feat(screenshare): integrate desktop audio exclusion

src/app/mod.rs

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use crate::hotkeys::{HotkeyAction, HotkeyContext, KeyBinding, format_binding};
 use crate::network::PeerState;
 use crate::notify::{self, Sound};
 use crate::presence::PresenceMode;
+use crate::screenshare::{AudioExclusionStatus, ShareAudioSelection};
 use crate::theme::{AppTheme, Palette};
 use crate::widget::context_input::{context_input, locked_value};
 use crate::widget::selectable_text::selectable_rich_text;
@@ -901,9 +902,8 @@ pub enum AppMessage {
     ToggleScreenShare,
     /// Close the screen-share audio picker without sharing.
     CloseSharePicker,
-    /// Select which app's audio to share in the picker: `Some(name)` for one app,
+    /// Select legacy desktop, desktop-excluding, or strict per-app audio.
-    /// `None` for the whole desktop ("All system audio").
+    SelectShareAudio(ShareAudioSelection),
-    SelectShareAudioApp(Option<String>),
     /// Session-only quality preset for the next share start.
     SelectShareQualityOverride(ShareQuality),
     /// Confirm the picker: start the share with the currently selected audio app.
@@ -1150,9 +1150,10 @@ pub struct AppState {
     /// Apps currently producing audio, shown in the share picker. Populated from
     /// `UiEvent::AudioAppsListed` after the picker requests an enumeration.
     share_audio_apps: Vec<String>,
-    /// The picker's current selection: `Some(name)` = capture that app's audio,
+    /// The picker's current typed selection. Desktop-shared remains the legacy
-    /// `None` = "All system audio" (whole desktop; may echo the call).
+    /// fallback; desktop-excluding is shown only when the resolved PixelPass
-    share_audio_selection: Option<String>,
+    /// advertises it.
+    share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection,
     /// Session-only quality override for the next screen-share start.
     share_quality_selection: ShareQuality,
     /// A share start is in flight: `ConfirmShareScreen` was sent but the core
@@ -1171,11 +1172,18 @@ pub struct AppState {
     /// just-killed host can't flip the warning on a new whole-desktop share or
     /// after stop (audit P3, unscoped events).
     share_audio_app_active: bool,
+    /// Whether the current share is the desktop-excluding mode. This gates its
+    /// status events so late notices cannot affect another share mode.
+    share_desktop_excluding_active: bool,
+    /// Persistent explanation from PixelPass while desktop exclusion is active.
+    share_audio_exclusion_warning: Option<String>,
     /// Whether the resolved pixelpass supports `--strict-audio` (per-app audio).
     /// `false` ⇒ the picker offers whole-desktop only, because a per-app share
     /// would pass a flag an older pixelpass rejects (audit P2). Optimistic `true`
     /// until the core's `AudioAppsListed` reports otherwise.
     share_app_audio_supported: bool,
+    /// Whether the resolved PixelPass advertises desktop audio exclusion.
+    share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: bool,
     /// Room-level warning for a validly signed peer whose gossip timestamp falls
     /// outside the replay freshness window. The peer is not yet in the roster, so
     /// this is not attached to a participant card.
@@ -1272,12 +1280,15 @@ impl AppState {
         self.self_sharing = false;
         self.share_picker_open = false;
         self.share_audio_apps.clear();
-        self.share_audio_selection = None;
+        self.share_audio_selection = ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared;
         self.share_quality_selection = self.config.screen_share.quality;
         self.share_starting = false;
         self.share_audio_dropped = false;
         self.share_audio_app_active = false;
+        self.share_desktop_excluding_active = false;
+        self.share_audio_exclusion_warning = None;
         self.share_app_audio_supported = true;
+        self.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported = false;
         self.clock_skew_warning = None;
     }
 
@@ -1580,12 +1591,15 @@ impl Default for AppState {
             pixelpass_help_open: false,
             share_picker_open: false,
             share_audio_apps: Vec::new(),
-            share_audio_selection: None,
+            share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
             share_quality_selection,
             share_starting: false,
             share_audio_dropped: false,
             share_audio_app_active: false,
+            share_desktop_excluding_active: false,
+            share_audio_exclusion_warning: None,
             share_app_audio_supported: true,
+            share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: false,
             clock_skew_warning: None,
             drawer_chat_open: false,
             playlist_drawer_open: false,
@@ -2172,12 +2186,12 @@ fn update(state: &mut AppState, message: AppMessage) -> Task<AppMessage> {
                 // Open the audio picker instead of sharing immediately, so the
                 // user chooses which app's audio to capture rather than the whole
                 // desktop (which echoes the call back to viewers, A23). Default
-                // selection is "All system audio" (None). Kick off a fresh
+                // selection is legacy "All system audio". Kick off a fresh
                 // enumeration so the list reflects what's playing right now.
                 // Suppressed while a start is already in flight (`share_starting`)
                 // so the picker can't be reopened during the startup window.
                 state.share_picker_open = true;
-                state.share_audio_selection = None;
+                state.share_audio_selection = ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared;
                 // NB: do NOT reset `share_quality_selection` here. It is the
                 // per-call override set by the inline quality dropdown next to
                 // the Share button, and the picker has no quality control of its
@@ -2190,8 +2204,8 @@ fn update(state: &mut AppState, message: AppMessage) -> Task<AppMessage> {
         AppMessage::CloseSharePicker => {
             state.share_picker_open = false;
         }
-        AppMessage::SelectShareAudioApp(app) => {
+        AppMessage::SelectShareAudio(audio) => {
-            state.share_audio_selection = app;
+            state.share_audio_selection = audio;
         }
         AppMessage::SelectShareQualityOverride(quality) => {
             state.share_quality_selection = quality;
@@ -2203,11 +2217,12 @@ fn update(state: &mut AppState, message: AppMessage) -> Task<AppMessage> {
             if state.share_picker_open && !state.share_starting {
                 state.share_picker_open = false;
                 state.share_starting = true;
-                let audio_app = state.share_audio_selection.clone();
+                state.share_audio_exclusion_warning = None;
+                let audio = state.share_audio_selection.clone();
                 let settings = state.config.screen_share.clone();
                 let quality = state.share_quality_selection;
                 let _ = state.controller.send(CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-                    audio_app,
+                    audio,
                     settings,
                     quality,
                 });
@@ -2513,25 +2528,42 @@ fn update(state: &mut AppState, message: AppMessage) -> Task<AppMessage> {
                 UiEvent::AudioAppsListed {
                     apps,
                     app_audio_supported,
+                    desktop_audio_exclusion_supported,
                 } => {
                     // Only meaningful while the picker is open; if the user
                     // already cancelled, drop it.
                     if state.share_picker_open {
                         state.share_app_audio_supported = app_audio_supported;
+                        state.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported =
+                            desktop_audio_exclusion_supported;
                         if app_audio_supported {
                             // Keep the current selection if it still exists in the
                             // refreshed list, else fall back to "All system audio".
-                            if let Some(sel) = &state.share_audio_selection
+                            if let ShareAudioSelection::Application(sel) =
+                                &state.share_audio_selection
                                 && !apps.iter().any(|a| a == sel)
                             {
-                                state.share_audio_selection = None;
+                                state.share_audio_selection = ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared;
                             }
                             state.share_audio_apps = apps;
                         } else {
                             // Older pixelpass: per-app capture would hard-fail
                             // (--strict-audio unknown). Force whole-desktop only.
                             state.share_audio_apps.clear();
-                            state.share_audio_selection = None;
+                            if matches!(
+                                state.share_audio_selection,
+                                ShareAudioSelection::Application(_)
+                            ) {
+                                state.share_audio_selection = ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared;
+                            }
+                        }
+                        if !desktop_audio_exclusion_supported
+                            && matches!(
+                                state.share_audio_selection,
+                                ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding
+                            )
+                        {
+                            state.share_audio_selection = ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared;
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -2541,7 +2573,14 @@ fn update(state: &mut AppState, message: AppMessage) -> Task<AppMessage> {
                     state.share_audio_dropped = false;
                     // Remember whether this share captures a specific app, so we
                     // only apply `app_audio` warnings to app shares (P3).
-                    state.share_audio_app_active = state.share_audio_selection.is_some();
+                    state.share_audio_app_active = matches!(
+                        state.share_audio_selection,
+                        ShareAudioSelection::Application(_)
+                    );
+                    state.share_desktop_excluding_active = matches!(
+                        state.share_audio_selection,
+                        ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding
+                    );
                     // Defensive: ensure no picker lingers across a successful start.
                     state.share_picker_open = false;
                     state.status_message = "Sharing your screen".to_string();
@@ -2551,6 +2590,8 @@ fn update(state: &mut AppState, message: AppMessage) -> Task<AppMessage> {
                     state.share_starting = false;
                     state.share_audio_dropped = false;
                     state.share_audio_app_active = false;
+                    state.share_desktop_excluding_active = false;
+                    state.share_audio_exclusion_warning = None;
                     state.status_message = "Screen share stopped".to_string();
                 }
                 UiEvent::ShareAudioActive(active) => {
@@ -2562,6 +2603,22 @@ fn update(state: &mut AppState, message: AppMessage) -> Task<AppMessage> {
                         state.share_audio_dropped = !active;
                     }
                 }
+                UiEvent::ShareAudioExclusionStatus(status) => {
+                    // A status can race the start acknowledgement because the
+                    // host drain and core loop use cloned UI senders. Accept it
+                    // during an in-flight excluding start as well as the active
+                    // share, but ignore late notices for other modes.
+                    let excluding_starting = state.share_starting
+                        && matches!(
+                            state.share_audio_selection,
+                            ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding
+                        );
+                    if state.share_desktop_excluding_active || excluding_starting {
+                        let message = audio_exclusion_status_message(&status);
+                        state.status_message = message.clone();
+                        state.share_audio_exclusion_warning = Some(message);
+                    }
+                }
                 UiEvent::ClockSkewWarning {
                     skew_secs,
                     peer_ahead,
@@ -6656,20 +6713,20 @@ fn view(state: &AppState) -> Element<'_, AppMessage> {
                         ]
                         .spacing(6)
                         .align_y(iced::alignment::Vertical::Center);
+                        let mut details = column![badge].spacing(3);
                         if state.share_audio_dropped {
-                            column![
+                            details = details.push(
-                                badge,
                                 text(
                                     "⚠ Shared app isn't sending audio — viewers hear silence until it plays"
                                 )
                                 .size(11)
                                 .color(color_yellow),
-                            ]
+                            );
-                            .spacing(3)
-                            .into()
-                        } else {
-                            badge.into()
                         }
+                        if let Some(warning) = &state.share_audio_exclusion_warning {
+                            details = details.push(text(warning).size(11).color(color_yellow));
+                        }
+                        details.into()
                     } else {
                         iced::widget::Space::new().width(0.0).height(0.0).into()
                     };
@@ -8757,6 +8814,22 @@ fn with_pixelpass_help<'a>(
     .into()
 }
 
