diff --git a/backend/src/api/auth.py b/backend/src/api/auth.py
index 1bb7c63..1ade0ac 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/auth.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/auth.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+from secrets import compare_digest
+from urllib.parse import parse_qs
+
 from starlette.types import ASGIApp, Receive, Scope, Send
 
 PROTECTED_PREFIXES = ("/api", "/mcp")
@@ -9,6 +12,15 @@ class BearerAuthMiddleware:
         self.app = app
         self.token = token
 
+    def _authorized(self, scope: Scope) -> bool:
+        headers = dict(scope["headers"])
+        bearer = headers.get(b"authorization", b"").decode()
+        if bearer.startswith("Bearer ") and compare_digest(bearer[7:], self.token):
+            return True
+        query = parse_qs(scope["query_string"].decode())
+        token = query.get("token", [""])[0]
+        return bool(token) and compare_digest(token, self.token)
+
     async def __call__(self, scope: Scope, receive: Receive, send: Send) -> None:
         if scope["type"] != "http":
             await self.app(scope, receive, send)
@@ -18,9 +30,7 @@ class BearerAuthMiddleware:
         ):
             await self.app(scope, receive, send)
             return
-        headers = dict(scope["headers"])
-        authorization = headers.get(b"authorization", b"").decode()
-        if authorization == f"Bearer {self.token}":
+        if self._authorized(scope):
             await self.app(scope, receive, send)
             return
         await send(
diff --git a/backend/src/api/mcp/format.py b/backend/src/api/mcp/format.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbc6945
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/api/mcp/format.py
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+from datetime import datetime
+from typing import Any
+
+import asyncpg
+from fastmcp.utilities.types import Image
+from mcp.types import TextContent
+
+from utils.read import peers
+from utils.read.models import MediaRef, MessageView
+from utils.storage import ContentAddressedStorage
+
+_VOICE_KINDS = {"voice", "video_note"}
+
+
+def _ts(value: datetime) -> str:
+    return value.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")
+
+
+def _name(sender_id: int | None, names: dict[int, str], self_id: int | None) -> str:
+    if sender_id is None:
+        return "Unknown"
+    if sender_id == self_id:
+        return "Me"
+    return names.get(sender_id) or str(sender_id)
+
+
+def _media_note(media: list[MediaRef]) -> list[str]:
+    notes: list[str] = []
+    for item in media:
+        if item.kind in _VOICE_KINDS:
+            if item.extracted_text:
+                notes.append(f"(Voice message, STT Content: {item.extracted_text})")
+            else:
+                notes.append("(Voice message, not transcribed)")
+        elif item.kind == "photo":
+            state = "" if item.downloaded else ", not downloaded"
+            notes.append(f"[photo #{item.message_id}{state}]")
+        else:
+            notes.append(f"[{item.kind}]")
+    return notes
+
+
+def _line(
+    view: MessageView,
+    names: dict[int, str],
+    self_id: int | None,
+    notes: dict[int, list[str]],
+) -> str:
+    parts: list[str] = []
+    if view.reply and (view.reply.sender_name or view.reply.text):
+        ref = view.reply.sender_name or str(view.reply.sender_id or "?")
+        parts.append(f"(reply to {ref})")
+    if view.text:
+        parts.append(view.text)
+    parts.extend(_media_note(view.media))
+    suffix = ""
+    if view.edited_at:
+        suffix += " (edited)"
+    if view.deleted_at:
+        suffix += " (deleted)"
+    body = " ".join(part for part in parts if part) or "(no text)"
+    name = _name(view.sender_id, names, self_id)
+    line = f"#{view.message_id} {name} ({_ts(view.date)}): {body}{suffix}"
+    for note in notes.get(view.message_id, []):
+        line += f"\n    📝 [your private note, NOT in Telegram]: {note}"
+    return line
+
+
+async def load_notes(
+    pool: asyncpg.Pool, account_id: int, chat_id: int, views: list[MessageView]
+) -> dict[int, list[str]]:
+    ids = [view.message_id for view in views]
+    if not ids:
+        return {}
