diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3acd8f8a6dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { StyleSheet, Text, View } from 'react-native'
+import type { UseMobileDictationResult } from '../hooks/mobile-dictation-session-state'
+
+export type MobileDictationStatusFlags = Pick<
+  UseMobileDictationResult,
+  'isStarting' | 'isRecording' | 'isProcessing'
+>
+
+export function mobileDictationStatusTitle(dictation: MobileDictationStatusFlags): string | null {
+  return dictation.isRecording
+    ? 'Listening'
+    : dictation.isProcessing
+      ? 'Processing'
+      : dictation.isStarting
+        ? 'Starting mic'
+        : null
+}
+
+// Mic labels change silently; one live region tells screen readers for every mic, like desktop's indicator.
+export function MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement({
+  dictation
+}: {
+  dictation: MobileDictationStatusFlags
+}): React.JSX.Element {
+  return (
+    <View style={styles.hidden} pointerEvents="none" accessibilityLiveRegion="polite">
+      <Text>{mobileDictationStatusTitle(dictation) ?? ''}</Text>
+    </View>
+  )
+}
+
+const styles = StyleSheet.create({
+  hidden: {
+    position: 'absolute',
+    width: 1,
+    height: 1,
+    overflow: 'hidden',
+    opacity: 0
+  }
+})
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.test.ts
index 32886193fae..04e014d0200 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.test.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ function overlayElement(tick: Tick): ReturnType<typeof createElement> {
     },
     onMicPress: vi.fn(),
     micActive: false,
+    micStarting: false,
     micProcessing: false,
     dictationMode: 'toggle',
     onMicPressIn: vi.fn(),
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.tsx
index 4ef2e29087e..81b56f4ed99 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatOverlay.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type Props = {
   structuredComposer?: MobileNativeChatStructuredComposer | null
   onMicPress: (() => void) | undefined
   micActive: boolean
+  micStarting: boolean
   micProcessing: boolean
   dictationMode: string | undefined
   onMicPressIn: () => void
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatOverlay({
   structuredComposer = null,
   onMicPress,
   micActive,
+  micStarting,
   micProcessing,
   dictationMode,
   onMicPressIn,
@@ -135,6 +137,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatOverlay({
       onError: (message: string) => controller.reportQueuedEditError?.(message),
       onMicPress,
       micActive,
+      micStarting,
       micProcessing,
       dictationMode,
       onMicPressIn,
@@ -150,6 +153,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatOverlay({
       controller.reportQueuedEditError,
       onMicPress,
       micActive,
+      micStarting,
       micProcessing,
       dictationMode,
       onMicPressIn,
@@ -240,6 +244,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatOverlay({
                     isAttaching={images.isAttaching}
                     onMicPress={onMicPress}
                     micActive={micActive}
+                    micStarting={micStarting}
                     micProcessing={micProcessing}
                     dictationMode={dictationMode}
                     onMicPressIn={onMicPressIn}
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.streaming-rows.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.streaming-rows.test.ts
index 97cc8e62d11..8db6b6cfb2d 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.streaming-rows.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.streaming-rows.test.ts
@@ -255,6 +255,7 @@ function Harness({
     },
     onMicPress: undefined,
     micActive: false,
+    micStarting: false,
     micProcessing: false,
     dictationMode: undefined,
     onMicPressIn: () => {},
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx
index 50bf34e765e..39c3942b684 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatView({
   isAttaching,
   onMicPress,
   micActive,
+  micStarting,
   micProcessing,
   dictationMode,
   onMicPressIn,
@@ -402,6 +403,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatView({
         isAttaching={isAttaching}
         onMicPress={onMicPress}
         micActive={micActive}
+        micStarting={micStarting}
         micProcessing={micProcessing}
         dictationMode={dictationMode}
         onMicPressIn={onMicPressIn}
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.test.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.test.tsx
index ea332328f4c..4a22330b654 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.test.tsx
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ describe('queued phone composer action boundary', () => {
               onError,
               onMicPress: undefined,
               micActive: false,
+              micStarting: false,
               micProcessing: false,
               dictationMode: undefined,
               onMicPressIn: vi.fn(),
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.tsx
index 197097650c3..76d9e2da424 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileQueuedMessageComposer.tsx
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ export function MobileQueuedMessageComposer({
         isAttaching={images.isAttaching}
         onMicPress={context?.onMicPress}
         micActive={context?.micActive}
+        micStarting={context?.micStarting}
         micProcessing={context?.micProcessing}
         dictationMode={context?.dictationMode}
         onMicPressIn={context?.onMicPressIn}
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionActiveContent.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionActiveContent.tsx
index 7b14097c9f0..27129124a44 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionActiveContent.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionActiveContent.tsx
@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@ export function MobileSessionActiveContent({
         images={nativeChatImages}
         structuredComposer={nativeChatStructuredComposer}