+fn audio_exclusion_status_message(status: &AudioExclusionStatus) -> String {
+    match status {
+        AudioExclusionStatus::StreamUnsupported { reason, .. } => format!(
+            "Some system audio could not be shared safely ({reason}); it was left out."
+        ),
+        AudioExclusionStatus::AecFailed { .. } =>
+            "Audio exclusion could not verify PeerSpeak's echo canceller; viewers hear silence."
+                .to_string(),
+        AudioExclusionStatus::AecRevoked { .. } =>
+            "Audio exclusion stopped because PeerSpeak's echo canceller disappeared; viewers hear silence."
+                .to_string(),
+        AudioExclusionStatus::ForeignAecWarning { .. } =>
+            "Another echo-cancel stream was kept out of the screen share.".to_string(),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Overlay the screen-share **audio picker** when open (A23). Lets the user
 /// capture a single app's audio instead of the whole desktop sink — the default
 /// whole-desktop capture contains our own call playout, so a viewer would
@@ -8828,22 +8901,39 @@ fn with_share_picker<'a>(
             })
         };
 
-    // "All system audio" first (the whole-desktop default — carries the echo
+    // Keep the legacy whole-desktop choice visible with its echo warning. The
-    // warning), then each currently-playing app.
+    // new exclusion row exists only when this exact PixelPass advertised it.
     let mut options = column![opt_row(
-        state.share_audio_selection.is_none(),
+        matches!(
+            state.share_audio_selection,
+            ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared
+        ),
         "All system audio".to_string(),
         Some("⚠ may echo the call back to viewers"),
-        AppMessage::SelectShareAudioApp(None),
+        AppMessage::SelectShareAudio(ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared),
     )]
     .spacing(4);
+    if state.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported {
+        options = options.push(opt_row(
+            matches!(
+                state.share_audio_selection,
+                ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding
+            ),
+            "System audio except PeerSpeak".to_string(),
+            Some("Excludes call and watched-share playback"),
+            AppMessage::SelectShareAudio(ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding),
+        ));
+    }
     for app in &state.share_audio_apps {
-        let selected = state.share_audio_selection.as_deref() == Some(app.as_str());
+        let selected = matches!(
+            &state.share_audio_selection,
+            ShareAudioSelection::Application(selected) if selected == app
+        );
         options = options.push(opt_row(
             selected,
             app.clone(),
             None,
-            AppMessage::SelectShareAudioApp(Some(app.clone())),
+            AppMessage::SelectShareAudio(ShareAudioSelection::Application(app.clone())),
         ));
     }
 