+    rows = await pool.fetch(
+        "SELECT message_id, text FROM annotations "
+        "WHERE account_id = $1 AND chat_id = $2 AND message_id = ANY($3::bigint[]) "
+        "ORDER BY created_at",
+        account_id,
+        chat_id,
+        ids,
+    )
+    notes: dict[int, list[str]] = {}
+    for row in rows:
+        notes.setdefault(row["message_id"], []).append(row["text"])
+    return notes
+
+
+async def resolve_names(
+    pool: asyncpg.Pool, account_id: int, views: list[MessageView]
+) -> dict[int, str]:
+    ids = list({view.sender_id for view in views if view.sender_id is not None})
+    found = await peers.get_peers(pool, account_id, ids)
+    names: dict[int, str] = {}
+    for peer in found:
+        name = (
+            " ".join(part for part in (peer.first_name, peer.last_name) if part)
+            or peer.username
+        )
+        if name:
+            names[peer.peer_id] = name
+    return names
+
+
+async def load_photos(
+    pool: asyncpg.Pool,
+    storage: ContentAddressedStorage,
+    account_id: int,
+    views: list[MessageView],
+    *,
+    limit: int,
+) -> tuple[list[tuple[int, bytes, str]], bool]:
+    refs = [
+        (item.message_id, item.id)
+        for view in views
+        for item in view.media
+        if item.kind == "photo" and item.downloaded and item.id is not None
+    ]
+    truncated = len(refs) > limit
+    refs = refs[-limit:]
+    if not refs:
+        return [], truncated
+    rows = await pool.fetch(
+        "SELECT id, storage_key, mime FROM media "
+        "WHERE account_id = $1 AND id = ANY($2::bigint[])",
+        account_id,
+        [media_id for _, media_id in refs],
+    )
+    by_id = {row["id"]: row for row in rows}
+    out: list[tuple[int, bytes, str]] = []
+    for message_id, media_id in refs:
+        row = by_id.get(media_id)
+        if row is None or not row["storage_key"]:
+            continue
+        try:
+            data = storage.get(row["storage_key"])
+        except OSError:
+            continue
+        fmt = (row["mime"] or "image/jpeg").split("/")[-1]
+        out.append((message_id, data, fmt))
+    return out, truncated
+
+
+def build_transcript(
+    views: list[MessageView],
+    names: dict[int, str],
+    self_id: int | None,
+    photos: list[tuple[int, bytes, str]],
+    *,
+    notes: dict[int, list[str]] | None = None,
+    truncated: bool = False,
+) -> list[Any]:
+    if not views:
+        return [TextContent(type="text", text="No messages.")]
+    notes = notes or {}
+    header = f"{len(views)} messages (oldest first)"
+    body = f"{header}\n\n" + "\n".join(
+        _line(view, names, self_id, notes) for view in views
+    )
+    blocks: list[Any] = [TextContent(type="text", text=body)]
+    if truncated:
+        blocks.append(
+            TextContent(
+                type="text",
+                text="(images truncated to the most recent; narrow the range for more)",
+            )
+        )
+    for message_id, data, fmt in photos:
+        blocks.append(
+            TextContent(type="text", text=f"Image attached to message #{message_id}:")
+        )
+        blocks.append(Image(data=data, format=fmt))
+    return blocks
diff --git a/backend/src/api/mcp/server.py b/backend/src/api/mcp/server.py
index c108058..26baba4 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/mcp/server.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/mcp/server.py
@@ -6,12 +6,15 @@ import asyncpg
 from fastmcp import FastMCP
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
+from api.mcp.format import build_transcript, load_notes, load_photos, resolve_names
 from dependencies.container import container
 from utils.jobs import enqueue
 from utils.read import annotations, chats, media, peers, presence, social, watches
+from utils.read.accounts import self_user_id
 from utils.read.models import DEFAULT_LIMIT, Page
 from utils.search.models import SearchFilters
 from utils.search.repository import search_messages
+from utils.storage import ContentAddressedStorage
 
 INSTRUCTIONS = """\
 beavergram archives Telegram data (chats, messages, media, presence, stories,
@@ -27,7 +30,18 @@ Identifiers:
   tools that need a specific chat.
 
