diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 0b8bd76..1c53131 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_repr",
  "tokio",
  "url",
- "zbus",
+ "zbus 4.4.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -269,6 +269,20 @@ dependencies = [
  "pin-project-lite",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "async-executor"
+version = "1.14.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c96bf972d85afc50bf5ab8fe2d54d1586b4e0b46c97c50a0c9e71e2f7bcd812a"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-task",
+ "concurrent-queue",
+ "fastrand",
+ "futures-lite",
+ "pin-project-lite",
+ "slab",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "async-io"
 version = "2.6.0"
@@ -711,7 +725,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "iana-time-zone",
  "num-traits",
  "serde",
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1893,8 +1907,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
  "log",
  "rustversion",
- "windows-link",
- "windows-result",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+ "windows-result 0.4.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1914,7 +1928,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "1bd49230192a3797a9a4d6abe9b3eed6f7fa4c8a8a4947977c6f80025f92cbd8"
 dependencies = [
  "rustix 1.1.4",
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2385,7 +2399,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "js-sys",
  "log",
  "wasm-bindgen",
- "windows-core",
+ "windows-core 0.62.2",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2582,7 +2596,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "socket2",
  "widestring",
  "windows-registry",
- "windows-result",
+ "windows-result 0.4.1",
  "windows-sys 0.61.2",
 ]
 
@@ -2816,7 +2830,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "simd_cesu8",
  "thiserror 2.0.18",
  "walkdir",
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2925,7 +2939,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "d7c4b02199fee7c5d21a5ae7d8cfa79a6ef5bb2fc834d6e9058e89c825efdc55"
 dependencies = [
  "cfg-if",
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -3053,6 +3067,18 @@ version = "0.3.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "d3d25b0e0b648a86960ac23b7ad4abb9717601dec6f66c165f5b037f3f03065f"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "mac-notification-sys"
+version = "0.6.12"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "29a16783dd1a47849b8c8133c9cd3eb2112cfbc6901670af3dba47c8bbfb07d3"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+ "objc2 0.6.4",
+ "objc2-foundation 0.3.2",
+ "time",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "matchers"
 version = "0.2.0"
@@ -3363,8 +3389,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "tokio-util",
  "tracing",
  "web-sys",
- "windows",
- "windows-result",
+ "windows 0.62.2",
+ "windows-result 0.4.1",
  "wmi",
 ]
 
@@ -3480,6 +3506,20 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.61.2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "notify-rust"
+version = "4.17.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "50ff2e74231b72c832d82982193b417f230945be6bdb5575b251d941d31adb00"
+dependencies = [
+ "futures-lite",
+ "log",
+ "mac-notification-sys",
+ "serde",
+ "tauri-winrt-notification",
+ "zbus 5.15.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "nu-ansi-term"
 version = "0.50.3"
@@ -3972,7 +4012,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
  "redox_syscall 0.5.18",
  "smallvec",
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -4110,6 +4150,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "iroh",
  "iroh-tickets",
  "nix 0.30.1",
+ "notify-rust",
  "pipewire",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
@@ -4154,7 +4195,7 @@ checksum = "092791278e026273c1b65bbdcfbba3a300f2994c896bd01ab01da613c29c46f1"
 dependencies = [
  "base64",
  "indexmap",
- "quick-xml",
+ "quick-xml 0.39.4",
  "serde",
  "time",
 ]
@@ -4360,6 +4401,15 @@ version = "2.0.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "a993555f31e5a609f617c12db6250dedcac1b0a85076912c436e6fc9b2c8e6a3"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "quick-xml"
+version = "0.37.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "331e97a1af0bf59823e6eadffe373d7b27f485be8748f71471c662c1f269b7fb"
+dependencies = [
+ "memchr",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "quick-xml"
 version = "0.39.4"
@@ -5263,6 +5313,18 @@ version = "0.13.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "df7f62577c25e07834649fc3b39fafdc597c0a3527dc1c60129201ccfcbaa50c"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "tauri-winrt-notification"
