diff --git a/app/capture/page.tsx b/app/capture/page.tsx
index c2c0fd8..70b070d 100644
--- a/app/capture/page.tsx
+++ b/app/capture/page.tsx
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ export default function CapturePage() {
       const mr = new MediaRecorder(streamRef.current, { mimeType });
       mr.ondataavailable = e => { if (e.data.size > 0) chunksRef.current.push(e.data); };
       mr.onstop = async () => {
+        // Release microphone immediately after stopping
+        streamRef.current?.getTracks().forEach(t => t.stop());
+        streamRef.current = null;
+
         if (chunksRef.current.length === 0) return;
         setState('transcribing');
         try {