 Typical flows:
-- Browse: `list_chats` -> pick a `chat_id` -> `get_chat_history`.
+- Read a chat: `list_chats` -> pick a `chat_id` -> `get_chat_history` for a
+  human-readable transcript (names, timestamps, voice STT, inline photos), or
+  `get_chat_history_raw` for structured JSON. Both return messages oldest
+  first; default gives the latest `limit`. Page to older messages with
+  `before_id` (first id you saw), to newer with `after_id` (last id you saw);
+  begin a full forward walk with `after_id=0`. Each transcript line starts
+  with its `#message_id`, and photos show as `[photo #message_id]` — pass that
+  id to `get_media` (with `fetch=True` to download) or to annotation tools.
+  Lines marked
+  "📝 [your private note, NOT in Telegram]" are the user's own annotations
+  attached locally via the web UI; they never existed in Telegram. Treat them
+  as private notes from the user to you, not as chat content.
 - Find something: `search_messages_tool` (full-text over message text and STT
   transcripts; supports chat/sender/date filters and regex).
 - Forensics: `get_deleted_messages` and `get_message_versions` recover content
@@ -91,24 +105,80 @@ async def list_chats(
     return _dump(await chats.list_chats(await _pool(), account_id, page))
 
 
-@mcp.tool
+@mcp.tool(output_schema=None)
 async def get_chat_history(
     account_id: int,
     chat_id: int,
     limit: int = DEFAULT_LIMIT,
-    offset: int = 0,
+    before_id: int | None = None,
+    after_id: int | None = None,
+    include_deleted: bool = True,
+    include_images: bool = True,
+    max_images: int = 20,
+) -> list[Any]:
+    """Read a chat as a readable transcript, oldest first.
+
+    Renders "Name (time): text", voice notes as
+    "(Voice message, STT Content: ...)", and inlines downloaded photos as
+    images. Default returns the latest `limit` messages; page to older
+    messages with `before_id` (the first id you saw) or to newer ones with
+    `after_id` (the last id you saw).
+    """
+    pool = await _pool()
+    views = await chats.get_chat_history(
+        pool,
+        account_id,
+        chat_id,
+        Page(limit=limit),
+        include_deleted=include_deleted,
+        before_id=before_id,
+        after_id=after_id,
+    )
+    if after_id is None:
+        views = list(reversed(views))
+    names = await resolve_names(pool, account_id, views)
+    notes = await load_notes(pool, account_id, chat_id, views)
+    self_id = await self_user_id(pool, account_id)
+    photos: list[tuple[int, bytes, str]] = []
+    truncated = False
+    if include_images:
+        storage = await container.get(ContentAddressedStorage)
+        photos, truncated = await load_photos(
+            pool, storage, account_id, views, limit=max_images
+        )
+    return build_transcript(
+        views, names, self_id, photos, notes=notes, truncated=truncated
+    )
+
+
+@mcp.tool
+async def get_chat_history_raw(
+    account_id: int,
+    chat_id: int,
+    limit: int = DEFAULT_LIMIT,
+    before_id: int | None = None,
+    after_id: int | None = None,
     include_deleted: bool = True,
 ) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Read archived messages of a chat, newest first."""
-    return _dump(
-        await chats.get_chat_history(
-            await _pool(),
-            account_id,
-            chat_id,
-            Page(limit=limit, offset=offset),
-            include_deleted=include_deleted,
-        )
+    """Structured chat messages as JSON, oldest first.
+
+    Default returns the latest `limit` messages. Walk the whole chat forward
+    with `after_id` set to the last returned message_id (begin at
+    `after_id=0`), or backward with `before_id` set to the first returned
+    message_id.
+    """
+    views = await chats.get_chat_history(
+        await _pool(),
+        account_id,
+        chat_id,
+        Page(limit=limit),
+        include_deleted=include_deleted,
+        before_id=before_id,
+        after_id=after_id,
     )
+    if after_id is None:
+        views = list(reversed(views))
+    return _dump(views)
 
 
 @mcp.tool
diff --git a/backend/src/api/routers/backfill.py b/backend/src/api/routers/backfill.py
index 26e49e3..0e39439 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/routers/backfill.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/routers/backfill.py
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ class FetchMediaRequest(BaseModel):
     message_id: int
 
