diff --git a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 9382be0..fde33c7 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES"
         tools:ignore="QueryAllPackagesPermission" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
 
     <application
         android:name=".DroidClawApp"
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/thisux/droidclaw/overlay/VoiceRecorder.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/thisux/droidclaw/overlay/VoiceRecorder.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4e8715
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/thisux/droidclaw/overlay/VoiceRecorder.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+package com.thisux.droidclaw.overlay
+
+import android.Manifest
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager
+import android.media.AudioFormat
+import android.media.AudioRecord
+import android.media.MediaRecorder
+import android.util.Base64
+import android.util.Log
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.isActive
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+
+/**
+ * Captures audio from the microphone and streams base64-encoded PCM chunks.
+ *
+ * Audio format: 16kHz, mono, 16-bit PCM (linear16).
+ * Chunks are emitted every ~100ms via the [onChunk] callback.
+ */
+class VoiceRecorder(
+    private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    private val onChunk: (base64: String) -> Unit
+) {
+    companion object {
+        private const val TAG = "VoiceRecorder"
+        private const val SAMPLE_RATE = 16000
+        private const val CHANNEL_CONFIG = AudioFormat.CHANNEL_IN_MONO
+        private const val AUDIO_FORMAT = AudioFormat.ENCODING_PCM_16BIT
+        private const val CHUNK_SIZE = 3200 // ~100ms at 16kHz mono 16-bit
+    }
+
+    private var audioRecord: AudioRecord? = null
+    private var recordingJob: Job? = null
+
+    val isRecording: Boolean get() = recordingJob?.isActive == true
+
+    fun hasPermission(context: Context): Boolean {
+        return ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(
+            context, Manifest.permission.RECORD_AUDIO
+        ) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+    }
+
+    fun start(): Boolean {
+        if (isRecording) return false
+
+        val bufferSize = maxOf(
+            AudioRecord.getMinBufferSize(SAMPLE_RATE, CHANNEL_CONFIG, AUDIO_FORMAT),
+            CHUNK_SIZE * 2
+        )
+
+        val record = try {
+            AudioRecord(
+                MediaRecorder.AudioSource.MIC,
+                SAMPLE_RATE,
+                CHANNEL_CONFIG,
+                AUDIO_FORMAT,
+                bufferSize
+            )
+        } catch (e: SecurityException) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "Missing RECORD_AUDIO permission", e)
+            return false
+        }
+
+        if (record.state != AudioRecord.STATE_INITIALIZED) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "AudioRecord failed to initialize")
+            record.release()
+            return false
+        }
+
+        audioRecord = record
+        record.startRecording()
+
+        recordingJob = scope.launch(Dispatchers.IO) {
+            val buffer = ByteArray(CHUNK_SIZE)
+            while (isActive) {
+                val bytesRead = record.read(buffer, 0, CHUNK_SIZE)
+                if (bytesRead > 0) {
+                    val base64 = Base64.encodeToString(
+                        buffer.copyOf(bytesRead),
+                        Base64.NO_WRAP
+                    )
+                    onChunk(base64)
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Log.i(TAG, "Recording started")
+        return true
+    }
+
+    fun stop() {
+        recordingJob?.cancel()
+        recordingJob = null
+        audioRecord?.let {
+            try {
+                it.stop()
+                it.release()
+            } catch (e: Exception) {
+                Log.w(TAG, "Error stopping AudioRecord", e)
+            }
+        }
+        audioRecord = null
+        Log.i(TAG, "Recording stopped")
+    }
+}