diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 43b989be..a1c685e2 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ import GenreDetail from './pages/GenreDetail';
 import ExportPickerModal from './components/ExportPickerModal';
 import AppUpdater from './components/AppUpdater';
 import TitleBar from './components/TitleBar';
+import OrbitSessionBar from './components/OrbitSessionBar';
+import { useOrbitHost } from './hooks/useOrbitHost';
+import { useOrbitGuest } from './hooks/useOrbitGuest';
 import { IS_LINUX, IS_MACOS, IS_WINDOWS } from './utils/platform';
 import { version } from '../package.json';
 import { useConnectionStatus } from './hooks/useConnectionStatus';
@@ -129,6 +132,10 @@ function AppShell() {
   const [isWindowFullscreen, setIsWindowFullscreen] = useState(false);
   const [isTilingWm, setIsTilingWm] = useState(false);
 
+  // Orbit session hooks: idle until the local store marks a role.
+  useOrbitHost();
+  useOrbitGuest();
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!IS_LINUX) return;
     invoke<boolean>('is_tiling_wm_cmd').then(setIsTilingWm).catch(() => {});
@@ -407,6 +414,7 @@ function AppShell() {
       onContextMenu={e => e.preventDefault()}
     >
       {IS_LINUX && useCustomTitlebar && !isWindowFullscreen && !isTilingWm && <TitleBar />}
+      <OrbitSessionBar />
       {!isMobile && (
         <Sidebar
           isCollapsed={isSidebarCollapsed}
diff --git a/src/components/OrbitSessionBar.tsx b/src/components/OrbitSessionBar.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f7c106a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/OrbitSessionBar.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { X, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useOrbitStore } from '../store/orbitStore';
+import { usePlayerStore, songToTrack } from '../store/playerStore';
+import { getSong } from '../api/subsonic';
+import {
+  endOrbitSession,
+  leaveOrbitSession,
+  computeOrbitDriftMs,
+} from '../utils/orbit';
+import { ORBIT_SHUFFLE_INTERVAL_MS } from '../utils/orbit';
+import { estimateLivePosition } from '../api/orbit';
+
+/**
+ * Orbit — top-strip session indicator.
+ *
+ * Visible whenever the local store reports an active (or just-ended)
+ * session. Shows session name, host, participant count, shuffle countdown,
+ * and role-appropriate action buttons (catch-up for guests, exit for
+ * everyone).
+ *
+ * Deliberately low-chrome: sits above the rest of the app without
+ * reshaping the layout.
+ */
+
+const CATCH_UP_DRIFT_THRESHOLD_MS = 3_000;
+
+function formatCountdown(ms: number): string {
+  const clamped = Math.max(0, Math.round(ms / 1000));
+  const m = Math.floor(clamped / 60);
+  const s = clamped % 60;
+  return `${m}:${s.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`;
+}
+
+export default function OrbitSessionBar() {
+  const state              = useOrbitStore(s => s.state);
+  const role               = useOrbitStore(s => s.role);
+  const phase              = useOrbitStore(s => s.phase);
+  const [nowMs, setNowMs]  = useState(() => Date.now());
+
+  // Second-level tick just for the shuffle countdown + drift readout —
+  // the store itself only ticks at 2.5 s which is too coarse for a smooth
+  // countdown.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!state || phase !== 'active') return;
+    const id = window.setInterval(() => setNowMs(Date.now()), 1000);
+    return () => window.clearInterval(id);
+  }, [state, phase]);
+
+  if (!state || (phase !== 'active' && phase !== 'ended')) return null;
+
+  const untilShuffle = Math.max(0, (state.lastShuffle + ORBIT_SHUFFLE_INTERVAL_MS) - nowMs);
+
+  // Guest-only: detect drift from the host's estimated live position.
+  const guestPlayback = usePlayerStore.getState();
+  const localPositionMs = Math.round((guestPlayback.currentTime ?? 0) * 1000);
+  const driftMs = role === 'guest' && state.currentTrack && guestPlayback.currentTrack?.id === state.currentTrack.trackId
+    ? computeOrbitDriftMs(state, localPositionMs, nowMs)
+    : null;
+  const showCatchUp = role === 'guest'
+    && state.isPlaying
+    && state.currentTrack
+    && (driftMs == null || Math.abs(driftMs) > CATCH_UP_DRIFT_THRESHOLD_MS);
+
+  const onExit = async () => {
+    try {
+      if (role === 'host') await endOrbitSession();
+      else if (role === 'guest') await leaveOrbitSession();
+      else useOrbitStore.getState().reset();
+    } catch {
+      useOrbitStore.getState().reset();
+    }
+  };
+
+  const onCatchUp = async () => {
+    if (!state.currentTrack) return;
+    const trackId = state.currentTrack.trackId;
+    const targetMs = estimateLivePosition(state, Date.now());
+    const targetSec = Math.max(0, targetMs / 1000);
+    try {
+      const song = await getSong(trackId);
+      if (!song) return;
+      const track = songToTrack(song);
+      const player = usePlayerStore.getState();
+      if (player.currentTrack?.id === trackId) {
+        // Same track: just seek + resume.