 
+class TranscribeRequest(BaseModel):
+    account_id: int
+    chat_id: int
+    message_id: int
+
+
 class SyncDialogsRequest(BaseModel):
     account_id: int
 
@@ -82,6 +88,19 @@ async def enqueue_fetch_media(
     return EnqueueResponse(job_id=job_id)
 
 
+@router.post("/media/transcribe", status_code=201)
+async def enqueue_transcribe(
+    pool: FromDishka[asyncpg.Pool], body: TranscribeRequest
+) -> EnqueueResponse:
+    job_id = await enqueue(
+        pool,
+        body.account_id,
+        "transcribe",
+        {"chat_id": body.chat_id, "message_id": body.message_id},
+    )
+    return EnqueueResponse(job_id=job_id)
+
+
 @router.post("/dialogs/sync", status_code=201)
 async def enqueue_sync_dialogs(
     pool: FromDishka[asyncpg.Pool], body: SyncDialogsRequest
@@ -115,3 +134,18 @@ async def get_job(pool: FromDishka[asyncpg.Pool], job_id: int) -> JobView:
     if row is None:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="job not found")
     return _to_view(row)
+
+
+@router.post("/jobs/{job_id}/cancel")
+async def cancel_job(pool: FromDishka[asyncpg.Pool], job_id: int) -> JobView:
+    row = await pool.fetchrow(
+        "UPDATE jobs SET status = 'canceled', finished_at = now(), "
+        "updated_at = now() WHERE id = $1 AND status IN ('pending', 'running') "
+        "RETURNING *",
+        job_id,
+    )
+    if row is not None:
+        return _to_view(row)
+    if await pool.fetchval("SELECT 1 FROM jobs WHERE id = $1", job_id) is None:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="job not found")
+    raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail="job already finished")
diff --git a/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/context.py b/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/context.py
index fcec512..3231f83 100644
--- a/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/context.py
+++ b/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/context.py
@@ -24,3 +24,6 @@ class JobContext:
     async def report_progress(self, progress: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
         self.job.progress = progress
         await repository.report_progress(self.pool, self.job_id, progress)
+
+    async def is_canceled(self) -> bool:
+        return await repository.is_canceled(self.pool, self.job_id)
diff --git a/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/handlers/backfill.py b/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/handlers/backfill.py
index 1cd27e8..7d82aa9 100644
--- a/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/handlers/backfill.py
+++ b/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/handlers/backfill.py
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 from pyrogram.errors import PeerIdInvalid
 
 from userbot.modules.capture import capture_message
+from userbot.modules.capture.chat_meta import meta_from_chat
 from userbot.modules.jobs.context import JobContext
 from userbot.modules.jobs.registry import register
+from userbot.modules.stt import repository as stt_repo
+from userbot.modules.stt import should_transcribe_on_backfill
+from userbot.modules.stt.gate import safe_transcribe
 from utils.policy.models import CaptureToggles
 
 SAVE_EVERY = 100
@@ -25,14 +29,24 @@ async def backfill(ctx: JobContext) -> None:
     max_id = (ctx.job.cursor or {}).get("max_id", 0)
     processed = ctx.job.progress.get("processed", 0)
     kwargs = {"max_id": max_id} if max_id else {}
+    self_id = client.me.id if client.me else None
     try:
         async for message in client.get_chat_history(chat_id, **kwargs):
             await capture_message(client, message, capture, toggles)
+            if should_transcribe_on_backfill(message, self_id) and message.chat:
+                meta = meta_from_chat(message.chat, capture.contacts.ids)
+                already = await stt_repo.is_transcribed(
+                    capture.pool, capture.account_id, chat_id, message.id
+                )
+                if capture.resolve(meta).stt and not already:
+                    await safe_transcribe(client, capture, chat_id, message.id)
             processed += 1
             if processed % SAVE_EVERY == 0:
                 next_max = message.id - 1
                 await ctx.save_cursor({"max_id": next_max})
                 await ctx.report_progress({"processed": processed, "max_id": next_max})
+                if await ctx.is_canceled():
+                    return
     except PeerIdInvalid:
         await ctx.report_progress({"processed": processed, "error": "peer_id_invalid"})
         return
diff --git a/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/repository.py b/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/repository.py
index 3b5dc42..6593e7a 100644
--- a/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/repository.py
+++ b/backend/src/userbot/modules/jobs/repository.py
@@ -79,13 +79,18 @@ async def finish(
 ) -> None:
     await pool.execute(
         "UPDATE jobs SET status = $2, error = $3, finished_at = now(), "
-        "updated_at = now() WHERE id = $1",
+        "updated_at = now() WHERE id = $1 AND status = 'running'",
         job_id,
         status.value,
         error,
     )
 
