diff --git a/src/api/orbit.ts b/src/api/orbit.ts
index 1031c6c2..55732fb7 100644
--- a/src/api/orbit.ts
+++ b/src/api/orbit.ts
@@ -100,6 +100,12 @@ export interface OrbitState {
   ended?: boolean;
   /** Host-settable session rules; absent on older clients — treat missing as all-defaults. */
   settings?: OrbitSettings;
+  /**
+   * Usernames muted by the host: their outbox is still polled (so heartbeats
+   * keep them visible as participants) but new track suggestions are dropped
+   * before they reach the approval list. Symmetric — host can re-enable.
+   */
+  suggestionBlocked?: string[];
 }
 
 /**
@@ -121,6 +127,13 @@ export interface OrbitSettings {
    * field fall back to 15 via `effectiveShuffleIntervalMs`.
    */
   shuffleIntervalMin?: OrbitShuffleIntervalMin;
+  /**
+   * Cap on simultaneously-pending guest suggestions. 0 = unlimited.
+   * When the cap is reached, the host's outbox sweep drops new suggestions
+   * until existing ones are approved or declined; the guest UI surfaces
+   * the count so users know to wait.
+   */
+  maxPending?: number;
 }
 
 export const ORBIT_DEFAULT_SETTINGS: OrbitSettings = {
@@ -128,6 +141,8 @@ export const ORBIT_DEFAULT_SETTINGS: OrbitSettings = {
   autoApprove: false,
   autoShuffle: true,
   shuffleIntervalMin: 15,
+  // 0 = unlimited; host opts in via the session-settings popover.
+  maxPending: 0,
 };
 
 /** What the guest's outbox-playlist comment holds (heartbeat only, for now). */
@@ -176,6 +191,7 @@ export function makeInitialOrbitState(args: {
     participants: [],
     kicked: [],
     removed: [],
+    suggestionBlocked: [],
     playQueue: [],
     playQueueTotal: 0,
     settings: { ...ORBIT_DEFAULT_SETTINGS },
@@ -201,6 +217,8 @@ export function parseOrbitState(raw: unknown): OrbitState | null {
   // the attribution UI, not correctness.
   // `removed` is optional (older hosts won't write it); coerce to [] if absent or malformed.
   if (!Array.isArray(s.removed)) s.removed = [];
+  // `suggestionBlocked` is optional too — older hosts predate the mute feature.
+  if (!Array.isArray(s.suggestionBlocked)) s.suggestionBlocked = [];
   // `playQueue` / `playQueueTotal` are optional (older hosts won't write them).
   if (!Array.isArray(s.playQueue)) s.playQueue = [];
   if (typeof s.playQueueTotal !== 'number') s.playQueueTotal = (s.playQueue?.length ?? 0);
diff --git a/src/components/ContextMenu.tsx b/src/components/ContextMenu.tsx
index 63ebe189..a8aae593 100644
--- a/src/components/ContextMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ContextMenu.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { Play, ListPlus, Radio, Heart, Download, ChevronRight, User, Disc3, ListMusic, Plus, Info, Sparkles, Star, Trash2, HeartCrack, Share2, Orbit as OrbitIcon } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useOrbitStore } from '../store/orbitStore';
-import { suggestOrbitTrack, hostEnqueueToOrbit } from '../utils/orbit';
+import {
+  suggestOrbitTrack,
+  hostEnqueueToOrbit,
+  evaluateOrbitSuggestGate,
+  OrbitSuggestBlockedError,
+} from '../utils/orbit';
 import LastfmIcon from './LastfmIcon';
 import StarRating from './StarRating';
 import { lastfmLoveTrack, lastfmUnloveTrack } from '../api/lastfm';
@@ -1446,15 +1451,38 @@ export default function ContextMenu() {
               <div className="context-menu-item" onClick={() => handleAction(() => enqueue([song]))}>
                 <ListPlus size={14} /> {t('contextMenu.addToQueue')}
               </div>
-              {orbitRole === 'guest' && (
-                <div className="context-menu-item" onClick={() => handleAction(() => {
-                  suggestOrbitTrack(song.id)
-                    .then(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestedToast'), 2200, 'info'))
-                    .catch(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestFailed'), 3000, 'error'));
-                })}>
-                  <OrbitIcon size={14} /> {t('orbit.ctxAddToSession')}
-                </div>
-              )}
+              {orbitRole === 'guest' && (() => {
+                const gate = evaluateOrbitSuggestGate();
+                const muted = gate.reason === 'muted';
+                const capReached = gate.reason === 'cap-reached';
+                const disabled = muted || capReached;
+                const tooltip = muted
+                  ? t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted')
+                  : capReached ? t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap') : '';
+                return (
+                  <div
+                    className={`context-menu-item${disabled ? ' is-disabled' : ''}`}
+                    {...(disabled ? { 'data-tooltip': tooltip } : {})}
+                    onClick={() => handleAction(() => {
+                      if (muted)      { showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted'), 3500, 'error'); return; }
+                      if (capReached) { showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap'),   3500, 'info');  return; }
+                      suggestOrbitTrack(song.id)
+                        .then(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestedToast'), 2200, 'info'))
+                        .catch(err => {
+                          if (err instanceof OrbitSuggestBlockedError && err.reason === 'muted') {
+                            showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted'), 3500, 'error');
+                          } else if (err instanceof OrbitSuggestBlockedError && err.reason === 'cap-reached') {
+                            showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap'), 3500, 'info');
+                          } else {
+                            showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestFailed'), 3000, 'error');
+                          }
+                        });
+                    })}
+                  >
+                    <OrbitIcon size={14} /> {t('orbit.ctxAddToSession')}
