() {
   );
   check(
     'the surface predicate covers stealth and running',
-    /_stealth \|\| isAssistantRunning\(\)/.test(windowControl)
+    /_stealth \|\| \(_hideTaskbarWhileRunning && isAssistantRunning\(\)\)/.test(windowControl)
   );
   check(
     'the Dock icon follows the same predicate',

From 5d73db0a32e12d5c09ea3e6abb38e49e611dcb5f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:29:10 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 04/10] Apply minimizable before skipTaskbar and only on change

Also remove a stray comment and fix comment placement.

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 src/main/consts.ts                          |  2 +-
 src/main/services/app-state.service.ts      |  4 +--
 src/main/services/window-control.service.ts | 32 +++++++++++++++------
 3 files changed, 26 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/main/consts.ts b/src/main/consts.ts
index 32fefbb7..49c639bd 100644
--- a/src/main/consts.ts
+++ b/src/main/consts.ts
@@ -117,10 +117,10 @@ export const SUGGESTION_STALL_MS = 15_000;
 // above the longest legitimate action suggestion.
 export const ACTION_LOCK_MAX_HOLD_MS = 180_000;
 
-// Stealth mode opacity levels (cycles on each toggle; default = second highest)
 // How often a hidden-surface window is moved back to the top of the z-order.
 export const RAISE_INTERVAL_MS = 2000;
 
+// Stealth mode opacity levels (cycles on each toggle; default = second highest)
 export const OPACITY_LEVELS = [0.2, 0.5, 0.73, 0.9] as const;
 export const OPACITY_DEFAULT = OPACITY_LEVELS[OPACITY_LEVELS.length - 2]; // 0.73
 
diff --git a/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts b/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts
index e41f78f1..6254a890 100644
--- a/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/app-state.service.ts
@@ -274,8 +274,8 @@ export class AppStateService {
     }
 
     // The taskbar button, the Dock icon and always-on-top follow the running state (when the
-    // hideTaskbarWhileRunning setting is on) as well as stealth, and this is the only place a run starts or ends. Done after the state is written,
-    // since window-control reads it back. Never allowed to fail the update itself.
+    // hideTaskbarWhileRunning setting is on) as well as stealth, and this is the only place a
+    // run starts or ends. Done after the state is written, since window-control reads it back. Never allowed to fail the update itself.
     if (runningChanged) {
       try {
         refreshWindowSurfaces();
diff --git a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
index bb90ba08..009042e4 100644
--- a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
@@ -27,12 +27,14 @@ let _stealth = configStore.getStealth();
 // Cached so the window events that run applySurfaceVisibility do not hit the disk each time.
 let _hideTaskbarWhileRunning = readHideTaskbarSetting();
 
-// Last pin state we asked for ...
-
 // While surfaces are hidden the window is re-raised on this interval, since something else
 // (a call app, a fullscreen share) can still end up above it.
 let raiseTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
 
+// Last minimizable state we asked for. Changing it alters the window style, which on Windows
+// makes the shell re-add the taskbar button, so it is only touched on a real change.
+let minimizableApplied: boolean | null = null;
+
 // Last z-order state we asked for. `null` means nothing has been applied to this window yet,
 // which is what makes the first call after a window is registered always go through.
 let alwaysOnTopApplied: boolean | null = null;
@@ -102,6 +104,7 @@ export function setWindowReference(window: BrowserWindow): void {
   // The tracked z-order belongs to the previous window, not this one. Carrying it over would
   // read the first real call as a no-op and leave the new window unpinned.
   alwaysOnTopApplied = null;
+  minimizableApplied = null;
   stopRaiseTimer();
 
   // The shell re-registers the taskbar button whenever the window is re-shown or re-shaped, and
@@ -163,6 +166,21 @@ export function setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(value: boolean): void {
   refreshWindowSurfaces();
 }
 