 
+async def is_canceled(pool: asyncpg.Pool, job_id: int) -> bool:
+    status = await pool.fetchval("SELECT status FROM jobs WHERE id = $1", job_id)
+    return status == JobStatus.CANCELED.value
+
+
 async def get_job(pool: asyncpg.Pool, job_id: int) -> Job | None:
     row = await pool.fetchrow("SELECT * FROM jobs WHERE id = $1", job_id)
     return _row_to_job(row) if row else None
diff --git a/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/__init__.py b/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/__init__.py
index 7449d1e..c65c57b 100644
--- a/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/__init__.py
+++ b/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
-from userbot.modules.stt.service import is_transcribable, transcribe_message
+from userbot.modules.stt.service import (
+    is_transcribable,
+    should_transcribe_on_backfill,
+    transcribe_message,
+)
 
-__all__ = ["is_transcribable", "transcribe_message"]
+__all__ = ["is_transcribable", "should_transcribe_on_backfill", "transcribe_message"]
diff --git a/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/repository.py b/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/repository.py
index 086180b..7460980 100644
--- a/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/repository.py
+++ b/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/repository.py
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ UPDATE media SET extracted_text = $4
 WHERE account_id = $1 AND chat_id = $2 AND message_id = $3
 """
 
+_IS_TRANSCRIBED = """
+SELECT extracted_text IS NOT NULL FROM media
+WHERE account_id = $1 AND chat_id = $2 AND message_id = $3
+"""
+
 _VOICE_READS_BOX = """
 SELECT md.chat_id, md.message_id, m.sender_id,
     md.extracted_text IS NULL AS untranscribed
@@ -34,6 +39,12 @@ async def set_extracted_text(
     await pool.execute(_SET_EXTRACTED_TEXT, account_id, chat_id, message_id, text)
 
 
+async def is_transcribed(
+    pool: asyncpg.Pool, account_id: int, chat_id: int, message_id: int
+) -> bool:
+    return bool(await pool.fetchval(_IS_TRANSCRIBED, account_id, chat_id, message_id))
+
+
 async def voice_reads(
     pool: asyncpg.Pool,
     account_id: int,
diff --git a/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/service.py b/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/service.py
index 6c87787..a382b11 100644
--- a/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/service.py
+++ b/backend/src/userbot/modules/stt/service.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from pyrogram.types import Message
 from userbot.modules.capture.context import CaptureContext
 from userbot.modules.media import self_destruct_ttl
 from userbot.modules.stt import repository
+from utils.logging import logger
 
 
 def is_transcribable(message: Message) -> bool:
@@ -12,6 +13,19 @@ def is_transcribable(message: Message) -> bool:
     return message.voice is not None or message.video_note is not None
 