+                  </div>
+                );
+              })()}
               {orbitRole === 'host' && (
                 <div className="context-menu-item" onClick={() => handleAction(() => {
                   hostEnqueueToOrbit(song.id)
@@ -1596,15 +1624,38 @@ export default function ContextMenu() {
               <div className="context-menu-item" onClick={() => handleAction(() => enqueue([song]))}>
                 <ListPlus size={14} /> {t('contextMenu.addToQueue')}
               </div>
-              {orbitRole === 'guest' && (
-                <div className="context-menu-item" onClick={() => handleAction(() => {
-                  suggestOrbitTrack(song.id)
-                    .then(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestedToast'), 2200, 'info'))
-                    .catch(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestFailed'), 3000, 'error'));
-                })}>
-                  <OrbitIcon size={14} /> {t('orbit.ctxAddToSession')}
-                </div>
-              )}
+              {orbitRole === 'guest' && (() => {
+                const gate = evaluateOrbitSuggestGate();
+                const muted = gate.reason === 'muted';
+                const capReached = gate.reason === 'cap-reached';
+                const disabled = muted || capReached;
+                const tooltip = muted
+                  ? t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted')
+                  : capReached ? t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap') : '';
+                return (
+                  <div
+                    className={`context-menu-item${disabled ? ' is-disabled' : ''}`}
+                    {...(disabled ? { 'data-tooltip': tooltip } : {})}
+                    onClick={() => handleAction(() => {
+                      if (muted)      { showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted'), 3500, 'error'); return; }
+                      if (capReached) { showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap'),   3500, 'info');  return; }
+                      suggestOrbitTrack(song.id)
+                        .then(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestedToast'), 2200, 'info'))
+                        .catch(err => {
+                          if (err instanceof OrbitSuggestBlockedError && err.reason === 'muted') {
+                            showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted'), 3500, 'error');
+                          } else if (err instanceof OrbitSuggestBlockedError && err.reason === 'cap-reached') {
+                            showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap'), 3500, 'info');
+                          } else {
+                            showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestFailed'), 3000, 'error');
+                          }
+                        });
+                    })}
+                  >
+                    <OrbitIcon size={14} /> {t('orbit.ctxAddToSession')}
+                  </div>
+                );
+              })()}
               {orbitRole === 'host' && (
                 <div className="context-menu-item" onClick={() => handleAction(() => {
                   hostEnqueueToOrbit(song.id)
diff --git a/src/components/OrbitParticipantsPopover.tsx b/src/components/OrbitParticipantsPopover.tsx
index b7d4457b..db8404a3 100644
--- a/src/components/OrbitParticipantsPopover.tsx
+++ b/src/components/OrbitParticipantsPopover.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { createPortal } from 'react-dom';
-import { Crown, User, UserMinus, ShieldOff } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Crown, User, UserMinus, ShieldOff, Mic, MicOff } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { useOrbitStore } from '../store/orbitStore';
-import { kickOrbitParticipant, removeOrbitParticipant } from '../utils/orbit';
+import { kickOrbitParticipant, removeOrbitParticipant, setOrbitSuggestionBlocked } from '../utils/orbit';
 import ConfirmModal from './ConfirmModal';
 
 interface Props {
@@ -90,35 +90,50 @@ export default function OrbitParticipantsPopover({ anchorRef, onClose }: Props)
         <div className="orbit-participants-pop__empty">{t('orbit.participantsEmpty')}</div>
       )}
 
-      {state.participants.map(p => (
-        <div key={p.user} className="orbit-participants-pop__row">
-          <User size={13} />
-          <span className="orbit-participants-pop__name">{p.user}</span>
-          <span className="orbit-participants-pop__meta">{joinedFor(p.joinedAt, nowMs)}</span>
-          {role === 'host' && (
-            <div className="orbit-participants-pop__actions">
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                className="orbit-participants-pop__kick"
-                onClick={() => setConfirm({ user: p.user, mode: 'remove' })}
-                data-tooltip={t('orbit.participantsRemoveTooltip')}
-                aria-label={t('orbit.participantsRemoveAria', { user: p.user })}
-              >
-                <UserMinus size={12} />
-              </button>
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                className="orbit-participants-pop__kick orbit-participants-pop__kick--ban"
-                onClick={() => setConfirm({ user: p.user, mode: 'ban' })}
-                data-tooltip={t('orbit.participantsBanTooltip')}
-                aria-label={t('orbit.participantsBanAria', { user: p.user })}
-              >
-                <ShieldOff size={12} />
-              </button>
-            </div>
-          )}
-        </div>
-      ))}
+      {state.participants.map(p => {
+        const isMuted = state.suggestionBlocked?.includes(p.user) ?? false;
+        return (
+          <div key={p.user} className="orbit-participants-pop__row">
+            <User size={13} />
+            <span className="orbit-participants-pop__name">{p.user}</span>