+function applyMinimizable(): void {
+  if (!win || win.isDestroyed()) return;
+  const allowed = canMinimize();
+  if (minimizableApplied === allowed) return;
+  try {
+    win.setMinimizable(allowed);
+    minimizableApplied = allowed;
+    // Only the setting, not stealth: restore() activates the window, which must not pull focus
+    // out of a call. A window minimized before stealth is brought back by restoreWindow().
+    if (!allowed && !_stealth && win.isMinimized()) win.restore();
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.warn('setMinimizable failed:', e);
+  }
+}
+
 function stopRaiseTimer(): void {
   if (!raiseTimer) return;
   clearInterval(raiseTimer);
@@ -204,6 +222,9 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
   const hidden = shouldHideSurfaces();
 
   if (win && !win.isDestroyed()) {
+    // Style change, so before setSkipTaskbar for the same reason as the z-order below.
+    applyMinimizable();
+
     // Z-order first. Changing it re-registers the window with the shell and hands the taskbar
     // button back, so setSkipTaskbar below has to be the one that runs last of the two.
     const pinChanged = applyAlwaysOnTop(hidden);
@@ -216,13 +237,6 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
       console.warn('setSkipTaskbar failed:', e);
     }
 
-    try {
-      win.setMinimizable(canMinimize());
-      if (!canMinimize() && win.isMinimized()) win.restore();
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.warn('setMinimizable failed:', e);
-    }
-
     syncRaiseTimer(hidden);
 
     // `titleBarStyle: 'hidden'` draws the traffic lights as native chrome, independent of

From 38b5548600719e8b5b5903d07c8584081139de4a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:08:23 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 05/10] Remove dead Dock re-assert

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 src/main/services/window-control.service.ts | 11 ++++-------
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
index 009042e4..a57459bc 100644
--- a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
@@ -227,9 +227,7 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
 
     // Z-order first. Changing it re-registers the window with the shell and hands the taskbar
     // button back, so setSkipTaskbar below has to be the one that runs last of the two.
-    const pinChanged = applyAlwaysOnTop(hidden);
-    // setVisibleOnAllWorkspaces can drop the Dock icon for a moment on macOS, so re-assert it.
-    if (pinChanged && isMac && !hidden && dockVisible === true) dockVisible = null;
+    applyAlwaysOnTop(hidden);
 
     try {
       win.setSkipTaskbar(hidden);
@@ -270,9 +268,9 @@ function applySurfaceVisibility(): void {
  * invisible: on Windows it re-raises the window to the front of the topmost band, and on macOS
  * Electron re-runs the whole level lookup and the Cocoa call with no early return of its own.
  */
-function applyAlwaysOnTop(pinned: boolean): boolean {
-  if (!win || win.isDestroyed()) return false;
-  if (alwaysOnTopApplied === pinned) return false;
+function applyAlwaysOnTop(pinned: boolean): void {
+  if (!win || win.isDestroyed()) return;
+  if (alwaysOnTopApplied === pinned) return;
 
   try {
     if (pinned) {
@@ -299,7 +297,6 @@ function applyAlwaysOnTop(pinned: boolean): boolean {
   }
 
   alwaysOnTopApplied = pinned;
-  return true;
 }
 
 /**

From 7d1a5b26eeaea380b576ca9a7b0022f0e6775039 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:11:23 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 06/10] Test Dock stays visible on macOS with the setting off

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 test/stealth-dock.test.mjs | 14 ++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 14 insertions(+)

diff --git a/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs b/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs
index 87ada1c2..416dac03 100644
--- a/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs
+++ b/test/stealth-dock.test.mjs
@@ -152,5 +152,19 @@ export async function run() {
   windowControl.refreshWindowSurfaces();
   check('stopping the assistant brings the Dock icon back', surfaceIs(calls, 'visible'));
 
+  // With the setting off (the default) a running session leaves the Dock icon where it is.
+  await wait(1300);
+  windowControl.setHideTaskbarWhileRunning(false);
+  const beforeOffRun = calls.length;
+  appStateService.updateState({ runningState: RunningState.Running });
+  windowControl.refreshWindowSurfaces();
+  check(
+    'setting off: running does not drop the Dock icon',
+    !calls.slice(beforeOffRun).includes('dock.hide')
+  );
+  check('setting off: the Dock icon is still there', surfaceIs(calls, 'visible'));
+  appStateService.updateState({ runningState: RunningState.Idle });
+  windowControl.refreshWindowSurfaces();
+
   return failures;
 }

From a7cf63b740bebad74d879aab6b884d14f82c8230 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:46:28 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 07/10] Parent save dialogs to the main window

An unowned dialog sits under the window while it is pinned on top.