 
+def should_transcribe_on_backfill(message: Message, self_id: int | None) -> bool:
+    if not is_transcribable(message):
+        return False
+    if message.outgoing:
+        return True
+    sender = message.from_user.id if message.from_user else None
+    if sender is None and message.sender_chat is not None:
+        sender = message.sender_chat.id
+    if sender == self_id:
+        return True
+    return not message.unread_media
+
+
 async def transcribe_message(
     client: Client, ctx: CaptureContext, chat_id: int, message_id: int
 ) -> None:
@@ -21,7 +35,18 @@ async def transcribe_message(
     result = await client.invoke(
         raw.functions.messages.TranscribeAudio(peer=peer, msg_id=message_id)
     )
-    if not result.pending and result.text:
+    if result.pending:
+        logger.info(
+            f"[yellow]STT pending {chat_id}/{message_id} "
+            f"(trial_remains={result.trial_remains_num})[/]"
+        )
+        return
+    if result.text:
         await repository.set_extracted_text(
             ctx.pool, ctx.account_id, chat_id, message_id, result.text
         )
+    else:
+        logger.info(
+            f"[yellow]STT empty {chat_id}/{message_id} "
+            f"(trial_remains={result.trial_remains_num})[/]"
+        )
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/db/models.py b/backend/src/utils/db/models.py
index e4d7cac..db72436 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/db/models.py
+++ b/backend/src/utils/db/models.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class JobStatus(StrEnum):
     RUNNING = "running"
     DONE = "done"
     FAILED = "failed"
+    CANCELED = "canceled"
 
 
 class Account(SQLModel, table=True):
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/read/chats.py b/backend/src/utils/read/chats.py
index bdd3da5..d94212c 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/read/chats.py
+++ b/backend/src/utils/read/chats.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ async def _media_map(
         return {}
     media_rows = await pool.fetch(
         "SELECT id, chat_id, message_id, kind, downloaded, mime, file_size, "
-        "ttl_seconds FROM media "
+        "ttl_seconds, extracted_text FROM media "
         "WHERE account_id = $1 AND message_id = ANY($2::bigint[])",
         account_id,
         message_ids,
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/read/message_view.py b/backend/src/utils/read/message_view.py
index 5a8ede2..509e31d 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/read/message_view.py
+++ b/backend/src/utils/read/message_view.py
@@ -356,6 +356,7 @@ def media_ref_from(
         file_size=(media_row["file_size"] if media_row else None)
         or obj.get("file_size"),
         ttl_seconds=media_row["ttl_seconds"] if media_row else None,
+        extracted_text=media_row["extracted_text"] if media_row else None,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/read/models.py b/backend/src/utils/read/models.py
index 2431e9c..3805939 100644
--- a/backend/src/utils/read/models.py
+++ b/backend/src/utils/read/models.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ class MediaRef(BaseModel):
     mime: str | None = None
     file_size: int | None = None
     ttl_seconds: int | None = None
+    extracted_text: str | None = None
 
 
 class ReactionCount(BaseModel):
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api/endpoints.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api/endpoints.ts
index f9fc880..5b31b44 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api/endpoints.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api/endpoints.ts
@@ -280,6 +280,10 @@ export function getJob(jobId: number): Promise<JobView> {
   return request<JobView>(`/jobs/${jobId}`, { account: true });
 }
 
+export function cancelJob(jobId: number): Promise<JobView> {
+  return request<JobView>(`/jobs/${jobId}/cancel`, { method: "POST" });
+}
+
 export function listJobs(status?: JobStatus): Promise<JobView[]> {
   return request<JobView[]>("/jobs", {
     account: true,
@@ -350,6 +354,20 @@ export function fetchMedia(
   });
 }
 
+export function transcribeMedia(
+  chatId: number,
+  messageId: number
+): Promise<{ job_id: number }> {
+  return request<{ job_id: number }>("/media/transcribe", {
+    method: "POST",
+    body: {
+      account_id: accounts.selectedId,
+      chat_id: chatId,
+      message_id: messageId,
+    },
+  });
+}
+
 export function listWatches(): Promise<Watch[]> {
   return request<Watch[]>("/watches", { account: true });
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api/media.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api/media.ts
index 5b9c845..964aa15 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api/media.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api/media.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 import { requestMedia } from "$lib/api/client";
-import { getMessageMedia } from "$lib/api/endpoints";
+import { getMessageMedia, transcribeMedia } from "$lib/api/endpoints";
 import type { MediaRef } from "$lib/api/types";
 import { accounts } from "$lib/stores/accounts.svelte";
 
+const TRANSCRIBE_TRIES = 10;
+const TRANSCRIBE_DELAY = 2000;
+
 export type InlineMedia =
   | {
       state: "ready";
@@ -143,6 +146,43 @@ export function loadMediaItem(media: MediaRef): Promise<InlineMedia> {
   return promise;
 }
 