+            <span className="orbit-participants-pop__meta">{joinedFor(p.joinedAt, nowMs)}</span>
+            {role === 'host' && (
+              <div className="orbit-participants-pop__actions">
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  className={`orbit-participants-pop__kick${isMuted ? ' is-active' : ''}`}
+                  onClick={() => { void setOrbitSuggestionBlocked(p.user, !isMuted); }}
+                  data-tooltip={isMuted ? t('orbit.participantsUnmuteTooltip') : t('orbit.participantsMuteTooltip')}
+                  aria-label={isMuted
+                    ? t('orbit.participantsUnmuteAria', { user: p.user })
+                    : t('orbit.participantsMuteAria',   { user: p.user })}
+                  aria-pressed={isMuted}
+                >
+                  {isMuted ? <MicOff size={12} /> : <Mic size={12} />}
+                </button>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  className="orbit-participants-pop__kick"
+                  onClick={() => setConfirm({ user: p.user, mode: 'remove' })}
+                  data-tooltip={t('orbit.participantsRemoveTooltip')}
+                  aria-label={t('orbit.participantsRemoveAria', { user: p.user })}
+                >
+                  <UserMinus size={12} />
+                </button>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  className="orbit-participants-pop__kick orbit-participants-pop__kick--ban"
+                  onClick={() => setConfirm({ user: p.user, mode: 'ban' })}
+                  data-tooltip={t('orbit.participantsBanTooltip')}
+                  aria-label={t('orbit.participantsBanAria', { user: p.user })}
+                >
+                  <ShieldOff size={12} />
+                </button>
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        );
+      })}
     </div>
     <ConfirmModal
       open={!!confirm}
diff --git a/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx b/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx
index da8f6a85..f014d65f 100644
--- a/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx
+++ b/src/components/OrbitQueueHead.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
-import { Users, Wifi, WifiOff } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Users, Wifi, WifiOff, Inbox } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { useOrbitStore } from '../store/orbitStore';
 import type { OrbitState } from '../api/orbit';
@@ -36,6 +36,15 @@ export default function OrbitQueueHead({ state }: Props) {
   const names = [state.host, ...state.participants.map(p => p.user)];
   const showPresence = role === 'guest' && state.positionAt > 0;
   const hostAway = showPresence && (nowMs - state.positionAt) > HOST_AWAY_THRESHOLD_MS;
+  const cap = state.settings?.maxPending ?? 0;
+  // Approximate visible-pending count — same heuristic as evaluateOrbitSuggestGate.
+  // Conservative for guests (over-counts declined entries) but the host's
+  // own queue view sees the exact number because it has the merged/declined
+  // sets locally; we don't bother surfacing the exact count here either way
+  // since guests just need to know if they're near the cap.
+  const pendingCount = cap > 0
+    ? state.queue.filter(q => q.addedBy !== state.host).length
+    : 0;
 
   return (
     <div className="orbit-queue-head">
@@ -54,6 +63,15 @@ export default function OrbitQueueHead({ state }: Props) {
       <div className="orbit-queue-head__meta">
         <Users size={11} />
         <span className="orbit-queue-head__names">{names.join(', ')}</span>
+        {cap > 0 && (
+          <span
+            className={`orbit-queue-head__pending${pendingCount >= cap ? ' is-full' : ''}`}
+            data-tooltip={t('orbit.pendingCounterTooltip')}
+          >
+            <Inbox size={11} />
+            <span>{t('orbit.pendingCounter', { count: pendingCount, max: cap })}</span>
+          </span>
+        )}
       </div>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/OrbitSettingsPopover.tsx b/src/components/OrbitSettingsPopover.tsx
index 2070052f..9f00f321 100644
--- a/src/components/OrbitSettingsPopover.tsx
+++ b/src/components/OrbitSettingsPopover.tsx
@@ -82,6 +82,27 @@ export default function OrbitSettingsPopover({ anchorRef, onClose }: Props) {
         </span>
       </label>
 
+      <label className="orbit-settings-pop__row">
+        <div className="orbit-settings-pop__text">
+          <div className="orbit-settings-pop__label">{t('orbit.settingMaxPending')}</div>
+          <div className="orbit-settings-pop__hint">{t('orbit.settingMaxPendingHint')}</div>
+        </div>
+        <input
+          type="number"
+          min={0}
+          max={999}
+          step={1}
+          value={settings.maxPending ?? 0}
+          onChange={e => {
+            const raw = parseInt(e.target.value, 10);
+            const next = Number.isFinite(raw) && raw >= 0 ? Math.min(raw, 999) : 0;
+            void updateOrbitSettings({ maxPending: next });
+          }}
+          className="orbit-settings-pop__number"
+          aria-label={t('orbit.settingMaxPending')}
+        />
+      </label>
+
       <div className="orbit-settings-pop__row orbit-settings-pop__row--stacked">
         <div className="orbit-settings-pop__text">
           <div className="orbit-settings-pop__label">{t('orbit.settingShuffleInterval')}</div>
diff --git a/src/hooks/useOrbitHost.ts b/src/hooks/useOrbitHost.ts
index 4a2c0daa..49978a6b 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useOrbitHost.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useOrbitHost.ts
@@ -87,7 +87,12 @@ export function useOrbitHost(): void {
       let afterSweep = base;
       try {
         const snaps = await sweepGuestOutboxes(base.sid, base.host);
-        afterSweep = applyOutboxSnapshotsToState(base, snaps);
+        // Hand the cap-check the host's local merged/declined sets so it can
+        // tell which `state.queue` items are still actually awaiting approval.