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 src/main/ipc/tools.ts                       |  5 +++--
 src/main/services/tools.service.ts          |  6 +++---
 src/main/services/window-control.service.ts | 13 ++++++++++++-
 3 files changed, 18 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/main/ipc/tools.ts b/src/main/ipc/tools.ts
index c64d92ab..0c3cfed3 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/tools.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/tools.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import { dialog, ipcMain } from 'electron';
+import { ipcMain } from 'electron';
 import fs from 'fs/promises';
 
 import { toolsService } from '../services/tools.service.js';
+import { showSaveDialog } from '../services/window-control.service.js';
 import { ExportFormat } from '../types/export.js';
 import { uiStrings } from '../utils/ui-strings.js';
 
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ export function registerToolsHandlers(): void {
     'tools:save-image',
     async (_event, { filename, data }: { filename: string; data: number[] }) => {
       const strings = uiStrings();
-      const { canceled, filePath } = await dialog.showSaveDialog({
+      const { canceled, filePath } = await showSaveDialog({
         title: strings.saveImageTitle,
         defaultPath: filename,
         filters: [{ name: strings.pngFilter, extensions: ['png'] }],
diff --git a/src/main/services/tools.service.ts b/src/main/services/tools.service.ts
index 1796bcd8..8374ef82 100644
--- a/src/main/services/tools.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/tools.service.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { convertMarkdownToDocx } from '@mohtasham/md-to-docx';
-import { dialog } from 'electron';
 import fs from 'fs/promises';
 
 import { LLMApi } from '../api/llm.js';
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ import { mockInterviewService } from './mock-interview.service.js';
 import { actionSuggestionService } from './suggestion-action.service.js';
 import { liveSuggestionService } from './suggestion-live.service.js';
 import { transcriptService } from './transcript.service.js';
+import { showSaveDialog } from './window-control.service.js';
 
 /**
  * The Word style sheet both exports are rendered with.
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class ToolsService {
     // The document inside follows the interview language; this window is being read by the
     // person at the keyboard, so it follows the chrome language.
     const strings = uiStrings();
-    const { canceled, filePath } = await dialog.showSaveDialog({
+    const { canceled, filePath } = await showSaveDialog({
       title: strings.saveTranscriptTitle,
       defaultPath: generateExportFilename(format),
       filters: isMarkdown
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class ToolsService {
     const isMarkdown = format === 'md';
 
     const strings = uiStrings();
-    const { canceled, filePath } = await dialog.showSaveDialog({
+    const { canceled, filePath } = await showSaveDialog({
       title: strings.saveMockReportTitle,
       defaultPath: generateExportFilename(format, 'mock-interview'),
       filters: isMarkdown
diff --git a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
index a57459bc..924bd385 100644
--- a/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
+++ b/src/main/services/window-control.service.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { app, BrowserWindow, screen } from 'electron';
+import { app, BrowserWindow, dialog, screen } from 'electron';
 
 import { MIN_HEIGHT, MIN_WIDTH, OPACITY_LEVELS, RAISE_INTERVAL_MS } from '../consts.js';
 import { configStore } from '../store/config.store.js';
@@ -95,6 +95,17 @@ interface WindowBounds {
   height?: number;
 }
 
+/**
+ * A save dialog owned by the main window. Unowned, it opens as an ordinary window and sits under
+ * the main window whenever that is pinned on top, out of reach until the pin is released.
+ */
+export function showSaveDialog(
+  options: Electron.SaveDialogOptions
+): Promise<Electron.SaveDialogReturnValue> {
+  if (win && !win.isDestroyed()) return dialog.showSaveDialog(win, options);
+  return dialog.showSaveDialog(options);
+}
+
 /**
  * Set the window reference for all control functions
  */

From b47561a856d303b345f8e1b7db61c1bc6c5b3d68 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:48:46 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 08/10] Pin save dialogs to the main window in tests

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 test/stealth-surface.test.mjs | 17 +++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 17 insertions(+)

diff --git a/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs b/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs
index ef1650a6..0503bf50 100644
--- a/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs
+++ b/test/stealth-surface.test.mjs
@@ -64,6 +64,23 @@ export async function run() {
     /wantVisible = !shouldHideSurfaces\(\)/.test(windowControl)
   );
 
