diff --git a/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx b/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx
index 4527241..bdb1644 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx
+++ b/js/desktop/src/features/compose/recording-overlay.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { Paperclip } from 'lucide-react';
 import type { RecordingMode } from '@/stores/media-settings-store';
 import { CenteredWaveform } from '@/components/audio/centered-waveform';
@@ -7,10 +8,7 @@ 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 { RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS } from '@/lib/constants';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { KeyHint } from '@/components/key-hint';
 import { useComposeIntentStore } from '@/stores/compose-intent-store';
@@ -38,41 +36,32 @@ interface RecordingOverlayProps {
   objectFit?: 'cover' | 'contain';
 }
 
-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, setElapsed] = useState(0);
-  const requestIntent = useComposeIntentStore((s) => s.request);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!active) return;
 
+    let toastSent = false;
     const start = Date.now();
-    let stopped = false;
-    // Tick faster than 1s so the auto-stop lands within ~250ms of the cap, but
-    // only re-render when the whole-second value actually changes.
     const interval = setInterval(() => {
       const seconds = Math.floor((Date.now() - start) / 1000);
-      setElapsed((prev) => (prev === seconds ? prev : seconds));
-      if (seconds >= RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS && !stopped) {
-        stopped = true;
-        requestIntent('stop');
+      setElapsed(seconds);
+
+      if (seconds >= RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS && !toastSent) {
+        toast.warning(
+          'That is a long recording, cancel and re-record with your distilled thoughts',
+        );
+        toastSent = true;
       }
-    }, 250);
+    }, 1000);
     return () => {
       clearInterval(interval);
       setElapsed(0);
     };
-  }, [active, requestIntent]);
+  }, [active]);
 
-  return { elapsed, isWarning: elapsed >= WARNING_AT_SECONDS };
+  return { elapsed, isWarning: elapsed >= RECORDING_MAX_DURATION_SECONDS };
 }
 
 function RecordingTimer({
diff --git a/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts b/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts
index e888941..8df2a15 100644
--- a/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts
+++ b/js/desktop/src/lib/constants.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,9 @@ 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. */
+/** Maximum recommended 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';