+        player.seek(targetSec / Math.max(1, track.duration));
+        if (!player.isPlaying) player.resume();
+      } else {
+        // Different track: play + seek on next tick once engine is ready.
+        player.playTrack(track, [track]);
+        // Best-effort: seek to the host's position a beat later.
+        window.setTimeout(() => {
+          const p = usePlayerStore.getState();
+          if (p.currentTrack?.id === trackId) {
+            p.seek(targetSec / Math.max(1, track.duration));
+          }
+        }, 400);
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // silent — if the track is gone from the host's library, nothing we can do.
+    }
+  };
+
+  const participantCount = state.participants.length + 1; // +1 for the host
+
+  return (
+    <div className="orbit-bar">
+      <div className="orbit-bar__left">
+        <span className="orbit-bar__dot" aria-hidden="true" />
+        <span className="orbit-bar__name">{state.name}</span>
+        <span className="orbit-bar__sep">·</span>
+        <span className="orbit-bar__count">{participantCount}/{state.maxUsers}</span>
+        <span className="orbit-bar__sep">·</span>
+        <span className="orbit-bar__host">host: @{state.host}</span>
+      </div>
+
+      <div className="orbit-bar__center">
+        <span className="orbit-bar__shuffle" data-tooltip="Queue reshuffles on this timer">
+          🔀 {formatCountdown(untilShuffle)}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+
+      <div className="orbit-bar__right">
+        {showCatchUp && (
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            className="orbit-bar__catchup"
+            onClick={onCatchUp}
+            data-tooltip="Jump to the host's current position"
+          >
+            <RefreshCw size={13} />
+            <span>catch up</span>
+          </button>
+        )}
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="orbit-bar__exit"
+          onClick={onExit}
+          data-tooltip={role === 'host' ? 'End session' : 'Leave session'}
+          aria-label={role === 'host' ? 'End session' : 'Leave session'}
+        >
+          <X size={15} />
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/styles/components.css b/src/styles/components.css
index fd2b0dcd..190d6fa0 100644
--- a/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/src/styles/components.css
@@ -11180,3 +11180,142 @@ html[data-app-hidden="true"] *::after {
   .np-dash-stats-values { gap: 16px; }
   .np-dash-stat-value { font-size: 18px; }
 }
+
+/* ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+   Orbit — session top strip
+   ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+.orbit-bar {
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 0;
+  left: 0;
+  right: 0;
+  z-index: 500;
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: 1fr auto 1fr;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 12px;
+  padding: 6px 14px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-base, #1e1e2e) 80%, transparent);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
+  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 28%, var(--border, rgba(255,255,255,0.08)));
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+  font-size: 12px;
+  letter-spacing: 0.01em;
+  animation: orbit-bar-in 260ms cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.8, 0.2, 1);
+}
+
+@keyframes orbit-bar-in {
+  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(-100%); }
+  to   { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__left {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__dot {
+  width: 8px;
+  height: 8px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--accent);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 6px color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 70%, transparent);
+  animation: orbit-pulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+@keyframes orbit-pulse {
+  0%, 100% { opacity: 1;   transform: scale(1);     }
+  50%      { opacity: 0.6; transform: scale(0.85);  }
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__name {
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--accent);
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__sep {
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.35);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__count,
+.orbit-bar__host {
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__center {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__shuffle {
+  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  font-weight: 500;
+  padding: 3px 10px;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--text-primary) 5%, transparent);
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--text-primary) 8%, transparent);
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__right {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: flex-end;
+  gap: 8px;
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__catchup {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 5px;
+  padding: 4px 10px;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 16%, transparent);
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 38%, transparent);
+  color: var(--accent);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: background 150ms ease, border-color 150ms ease, transform 120ms ease;
+}
+.orbit-bar__catchup:hover {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 26%, transparent);
+  border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 55%, transparent);
+  transform: translateY(-1px);
+}
+
+.orbit-bar__exit {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 26px;
+  height: 26px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--text-primary) 5%, transparent);
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--text-primary) 10%, transparent);
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: color 150ms ease, background 150ms ease, transform 180ms ease;
+}
+.orbit-bar__exit:hover {
+  color: var(--ctp-red, #f38ba8);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-red, #f38ba8) 12%, transparent);
+  transform: rotate(90deg);
+}
+
+/* Push the rest of the shell down while the bar is visible. */
+.app-shell:has(.orbit-bar) { padding-top: 32px; }