+function patchTranscript(
+  chatId: number,
+  messageId: number,
+  text: string
+): void {
+  const account = accounts.selectedId;
+  if (account === null) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const cached = ready.get(cacheKey(account, chatId, messageId));
+  if (cached?.state === "ready") {
+    cached.transcript = text;
+  }
+}
+
+export async function requestTranscription(
+  chatId: number,
+  messageId: number
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  await transcribeMedia(chatId, messageId);
+  for (let i = 0; i < TRANSCRIBE_TRIES; i++) {
+    await new Promise((resolve) => {
+      setTimeout(resolve, TRANSCRIBE_DELAY);
+    });
+    try {
+      const meta = await getMessageMedia(chatId, messageId);
+      if (meta.extracted_text) {
+        patchTranscript(chatId, messageId, meta.extracted_text);
+        return meta.extracted_text;
+      }
+    } catch {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 export function loadInlineMedia(
   chatId: number,
   messageId: number
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/MessageMedia.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/MessageMedia.svelte
index fe35c22..0a0fc4b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/MessageMedia.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/MessageMedia.svelte
@@ -106,7 +106,13 @@
       {:else if !loaded}
         <div class="media-skeleton"><Spinner /></div>
       {:else if ready && kind === "voice"}
-        <VoiceMessage url={ready.url} transcript={ready.transcript} {own} />
+        <VoiceMessage
+          url={ready.url}
+          transcript={ready.transcript}
+          chatId={message.chat_id}
+          messageId={message.message_id}
+          {own}
+        />
       {:else if ready && kind === "video_note"}
         <VideoNote url={ready.url} transcript={ready.transcript} />
       {:else if ready && kind === "audio"}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/jobs/JobList.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/jobs/JobList.svelte
index 7e41c6a..7f8020d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/jobs/JobList.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/jobs/JobList.svelte
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { listJobs } from "$lib/api/endpoints";
+  import { cancelJob, listJobs } from "$lib/api/endpoints";
   import type { JobStatus, JobView } from "$lib/api/types";
   import Spinner from "$lib/components/ui/Spinner.svelte";
   import { formatFull } from "$lib/format/datetime";
+  import { toasts } from "$lib/stores/toasts.svelte";
 
   interface Props {
     version?: number;
@@ -33,12 +34,32 @@
 
   let jobs = $state<JobView[]>([]);
   let loading = $state(true);
+  let canceling = $state<number | null>(null);
   let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
 
   function isActive(list: JobView[]): boolean {
     return list.some((j) => j.status === "pending" || j.status === "running");
   }
 
+  function canCancel(job: JobView): boolean {
+    return job.status === "pending" || job.status === "running";
+  }
+
+  async function cancel(job: JobView) {
+    if (canceling !== null) {
+      return;
+    }
+    canceling = job.id;
+    try {
+      await cancelJob(job.id);
+      await load();
+    } catch {
+      toasts.error("Не удалось остановить задачу");
+    } finally {
+      canceling = null;
+    }
+  }
+
   function schedule() {
     if (timer) {
       clearTimeout(timer);
@@ -96,6 +117,16 @@
       <div class="job">
         <div class="job-head">
           <span class="kind">{kindLabel(job.kind)}</span>
+          {#if canCancel(job)}
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              class="stop"
+              onclick={() => cancel(job)}
+              disabled={canceling === job.id}
+            >
+              Стоп
+            </button>
+          {/if}
           <span class="badge {job.status}">{STATUS_LABELS[job.status]}</span>
         </div>
         <div class="meta">
@@ -178,6 +209,33 @@
     &.failed {
       background-color: var(--color-error);
     }
+
+    &.canceled {
+      background-color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+    }
+  }
+
+  .stop {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+
+    padding: 0.0625rem 0.5rem;
+    border: 1px solid var(--color-error);
+    border-radius: 0.625rem;
+
+    font-size: 0.75rem;
+    color: var(--color-error);
+    cursor: pointer;
+    background-color: transparent;
+
+    &:hover:not(:disabled) {
+      color: var(--color-white);
+      background-color: var(--color-error);
+    }
+
+    &:disabled {
+      opacity: 0.5;
+      cursor: default;
+    }
   }
 