         onMicPress={dictationEnabled ? handleDictationToggle : undefined}
-        micActive={dictation.isRecording}
+        micActive={dictation.isStarting || dictation.isRecording}
+        micStarting={dictation.isStarting}
         micProcessing={dictation.isProcessing}
         dictationMode={dictationMode}
         onMicPressIn={handleDictationPressIn}
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionCommandDock.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionCommandDock.tsx
index a3b0c22b590..ebbbe4600d7 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionCommandDock.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionCommandDock.tsx
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export function MobileSessionCommandDock({
               <KeyboardIcon size={16} color={colors.textSecondary} strokeWidth={2} />
               <MobileTerminalLiveInputStatus
                 dictation={dictation}
+                dictationMode={dictationMode}
                 isAttaching={isAttaching}
                 liveInputText={liveInputCapture}
               />
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionContentRow.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionContentRow.tsx
index 2e8b1e0969f..89127e2a4cc 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionContentRow.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionContentRow.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { styles } from './mobile-session-styles'
 import type { MobileSessionController } from './use-mobile-session-controller'
 import { MobileSessionActiveContent } from './MobileSessionActiveContent'
 import { MobileSessionCommandDock } from './MobileSessionCommandDock'
+import { MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement } from './MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement'
 
 export function MobileSessionContentRow({
   controller,
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export function MobileSessionContentRow({
     canDockPanel,
     setCreateWarningState,
     createWarning,
+    dictation,
     handleFileOpenStart,
     handleOpenedFileDiff,
     handleSessionContentRowLayout
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ export function MobileSessionContentRow({
         <MobileSessionActiveContent controller={controller} />
         {/* Why: translate instead of resize so keyboard toggles don't trigger a server-side PTY viewport change. */}
         <MobileSessionCommandDock controller={controller} keysInRail={keysInRail} />
+        <MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement dictation={dictation} />
       </View>
       {canDockPanel && activePanel !== null && (
         <SessionDockColumn
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalInputActions.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalInputActions.tsx
index c9c30a0a892..dbab3fb4355 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalInputActions.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalInputActions.tsx
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ export function MobileTerminalInputActions({
                 }
               : keepHeldPressThroughLongPress
           }
+          accessibilityRole="button"
+          aria-busy={dictation.isStarting || dictation.isProcessing}
           accessibilityLabel={
             dictation.isRecording
               ? 'Stop voice dictation'
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalLiveInputStatus.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalLiveInputStatus.tsx
index 3079261223a..7dae438bc19 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalLiveInputStatus.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileTerminalLiveInputStatus.tsx
@@ -2,34 +2,30 @@ import { Text, View } from 'react-native'
 import { colors, typography } from '../theme/mobile-theme'
 import { useMobileColorScheme } from '../theme/use-mobile-color-scheme'
 import { themedStyleSheet } from '../theme/themed-styles'
-
-type DictationStatus = {
-  readonly isStarting: boolean
-  readonly isRecording: boolean
-  readonly isProcessing: boolean
-}
+import {
+  mobileDictationStatusTitle,
+  type MobileDictationStatusFlags
+} from './MobileDictationStatusAnnouncement'
 
 type MobileTerminalLiveInputStatusProps = {
-  readonly dictation: DictationStatus
+  readonly dictation: MobileDictationStatusFlags
+  readonly dictationMode: string | undefined
   readonly isAttaching: boolean
   readonly liveInputText: string
 }
 
 export function MobileTerminalLiveInputStatus({
   dictation,
+  dictationMode,
   isAttaching,
   liveInputText
 }: MobileTerminalLiveInputStatusProps) {
   useMobileColorScheme()
-  const title = dictation.isRecording
-    ? 'Listening'
-    : dictation.isProcessing
-      ? 'Processing'
-      : dictation.isStarting
-        ? 'Starting mic'
-        : 'Live input'
+  const title = mobileDictationStatusTitle(dictation) ?? 'Live input'
   const detail = dictation.isRecording
-    ? 'Tap mic to stop'
+    ? dictationMode === 'hold'
+      ? 'Release mic to stop'
+      : 'Tap mic to stop'
     : dictation.isProcessing
       ? 'Transcribing on desktop'
       : dictation.isStarting
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/__mocks__/mobile-prompt-controller.ts b/mobile/src/session/__mocks__/mobile-prompt-controller.ts
index 7fda5ff46c4..934437f37e6 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/__mocks__/mobile-prompt-controller.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/__mocks__/mobile-prompt-controller.ts
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ function Harness(props: HarnessProps) {
     onMicPressOut: vi.fn(),
     onMicPressIn: vi.fn(),
     micActive: false,
+    micStarting: false,
     micProcessing: false,
     dictationMode: 'toggle',
     inputLockReason: connState === 'connected' ? null : 'disconnected',
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-native-chat-merged-snapshot-parity-hooks.test.tsx b/mobile/src/session/mobile-native-chat-merged-snapshot-parity-hooks.test.tsx