@@ -9668,9 +9758,9 @@ mod tests {
     use super::PendingSend;
     use super::sendqueue::{self, LocalSend, SendStatus};
     use super::{
-        AppConfig, AppMessage, AppState, AttachmentCache, AttachmentState,
+        AppConfig, AppMessage, AppState, AttachmentCache, AttachmentState, AudioExclusionStatus,
         CLOCK_SKEW_WARNING_VISIBLE_SECS, ChatEntry, ClockSkewBanner, GateMeter, METER_MAX, Screen,
-        ScreenBounds, UiEvent, attachment_default_name, clamp_window_position,
+        ScreenBounds, ShareAudioSelection, UiEvent, attachment_default_name, clamp_window_position,
         clear_expired_clock_skew_warning, format_clock_skew_duration, format_duration,
         format_relative_ago, friend_presence_notification, initial_window_position,
         now_playing_label, reconnect_attempt_chime, reconnected_chime, selected_wav_path,
@@ -9970,11 +10060,14 @@ mod tests {
         state.self_sharing = true;
         state.share_picker_open = true;
         state.share_audio_apps = vec!["Firefox".to_string()];
-        state.share_audio_selection = Some("Firefox".to_string());
+        state.share_audio_selection = ShareAudioSelection::Application("Firefox".to_string());
         state.share_starting = true;
         state.share_audio_dropped = true;
         state.share_audio_app_active = true;
+        state.share_desktop_excluding_active = true;
+        state.share_audio_exclusion_warning = Some("warning".to_string());
         state.share_app_audio_supported = false;
+        state.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported = true;
         state.clock_skew_warning = Some(ClockSkewBanner {
             skew_secs: 180,
             peer_ahead: true,
@@ -10011,7 +10104,10 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!state.self_sharing);
         assert!(!state.share_picker_open);
         assert!(state.share_audio_apps.is_empty());
-        assert!(state.share_audio_selection.is_none());
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.share_audio_selection,
+            ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared
+        );
         assert_eq!(
             state.share_quality_selection,
             state.config.screen_share.quality
@@ -10019,10 +10115,13 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!state.share_starting);
         assert!(!state.share_audio_dropped);
         assert!(!state.share_audio_app_active);
+        assert!(!state.share_desktop_excluding_active);
+        assert!(state.share_audio_exclusion_warning.is_none());
         assert!(
             state.share_app_audio_supported,
             "reset is optimistic by default"
         );
+        assert!(!state.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported);
         assert!(state.clock_skew_warning.is_none());
         assert!(state.music_broadcast_id.is_none());
         assert!(state.music_broadcast_next.is_none());
@@ -10135,7 +10234,7 @@ mod tests {
         // Picker open, user confirms a selection.
         let mut state = AppState {
             share_picker_open: true,
-            share_audio_selection: Some("mpv".to_string()),
+            share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection::Application("mpv".to_string()),
             ..Default::default()
         };
         let _ = update(&mut state, AppMessage::ConfirmShareScreen);
@@ -10233,7 +10332,7 @@ mod tests {
         // flag; start and stop both reset it so it can't linger across sessions.
         // A specific app was chosen in the picker, so the share is app-specific.
         let mut state = AppState {
-            share_audio_selection: Some("mpv".to_string()),
+            share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection::Application("mpv".to_string()),
             ..Default::default()
         };
 
@@ -10300,7 +10399,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         // (b) After stop: a straggling event can't resurrect the warning.
         let mut state = AppState {
-            share_audio_selection: Some("mpv".to_string()),
+            share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection::Application("mpv".to_string()),
             ..Default::default()
         };
         let _ = update(
@@ -10318,6 +10417,53 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!state.share_audio_dropped, "post-stop event is ignored");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn desktop_exclusion_status_reaches_visible_state_and_clears_on_stop() {
+        let mut state = AppState {
+            share_starting: true,
+            share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        // The status may beat ScreenShareStarted because the host drain uses a
+        // cloned UI sender. It must still be retained and shown.
+        let _ = update(
+            &mut state,
+            AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::ShareAudioExclusionStatus(
+                AudioExclusionStatus::AecFailed { module_index: 77 },
+            )),
+        );
+        assert!(
+            state
+                .share_audio_exclusion_warning
+                .as_deref()
+                .is_some_and(|message| message.contains("viewers hear silence"))
+        );
+
+        let _ = update(
+            &mut state,
+            AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::ScreenShareStarted),
+        );
+        assert!(state.share_desktop_excluding_active);
+        assert!(state.share_audio_exclusion_warning.is_some());
+
+        let _ = update(
+            &mut state,
+            AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::ScreenShareStopped),
+        );
+        assert!(!state.share_desktop_excluding_active);
+        assert!(state.share_audio_exclusion_warning.is_none());
+
+        // A stale notice after stop cannot resurrect the warning.
+        let _ = update(
+            &mut state,
+            AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::ShareAudioExclusionStatus(
+                AudioExclusionStatus::AecRevoked { module_index: 77 },
+            )),
+        );
+        assert!(state.share_audio_exclusion_warning.is_none());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn old_pixelpass_picker_offers_whole_desktop_only() {
         // P2 (version skew): when the resolved pixelpass lacks --strict-audio, the
@@ -10325,7 +10471,7 @@ mod tests {
         // so a per-app share (which would pass the unknown flag) can't be started.
         let mut state = AppState {
             share_picker_open: true,
-            share_audio_selection: Some("Firefox".to_string()),
+            share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection::Application("Firefox".to_string()),
             share_audio_apps: vec!["Firefox".to_string(), "mpv".to_string()],
             ..Default::default()
         };
@@ -10334,12 +10480,14 @@ mod tests {
             AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::AudioAppsListed {
                 apps: vec!["Firefox".to_string(), "mpv".to_string()],
                 app_audio_supported: false,
+                desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: false,
             }),
         );
         assert!(!state.share_app_audio_supported);
+        assert!(!state.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported);
         assert!(state.share_audio_apps.is_empty(), "no per-app rows offered");
         assert!(
-            state.share_audio_selection.is_none(),
+            state.share_audio_selection == ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
             "forced to whole-desktop"
         );
 
@@ -10349,12 +10497,52 @@ mod tests {
             AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::AudioAppsListed {
                 apps: vec!["Firefox".to_string(), "mpv".to_string()],
                 app_audio_supported: true,
+                desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: true,
             }),
         );
         assert!(state.share_app_audio_supported);
+        assert!(state.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported);
         assert_eq!(state.share_audio_apps.len(), 2);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn picker_treats_per_app_and_desktop_exclusion_as_independent_capabilities() {
+        let mut state = AppState {
+            share_picker_open: true,
+            share_audio_selection: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let _ = update(
+            &mut state,
+            AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::AudioAppsListed {
+                apps: vec!["Firefox".to_string()],
+                app_audio_supported: false,
+                desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: true,
+            }),
+        );
+        assert!(!state.share_app_audio_supported);
+        assert!(state.share_desktop_audio_exclusion_supported);
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.share_audio_selection,
+            ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding,
+            "lack of per-app support must not hide the independent exclusion mode"
+        );
+
+        let _ = update(
+            &mut state,
+            AppMessage::UiEventReceived(UiEvent::AudioAppsListed {
+                apps: Vec::new(),
+                app_audio_supported: false,
+                desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: false,
+            }),
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            state.share_audio_selection,
+            ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
+            "old PixelPass must remove the unavailable exclusion selection"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn peer_gate_persists_when_on_and_clears_when_off() {
         let mut config = AppConfig::default();

src/audio/echo_cancel.rs

@@ -33,12 +33,17 @@ const NODE_READY_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(3);
 /// Owns a loaded `module-echo-cancel` instance; unloads it on drop so the virtual
 /// nodes never leak past the call that created them.
 pub struct EchoCancelGuard {
-    module_index: String,
+    module_index: u64,
     source_name: String,
     sink_name: String,
 }
 
 impl EchoCancelGuard {
+    /// The pactl module identity PixelPass validates in desktop-excluding mode.
+    pub fn module_index(&self) -> u64 {
+        self.module_index
+    }
+
     pub fn source_name(&self) -> &str {
         &self.source_name
     }
@@ -52,7 +57,7 @@ impl Drop for EchoCancelGuard {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         let _ = Command::new("pactl")
             .arg("unload-module")
-            .arg(&self.module_index)
+            .arg(self.module_index.to_string())
             .output();
         crate::log_msg(&format!(
             "Echo cancel: unloaded module {}",
@@ -103,10 +108,10 @@ pub fn enable(
         ));
     }
 