+        afterSweep = applyOutboxSnapshotsToState(base, snaps, Date.now(), {
+          mergedKeys: new Set(store.mergedSuggestionKeys),
+          declinedKeys: new Set(store.declinedSuggestionKeys),
+        });
       } catch { /* best-effort; keep old participants and queue */ }
 
       // 2) Merge newly-suggested items into the host's local play queue so
diff --git a/src/hooks/useOrbitSongRowBehavior.ts b/src/hooks/useOrbitSongRowBehavior.ts
index 20d38785..df6cb26a 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useOrbitSongRowBehavior.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useOrbitSongRowBehavior.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import { useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { useOrbitStore } from '../store/orbitStore';
-import { suggestOrbitTrack, hostEnqueueToOrbit } from '../utils/orbit';
+import {
+  suggestOrbitTrack,
+  hostEnqueueToOrbit,
+  evaluateOrbitSuggestGate,
+  OrbitSuggestBlockedError,
+} from '../utils/orbit';
 import { showToast } from '../utils/toast';
 
 /**
@@ -43,9 +48,26 @@ export function useOrbitSongRowBehavior() {
       clickTimerRef.current = null;
     }
     if (orbitRole === 'guest') {
+      const gate = evaluateOrbitSuggestGate();
+      if (!gate.allowed && gate.reason === 'muted') {
+        showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted'), 3500, 'error');
+        return;
+      }
+      if (!gate.allowed && gate.reason === 'cap-reached') {
+        showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap'), 3500, 'info');
+        return;
+      }
       suggestOrbitTrack(songId)
         .then(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestedToast'), 2200, 'info'))
-        .catch(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestFailed'), 3000, 'error'));
+        .catch(err => {
+          if (err instanceof OrbitSuggestBlockedError && err.reason === 'muted') {
+            showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedMuted'), 3500, 'error');
+          } else if (err instanceof OrbitSuggestBlockedError && err.reason === 'cap-reached') {
+            showToast(t('orbit.suggestBlockedCap'), 3500, 'info');
+          } else {
+            showToast(t('orbit.ctxSuggestFailed'), 3000, 'error');
+          }
+        });
     } else if (orbitRole === 'host') {
       hostEnqueueToOrbit(songId)
         .then(() => showToast(t('orbit.ctxAddedHostToast'), 2200, 'info'))
diff --git a/src/locales/de.ts b/src/locales/de.ts
index ff65ed11..368c2e4b 100644
--- a/src/locales/de.ts
+++ b/src/locales/de.ts
@@ -1580,6 +1580,10 @@ export const deTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: '{{user}} aus dieser Session entfernen',
     participantsBanTooltip: 'Permanent bannen',
     participantsBanAria: '{{user}} permanent bannen',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: 'Vorschläge sperren',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: 'Vorschläge erlauben',
+    participantsMuteAria: 'Vorschläge von {{user}} sperren',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: 'Vorschläge von {{user}} wieder erlauben',
     confirmRemoveTitle: 'Aus Session entfernen?',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} wird aus der Session geworfen, kann aber jederzeit über deinen Einladungslink wieder beitreten.',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: 'Entfernen',
@@ -1605,6 +1609,12 @@ export const deTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: 'Periodischer Fisher-Yates-Shuffle der kommenden Warteschlange. Aus: Reihenfolge wird nur verändert, wenn du selbst sortierst.',
     settingShuffleInterval: 'Alle',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: 'Wie oft die kommende Warteschlange während der Session neu gemischt wird.',
+    settingMaxPending: 'Max offene Vorschläge',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: 'Begrenzt, wie viele Gast-Vorschläge gleichzeitig auf Bestätigung warten dürfen. 0 = unbegrenzt.',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} offen',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: 'Wartende Gast-Vorschläge / Limit',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: 'Der Host hat dich für diese Session gesperrt — keine Vorschläge möglich.',
+    suggestBlockedCap: 'Approval-Liste ist voll — warte bis der Host welche durchwinkt.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} Min.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_other: '{{count}} Min.',
     settingShuffleNow: 'Jetzt mischen',
diff --git a/src/locales/en.ts b/src/locales/en.ts
index 4413a6ff..3fb4a6f5 100644
--- a/src/locales/en.ts
+++ b/src/locales/en.ts
@@ -1584,6 +1584,10 @@ export const enTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: 'Remove {{user}} from this session',
     participantsBanTooltip: 'Ban permanently',
     participantsBanAria: 'Permanently ban {{user}}',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: 'Mute suggestions',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: 'Allow suggestions',
+    participantsMuteAria: 'Mute suggestions from {{user}}',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: 'Allow suggestions from {{user}}',
     confirmRemoveTitle: 'Remove from session?',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} will be dropped from the session, but can re-join via your invite link.',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: 'Remove',
