diff --git a/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx b/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx
index aa9f15b..597e2df 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx
+++ b/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ import { useObjectUrl } from '@/hooks/use-object-url';
 import { AttachmentStrip } from '@/features/compose/attachment-strip';
 import type { PendingAttachment } from '@/features/compose/attachment-strip';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import {
+  RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS,
+  RECORDING_WARNING_SECONDS,
+} from '@/lib/constants';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { KeyHint } from '@/components/key-hint';
 import { useComposeIntentStore } from '@/stores/compose-intent-store';
@@ -34,16 +38,51 @@ interface RecordingOverlayProps {
   objectFit?: 'cover' | 'contain';
 }
 
-function RecordingTimer() {
-  const [elapsed, setElapsed] = useState(0);
+const WARNING_AT_SECONDS =
+  RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS - RECORDING_WARNING_SECONDS;
+
+/**
+ * Tracks elapsed recording time and drives the time-limit UI. Keeps the
+ * recorder itself unaware of limits: when the cap is reached it dispatches the
+ * standard `stop` intent (the same path as releasing the ` key), which finishes
+ * the recording into the review step.
+ */
+function useRecordingCountdown(active: boolean) {
+  const [{ elapsed, isWarning }, setState] = useState({
+    elapsed: 0,
+    isWarning: false,
+  });
+  const requestIntent = useComposeIntentStore((s) => s.request);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    const interval = setInterval(() => {
-      setElapsed((prev) => prev + 1);
-    }, 1000);
-    return () => clearInterval(interval);
-  }, []);
+    if (!active) return;
 
+    const start = Date.now();
+    let stopped = false;
+    const interval = setInterval(() => {
+      const seconds = Math.floor((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
+      setState({ elapsed: seconds, isWarning: seconds >= WARNING_AT_SECONDS });
+      if (seconds >= RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS && !stopped) {
+        stopped = true;
+        requestIntent('stop');
+      }
+    }, 250);
+    return () => {
+      clearInterval(interval);
+      setState({ elapsed: 0, isWarning: false });
+    };
+  }, [active, requestIntent]);
+
+  return { elapsed, isWarning };
+}
+
+function RecordingTimer({
+  elapsed,
+  isWarning,
+}: {
+  elapsed: number;
+  isWarning: boolean;
+}) {
   const minutes = Math.floor(elapsed / 60);
   const seconds = elapsed % 60;
   const display = `${minutes}:${seconds.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`;
@@ -51,7 +90,14 @@ function RecordingTimer() {
   return (
     <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
       <span className="h-2.5 w-2.5 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-red-500" />
-      <span className="font-mono text-sm text-white/80">{display}</span>
+      <span
+        className={cn(
+          'font-mono text-sm text-white/80',
+          isWarning && 'text-red-400',
+        )}
+      >
+        {display}
+      </span>
     </div>
   );
 }
@@ -137,14 +183,31 @@ export function RecordingOverlay({
   const isLoading = isRecording && !mediaStream;
   const requestIntent = useComposeIntentStore((s) => s.request);
 
+  const { elapsed, isWarning } = useRecordingCountdown(
+    isRecording && !isLoading,
+  );
+
   return (
     <div
       className={cn(
         'absolute inset-0 z-50 flex flex-col items-center justify-center bg-black/90',
         isReviewing && isDragging && 'ring-2 ring-inset ring-white/30',
+        isRecording && isWarning && 'record-warning-glow',
       )}
       {...(isReviewing ? dropZoneProps : {})}
     >
+      {/* Top progress bar: fills over the recording duration, red in warning */}
+      {isRecording && !isLoading && (
+        <div className="absolute inset-x-0 top-0 z-20 h-1 bg-white/10">
+          <div
+            className={cn(
+              'h-full w-full origin-left record-progress',
+              isWarning ? 'bg-red-500' : 'bg-white/80',
+            )}
+            style={{ animationDuration: `${RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS}s` }}
+          />
+        </div>
+      )}
       {/* Loading state */}
       {isLoading && (
         <div className="z-10 flex flex-col items-center gap-2">
@@ -185,7 +248,7 @@ export function RecordingOverlay({
       {/* Top center: recording indicator */}
       <div className="absolute top-8 z-10">
         {isRecording && !isLoading ? (
-          <RecordingTimer />
+          <RecordingTimer elapsed={elapsed} isWarning={isWarning} />
         ) : isReviewing ? (
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
             <span className="text-sm text-white/80">Review recording</span>
diff --git a/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts b/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts
index 52914b8..e888941 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts
+++ b/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ export const MAX_ATTACHMENT_SIZE_BYTES = 25 * 1024 * 1024;
 /** Maximum number of file attachments per particle. */
 export const MAX_ATTACHMENTS = 10;
 
+/** Maximum duration for a media (audio/video) recording, in seconds. */
+export const RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS = 60;
+
+/** When this many seconds or fewer remain, show the red warning state. */
+export const RECORDING_WARNING_SECONDS = 10;
+
 export const SUPPORT_EMAIL = 'team@flowylabs.ai';
 
 export const PRIVACY_URL = 'https://flowylabs.ai/llink/privacy';
diff --git a/js/desktop/src/styles/globals.css b/js/desktop/src/styles/globals.css
index b63b917..2f31bf9 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/styles/globals.css
+++ b/js/desktop/src/styles/globals.css
@@ -186,3 +186,39 @@
 .no-drag {
   -webkit-app-region: no-drag;
 }
+
+/* Recording time-limit progress bar: a single CSS animation fills the bar
+   left→right over the recording duration (duration set inline), avoiding
+   per-frame React renders. */
+@keyframes record-progress {
+  from {
+    transform: scaleX(0);
+  }
+  to {
+    transform: scaleX(1);
+  }
+}
+.record-progress {
+  transform: scaleX(0);
+  animation-name: record-progress;
+  animation-timing-function: linear;
+  animation-fill-mode: forwards;
+}
+
+/* Pulsing red glow around the recording overlay during the final warning window. */
+@keyframes record-warning-glow {
+  0%,
+  100% {
+    box-shadow:
+      inset 0 0 0 2px var(--destructive),
+      inset 0 0 24px 0 oklch(0.6 0.24 27 / 0.25);
+  }
+  50% {
+    box-shadow:
+      inset 0 0 0 3px var(--destructive),
+      inset 0 0 60px 0 oklch(0.6 0.24 27 / 0.5);
+  }
+}
+.record-warning-glow {
+  animation: record-warning-glow 1s ease-in-out infinite;
+}