+  // Save dialogs are owned by the main window. Unowned, one opens under the window whenever it is
+  // pinned on top and, on Windows, gets a taskbar button of its own while the app's is hidden.
+  check(
+    'the save dialog helper passes the main window',
+    /dialog\.showSaveDialog\(win, options\)/.test(windowControl)
+  );
+  for (const file of [
+    ['services', 'tools.service.js'],
+    ['ipc', 'tools.js'],
+  ]) {
+    const src = fs.readFileSync(path.join(ROOT, 'electron-dist', ...file), 'utf8');
+    check(
+      `${file.join('/')} does not open an unowned save dialog`,
+      !/dialog\.showSaveDialog\(/.test(src)
+    );
+  }
+
   // In stealth mode there is no taskbar button and no Dock icon: without this, closing or
   // minimizing the window leaves a running process with no way back to it.
   const onAllClosed = main.slice(main.indexOf("'window-all-closed'"));

From 1af93f0adf1885098ad40ab3c6d18ad80e1017b3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:50:41 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 09/10] Restore a minimized window before the save prompt

A close from the Dock or taskbar while minimized showed the prompt
inside a window nobody could see.

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 src/main/window-close-guard.ts | 5 ++++-
 test/save-history.test.mjs     | 6 ++++++
 2 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/src/main/window-close-guard.ts b/src/main/window-close-guard.ts
index 654931bb..2b5d37f2 100644
--- a/src/main/window-close-guard.ts
+++ b/src/main/window-close-guard.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { app, BrowserWindow, ipcMain } from 'electron';
 
 import { appStateService } from './services/app-state.service.js';
-import { getWindowReference } from './services/window-control.service.js';
+import { getWindowReference, restoreWindow } from './services/window-control.service.js';
 
 /**
  * Hold the window open long enough to ask whether the interview should be saved.
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ export function installCloseGuard(win: BrowserWindow): void {
     if (prompting) return;
 
     prompting = true;
+    // The prompt renders inside this window. A close from the Dock or taskbar can arrive while it
+    // is minimized, and the prompt would then be invisible and the quit look ignored.
+    if (win.isMinimized() || !win.isVisible()) restoreWindow();
     wc.send('app:save-history-prompt');
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/save-history.test.mjs b/test/save-history.test.mjs
index 3b3baaa0..99aa7cfd 100644
--- a/test/save-history.test.mjs
+++ b/test/save-history.test.mjs
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ export async function run() {
   const guard = readSource(new URL('../src/main/window-close-guard.ts', import.meta.url));
   check('the close is vetoed', guard.includes('event.preventDefault()'));
   check('the renderer is asked', guard.includes("wc.send('app:save-history-prompt')"));
+  // The prompt is rendered in the window, so a close arriving while it is minimized brings it back.
+  check(
+    'a minimized window is restored before it is asked',
+    guard.indexOf('restoreWindow()') !== -1 &&
+      guard.indexOf('restoreWindow()') < guard.indexOf("wc.send('app:save-history-prompt')")
+  );
   check(
     'a confirmed close is not vetoed twice',
     guard.includes('if (closeConfirmed ||') && guard.includes('closeConfirmed = true')

From 13f1732501239830b82f6982519e6faf761f4d35 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: alpha <alpha5611331@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2026 14:36:44 -0500
Subject: [PATCH 10/10] Restore the window on a repeat close too

Refs #141

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 src/main/window-close-guard.ts | 8 +++++---
 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/main/window-close-guard.ts b/src/main/window-close-guard.ts
index 2b5d37f2..50e26039 100644
--- a/src/main/window-close-guard.ts
+++ b/src/main/window-close-guard.ts
@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ export function installCloseGuard(win: BrowserWindow): void {
     if (wc.isDestroyed() || wc.isCrashed()) return;
 
     event.preventDefault();
-    if (prompting) return;
 
-    prompting = true;
     // The prompt renders inside this window. A close from the Dock or taskbar can arrive while it
-    // is minimized, and the prompt would then be invisible and the quit look ignored.
+    // is minimized or hidden (Cmd+H), and the prompt would then be invisible and the quit look
+    // ignored. Also on a repeat close, since the window may have been minimized under the prompt.
     if (win.isMinimized() || !win.isVisible()) restoreWindow();
+    if (prompting) return;
+
+    prompting = true;
     wc.send('app:save-history-prompt');
   });
 }