@@ -1609,6 +1613,12 @@ export const enTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: "Periodic Fisher–Yates shuffle of the upcoming queue. Off: order only changes when you rearrange it.",
     settingShuffleInterval: 'Reshuffle every',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: 'How often the upcoming queue gets reshuffled while the session runs.',
+    settingMaxPending: 'Max pending suggestions',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: 'Cap on how many guest suggestions can wait for approval. 0 = unlimited.',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} pending',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: 'Pending guest suggestions / cap',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: 'The host muted you for this session — suggestions are off.',
+    suggestBlockedCap: 'Approval queue is full — wait for the host to clear some.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_other: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleNow: 'Shuffle now',
diff --git a/src/locales/es.ts b/src/locales/es.ts
index d35494b3..02a0dda9 100644
--- a/src/locales/es.ts
+++ b/src/locales/es.ts
@@ -1567,6 +1567,10 @@ export const esTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: 'Quitar a {{user}} de esta sesión',
     participantsBanTooltip: 'Banear permanentemente',
     participantsBanAria: 'Banear permanentemente a {{user}}',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: 'Silenciar sugerencias',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: 'Permitir sugerencias',
+    participantsMuteAria: 'Silenciar las sugerencias de {{user}}',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: 'Volver a permitir las sugerencias de {{user}}',
     confirmRemoveTitle: '¿Quitar de la sesión?',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} será expulsado de la sesión, pero puede volver a unirse por tu enlace de invitación.',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: 'Quitar',
@@ -1592,6 +1596,12 @@ export const esTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: 'Mezclado Fisher-Yates periódico de la cola próxima. Desactivado: el orden solo cambia cuando lo reorganizas.',
     settingShuffleInterval: 'Remezclar cada',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: 'Con qué frecuencia se remezcla la cola próxima durante la sesión.',
+    settingMaxPending: 'Máx. sugerencias pendientes',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: 'Límite de sugerencias de invitados que pueden esperar aprobación a la vez. 0 = ilimitado.',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} pendientes',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: 'Sugerencias de invitados pendientes / límite',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: 'El anfitrión te silenció en esta sesión — sugerencias desactivadas.',
+    suggestBlockedCap: 'La cola de aprobación está llena — espera a que el anfitrión despeje algunas.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_other: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleNow: 'Mezclar ahora',
diff --git a/src/locales/fr.ts b/src/locales/fr.ts
index 5dc79899..931bbd0d 100644
--- a/src/locales/fr.ts
+++ b/src/locales/fr.ts
@@ -1562,6 +1562,10 @@ export const frTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: 'Retirer {{user}} de cette session',
     participantsBanTooltip: 'Bannir définitivement',
     participantsBanAria: 'Bannir définitivement {{user}}',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: 'Bloquer les suggestions',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: 'Autoriser les suggestions',
+    participantsMuteAria: 'Bloquer les suggestions de {{user}}',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: 'Autoriser à nouveau les suggestions de {{user}}',
     confirmRemoveTitle: 'Retirer de la session ?',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} sera retiré de la session mais peut rejoindre via ton lien d\'invitation.',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: 'Retirer',
@@ -1587,6 +1591,12 @@ export const frTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: 'Mélange Fisher-Yates périodique de la file à venir. Désactivé : l\'ordre ne change que lorsque tu le réorganises.',
     settingShuffleInterval: 'Remélanger toutes les',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: 'Fréquence de remélange de la file pendant la session.',
+    settingMaxPending: 'Max suggestions en attente',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: 'Limite le nombre de suggestions invitées qui attendent ton approbation. 0 = illimité.',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} en attente',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: 'Suggestions invitées en attente / limite',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: 'L\'hôte t\'a coupé le micro pour cette session — suggestions désactivées.',
+    suggestBlockedCap: 'La file d\'approbation est pleine — attends que l\'hôte en traite.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_other: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleNow: 'Mélanger maintenant',
diff --git a/src/locales/nb.ts b/src/locales/nb.ts
index a64f9e31..47911b5a 100644
--- a/src/locales/nb.ts
+++ b/src/locales/nb.ts