-    let module_index = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout).trim().to_string();
+    let raw_module_index = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout).trim().to_string();
-    if module_index.parse::<u64>().is_err() {
+    let module_index = raw_module_index
-        return Err(format!("unexpected pactl output: {module_index:?}"));
+        .parse::<u64>()
-    }
+        .map_err(|_| format!("unexpected pactl output: {raw_module_index:?}"))?;
     let guard = EchoCancelGuard {
         module_index,
         source_name,

src/core/messages.rs

@@ -126,11 +126,10 @@ pub enum CoreCommand {
     ListAudioApps,
     /// Start sharing our screen: spawn a pixelpass host and announce its ticket
     /// on our presence so the room can watch. No-op when not in a call.
-    /// `audio_app` selects which app's audio to capture: `Some(name)` captures
+    /// `audio` is typed so legacy whole-desktop, desktop-excluding, and strict
-    /// only that app (avoiding the call-loopback echo, A23); `None` shares the
+    /// per-app capture remain distinct across the UI/core boundary.
-    /// whole desktop audio (the legacy behavior).
     StartScreenShare {
-        audio_app: Option<String>,
+        audio: crate::screenshare::ShareAudioSelection,
         settings: ScreenShareSettings,
         quality: ShareQuality,
     },
@@ -276,7 +275,7 @@ pub fn delivery_class(cmd: &CoreCommand) -> DeliveryClass {
         | CoreCommand::SetPixelpassPath(_)
         | CoreCommand::ListAudioApps
         | CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-            audio_app: _,
+            audio: _,
             settings: _,
             quality: _,
         }
@@ -369,7 +368,7 @@ pub fn coalesce_key(cmd: &CoreCommand) -> Option<CoalesceKey> {
         | CoreCommand::SetPixelpassPath(_)
         | CoreCommand::ListAudioApps
         | CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-            audio_app: _,
+            audio: _,
             settings: _,
             quality: _,
         }
@@ -511,13 +510,12 @@ pub enum UiEvent {
     },
     /// The apps currently producing audio, for the screen-share audio picker
     /// (A23). Sorted, deduplicated `application.name`s; empty when nothing is
-    /// playing or enumeration isn't available. `app_audio_supported` reports
+    /// playing or enumeration isn't available. The two support bits are
-    /// whether the resolved pixelpass understands `--strict-audio`: when `false`
+    /// independent and belong to the exact resolved PixelPass binary.
-    /// (an older pixelpass) the picker must offer whole-desktop audio only, since
-    /// a per-app share would pass a flag that older binary rejects (audit P2).
     AudioAppsListed {
         apps: Vec<String>,
         app_audio_supported: bool,
+        desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: bool,
     },
     /// Our own screen share started; the UI flips the Share button to "Stop".
     ScreenShareStarted,
@@ -528,6 +526,9 @@ pub enum UiEvent {
     /// run viewers currently hear silence. The UI shows a transient warning while
     /// `false`. Only meaningful while sharing a specific app (not whole-desktop).
     ShareAudioActive(bool),
+    /// One desktop-excluding status parsed from PixelPass and forwarded without
+    /// translating it into a separately maintained PeerSpeak enum.
+    ShareAudioExclusionStatus(crate::screenshare::AudioExclusionStatus),
     /// A validly signed peer cannot be admitted because its gossip timestamp is
     /// outside the replay freshness window. `peer_ahead` describes the peer's
     /// sender-stamped timestamp relative to this machine's clock.

src/core/mod.rs

@@ -1284,6 +1284,42 @@ async fn probe_friends_once(
     }
 }
 
+fn ui_event_from_pixelpass_event(event: crate::screenshare::PixelpassEvent) -> Option<UiEvent> {
+    match event {
+        crate::screenshare::PixelpassEvent::AppAudioRouted => Some(UiEvent::ShareAudioActive(true)),
+        crate::screenshare::PixelpassEvent::AppAudioLost => Some(UiEvent::ShareAudioActive(false)),
+        crate::screenshare::PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(status) => {
+            Some(UiEvent::ShareAudioExclusionStatus(status))
+        }
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Carry the actual parsed PixelPass event value across the notice channel to
+/// the UI. `Eof` remains a generation-scoped core fault rather than a UI event.
+async fn forward_host_notices(
+    mut notices: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<crate::screenshare::HostNotice>,
+    ui_tx: mpsc::Sender<UiEvent>,
+    fault_tx: mpsc::UnboundedSender<u64>,
+    generation: u64,
+) {
+    while let Some(notice) = notices.recv().await {
+        match notice {
+            crate::screenshare::HostNotice::Event(event) => {
+                if let Some(event) = ui_event_from_pixelpass_event(event)
+                    && ui_tx.send(event).await.is_err()
+                {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            crate::screenshare::HostNotice::Eof => {
+                let _ = fault_tx.send(generation);
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 async fn run_core_loop(
     mut reliable_rx: mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<CoreCommand>,
     coalesce: CoalesceStore,
@@ -1404,6 +1440,10 @@ async fn run_core_loop(
     // generation must appear and vanish together, or a stale fault could tear
     // down a share it doesn't belong to.
     let mut pixelpass_override: Option<String> = None;
+    // Capability results are meaningful only for the exact resolved binary
+    // path that produced them. A changed override/PATH resolution must be
+    // re-probed before any capability-gated argv is constructed.
+    let mut pixelpass_capabilities: Option<crate::screenshare::ProbedPixelpassCapabilities> = None;
     struct ActiveShare {
         generation: u64,
         ticket: String,
@@ -3413,39 +3453,53 @@ async fn run_core_loop(
 
             CoreCommand::SetPixelpassPath(path) => {
                 pixelpass_override = path.filter(|p| !p.trim().is_empty());
+                pixelpass_capabilities = None;
             }
 
             CoreCommand::ListAudioApps => {
-                // Probe whether this pixelpass supports `--strict-audio` before
+                // Probe the versioned response from the exact binary selected
-                // offering per-app capture: an older binary would reject the flag
+                // for this picker. The help fallback can recover legacy strict
-                // and hard-fail the share (audit P2). When unsupported (or
+                // per-app support, but never desktop exclusion.
-                // pixelpass is missing), skip enumeration and let the picker show
+                let (capabilities, apps) =
-                // whole-desktop audio only — never a best-effort `--app` that
-                // would reopen the A23 echo.
-                let app_audio_supported =
                     match crate::screenshare::pixelpass_path(pixelpass_override.as_deref()) {
-                        Some(bin) => crate::screenshare::supports_strict_audio(&bin).await,
+                        Some(bin) => {
-                        None => false,
+                            let capabilities =
+                                crate::screenshare::probe_pixelpass_capabilities(&bin).await;
+                            pixelpass_capabilities =
+                                Some(crate::screenshare::ProbedPixelpassCapabilities {
+                                    binary: bin,
+                                    capabilities,
+                                });
+                            let apps = if capabilities.strict_app_audio {
+                                crate::screenshare::list_audio_apps().await
+                            } else {
+                                Vec::new()
+                            };
+                            (capabilities, apps)
+                        }
+                        None => {
+                            pixelpass_capabilities = None;
+                            (
+                                crate::screenshare::PixelpassCapabilities::default(),
+                                Vec::new(),
+                            )
+                        }
                     };
-                let apps = if app_audio_supported {
-                    crate::screenshare::list_audio_apps().await
-                } else {
-                    Vec::new()
-                };
                 let _ = ui_tx
                     .send(UiEvent::AudioAppsListed {
                         apps,
-                        app_audio_supported,
+                        app_audio_supported: capabilities.strict_app_audio,
+                        desktop_audio_exclusion_supported: capabilities.desktop_audio_exclusion,
                     })
                     .await;
             }
 
             CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-                audio_app,
+                audio,
                 settings,
                 quality,
             } => {
-                let Some(session) = &mut active_session else {
+                let Some(session) = active_session.as_ref() else {
                     let _ = ui_tx
                         .send(UiEvent::Error(
                             "Join a call before sharing your screen".into(),
@@ -3467,49 +3521,72 @@ async fn run_core_loop(
                         continue;
                     }
                 };
+                // The picker probe is bound to its resolved binary. If the
+                // override/PATH now resolves elsewhere, immediately re-probe
+                // before constructing any capability-gated argv and fail closed
+                // when the selected feature is absent.
+                if !matches!(
+                    audio,
+                    crate::screenshare::ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared
+                ) {
+                    let capabilities = crate::screenshare::capabilities_for_resolved_binary(
+                        &bin,
+                        &mut pixelpass_capabilities,
+                    )
+                    .await;
+                    let unsupported = match &audio {
+                        crate::screenshare::ShareAudioSelection::Application(_)
+                            if !capabilities.strict_app_audio =>
+                        {
+                            Some(
+                                "This PixelPass does not support strict per-app audio. Reopen the picker or update PixelPass.",
+                            )
+                        }
+                        crate::screenshare::ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding
+                            if !capabilities.desktop_audio_exclusion =>
+                        {
+                            Some(
+                                "This PixelPass does not support desktop audio exclusion. Update PixelPass or choose another audio source.",
+                            )
+                        }
+                        _ => None,
+                    };
+                    if let Some(message) = unsupported {
+                        let _ = ui_tx.send(UiEvent::Error(message.into())).await;
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                let session = active_session
+                    .as_mut()
+                    .expect("session presence checked before PixelPass probe");
+                let aec_module_index = matches!(
+                    audio,
+                    crate::screenshare::ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding
+                )
+                .then(|| {
+                    session
+                        .teardown
+                        .echo_cancel()
+                        .map(crate::audio::echo_cancel::EchoCancelGuard::module_index)
+                })
+                .flatten();
                 // Every share gets a notice forwarder — not just app-audio ones.
-                // pixelpass `app_audio` events (only emitted when an app is
+                // App-audio and desktop-exclusion events become UI state, and
-                // selected) become UI warnings, and the drain's terminal `Eof`
+                // the drain's terminal `Eof` becomes a generation-scoped fault.
-                // becomes a host fault scoped to this spawn's generation, so a
-                // host that dies is torn down instead of staying advertised in
-                // presence forever. On a failed spawn the sender is dropped
-                // before the drain ever runs, so the forwarder just ends and no
-                // fault is sent (the spawn error carries the news instead).
                 share_generations += 1;
                 let generation = share_generations;
-                let (notices_tx, mut notices_rx) =
+                let (notices_tx, notices_rx) =
                     tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel::<crate::screenshare::HostNotice>();
                 let ui_tx_notices = ui_tx.clone();
                 let fault_tx = host_fault_tx.clone();
                 tokio::spawn(async move {
-                    while let Some(notice) = notices_rx.recv().await {
+                    forward_host_notices(notices_rx, ui_tx_notices, fault_tx, generation).await;
-                        match notice {
-                            crate::screenshare::HostNotice::Event(ev) => {
-                                let active = match ev {
-                                    crate::screenshare::PixelpassEvent::AppAudioRouted => true,
-                                    crate::screenshare::PixelpassEvent::AppAudioLost => false,
-                                    _ => continue,
-                                };
-                                if ui_tx_notices
-                                    .send(UiEvent::ShareAudioActive(active))
-                                    .await
-                                    .is_err()
-                                {
-                                    break;
-                                }
-                            }
-                            // Terminal by contract: nothing follows on the
-                            // channel, so the task ends here.
-                            crate::screenshare::HostNotice::Eof => {
-                                let _ = fault_tx.send(generation);
-                                break;
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
                 });
                 match crate::screenshare::spawn_host(
                     &bin,
-                    audio_app.as_deref(),
+                    &audio,
+                    aec_module_index,
                     &settings,
                     quality,
                     notices_tx,
@@ -3705,10 +3782,11 @@ mod tests {
         KnownPeers, MAX_OPUS_PAYLOAD, MAX_RETAINED_PEERS, MIC_LEVEL_REPORT_SAMPLES, MicLevelMeter,
         NetworkMode, PLAYBACK_HANDOFF_QUEUE_FRAMES, PeerSpeakTicket, admit_retained,
         apply_peer_volume, apply_volume, audio_datagram_len_ok, coalesce_insert, coalesce_pop,
-        frame_level, mix_frames, mix_stereo_frames, next_game_change, rebuild_with_fallback,
+        forward_host_notices, frame_level, mix_frames, mix_stereo_frames, next_game_change,
-        replace_viewer_index, send_playback_frame, should_auto_fetch, stereo_to_mono,
+        rebuild_with_fallback, replace_viewer_index, send_playback_frame, should_auto_fetch,
+        stereo_to_mono,
     };
-    use crate::core::messages::{CoalesceKey, CoreCommand, coalesce_key};
+    use crate::core::messages::{CoalesceKey, CoreCommand, UiEvent, coalesce_key};
     use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
     use std::sync::mpsc::sync_channel;
     use std::time::Duration;
@@ -3717,6 +3795,61 @@ mod tests {
         iroh::SecretKey::generate().public()
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn all_exclusion_events_causally_cross_the_host_notice_channel_to_ui() {
+        use crate::screenshare::{AudioExclusionStatus, HostNotice, parse_pixelpass_event};
+
+        let lines = [
+            r#"{"event":"stream_unsupported","version":1,"stream_serial":4294967303,"reason":"port-exclusive"}"#,
+            r#"{"event":"aec_failed","version":1,"module_index":536870919}"#,
+            r#"{"event":"aec_revoked","version":1,"module_index":536870919}"#,
+            r#"{"event":"foreign_aec_warning","version":1,"link_group":"echo-cancel-9999-13"}"#,
+        ];
+        let (notice_tx, notice_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+        for line in lines {
+            notice_tx
+                .send(HostNotice::Event(
+                    parse_pixelpass_event(line).expect("PixelPass event must parse"),
+                ))
+                .unwrap();
+        }
+        drop(notice_tx);
+
+        let (ui_tx, mut ui_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::channel(8);
+        let (fault_tx, mut fault_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel();
+        forward_host_notices(notice_rx, ui_tx, fault_tx, 17).await;
+
+        let mut statuses = Vec::new();
+        while let Some(event) = ui_rx.recv().await {
+            match event {
+                UiEvent::ShareAudioExclusionStatus(status) => statuses.push(status),
+                other => panic!("unexpected forwarded UI event: {other:?}"),
+            }
+        }
+        assert_eq!(
+            statuses,
+            vec![
+                AudioExclusionStatus::StreamUnsupported {
+                    stream_serial: 4_294_967_303,
+                    reason: "port-exclusive".to_string(),
+                },
+                AudioExclusionStatus::AecFailed {
+                    module_index: 536_870_919,
+                },
+                AudioExclusionStatus::AecRevoked {
+                    module_index: 536_870_919,
+                },
+                AudioExclusionStatus::ForeignAecWarning {
+                    link_group: "echo-cancel-9999-13".to_string(),
+                },
+            ]
+        );
+        assert!(
+            fault_rx.try_recv().is_err(),
+            "ordinary status events must not synthesize a host fault"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn re_watch_replaces_existing_viewer_for_same_ticket() {
         // The value type stands in for a viewer Child; only the ticket matters.

src/core/teardown.rs

@@ -305,10 +305,6 @@ pub(super) struct ScreenshareTeardown<C: ChildProcess, G> {
     ///
     /// ⚠️ **LAST FIELD ON PURPOSE** — see the module docs and the struct note.
     ///
-    /// Never read, and that is the design: the guard is held only so that its
-    /// `Drop` runs, and only so that it runs *here*, last. `dead_code` is right
-    /// that nothing reads it and wrong that it does nothing.
-    #[allow(dead_code)]
     echo_cancel: Option<G>,
 }
 
