diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/media.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/media.rs
index 2ac353e..ded3e22 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/media.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/media.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::process::Command;
 
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+use std::os::windows::process::CommandExt;
+
 /// Extract audio from a video file to a WAV file using ffmpeg.
 /// Returns the path to the extracted audio file.
 #[tauri::command]
@@ -23,8 +26,8 @@ pub fn extract_audio(file_path: String) -> Result<String, String> {
     // Find ffmpeg — check sidecar extract dir first, then system PATH
     let ffmpeg = find_ffmpeg().ok_or("ffmpeg not found. Install ffmpeg or ensure it's in PATH.")?;
 
-    let status = Command::new(&ffmpeg)
-        .args([
+    let mut cmd = Command::new(&ffmpeg);
+    cmd.args([
             "-y",             // Overwrite output
             "-i",
             &file_path,
@@ -38,7 +41,13 @@ pub fn extract_audio(file_path: String) -> Result<String, String> {
         ])
         .arg(output.to_str().unwrap())
         .stdout(std::process::Stdio::null())
-        .stderr(std::process::Stdio::piped())
+        .stderr(std::process::Stdio::piped());
+
+    // Hide the console window on Windows (CREATE_NO_WINDOW = 0x08000000)
+    #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+    cmd.creation_flags(0x08000000);
+
+    let status = cmd
         .status()
         .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to run ffmpeg: {e}"))?;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/settings.ts b/src/lib/stores/settings.ts
index d8d208b..9b011a9 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/settings.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/settings.ts
@@ -52,11 +52,7 @@ export async function loadSettings(): Promise<void> {
   }
 }
 
-export async function saveSettings(s: AppSettings): Promise<void> {
-  settings.set(s);
-  await invoke('save_settings', { settings: s });
-
-  // Configure the AI provider in the Python sidecar
+export async function configureAIProvider(s: AppSettings): Promise<void> {
   const configMap: Record<string, Record<string, string>> = {
     openai: { api_key: s.openai_api_key, model: s.openai_model },
     anthropic: { api_key: s.anthropic_api_key, model: s.anthropic_model },
@@ -68,7 +64,15 @@ export async function saveSettings(s: AppSettings): Promise<void> {
     try {
       await invoke('ai_configure', { provider: s.ai_provider, config });
     } catch {
-      // Sidecar may not be running yet — provider will be configured on first use
+      // Sidecar may not be running yet
     }
   }
 }
+
+export async function saveSettings(s: AppSettings): Promise<void> {
+  settings.set(s);
+  await invoke('save_settings', { settings: s });
+
+  // Configure the AI provider in the Python sidecar
+  await configureAIProvider(s);
+}
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 0522aa9..67d16eb 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   import SettingsModal from '$lib/components/SettingsModal.svelte';
   import SidecarSetup from '$lib/components/SidecarSetup.svelte';
   import { segments, speakers } from '$lib/stores/transcript';
-  import { settings, loadSettings } from '$lib/stores/settings';
+  import { settings, loadSettings, configureAIProvider } from '$lib/stores/settings';
   import type { Segment, Speaker } from '$lib/types/transcript';
   import { onMount, tick } from 'svelte';
 
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 
   function handleSidecarSetupComplete() {
     sidecarReady = true;
+    configureAIProvider($settings);
     checkSidecarUpdate();
   }
 
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@
     });
     checkSidecar().then(() => {
       if (sidecarReady) {
+        configureAIProvider($settings);
         checkSidecarUpdate();
       }
     });
@@ -120,6 +122,7 @@
   let transcriptionProgress = $state(0);
   let transcriptionStage = $state('');
   let transcriptionMessage = $state('');
+  let extractingAudio = $state(false);
 
   // Speaker color palette for auto-assignment
   const speakerColors = ['#e94560', '#4ecdc4', '#ffe66d', '#a8e6cf', '#ff8b94', '#c7ceea', '#ffd93d', '#6bcb77'];
@@ -271,6 +274,8 @@
     const ext = filePath.split('.').pop()?.toLowerCase() ?? '';
     let audioPath = filePath;
     if (VIDEO_EXTENSIONS.includes(ext)) {
+      extractingAudio = true;
+      await tick();
       try {
         audioPath = await invoke<string>('extract_audio', { filePath });
       } catch (err) {
@@ -289,6 +294,8 @@
           alert(`Failed to extract audio from video: ${msg}`);
         }
         return;
+      } finally {
+        extractingAudio = false;
       }
     }
 
@@ -602,6 +609,15 @@
     message={transcriptionMessage}
   />
 
+  {#if extractingAudio}
+    <div class="extraction-overlay">
+      <div class="extraction-card">
+        <div class="extraction-spinner"></div>
+        <p>Extracting audio from video...</p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
+
   <SettingsModal
     visible={showSettings}
     onClose={() => showSettings = false}
@@ -808,4 +824,39 @@
   .update-dismiss:hover {
     color: #e0e0e0;
   }
+
+  /* Audio extraction overlay */
+  .extraction-overlay {
+    position: fixed;
+    inset: 0;
+    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    z-index: 9999;
+  }
+  .extraction-card {
+    background: #16213e;
+    padding: 2rem 2.5rem;
+    border-radius: 12px;
+    color: #e0e0e0;
+    border: 1px solid #2a3a5e;
+    box-shadow: 0 8px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 1rem;
+  }
+  .extraction-card p {
+    margin: 0;
+    font-size: 1rem;
+  }
+  .extraction-spinner {
+    width: 32px;
+    height: 32px;
+    border: 3px solid #2a3a5e;
+    border-top-color: #e94560;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    animation: spin 0.8s linear infinite;
+  }
 </style>