@@ -1561,6 +1561,10 @@ export const nbTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: 'Fjern {{user}} fra denne økten',
     participantsBanTooltip: 'Uteste permanent',
     participantsBanAria: 'Uteste {{user}} permanent',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: 'Blokker forslag',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: 'Tillat forslag',
+    participantsMuteAria: 'Blokker forslag fra {{user}}',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: 'Tillat forslag fra {{user}} igjen',
     confirmRemoveTitle: 'Fjerne fra økten?',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} fjernes fra økten, men kan bli med igjen via invitasjonslenken din.',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: 'Fjern',
@@ -1586,6 +1590,12 @@ export const nbTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: 'Periodisk Fisher-Yates-stokking av kommende kø. Av: rekkefølgen endres bare når du omorganiserer den.',
     settingShuffleInterval: 'Stokk på nytt hver',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: 'Hvor ofte kommende kø stokkes på nytt mens økten kjører.',
+    settingMaxPending: 'Maks ventende forslag',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: 'Hvor mange gjesteforslag som samtidig kan vente på godkjenning. 0 = ubegrenset.',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} venter',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: 'Ventende gjesteforslag / grense',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: 'Verten har blokkert deg for denne økten — forslag er av.',
+    suggestBlockedCap: 'Godkjenningskøen er full — vent til verten tar unna noen.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_other: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleNow: 'Stokk nå',
diff --git a/src/locales/nl.ts b/src/locales/nl.ts
index 4dc3fffd..76686010 100644
--- a/src/locales/nl.ts
+++ b/src/locales/nl.ts
@@ -1561,6 +1561,10 @@ export const nlTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: '{{user}} uit deze sessie verwijderen',
     participantsBanTooltip: 'Permanent bannen',
     participantsBanAria: '{{user}} permanent bannen',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: 'Voorstellen blokkeren',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: 'Voorstellen toestaan',
+    participantsMuteAria: 'Voorstellen van {{user}} blokkeren',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: 'Voorstellen van {{user}} weer toestaan',
     confirmRemoveTitle: 'Uit sessie verwijderen?',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} wordt uit de sessie verwijderd, maar kan opnieuw deelnemen via je uitnodigingslink.',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: 'Verwijderen',
@@ -1586,6 +1590,12 @@ export const nlTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: 'Periodieke Fisher-Yates-shuffle van de komende wachtrij. Uit: de volgorde verandert alleen wanneer je zelf herschikt.',
     settingShuffleInterval: 'Opnieuw shufflen elke',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: 'Hoe vaak de komende wachtrij tijdens de sessie opnieuw wordt geshuffled.',
+    settingMaxPending: 'Max openstaande voorstellen',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: 'Hoeveel gastvoorstellen tegelijk op goedkeuring mogen wachten. 0 = onbeperkt.',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} open',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: 'Wachtende gastvoorstellen / limiet',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: 'De host heeft je voor deze sessie geblokkeerd — voorstellen uitgeschakeld.',
+    suggestBlockedCap: 'De goedkeuringslijst is vol — wacht tot de host er een paar afhandelt.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_other: '{{count}} min',
     settingShuffleNow: 'Nu shufflen',
diff --git a/src/locales/ru.ts b/src/locales/ru.ts
index a2a65043..e0ec42d7 100644
--- a/src/locales/ru.ts
+++ b/src/locales/ru.ts
@@ -1641,6 +1641,10 @@ export const ruTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: 'Удалить {{user}} из этой сессии',
     participantsBanTooltip: 'Забанить навсегда',
     participantsBanAria: 'Забанить {{user}} навсегда',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: 'Запретить предлагать треки',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: 'Разрешить предлагать треки',
+    participantsMuteAria: 'Запретить {{user}} предлагать треки',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: 'Снова разрешить {{user}} предлагать треки',
     confirmRemoveTitle: 'Удалить из сессии?',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} будет удалён из сессии, но может присоединиться снова по твоей ссылке-приглашению.',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: 'Удалить',
@@ -1666,6 +1670,12 @@ export const ruTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: 'Периодическое Fisher-Yates перемешивание предстоящей очереди. Выкл.: порядок меняется только при ручной перестановке.',
     settingShuffleInterval: 'Перемешивать каждые',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: 'Как часто предстоящая очередь перемешивается во время сессии.',
+    settingMaxPending: 'Макс. ожидающих заявок',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: 'Сколько гостевых предложений могут одновременно ждать одобрения. 0 = без лимита.',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} в ожидании',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: 'Ожидающие гостевые заявки / лимит',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: 'Хост отключил тебе предложение треков на этой сессии.',