@@ -325,6 +321,13 @@ impl<C: ChildProcess, G> ScreenshareTeardown<C, G> {
         self.host.is_some()
     }
 
+    /// Borrow the session-owned AEC guard without disturbing its load-bearing
+    /// last-field drop order. Phase 8 uses this only to pass the module identity
+    /// to PixelPass while the guard remains owned here.
+    pub(super) fn echo_cancel(&self) -> Option<&G> {
+        self.echo_cancel.as_ref()
+    }
+
     pub(super) fn set_host(&mut self, child: C) {
         self.host = Some(ReapOnDrop::new(child, "screen-share host"));
     }

src/screenshare/mod.rs

@@ -60,6 +60,34 @@ const LOW_LATENCY_CACHE_CAP_MB: u32 = 1;
 /// is only a safety net so a hung pixelpass can't wedge the caller forever.
 const STARTUP_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(20);
 
+/// The audio source selected for one hosted screen share.
+///
+/// This is shared by the picker and the core so the new desktop-excluding
+/// choice cannot collapse back into the legacy `Option<String>` representation
+/// (where `None` could only mean whole-desktop audio).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
+pub enum ShareAudioSelection {
+    /// PixelPass's legacy whole-desktop monitor capture.
+    #[default]
+    DesktopShared,
+    /// Whole-desktop audio with PeerSpeak-owned playback excluded.
+    DesktopExcluding,
+    /// Strict capture of one locally selected application.
+    Application(String),
+}
+
+/// One version-1 desktop-audio-exclusion status from PixelPass.
+///
+/// The parsed value itself crosses the core/UI boundary; PeerSpeak does not
+/// define a second matching enum that could silently drift from the wire.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum AudioExclusionStatus {
+    StreamUnsupported { stream_serial: u64, reason: String },
+    AecFailed { module_index: u64 },
+    AecRevoked { module_index: u64 },
+    ForeignAecWarning { link_group: String },
+}
+
 /// One parsed line from pixelpass's `--output json` stdout stream. Mirrors the
 /// `event` tags in pixelpass's `src/common/output.rs`. Recognized-but-unused
 /// events collapse to [`PixelpassEvent::Other`]; blank or non-JSON lines parse
@@ -86,6 +114,9 @@ pub enum PixelpassEvent {
     /// our `--strict-audio` run this means viewers now hear silence (not the call
     /// echo) until the app produces audio again — we surface it as a warning.
     AppAudioLost,
+    /// Host (desktop-excluding audio): a versioned status from the fail-closed
+    /// fan-out controller.
+    AudioExclusion(AudioExclusionStatus),
     /// A recognized event we don't act on (e.g. `host_info`).
     Other,
 }
@@ -140,6 +171,27 @@ pub fn parse_pixelpass_event(line: &str) -> Option<PixelpassEvent> {
             Some("lost") => PixelpassEvent::AppAudioLost,
             _ => PixelpassEvent::Other,
         },
+        "stream_unsupported" if json_u64(&v, "version") == Some(1) => {
+            PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(AudioExclusionStatus::StreamUnsupported {
+                stream_serial: json_u64(&v, "stream_serial")?,
+                reason: v.get("reason")?.as_str()?.to_string(),
+            })
+        }
+        "aec_failed" if json_u64(&v, "version") == Some(1) => {
+            PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(AudioExclusionStatus::AecFailed {
+                module_index: json_u64(&v, "module_index")?,
+            })
+        }
+        "aec_revoked" if json_u64(&v, "version") == Some(1) => {
+            PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(AudioExclusionStatus::AecRevoked {
+                module_index: json_u64(&v, "module_index")?,
+            })
+        }
+        "foreign_aec_warning" if json_u64(&v, "version") == Some(1) => {
+            PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(AudioExclusionStatus::ForeignAecWarning {
+                link_group: v.get("link_group")?.as_str()?.to_string(),
+            })
+        }
         _ => PixelpassEvent::Other,
     };
     Some(ev)
@@ -149,6 +201,10 @@ fn json_u32(v: &serde_json::Value, key: &str) -> u32 {
     v.get(key).and_then(|x| x.as_u64()).unwrap_or(0) as u32
 }
 
+fn json_u64(v: &serde_json::Value, key: &str) -> Option<u64> {
+    v.get(key).and_then(|x| x.as_u64())
+}
+
 /// Build the argv for a pixelpass *host*. Always `--host --output json`; when
 /// `audio_app` is `Some`, append `--app=<name> --strict-audio` so pixelpass
 /// captures only that app's audio instead of the whole desktop sink monitor
@@ -180,6 +236,48 @@ pub fn host_args(
         args.push(format!("--app={name}"));
         args.push("--strict-audio".to_string());
     }
+    append_host_settings(&mut args, settings, quality);
+    args
+}
+
+/// Build host argv from the picker's typed audio selection.
+///
+/// The existing desktop-shared and application arms deliberately delegate to
+/// [`host_args`] so their argv stays byte-for-byte compatible. Only the new
+/// desktop-excluding arm emits the public PixelPass protocol pair, and it
+/// always includes an explicit AEC state: `off` when this PeerSpeak session did
+/// not load an echo-cancel module, otherwise the exact pactl module index.
+pub fn host_args_for_selection(
+    audio: &ShareAudioSelection,
+    aec_module_index: Option<u64>,
+    settings: &ScreenShareSettings,
+    quality: ShareQuality,
+) -> Vec<String> {
+    match audio {
+        ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared => host_args(None, settings, quality),
+        ShareAudioSelection::Application(name) => host_args(Some(name), settings, quality),
+        ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding => {
+            let mut args = vec![
+                "--host".to_string(),
+                "--output".to_string(),
+                "json".to_string(),
+                "--audio-mode=desktop-excluding".to_string(),
+                match aec_module_index {
+                    Some(index) => format!("--aec=pulse-module:{index}"),
+                    None => "--aec=off".to_string(),
+                },
+            ];
+            append_host_settings(&mut args, settings, quality);
+            args
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn append_host_settings(
+    args: &mut Vec<String>,
+    settings: &ScreenShareSettings,
+    quality: ShareQuality,
+) {
     if quality != ShareQuality::Auto {
         args.push(format!("--quality={}", pixelpass_quality(quality)));
     }
@@ -199,7 +297,6 @@ pub fn host_args(
         args.push(format!("--max-viewers={max}"));
     }
     args.extend(split_extra_args(&settings.extra_host_args));
-    args
 }
 
 fn pixelpass_quality(quality: ShareQuality) -> &'static str {
@@ -259,22 +356,67 @@ pub async fn list_audio_apps() -> Vec<String> {
     }
 }
 
-/// Hard cap on the capability probe (`pixelpass --help`). Conservative: a slow or
+/// Hard cap on each PixelPass capability probe. Conservative: a slow or hung
-/// hung pixelpass degrades to "strict audio unsupported" → whole-desktop-only
+/// binary degrades to the legacy capability set, never a stalled core loop.
-/// picker (safe), never a stalled core loop.
 const HELP_PROBE_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(2);
 
