diff --git a/src/host/audio.rs b/src/host/audio.rs
index 2e5b35a..35a51d2 100644
--- a/src/host/audio.rs
+++ b/src/host/audio.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 //! needs it for stream events.
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result, bail};
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::process::Command;
 
 /// Owns the pactl module IDs for the null-sink and its loopback. Drop
@@ -92,6 +93,61 @@ impl Drop for Routing {
     }
 }
 
+/// One deduplicated app currently producing audio. The picker in
+/// interactive mode shows these as the per-app capture choices.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct App {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub stream_count: u32,
+}
+
+/// Enumerate apps currently sending audio to any sink, deduplicated by
+/// `application.name`. Returns an empty Vec if nothing is playing.
+/// Per-stream routing isn't wired yet — session 2 just plumbs the
+/// selection through `HostOpts.app`; routing lands in session 3.
+pub fn list_playing_apps() -> Result<Vec<App>> {
+    let output = Command::new("pactl")
+        .args(["-f", "json", "list", "sink-inputs"])
+        .output()
+        .context("failed to run `pactl -f json list sink-inputs`")?;
+    if !output.status.success() {
+        bail!(
+            "pactl list sink-inputs failed: {}",
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr).trim()
+        );
+    }
+    parse_sink_inputs(&output.stdout)
+}
+
+fn parse_sink_inputs(stdout: &[u8]) -> Result<Vec<App>> {
+    let entries: Vec<SinkInput> =
+        serde_json::from_slice(stdout).context("pactl returned unparseable JSON")?;
+    let mut counts: BTreeMap<String, u32> = BTreeMap::new();
+    for entry in entries {
+        let Some(name) = entry.properties.application_name else { continue };
+        let trimmed = name.trim();
+        if trimmed.is_empty() {
+            continue;
+        }
+        *counts.entry(trimmed.to_string()).or_insert(0) += 1;
+    }
+    Ok(counts
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|(name, stream_count)| App { name, stream_count })
+        .collect())
+}
+
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct SinkInput {
+    properties: SinkInputProperties,
+}
+
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct SinkInputProperties {
+    #[serde(rename = "application.name")]
+    application_name: Option<String>,
+}
+
 fn load_module(args: &[&str]) -> Result<u32> {
     let output = Command::new("pactl")
         .arg("load-module")
diff --git a/src/host/mod.rs b/src/host/mod.rs
index 0a02665..653caad 100644
--- a/src/host/mod.rs
+++ b/src/host/mod.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-mod audio;
+pub mod audio;
 mod capture;
 mod serve;
 mod wayland;
@@ -317,8 +317,11 @@ fn copy_to_clipboard(text: &str) -> bool {
 
 fn capture_summary(opts: &HostOpts) -> String {
     let mut bits = vec![if opts.window { "window" } else { "fullscreen" }.to_string()];
+    // Per-stream routing isn't wired yet (session 3 owns activation), so
+    // even when an app is selected the audio capture is system-wide. Keep
+    // the choice visible in the banner but label it honestly.
     if let Some(app) = &opts.app {
-        bits.push(format!("app-audio={app}"));
+        bits.push(format!("system-audio (app pick saved: {app})"));
     } else {
         bits.push("system-audio".to_string());
     }
diff --git a/src/interactive.rs b/src/interactive.rs
index 56a6149..16b00cc 100644
--- a/src/interactive.rs
+++ b/src/interactive.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ pub async fn run(cli: Cli) -> Result<()> {
     match choice {
         0 => {
             preflight_if_needed(&theme).await;
+            let mut cli = cli;
+            if cli.app.is_none() {
+                cli.app = pick_app(&theme)?;
+            }
             host::run(cli.into_host_opts(true)).await
         }
         _ => {
@@ -32,6 +36,57 @@ pub async fn run(cli: Cli) -> Result<()> {
     }
 }
 
+/// Picker for the per-app audio capture choice. Lists apps currently
+/// producing audio (deduped by `application.name`); user picks one or
+/// the "all system audio" default. Bypassed when `--app NAME` was given
+/// on the CLI.
+///
+/// Per-stream routing isn't wired yet — session 3 owns activation. For
+/// now the picker plumbs the choice into `HostOpts.app` and the host
+/// banner records it, but audio capture is still system-wide. The
+/// explainer beneath the prompt sets that expectation honestly.
+fn pick_app(theme: &ColorfulTheme) -> Result<Option<String>> {
+    let apps = match host::audio::list_playing_apps() {
+        Ok(a) => a,
+        Err(e) => {
+            tracing::warn!("could not enumerate playing apps: {e:#}");
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
+    };
+
+    eprintln!();
+    eprintln!("Audio capture");
+    eprintln!("─────────────");
+    if apps.is_empty() {
+        eprintln!("No other apps are currently producing audio.");
+        eprintln!("Start your game / music / call first if you want to pick it specifically.");
+    }
+    eprintln!("Note: per-app routing isn't live yet — all choices currently capture");
+    eprintln!("system audio. The selection is saved for when routing ships.");
+    eprintln!();
+
+    let mut items = vec!["Capture all system audio (default)".to_string()];
+    for app in &apps {
+        items.push(if app.stream_count == 1 {
+            app.name.clone()
+        } else {
+            format!("{} ({} streams)", app.name, app.stream_count)
+        });
+    }
+
+    let choice = Select::with_theme(theme)
+        .with_prompt("What audio should the viewer hear?")
+        .items(&items)
+        .default(0)
+        .interact()?;
+
+    if choice == 0 {
+        Ok(None)
+    } else {
+        Ok(Some(apps[choice - 1].name.clone()))
+    }
+}
+
 /// `pixelpass --reconfigure` entry point: unconditionally re-run the
 /// bandwidth pre-flight test, save the result, and return. Used to
 /// refresh a stale measurement (e.g. user moved house, changed ISP).