index b501f407b91..ff58723d256 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-native-chat-merged-snapshot-parity-hooks.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-native-chat-merged-snapshot-parity-hooks.test.tsx
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@ async function mountPhone(): Promise<Phone> {
       images: OVERLAY_IMAGES,
       onMicPress: () => {},
       micActive: false,
+      micStarting: false,
       micProcessing: false,
       dictationMode: 'toggle',
       onMicPressIn: () => {},
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-composer.test.tsx b/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-composer.test.tsx
index c32b6578355..fac108832d6 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-composer.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-composer.test.tsx
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ describe('real phone inline composer from More through picker pruning and host b
             onError: error,
             onMicPress: undefined,
             micActive: false,
+            micStarting: false,
             micProcessing: false,
             dictationMode: undefined,
             onMicPressIn: () => {},
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-presentation.test.tsx b/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-presentation.test.tsx
index 96120bbfdcf..b24ad9d9a88 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-presentation.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-edit-presentation.test.tsx
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ describe('phone inline editor presentation', () => {
             onError: error,
             onMicPress: undefined,
             micActive: false,
+            micStarting: false,
             micProcessing: false,
             dictationMode: undefined,
             onMicPressIn: () => {},
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-message-composer-context.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-message-composer-context.ts
index ac1dc0d99fd..e26ed715fca 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-message-composer-context.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-queued-message-composer-context.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const MobileQueuedMessageComposerContext = createContext<{
   onError: (text: string) => void
   onMicPress: (() => void) | undefined
   micActive: boolean
+  micStarting: boolean
   micProcessing: boolean
   dictationMode: string | undefined
   onMicPressIn: () => void
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposer.tsx b/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposer.tsx
index bb3f25d9727..f5b93af8493 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposer.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposer.tsx
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatComposer({
   isAttaching = false,
   onMicPress,
   micActive = false,
+  micStarting,
   micProcessing,
   dictationMode,
   onMicPressIn,
@@ -332,6 +333,7 @@ export function MobileNativeChatComposer({
               <MobileNativeChatComposerMic
                 onMicPress={onMicPress}
                 micActive={micActive}
+                micStarting={micStarting}
                 micProcessing={micProcessing}
                 dictationMode={dictationMode}
                 onMicPressIn={onMicPressIn}
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.test.ts
index 27d9a11c905..765cce9d323 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.test.ts
@@ -38,4 +38,22 @@ describe('MobileNativeChatComposerMic', () => {
     expect(findAllByHostType(mic, 'ActivityIndicator')).toHaveLength(1)
     expect(findAllByHostType(mic, 'Mic')).toHaveLength(0)
   })
+
+  it('tells screen readers it is busy starting before recording begins', () => {
+    act(() => {
+      renderer = create(
+        createElement(MobileNativeChatComposerMic, {
+          onMicPress: vi.fn(),
+          micActive: true,
+          micStarting: true,
+          disabled: false
+        })
+      )
+    })
+    const mic = renderer!.root.find(
+      (node) =>
+        String(node.type) === 'Pressable' && node.props.accessibilityLabel === 'Starting dictation'
+    )
+    expect(mic.props['aria-busy']).toBe(true)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.tsx b/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.tsx
index c60673feae4..dd545cd5e62 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/native-chat/composer/MobileNativeChatComposerMic.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ import { mobileNativeChatComposerStyles as styles } from './mobile-native-chat-c
 
 export type MobileNativeChatMicProps = {
   onMicPress?: () => void
+  /** Starting or recording: the mic is live and its release must reach the hook. */
   micActive?: boolean
+  /** Still opening the mic; taps are ignored until recording begins. */
+  micStarting?: boolean
   /** Transcribing after stop; taps are ignored until the transcript lands. */
   micProcessing?: boolean
   dictationMode?: string
@@ -17,6 +20,7 @@ export type MobileNativeChatMicProps = {
 export function MobileNativeChatComposerMic({
   onMicPress,
   micActive = false,
+  micStarting = false,
   micProcessing = false,
   dictationMode = 'toggle',
   onMicPressIn,
@@ -25,8 +29,16 @@ export function MobileNativeChatComposerMic({
 }: MobileNativeChatMicProps & { disabled: boolean }): React.JSX.Element {
   return (
     <Pressable
+      accessibilityRole="button"
+      aria-busy={micStarting || micProcessing}
       accessibilityLabel={
-        micActive ? 'Stop dictation' : micProcessing ? 'Transcribing dictation' : 'Dictate'
+        micStarting
+          ? 'Starting dictation'
+          : micActive
+            ? 'Stop dictation'
+            : micProcessing
+              ? 'Transcribing dictation'
+              : 'Dictate'
       }
       style={({ pressed }) => [styles.ghostButton, pressed && styles.pressed]}
       // Hold mode is walkie-talkie (press-in/out); toggle mode taps.