-/// Whether the resolved pixelpass understands `--strict-audio` (added in pixelpass
+/// Capabilities PeerSpeak consumes from PixelPass's versioned response.
-/// `85fdebe`). peerspeak only offers per-app audio capture when it does: a per-app
+/// Strict per-app capture and desktop exclusion are independent by contract.
-/// share always appends `--strict-audio`, and an **older** pixelpass would have
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
-/// clap reject the unknown flag → the host spawn hard-fails and the share is
+pub struct PixelpassCapabilities {
-/// broken (audit P2, version skew). When unsupported the picker degrades to
+    pub strict_app_audio: bool,
-/// whole-desktop audio only — we never silently drop to best-effort `--app`, which
+    pub desktop_audio_exclusion: bool,
-/// would reintroduce the call echo (A23).
+}
-///
+
-/// Any probe failure/timeout returns `false` (degrade to the safe path). The
+/// A capability result tied to the exact resolved executable that produced it.
-/// `--help` child is `kill_on_drop` so a hung pixelpass can't linger.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub async fn supports_strict_audio(bin: &Path) -> bool {
+pub struct ProbedPixelpassCapabilities {
+    pub binary: PathBuf,
+    pub capabilities: PixelpassCapabilities,
+}
+
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct CapabilityResponse {
+    schema_version: u64,
+    capabilities: CapabilityFlags,
+}
+
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct CapabilityFlags {
+    strict_app_audio: bool,
+    desktop_audio_exclusion: bool,
+}
+
+/// Parse the schema-1 response from `pixelpass --capabilities`. Unsupported
+/// schemas and malformed output return `None`, which selects the legacy help
+/// fallback rather than guessing at a new protocol.
+pub fn parse_pixelpass_capabilities(stdout: &[u8]) -> Option<PixelpassCapabilities> {
+    let response: CapabilityResponse = serde_json::from_slice(stdout).ok()?;
+    (response.schema_version == 1).then_some(PixelpassCapabilities {
+        strict_app_audio: response.capabilities.strict_app_audio,
+        desktop_audio_exclusion: response.capabilities.desktop_audio_exclusion,
+    })
+}
+
+/// Probe one resolved PixelPass binary. The versioned machine response is the
+/// primary contract. `--help` survives only as a compatibility fallback for an
+/// older PixelPass that predates `--capabilities`; it can recover strict per-app
+/// support but can never advertise desktop exclusion.
+pub async fn probe_pixelpass_capabilities(bin: &Path) -> PixelpassCapabilities {
+    let primary = Command::new(bin)
+        .arg("--capabilities")
+        .stdin(Stdio::null())
+        .stdout(Stdio::piped())
+        .stderr(Stdio::null())
+        .kill_on_drop(true)
+        .output();
+    if let Ok(Ok(output)) = tokio::time::timeout(HELP_PROBE_TIMEOUT, primary).await
+        && output.status.success()
+        && let Some(capabilities) = parse_pixelpass_capabilities(&output.stdout)
+    {
+        return capabilities;
+    }
+
     let run = Command::new(bin)
         .arg("--help")
         .stdin(Stdio::null())
@@ -282,12 +424,42 @@ pub async fn supports_strict_audio(bin: &Path) -> bool {
         .stderr(Stdio::null())
         .kill_on_drop(true)
         .output();
-    match tokio::time::timeout(HELP_PROBE_TIMEOUT, run).await {
+    let strict_app_audio = match tokio::time::timeout(HELP_PROBE_TIMEOUT, run).await {
-        Ok(Ok(o)) => help_mentions_strict_audio(&o.stdout),
+        Ok(Ok(output)) => help_mentions_strict_audio(&output.stdout),
         _ => false,
+    };
+    PixelpassCapabilities {
+        strict_app_audio,
+        desktop_audio_exclusion: false,
     }
 }
 