+    suggestBlockedCap: 'Очередь одобрений переполнена — подожди, пока хост её разгребёт.',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} мин',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_few: '{{count}} мин',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_many: '{{count}} мин',
diff --git a/src/locales/zh.ts b/src/locales/zh.ts
index 3aa516cc..94a49e35 100644
--- a/src/locales/zh.ts
+++ b/src/locales/zh.ts
@@ -1554,6 +1554,10 @@ export const zhTranslation = {
     participantsRemoveAria: '从此会话中移除 {{user}}',
     participantsBanTooltip: '永久封禁',
     participantsBanAria: '永久封禁 {{user}}',
+    participantsMuteTooltip: '禁止投歌',
+    participantsUnmuteTooltip: '允许投歌',
+    participantsMuteAria: '禁止 {{user}} 投歌',
+    participantsUnmuteAria: '允许 {{user}} 重新投歌',
     confirmRemoveTitle: '从会话中移除？',
     confirmRemoveBody: '{{user}} 将从会话中移除，但可以通过你的邀请链接重新加入。',
     confirmRemoveConfirm: '移除',
@@ -1579,6 +1583,12 @@ export const zhTranslation = {
     settingAutoShuffleHint: '即将播放队列的定期 Fisher-Yates 洗牌。关闭：顺序仅在你手动重新排列时改变。',
     settingShuffleInterval: '洗牌间隔',
     settingShuffleIntervalHint: '会话运行时即将播放队列的重新洗牌频率。',
+    settingMaxPending: '最大待审投歌数',
+    settingMaxPendingHint: '同时等待审核的访客投歌上限。0 = 不限制。',
+    pendingCounter: '{{count}} / {{max}} 待审',
+    pendingCounterTooltip: '等待中的访客投歌 / 上限',
+    suggestBlockedMuted: '主持人已禁止你在本场会话投歌。',
+    suggestBlockedCap: '审核队列已满，等主持人处理一些再继续。',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_one: '{{count}} 分钟',
     settingShuffleIntervalValue_other: '{{count}} 分钟',
     settingShuffleNow: '立即洗牌',
diff --git a/src/styles/components.css b/src/styles/components.css
index 81e3cd37..3c59482f 100644
--- a/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/src/styles/components.css
@@ -11847,6 +11847,11 @@ html[data-psy-native-hidden="true"] *::after {
   background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-red, #f38ba8) 12%, transparent);
   border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-red, #f38ba8) 35%, transparent);
 }
+.orbit-participants-pop__kick.is-active {
+  color: var(--ctp-peach, #fab387);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-peach, #fab387) 16%, transparent);
+  border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-peach, #fab387) 45%, transparent);
+}
 
 /* ── Exit modal ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 .orbit-exit-overlay {
@@ -12383,6 +12388,22 @@ html[data-psy-native-hidden="true"] *::after {
 .orbit-settings-pop__row--stacked:hover {
   background: transparent;
 }
+.orbit-settings-pop__number {
+  width: 64px;
+  padding: 4px 6px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: var(--ctp-surface0, rgba(127, 127, 127, 0.12));
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--text-secondary) 18%, transparent);
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+  font-size: 12px;
+  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  text-align: right;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.orbit-settings-pop__number:focus {
+  outline: none;
+  border-color: var(--accent);
+}
 
 .orbit-settings-pop__preset-group {
   display: flex;
@@ -12519,6 +12540,26 @@ html[data-psy-native-hidden="true"] *::after {
   white-space: nowrap;
   min-width: 0;
 }
+.orbit-queue-head__pending {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 3px;
+  margin-left: auto;
+  padding: 1px 6px;
+  border-radius: 9px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 12%, transparent);
+  border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 28%, transparent);
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: 10px;
+  font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.orbit-queue-head__pending.is-full {
+  color: var(--ctp-red, #f38ba8);
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-red, #f38ba8) 14%, transparent);
+  border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--ctp-red, #f38ba8) 40%, transparent);
+}
+.orbit-queue-head__pending svg { color: inherit; }
 
 .orbit-guest-queue__current {
   position: relative;
diff --git a/src/utils/orbit.ts b/src/utils/orbit.ts
index 39f39253..1ce70a02 100644
--- a/src/utils/orbit.ts
+++ b/src/utils/orbit.ts
@@ -456,7 +456,49 @@ export async function leaveOrbitSession(): Promise<void> {
  * consume it and publish the authoritative queue update in the state blob.
  * No state mutation here — the guest never touches canonical state.
  */
+/** Why a guest's suggestion would be blocked, in priority order. `null` means
+ *  the suggestion can proceed. */
+export type OrbitSuggestGateReason = 'not-guest' | 'muted' | 'cap-reached' | null;
+
+/**
+ * Evaluate whether the local guest is allowed to send a new suggestion right
+ * now — used by both the UI (to disable buttons / show toasts) and
+ * {@link suggestOrbitTrack} as a defensive check.
+ *
+ * Mute check uses the host-pushed `state.suggestionBlocked` list. Cap check
+ * is approximate from the guest's POV: it counts every non-host entry in
+ * `state.queue` plus the local `pendingSuggestions` list that hasn't been
+ * reconciled yet. We can't subtract host-side merged/declined sets — the
+ * guest never sees them — so the count is conservative (over-, not under-).