+version = "0.7.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0b1e66e07de489fe43a46678dd0b8df65e0c973909df1b60ba33874e297ba9b9"
+dependencies = [
+ "quick-xml 0.37.5",
+ "thiserror 2.0.18",
+ "windows 0.61.3",
+ "windows-version",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tempfile"
 version = "3.27.0"
@@ -5793,6 +5855,7 @@ checksum = "ddd74a9687298c6858e9b88ec8935ec45d22e8fd5e6394fa1bd4e99a87789c76"
 dependencies = [
  "getrandom 0.4.2",
  "js-sys",
+ "serde_core",
  "wasm-bindgen",
 ]
 
@@ -6141,7 +6204,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9c324a910fd86ebdc364a3e61ec1f11737d3b1d6c273c0239ee8ff4bc0d24b4a"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
- "quick-xml",
+ "quick-xml 0.39.4",
  "quote",
 ]
 
@@ -6367,16 +6430,38 @@ version = "0.4.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "712e227841d057c1ee1cd2fb22fa7e5a5461ae8e48fa2ca79ec42cfc1931183f"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows"
+version = "0.61.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9babd3a767a4c1aef6900409f85f5d53ce2544ccdfaa86dad48c91782c6d6893"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-collections 0.2.0",
+ "windows-core 0.61.2",
+ "windows-future 0.2.1",
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
+ "windows-numerics 0.2.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows"
 version = "0.62.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "527fadee13e0c05939a6a05d5bd6eec6cd2e3dbd648b9f8e447c6518133d8580"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-collections",
- "windows-core",
- "windows-future",
- "windows-numerics",
+ "windows-collections 0.3.2",
+ "windows-core 0.62.2",
+ "windows-future 0.3.2",
+ "windows-numerics 0.3.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-collections"
+version = "0.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "3beeceb5e5cfd9eb1d76b381630e82c4241ccd0d27f1a39ed41b2760b255c5e8"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-core 0.61.2",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6385,7 +6470,20 @@ version = "0.3.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "23b2d95af1a8a14a3c7367e1ed4fc9c20e0a26e79551b1454d72583c97cc6610"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-core",
+ "windows-core 0.62.2",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-core"
+version = "0.61.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c0fdd3ddb90610c7638aa2b3a3ab2904fb9e5cdbecc643ddb3647212781c4ae3"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-implement",
+ "windows-interface",
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
+ "windows-result 0.3.4",
+ "windows-strings 0.4.2",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6396,9 +6494,20 @@ checksum = "b8e83a14d34d0623b51dce9581199302a221863196a1dde71a7663a4c2be9deb"
 dependencies = [
  "windows-implement",
  "windows-interface",
- "windows-link",
- "windows-result",
- "windows-strings",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+ "windows-result 0.4.1",
+ "windows-strings 0.5.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-future"
+version = "0.2.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "fc6a41e98427b19fe4b73c550f060b59fa592d7d686537eebf9385621bfbad8e"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-core 0.61.2",
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
+ "windows-threading 0.1.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6407,9 +6516,9 @@ version = "0.3.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "e1d6f90251fe18a279739e78025bd6ddc52a7e22f921070ccdc67dde84c605cb"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-core",
- "windows-link",
- "windows-threading",
+ "windows-core 0.62.2",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+ "windows-threading 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6434,20 +6543,36 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-link"
+version = "0.1.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "5e6ad25900d524eaabdbbb96d20b4311e1e7ae1699af4fb28c17ae66c80d798a"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-link"
 version = "0.2.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "f0805222e57f7521d6a62e36fa9163bc891acd422f971defe97d64e70d0a4fe5"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-numerics"
+version = "0.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9150af68066c4c5c07ddc0ce30421554771e528bde427614c61038bc2c92c2b1"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-core 0.61.2",
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-numerics"
