diff --git a/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx b/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx
index 21530636..527f24aa 100644
--- a/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx
+++ b/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx
@@ -1,20 +1,54 @@
-import { Users } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { Users, WifiOff } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { useOrbitStore } from '../store/orbitStore';
 import type { OrbitState } from '../api/orbit';
 
 interface Props {
   state: OrbitState;
 }
 
+/** Host's state hasn't updated for this long → guest treats them as offline. */
+const HOST_AWAY_THRESHOLD_MS = 15_000;
+
 /**
  * Shared Orbit head strip rendered at the top of the queue for both host
  * and guest. Shows the session name and a comma-separated list of every
  * participant (host first, then guests in join order).
+ *
+ * Guest view additionally surfaces host-presence: when the host's tick
+ * hasn't been seen for 15 s we render a subtle "host offline" badge so
+ * the guest knows the stalled playback isn't a local problem.
  */
 export default function OrbitQueueHead({ state }: Props) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const role = useOrbitStore(s => s.role);
+  const [nowMs, setNowMs] = useState(() => Date.now());
+
+  // Guest-only clock tick — React wouldn't re-render a stale state blob
+  // on its own, and the presence threshold is time-based.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (role !== 'guest') return;
+    const id = window.setInterval(() => setNowMs(Date.now()), 2000);
+    return () => window.clearInterval(id);
+  }, [role]);
+
   const names = [state.host, ...state.participants.map(p => p.user)];
+  const hostAway = role === 'guest'
+    && state.positionAt > 0
+    && (nowMs - state.positionAt) > HOST_AWAY_THRESHOLD_MS;
+
   return (
     <div className="orbit-queue-head">
-      <h2 className="orbit-queue-head__title">{state.name}</h2>
+      <div className="orbit-queue-head__title-row">
+        <h2 className="orbit-queue-head__title">{state.name}</h2>
+        {hostAway && (
+          <span className="orbit-queue-head__presence" role="status">
+            <WifiOff size={11} />
+            <span>{t('orbit.hostAway')}</span>
+          </span>
+        )}
+      </div>
       <div className="orbit-queue-head__meta">
         <Users size={11} />
         <span className="orbit-queue-head__names">{names.join(', ')}</span>
diff --git a/src/locales/de.ts b/src/locales/de.ts
index a1bb9f77..6dd86142 100644
--- a/src/locales/de.ts
+++ b/src/locales/de.ts
@@ -1484,6 +1484,7 @@ export const deTranslation = {
     shuffleLabel: 'Warteschlange wird neu gemischt in',
     catchUpLabel: 'aufholen',
     catchUpTooltip: 'Zur aktuellen Host-Position springen',
+    hostAway: 'Host offline',
     endTooltip: 'Session beenden',
     leaveTooltip: 'Session verlassen',
     participantsInviteLabel: 'Einladungslink',
diff --git a/src/locales/en.ts b/src/locales/en.ts
index 1c60877e..f829e721 100644
--- a/src/locales/en.ts
+++ b/src/locales/en.ts
@@ -1487,6 +1487,7 @@ export const enTranslation = {
     shuffleLabel: 'Queue reshuffles in',
     catchUpLabel: 'catch up',
     catchUpTooltip: "Jump to the host's current position",
+    hostAway: 'Host offline',
     endTooltip: 'End session',
     leaveTooltip: 'Leave session',
     participantsInviteLabel: 'Invite link',
diff --git a/src/styles/components.css b/src/styles/components.css
index 2cc8cae6..abae11ea 100644
--- a/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/src/styles/components.css
@@ -12272,14 +12272,40 @@ html[data-psy-native-hidden="true"] *::after {
   border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border-subtle);
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
+.orbit-queue-head__title-row {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+  margin-bottom: 4px;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
 .orbit-queue-head__title {
-  margin: 0 0 4px;
+  margin: 0;
   font-size: 15px;
   font-weight: 700;
   color: var(--text-primary);
   overflow: hidden;
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
   white-space: nowrap;
+  flex: 1;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+.orbit-queue-head__presence {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 4px;
+  padding: 2px 8px;
+  font-size: 10.5px;
+  font-weight: 600;
+  letter-spacing: 0.02em;
+  color: var(--ctp-yellow, #f9e2af);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-yellow, #f9e2af) 14%, transparent);
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-yellow, #f9e2af) 40%, transparent);
+  border-radius: 999px;
+}
+.orbit-queue-head__presence svg {
+  color: var(--ctp-yellow, #f9e2af);
 }
 .orbit-queue-head__meta {
   display: flex;