+/// Return capabilities for `bin`, re-probing and replacing `cached` whenever
+/// the resolved executable path differs. This is the start-time skew guard:
+/// capability-gated argv must never be built from a probe of another binary.
+pub async fn capabilities_for_resolved_binary(
+    bin: &Path,
+    cached: &mut Option<ProbedPixelpassCapabilities>,
+) -> PixelpassCapabilities {
+    if let Some(probe) = cached.as_ref()
+        && probe.binary == bin
+    {
+        return probe.capabilities;
+    }
+    let capabilities = probe_pixelpass_capabilities(bin).await;
+    *cached = Some(ProbedPixelpassCapabilities {
+        binary: bin.to_path_buf(),
+        capabilities,
+    });
+    capabilities
+}
+
+/// Compatibility helper retained for callers that only need the pre-Phase-8
+/// per-app bit.
+pub async fn supports_strict_audio(bin: &Path) -> bool {
+    probe_pixelpass_capabilities(bin).await.strict_app_audio
+}
+
 /// Pure check: does `pixelpass --help` advertise `--strict-audio`? Matches the
 /// flag token rather than a whole line, since clap may wrap/realign help text.
 pub fn help_mentions_strict_audio(help_stdout: &[u8]) -> bool {
@@ -393,12 +565,13 @@ pub fn is_available(config_override: Option<&str>) -> bool {
 /// them, so pixelpass keeps its own defaults in the common case.
 pub async fn spawn_host(
     bin: &Path,
-    audio_app: Option<&str>,
+    audio: &ShareAudioSelection,
+    aec_module_index: Option<u64>,
     settings: &ScreenShareSettings,
     quality: ShareQuality,
     notices: tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender<HostNotice>,
 ) -> std::io::Result<(Child, String)> {
-    let args = host_args(audio_app, settings, quality);
+    let args = host_args_for_selection(audio, aec_module_index, settings, quality);
     // Log the exact argv we hand pixelpass so a field log can confirm which
     // encode/quality flags (e.g. --bitrate) actually reached the host — these
     // are local flags with no ticket/secret, so logging them verbatim is safe.
@@ -633,6 +806,7 @@ fn event_for_log(ev: &PixelpassEvent) -> String {
         PixelpassEvent::CaptureStopped => "capture_stopped".to_string(),
         PixelpassEvent::AppAudioRouted => "app_audio_routed".to_string(),
         PixelpassEvent::AppAudioLost => "app_audio_lost".to_string(),
+        PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(status) => format!("audio_exclusion {status:?}"),
         PixelpassEvent::Other => "other".to_string(),
     }
 }
@@ -913,6 +1087,64 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(args[4], "--strict-audio");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn desktop_excluding_argv_requires_both_public_mode_and_explicit_aec() {
+        let settings = ScreenShareSettings::default();
+        assert_eq!(
+            host_args_for_selection(
+                &ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding,
+                Some(536_870_919),
+                &settings,
+                ShareQuality::Auto,
+            ),
+            vec![
+                "--host",
+                "--output",
+                "json",
+                "--audio-mode=desktop-excluding",
+                "--aec=pulse-module:536870919",
+            ]
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            host_args_for_selection(
+                &ShareAudioSelection::DesktopExcluding,
+                None,
+                &settings,
+                ShareQuality::Auto,
+            ),
+            vec![
+                "--host",
+                "--output",
+                "json",
+                "--audio-mode=desktop-excluding",
+                "--aec=off",
+            ]
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn typed_legacy_selections_keep_existing_argv_byte_identical() {
+        let settings = ScreenShareSettings::default();
+        assert_eq!(
+            host_args_for_selection(
+                &ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
+                Some(42),
+                &settings,
+                ShareQuality::Auto,
+            ),
+            host_args(None, &settings, ShareQuality::Auto),
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            host_args_for_selection(
+                &ShareAudioSelection::Application("Firefox".to_string()),
+                Some(42),
+                &settings,
+                ShareQuality::Auto,
+            ),
+            host_args(Some("Firefox"), &settings, ShareQuality::Auto),
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn host_args_blank_or_control_app_is_dropped() {
         // An empty / whitespace / control-laden selection is sanitized away,
@@ -1217,6 +1449,106 @@ Install hint: sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad
         assert!(!help_mentions_strict_audio(&[0xff, 0xfe, 0x00]));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn capability_schema_keeps_strict_and_desktop_exclusion_independent() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_pixelpass_capabilities(
+                br#"{"schema_version":1,"capabilities":{"strict_app_audio":true,"desktop_audio_exclusion":false}}"#,
+            ),
+            Some(PixelpassCapabilities {
+                strict_app_audio: true,
+                desktop_audio_exclusion: false,
+            })
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_pixelpass_capabilities(
+                br#"{"schema_version":1,"capabilities":{"strict_app_audio":false,"desktop_audio_exclusion":true}}"#,
+            ),
+            Some(PixelpassCapabilities {
+                strict_app_audio: false,
+                desktop_audio_exclusion: true,
+            })
+        );
+        assert!(
+            parse_pixelpass_capabilities(
+                br#"{"schema_version":2,"capabilities":{"strict_app_audio":true,"desktop_audio_exclusion":true}}"#,
+            )
+            .is_none(),
+            "an unknown schema must not advertise the new mode"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    fn write_fake_pixelpass(dir: &Path, name: &str, body: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+
+        let path = dir.join(name);
+        std::fs::write(&path, body).unwrap();
+        let mut permissions = std::fs::metadata(&path).unwrap().permissions();
+        permissions.set_mode(0o755);
+        std::fs::set_permissions(&path, permissions).unwrap();
+        path
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn old_pixelpass_help_fallback_cannot_advertise_desktop_exclusion() {
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+            "peerspeak-phase8-old-pixelpass-{}",
+            std::process::id()
+        ));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let bin = write_fake_pixelpass(
+            &dir,
+            "pixelpass-old",
+            "#!/bin/sh\nif [ \"$1\" = \"--capabilities\" ]; then exit 2; fi\nprintf '%s\\n' 'Options: --app <APP> --strict-audio --output <OUTPUT>'\n",
+        );
+
+        let capabilities = probe_pixelpass_capabilities(&bin).await;
+        assert!(capabilities.strict_app_audio);
+        assert!(!capabilities.desktop_audio_exclusion);
+        assert_eq!(
+            host_args_for_selection(
+                &ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
+                None,
+                &ScreenShareSettings::default(),
+                ShareQuality::Auto,
+            ),
+            vec!["--host", "--output", "json"],
+            "old-PixelPass fallback must emit no new flags"
+        );
+        std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir).unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn capability_cache_reprobes_when_the_resolved_binary_changes() {
+        let dir =
+            std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("peerspeak-phase8-rebind-{}", std::process::id()));
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let new_bin = write_fake_pixelpass(
+            &dir,
+            "pixelpass-new",
+            "#!/bin/sh\nprintf '%s\\n' '{\"schema_version\":1,\"capabilities\":{\"strict_app_audio\":true,\"desktop_audio_exclusion\":true}}'\n",
+        );
+        let old_bin = write_fake_pixelpass(
+            &dir,
+            "pixelpass-old",
+            "#!/bin/sh\nif [ \"$1\" = \"--capabilities\" ]; then exit 2; fi\nprintf '%s\\n' 'Options: --output <OUTPUT>'\n",
+        );
+
+        let mut cached = None;
+        let first = capabilities_for_resolved_binary(&new_bin, &mut cached).await;
+        assert!(first.desktop_audio_exclusion);
+        assert_eq!(cached.as_ref().unwrap().binary, new_bin);
+
+        let rebound = capabilities_for_resolved_binary(&old_bin, &mut cached).await;
+        assert!(!rebound.desktop_audio_exclusion);
+        assert!(!rebound.strict_app_audio);
+        assert_eq!(cached.as_ref().unwrap().binary, old_bin);
+        std::fs::remove_dir_all(dir).unwrap();
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn sanitize_ticket_accepts_pixelpass_endpoint_ticket_shape() {
         let ticket = "endpointaabwxjexzensznfvuudiapn5tyzws3angd2merarm";
@@ -1334,6 +1666,54 @@ Install hint: sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn parses_all_version_one_audio_exclusion_statuses_exactly() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_pixelpass_event(
+                r#"{"event":"stream_unsupported","version":1,"stream_serial":4294967303,"reason":"port-exclusive"}"#,
+            ),
+            Some(PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(
+                AudioExclusionStatus::StreamUnsupported {
+                    stream_serial: 4_294_967_303,
+                    reason: "port-exclusive".to_string(),
+                }
+            ))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_pixelpass_event(r#"{"event":"aec_failed","version":1,"module_index":536870919}"#,),
+            Some(PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(
+                AudioExclusionStatus::AecFailed {
+                    module_index: 536_870_919,
+                }
+            ))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_pixelpass_event(
+                r#"{"event":"aec_revoked","version":1,"module_index":536870919}"#,
+            ),
+            Some(PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(
+                AudioExclusionStatus::AecRevoked {
+                    module_index: 536_870_919,
+                }
+            ))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_pixelpass_event(
+                r#"{"event":"foreign_aec_warning","version":1,"link_group":"echo-cancel-9999-13"}"#,
+            ),
+            Some(PixelpassEvent::AudioExclusion(
+                AudioExclusionStatus::ForeignAecWarning {
+                    link_group: "echo-cancel-9999-13".to_string(),
+                }
+            ))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            parse_pixelpass_event(r#"{"event":"aec_failed","version":2,"module_index":536870919}"#,),
+            Some(PixelpassEvent::Other),
+            "an unknown wire version must not be misinterpreted as version 1"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn recognized_but_unused_event_is_other() {
         assert_eq!(

tests/screenshare_host_fault.rs

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 
 use peerspeak::core::CoreController;
 use peerspeak::core::messages::{CoreCommand, UiEvent};
+use peerspeak::screenshare::ShareAudioSelection;
 
 const EVENT_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(20);
 /// How long to listen for events that must NOT arrive. Comfortably past the
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ async fn a_dead_host_is_torn_down_and_a_clean_stop_stays_clean() {
 
     // ── Half 1: the host dies mid-share ─────────────────────────────────────
     assert!(controller.send(CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-        audio_app: None,
+        audio: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
         settings: Default::default(),
         quality: Default::default(),
     }));
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ async fn a_dead_host_is_torn_down_and_a_clean_stop_stays_clean() {
         living_host.to_string_lossy().into_owned()
     ))));
     assert!(controller.send(CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-        audio_app: None,
+        audio: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
         settings: Default::default(),
         quality: Default::default(),
     }));
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ async fn a_dead_host_is_torn_down_and_a_clean_stop_stays_clean() {
     // killed host's EOF passes the staleness gate and a spurious "ended
     // unexpectedly" lands on top of the ticket error (Gemini review, P2-1).
     assert!(controller.send(CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-        audio_app: None,
+        audio: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
         settings: Default::default(),
         quality: Default::default(),
     }));
@@ -361,7 +362,7 @@ async fn a_host_fault_pulls_the_ticket_off_presence_within_the_grace() {
     .await;
 
     assert!(controller.send(CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-        audio_app: None,
+        audio: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
         settings: Default::default(),
         quality: Default::default(),
     }));
@@ -534,7 +535,7 @@ async fn stop_share_ends_the_real_host_via_sigint_within_the_grace() {
     // after its ticket (capture starts on first viewer) — exactly the state a
     // Stop Share most often hits.
     assert!(controller.send(CoreCommand::StartScreenShare {
-        audio_app: None,
+        audio: ShareAudioSelection::DesktopShared,
         settings: Default::default(),
         quality: Default::default(),
     }));