   .meta {
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/media/VoiceMessage.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/media/VoiceMessage.svelte
index 3a91b68..065366d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/media/VoiceMessage.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/media/VoiceMessage.svelte
@@ -1,18 +1,51 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+  import { requestTranscription } from "$lib/api/media";
   import Icon from "$lib/components/ui/Icon.svelte";
+  import Spinner from "$lib/components/ui/Spinner.svelte";
   import { formatDuration } from "$lib/format/duration";
   import { claimPlayback, releasePlayback } from "$lib/media/playback";
   import { computeWaveform, flatWaveform } from "$lib/media/waveform";
+  import { toasts } from "$lib/stores/toasts.svelte";
 
   interface Props {
+    chatId: number;
+    messageId: number;
     own: boolean;
     transcript?: string | null;
     url: string;
   }
 
-  let { url, own, transcript = null }: Props = $props();
+  let { url, own, transcript = null, chatId, messageId }: Props = $props();
+
+  let fetched = $state<string | null>(null);
+  let pending = $state(false);
+  const text = $derived(fetched ?? transcript);
 
   let showTranscript = $state(false);
+
+  async function onTranscribe() {
+    if (text) {
+      showTranscript = !showTranscript;
+      return;
+    }
+    if (pending) {
+      return;
+    }
+    pending = true;
+    try {
+      const result = await requestTranscription(chatId, messageId);
+      if (result) {
+        fetched = result;
+        showTranscript = true;
+      } else {
+        toasts.error("Не удалось расшифровать");
+      }
+    } catch {
+      toasts.error("Не удалось расшифровать");
+    } finally {
+      pending = false;
+    }
+  }
   let element = $state<HTMLAudioElement>();
   let peaks = $state<number[]>(flatWaveform());
   let currentTime = $state(0);
@@ -68,7 +101,11 @@
       type="button"
       aria-label="Play voice"
     >
-      <Icon name={paused ? "play" : "pause"} size="1.5rem" />
+      <Icon
+        name={paused ? "play" : "pause"}
+        size="1.5rem"
+        class={paused ? "nudge" : ""}
+      />
     </button>
     <div class="body">
       <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
@@ -83,17 +120,20 @@
       </div>
       <div class="time">{formatDuration(elapsed)}</div>
     </div>
-    {#if transcript}
-      <button
-        class="transcribe"
-        class:active={showTranscript}
-        onclick={() => (showTranscript = !showTranscript)}
-        type="button"
-        aria-label="Show transcription"
-      >
+    <button
+      class="transcribe"
+      class:active={showTranscript && Boolean(text)}
+      disabled={pending}
+      onclick={onTranscribe}
+      type="button"
+      aria-label="Show transcription"
+    >
+      {#if pending}
+        <Spinner color={own ? "white" : "gray"} size="1rem" />
+      {:else}
         <Icon name="transcribe" size="1.125rem" />
-      </button>
-    {/if}
+      {/if}
+    </button>
     <!-- biome-ignore lint/a11y/useMediaCaption: archived voice note has no captions -->
     <audio
       bind:this={element}
@@ -106,8 +146,8 @@
       src={url}
     ></audio>
   </div>
-  {#if transcript && showTranscript}
-    <div class="transcript">{transcript}</div>
+  {#if text && showTranscript}
+    <div class="transcript">{text}</div>
   {/if}
 </div>
 
@@ -158,6 +198,10 @@
       color: var(--toggle-fg);
       background-color: var(--active);
     }
+
+    &:disabled {
+      cursor: default;
+    }
   }
 
   .transcript {
@@ -187,6 +231,10 @@
     color: var(--toggle-fg);
 
     background-color: var(--active);
+
+    :global(.nudge) {
+      transform: translateX(0.0625rem);
+    }
   }
 
   .body {
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/styles/global.scss b/frontend/src/lib/styles/global.scss
index a6d44a4..96f3f6f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/styles/global.scss
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/styles/global.scss
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ body {
   box-sizing: border-box;
 }
 
+.icon {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  line-height: 1;
+}
+
 .icon::before {
   font-family: "icons" !important;
   speak: none;