diff --git a/ui/src/app/app.html b/ui/src/app/app.html
index 267146f..676fb41 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/app.html
+++ b/ui/src/app/app.html
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@
   <div class="pointer-events-none fixed right-3 bottom-8 z-50 flex w-80 flex-col gap-2">
     @for (t of toast.toasts(); track t.id) {
       <div
-        class="pointer-events-auto flex items-start gap-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-card p-3 text-xs text-card-foreground shadow-lg"
+        (mouseenter)="toast.pause(t.id)"
+        (mouseleave)="toast.resume(t.id)"
+        class="group pointer-events-auto relative flex items-start gap-2 overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-border bg-card p-3 text-xs text-card-foreground shadow-lg"
       >
         <ng-icon
           [name]="toastIcon(t.kind)"
@@ -59,6 +61,14 @@
         >
           <ng-icon name="mynaX" size="0.9rem" />
         </button>
+        <!-- auto-dismiss countdown; freezes with the timer while hovered -->
+        <div
+          class="toast-countdown absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 h-0.5 origin-left"
+          [class.bg-destructive]="t.kind === 'error'"
+          [class.bg-success]="t.kind === 'success'"
+          [class.bg-primary]="t.kind === 'info'"
+          [style.animation-duration.ms]="t.ttlMs"
+        ></div>
       </div>
     }
   </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/app/toast.service.ts b/ui/src/app/toast.service.ts
index 5236a68..5f2d984 100644
--- a/ui/src/app/toast.service.ts
+++ b/ui/src/app/toast.service.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,17 @@ export interface Toast {
   id: number;
   kind: 'error' | 'info' | 'success';
   text: string;
+  ttlMs: number;
 }
 
 @Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
 export class ToastService {
   readonly toasts = signal<Toast[]>([]);
   private nextId = 1;
+  private readonly timers = new Map<
+    number,
+    { timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>; expiresAt: number; remaining: number }
+  >();
 
   error(text: string) {
     this.show('error', text, 6000);
@@ -24,12 +29,35 @@ export class ToastService {
   }
 
   dismiss(id: number) {
+    const entry = this.timers.get(id);
+    if (entry) clearTimeout(entry.timer);
+    this.timers.delete(id);
     this.toasts.update((list) => list.filter((t) => t.id !== id));
   }
 
+  /** Freeze the auto-dismiss countdown (hover). */
+  pause(id: number) {
+    const entry = this.timers.get(id);
+    if (!entry) return;
+    clearTimeout(entry.timer);
+    entry.remaining = Math.max(0, entry.expiresAt - Date.now());
+  }
+
+  /** Resume the countdown with whatever time was left when paused. */
+  resume(id: number) {
+    const entry = this.timers.get(id);
+    if (!entry) return;
+    entry.expiresAt = Date.now() + entry.remaining;
+    entry.timer = setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(id), entry.remaining);
+  }
+
   private show(kind: Toast['kind'], text: string, ttlMs: number) {
-    const toast = { id: this.nextId++, kind, text };
+    const toast = { id: this.nextId++, kind, text, ttlMs };
     this.toasts.update((list) => [...list, toast]);
-    setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(toast.id), ttlMs);
+    this.timers.set(toast.id, {
+      timer: setTimeout(() => this.dismiss(toast.id), ttlMs),
+      expiresAt: Date.now() + ttlMs,
+      remaining: ttlMs,
+    });
   }
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/styles.css b/ui/src/styles.css
index db1af44..07a4b8f 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles.css
@@ -198,6 +198,21 @@
   animation: panel-fade-in 0.18s ease-out;
 }
 
+/* Toast auto-dismiss countdown; duration set inline per toast. */
+@keyframes toast-countdown {
+  to {
+    transform: scaleX(0);
+  }
+}
+.toast-countdown {
+  animation: toast-countdown linear forwards;
+}
+/* unlayered on purpose: a Tailwind group-hover utility would lose to the
+   unlayered animation shorthand above */
+.group:hover > .toast-countdown {
+  animation-play-state: paused;
+}
+
 /* Accent tone (data-accent set by SettingsService; absent = graphite/zinc).
    Each tone is one hue+chroma line; the formula blocks below derive --primary,
    --ring and the cursor-row tint for light and both dark states. The dark