 version = "0.3.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "6e2e40844ac143cdb44aead537bbf727de9b044e107a0f1220392177d15b0f26"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-core",
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-core 0.62.2",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6456,9 +6581,18 @@ version = "0.6.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "02752bf7fbdcce7f2a27a742f798510f3e5ad88dbe84871e5168e2120c3d5720"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-link",
- "windows-result",
- "windows-strings",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+ "windows-result 0.4.1",
+ "windows-strings 0.5.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-result"
+version = "0.3.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "56f42bd332cc6c8eac5af113fc0c1fd6a8fd2aa08a0119358686e5160d0586c6"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6467,7 +6601,16 @@ version = "0.4.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "7781fa89eaf60850ac3d2da7af8e5242a5ea78d1a11c49bf2910bb5a73853eb5"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-strings"
+version = "0.4.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "56e6c93f3a0c3b36176cb1327a4958a0353d5d166c2a35cb268ace15e91d3b57"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6476,7 +6619,7 @@ version = "0.5.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "7837d08f69c77cf6b07689544538e017c1bfcf57e34b4c0ff58e6c2cd3b37091"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6512,7 +6655,7 @@ version = "0.61.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "ae137229bcbd6cdf0f7b80a31df61766145077ddf49416a728b02cb3921ff3fc"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6546,13 +6689,31 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows_x86_64_msvc 0.52.6",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-threading"
+version = "0.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b66463ad2e0ea3bbf808b7f1d371311c80e115c0b71d60efc142cafbcfb057a6"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-threading"
 version = "0.2.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "3949bd5b99cafdf1c7ca86b43ca564028dfe27d66958f2470940f73d86d75b37"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-link",
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-version"
+version = "0.1.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e4060a1da109b9d0326b7262c8e12c84df67cc0dbc9e33cf49e01ccc2eb63631"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6828,8 +6989,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "log",
  "serde",
  "thiserror 2.0.18",
- "windows",
- "windows-core",
+ "windows 0.62.2",
+ "windows-core 0.62.2",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6990,9 +7151,44 @@ dependencies = [
  "uds_windows",
  "windows-sys 0.52.0",
  "xdg-home",
- "zbus_macros",
- "zbus_names",
- "zvariant",
+ "zbus_macros 4.4.0",
+ "zbus_names 3.0.0",
+ "zvariant 4.2.0",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "zbus"
+version = "5.15.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c3bcbf15c8708d7fc1be0c993622e0a5cbd5e8b52bfa40afa4c3e0cd8d724ac1"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-broadcast",
+ "async-executor",
+ "async-io",
+ "async-lock",
+ "async-process",
+ "async-recursion",
+ "async-task",
+ "async-trait",
+ "blocking",
+ "enumflags2",
+ "event-listener",
+ "futures-core",
+ "futures-lite",
+ "hex",
+ "libc",
+ "ordered-stream",
+ "rustix 1.1.4",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_repr",
+ "tracing",
+ "uds_windows",
+ "uuid",
+ "windows-sys 0.61.2",
+ "winnow",
+ "zbus_macros 5.15.0",
+ "zbus_names 4.3.2",
+ "zvariant 5.11.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7005,7 +7201,22 @@ dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
  "syn",
- "zvariant_utils",
+ "zvariant_utils 2.1.0",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "zbus_macros"
+version = "5.15.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "51fa5406ad9175a8c825a931f8cf347116b531b3634fcb0b627c290f1f2516ff"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro-crate",
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn",
+ "zbus_names 4.3.2",
+ "zvariant 5.11.0",
+ "zvariant_utils 3.3.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7016,7 +7227,18 @@ checksum = "4b9b1fef7d021261cc16cba64c351d291b715febe0fa10dc3a443ac5a5022e6c"
 dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "static_assertions",
- "zvariant",
+ "zvariant 4.2.0",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "zbus_names"
