diff --git a/web/app.js b/web/app.js
index 5be4743..a2ebb7b 100644
--- a/web/app.js
+++ b/web/app.js
@@ -99,11 +99,8 @@ async function discoverServices() {
     // Initial read so values show immediately
     parseTelemetry(await chars.telemetry.readValue());
 
-    // IMU stream notify (~100 Hz)
+    // IMU stream — subscribed on demand via play button
     chars.imuStream.addEventListener('characteristicvaluechanged', e => parseImuStream(e.target.value));
-    await chars.imuStream.startNotifications();
-    document.getElementById('vizLive').classList.add('on');
-    log('IMU stream subscribed','ok');
 
     log('Config service ready (4 chars)','ok');
   } catch(e) {
@@ -396,7 +393,7 @@ function onDisconnected() {
   document.getElementById('battBar').style.display='none';
   document.getElementById('badgeCharging').classList.remove('show');
   document.getElementById('badgeFull').classList.remove('show');
-  document.getElementById('vizLive').classList.remove('on');
+  imuSubscribed = false; vizPaused = true; vizUpdateIndicator();
   clearTelemetry();
   if (!userDisconnected && document.getElementById('autoReconnect').checked && savedDevice) {
     log('Auto-reconnecting…','info');
@@ -426,8 +423,43 @@ const canvas = document.getElementById('vizCanvas');
 const ctx    = canvas.getContext('2d');
 const TRAIL_LEN = 120;
 let cursorX = canvas.width/2, cursorY = canvas.height/2, trail = [];
+let vizPaused = true;
+let imuSubscribed = false;
+
+function vizUpdateIndicator() {
+  const el = document.getElementById('vizLive');
+  if (!imuSubscribed || vizPaused) {
+    el.classList.remove('on');
+    el.classList.add('paused');
+    el.textContent = '⏸ PAUSED';
+  } else {
+    el.classList.add('on');
+    el.classList.remove('paused');
+    el.textContent = '● LIVE';
+  }
+  document.getElementById('vizPauseBtn').style.display = (!vizPaused && imuSubscribed) ? '' : 'none';
+  document.getElementById('vizPlayBtn').style.display  = (vizPaused || !imuSubscribed) ? '' : 'none';
+}
+
+async function vizSetPaused(paused) {
+  vizPaused = paused;
+  if (!paused && chars.imuStream && !imuSubscribed) {
+    try {
+      await chars.imuStream.startNotifications();
+      imuSubscribed = true;
+      log('IMU stream subscribed','ok');
+    } catch(e) { log(`IMU stream start failed: ${e.message}`,'err'); vizPaused = true; }
+  } else if (paused && imuSubscribed) {
+    try {
+      await chars.imuStream.stopNotifications();
+      imuSubscribed = false;
+    } catch(e) { log(`IMU stream stop failed: ${e.message}`,'err'); }
+  }
+  vizUpdateIndicator();
+}
 
 function parseImuStream(dv) {
+  if (vizPaused) return;
   let view;
   try {
     view = dv instanceof DataView ? new DataView(dv.buffer, dv.byteOffset, dv.byteLength) : new DataView(dv);
diff --git a/web/index.html b/web/index.html
index 336e9e6..b6d7d7e 100644
--- a/web/index.html
+++ b/web/index.html
@@ -158,7 +158,11 @@
     <div class="viz-panel">
       <div class="viz-header">
         <div class="viz-title">IMU Stream</div>
-        <div class="viz-live" id="vizLive">● LIVE</div>
+        <div style="display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px">
+          <div class="viz-live paused" id="vizLive">⏸ PAUSED</div>
+          <button class="viz-ctrl-btn" id="vizPauseBtn" onclick="vizSetPaused(true)"  title="Pause" style="display:none">&#9646;&#9646;</button>
+          <button class="viz-ctrl-btn" id="vizPlayBtn"  onclick="vizSetPaused(false)" title="Play">&#9654;</button>
+        </div>
       </div>
       <div class="viz-wrap">
         <canvas id="vizCanvas" width="340" height="260"></canvas>
diff --git a/web/style.css b/web/style.css
index c9876b9..b091d1a 100644
--- a/web/style.css
+++ b/web/style.css
@@ -222,8 +222,11 @@
   .viz-panel { background:var(--panel2); border:1px solid var(--border); padding:16px; }
   .viz-header { display:flex; justify-content:space-between; align-items:center; margin-bottom:12px; }
   .viz-title { font-family:var(--sans); font-size:11px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.25em; text-transform:uppercase; color:var(--label); }
-  .viz-live { font-size:9px; letter-spacing:0.2em; color:var(--accent2); display:none; }
-  .viz-live.on { display:block; animation:pulse 1.5s infinite; }
+  .viz-ctrl-btn { background:none; border:1px solid var(--border); color:var(--label); font-size:11px; line-height:1; padding:3px 8px; cursor:pointer; letter-spacing:0.05em; }
+  .viz-ctrl-btn:hover { border-color:var(--accent); color:var(--accent); }
+  .viz-live { font-size:9px; letter-spacing:0.2em; display:block; }
+  .viz-live.on { color:var(--accent2); animation:pulse 1.5s infinite; }
+  .viz-live.paused { color:var(--label); }
   #vizCanvas { display:block; width:100%; background:var(--panel2); border:1px solid var(--border); cursor:crosshair; image-rendering:pixelated; }
   .viz-axes { display:grid; grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr; gap:8px; margin-top:10px; }
   .axis-bar-wrap { display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:3px; }