+ */
+export function evaluateOrbitSuggestGate(): { allowed: boolean; reason: OrbitSuggestGateReason } {
+  const { role, state, pendingSuggestions } = useOrbitStore.getState();
+  if (role !== 'guest' || !state) return { allowed: false, reason: 'not-guest' };
+  const username = useAuthStore.getState().getActiveServer()?.username ?? '';
+  if (state.suggestionBlocked?.includes(username)) {
+    return { allowed: false, reason: 'muted' };
+  }
+  const cap = state.settings?.maxPending ?? 0;
+  if (cap > 0) {
+    const inState = state.queue.filter(q => q.addedBy !== state.host).length;
+    const total = inState + pendingSuggestions.length;
+    if (total >= cap) return { allowed: false, reason: 'cap-reached' };
+  }
+  return { allowed: true, reason: null };
+}
+
+export class OrbitSuggestBlockedError extends Error {
+  constructor(public readonly reason: Exclude<OrbitSuggestGateReason, null>) {
+    super(`Suggestion blocked: ${reason}`);
+    this.name = 'OrbitSuggestBlockedError';
+  }
+}
+
 export async function suggestOrbitTrack(trackId: string): Promise<void> {
+  const gate = evaluateOrbitSuggestGate();
+  if (!gate.allowed && gate.reason && gate.reason !== 'not-guest') {
+    throw new OrbitSuggestBlockedError(gate.reason);
+  }
   const { role, outboxPlaylistId, sessionId } = useOrbitStore.getState();
   if (role !== 'guest') throw new Error('Not joined to a session as a guest');
   if (!outboxPlaylistId || !sessionId) throw new Error('No outbox bound');
@@ -853,6 +895,40 @@ export async function removeOrbitParticipant(username: string): Promise<void> {
   } catch { /* best-effort */ }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Host: mute/unmute a participant's track suggestions.
+ *
+ * Symmetric — pass `blocked: true` to add the username to
+ * `state.suggestionBlocked`, `false` to remove it. The participant remains
+ * in the session and continues to appear in the participants list; only new
+ * outbox entries are silently dropped during the host's sweep. The guest UI
+ * reads the same flag and disables its own Suggest controls so the user
+ * sees a clear "muted" state instead of silent failures.
+ *
+ * No-op outside host role, when the session isn't active, when the target
+ * is the host themselves, or when the toggle wouldn't change anything.
+ */
+export async function setOrbitSuggestionBlocked(username: string, blocked: boolean): Promise<void> {
+  const store = useOrbitStore.getState();
+  if (store.role !== 'host') return;
+  const state = store.state;
+  const sessionPlaylistId = store.sessionPlaylistId;
+  if (!state || !sessionPlaylistId) return;
+  if (username === state.host) return;
+
+  const current = state.suggestionBlocked ?? [];
+  const isBlocked = current.includes(username);
+  if (blocked === isBlocked) return;
+
+  const nextList = blocked
+    ? [...current, username]
+    : current.filter(u => u !== username);
+  const nextState: OrbitState = { ...state, suggestionBlocked: nextList };
+  useOrbitStore.getState().setState(nextState);
+  try { await writeOrbitState(sessionPlaylistId, nextState); }
+  catch { /* best-effort; next host tick will re-push state */ }
+}
+
 /**
  * Fold sweep results into an updated `OrbitState`.
  *
@@ -868,6 +944,7 @@ export function applyOutboxSnapshotsToState(
   state: OrbitState,
   snapshots: OutboxSnapshot[],
   nowMs: number = Date.now(),
+  opts?: { mergedKeys?: ReadonlySet<string>; declinedKeys?: ReadonlySet<string> },
 ): OrbitState {
   // ── Queue additions ──
   // Guest outboxes are append-only from the host's POV — the host reads the
@@ -877,18 +954,41 @@ export function applyOutboxSnapshotsToState(
   // balloons indefinitely. A user re-suggesting the same track after it
   // lands/plays is a rare enough case to live with for now.
   const existingKeys = new Set<string>(
-    state.queue.map(q => `${q.addedBy}${q.trackId}`),
+    state.queue.map(q => `${q.addedBy} ${q.trackId}`),
   );
   if (state.currentTrack) {
-    existingKeys.add(`${state.currentTrack.addedBy}${state.currentTrack.trackId}`);
+    existingKeys.add(`${state.currentTrack.addedBy} ${state.currentTrack.trackId}`);
   }
+
+  // Compute remaining slots under the host's pending-approval cap. Items the
+  // host has merged or declined have left the approval queue and don't
+  // occupy a slot any more — without those sets we conservatively count
+  // every non-host queue entry as pending. Plus drop any new suggestion
+  // from a user the host has muted.
+  const blocked = new Set(state.suggestionBlocked ?? []);
+  const cap = state.settings?.maxPending ?? 0;
+  const merged = opts?.mergedKeys ?? new Set<string>();
+  const declined = opts?.declinedKeys ?? new Set<string>();
+  const pendingCount = cap > 0
+    ? state.queue.filter(q =>
+        q.addedBy !== state.host
+        && !merged.has(suggestionKey(q))
+        && !declined.has(suggestionKey(q))
+      ).length
+    : 0;
+  let remaining = cap > 0 ? Math.max(0, cap - pendingCount) : Infinity;
+
   const newItems: OrbitQueueItem[] = [];
+  outer:
   for (const snap of snapshots) {
+    if (blocked.has(snap.user)) continue;
     for (const trackId of snap.trackIds) {
-      const key = `${snap.user}${trackId}`;
+      if (remaining <= 0) break outer;
+      const key = `${snap.user} ${trackId}`;
       if (existingKeys.has(key)) continue;
       existingKeys.add(key);
       newItems.push({ trackId, addedBy: snap.user, addedAt: nowMs });
+      remaining--;
     }
   }