+version = "4.3.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7074f3e50b894eac91750142016d30d0a89be8e67dbfd9704fb875825760e52d"
+dependencies = [
+ "serde",
+ "winnow",
+ "zvariant 5.11.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7145,7 +7367,21 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "static_assertions",
  "url",
- "zvariant_derive",
+ "zvariant_derive 4.2.0",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "zvariant"
+version = "5.11.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1c1567a6ec68df868cbbfde844cfc6d81649fe5109a62b116b19fabd53e618ee"
+dependencies = [
+ "endi",
+ "enumflags2",
+ "serde",
+ "winnow",
+ "zvariant_derive 5.11.0",
+ "zvariant_utils 3.3.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7158,7 +7394,20 @@ dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
  "syn",
- "zvariant_utils",
+ "zvariant_utils 2.1.0",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "zvariant_derive"
+version = "5.11.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c7d5b780599bbde114e39d9a0799577fad1ced5105d38515745f7b3099d8ceda"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro-crate",
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn",
+ "zvariant_utils 3.3.1",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7171,3 +7420,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "quote",
  "syn",
 ]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "zvariant_utils"
+version = "3.3.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "6d464f5733ffa07a3164d656f18533caace9d0638596721355d73256a410d691"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "serde",
+ "syn",
+ "winnow",
+]
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 3a1b468..e935274 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ ureq = { version = "3", default-features = false, features = ["rustls"] }
 toml = "1"
 chrono = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["clock", "serde"] }
 eframe = { version = "0.34.2", default-features = false, features = ["glow", "default_fonts", "wayland", "x11"], optional = true }
+# Desktop notifications on viewer join/leave. Default features give the
+# pure-Rust zbus backend (no system libdbus, no image crate).
+notify-rust = { version = "4", optional = true }
 
 [profile.release]
 lto = "thin"
@@ -43,4 +46,4 @@ strip = "symbols"
 [features]
 # Opt-in graphical front-end (pixelpass --gui). Default-off so the headless
 # build never pulls the GUI toolkit tree.
-gui = ["dep:eframe"]
+gui = ["dep:eframe", "dep:notify-rust"]
diff --git a/src/gui/mod.rs b/src/gui/mod.rs
index 63ebb74..00d748e 100644
--- a/src/gui/mod.rs
+++ b/src/gui/mod.rs
@@ -78,6 +78,23 @@ fn short_id(id: &str) -> String {
     }
 }
 
+/// Fire a desktop notification, on a detached thread so the D-Bus round-trip
+/// can't stall the egui frame. Best-effort: with no notification daemon it
+/// just does nothing. (notify-rust talks D-Bus via pure-Rust zbus, so this
+/// needs no system libdbus and no GTK event loop.)
+fn notify(summary: &'static str, body: String) {
+    std::thread::spawn(move || {
+        if let Err(e) = notify_rust::Notification::new()
+            .appname("PixelPass")
+            .summary(summary)
+            .body(&body)
+            .show()
+        {
+            tracing::warn!("desktop notification failed: {e}");
+        }
+    });
+}
+
 /// Which screen the single window is currently showing.
 #[derive(Default, PartialEq)]
 enum Screen {
@@ -570,13 +587,23 @@ impl PixelPassApp {
                 self.host.active = active;
                 self.host.max = max;
                 if !self.host.viewers.contains(&id) {
+                    notify(
+                        "PixelPass — viewer connected",
+                        format!("endpoint {} is now watching ({active}/{max})", short_id(&id)),
+                    );
                     self.host.viewers.push(id);
                 }
             }
             ChildEvent::ViewerLeft { id, active, max } => {
                 self.host.active = active;
                 self.host.max = max;
-                self.host.viewers.retain(|v| v != &id);
+                if self.host.viewers.iter().any(|v| v == &id) {
+                    notify(
+                        "PixelPass — viewer disconnected",
+                        format!("endpoint {} left ({active}/{max})", short_id(&id)),
+                    );
+                    self.host.viewers.retain(|v| v != &id);
+                }
             }
             ChildEvent::Capture { state } => {
                 self.host.capturing = matches!(state, child::CaptureState::Started);