diff --git a/Notes Watch App/Services/WatchAudioRecorder.swift b/Notes Watch App/Services/WatchAudioRecorder.swift
index 3d13a21..b5057aa 100644
--- a/Notes Watch App/Services/WatchAudioRecorder.swift	
+++ b/Notes Watch App/Services/WatchAudioRecorder.swift	
@@ -71,7 +71,13 @@ final class WatchAudioRecorder {
         guard !isRecording else { return }
 
         let session = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
-        try session.setCategory(.record, mode: .spokenAudio)
+        do {
+            try session.setCategory(.record, mode: .spokenAudio)
+        } catch {
+            // .spokenAudio isn't guaranteed compatible with .record on every
+            // route — fall back rather than refuse to record at all.
+            try session.setCategory(.record, mode: .default)
+        }
         try session.setActive(true)
 
         let dir = Self.recordingsDirectory
diff --git a/Notes Watch App/Views/RecordView.swift b/Notes Watch App/Views/RecordView.swift
index aeeb7ad..0473ad8 100644
--- a/Notes Watch App/Views/RecordView.swift	
+++ b/Notes Watch App/Views/RecordView.swift	
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ struct RecordView: View {
                     Text(Self.elapsedString(recorder.elapsed))
                         .font(.system(.title3, design: .rounded).monospacedDigit())
                         .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                } else if let error = services.lastError {
+                    Text(error)
+                        .font(.caption2)
+                        .foregroundStyle(.red)
+                        .multilineTextAlignment(.center)
+                        .lineLimit(3)
                 } else {
                     Text("Tap to record")
                         .font(.footnote)
@@ -24,6 +30,7 @@ struct RecordView: View {
                 }
                 pendingFooter
             }
+            buildFooter
         }
         .padding()
         .containerBackground(.red.gradient, for: .navigation)
@@ -76,6 +83,16 @@ struct RecordView: View {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Version + build stamped by update_build_number.sh, so a tester can tell
+    /// at a glance which build the watch actually installed.
+    private var buildFooter: some View {
+        let version = Bundle.main.object(forInfoDictionaryKey: "CFBundleShortVersionString") as? String ?? "?"
+        let build = Bundle.main.object(forInfoDictionaryKey: "CFBundleVersion") as? String ?? "?"
+        return Text("v\(version) (\(build))")
+            .font(.system(size: 10))
+            .foregroundStyle(.tertiary)
+    }
+
     /// mm:ss for the elapsed readout.
     static func elapsedString(_ interval: TimeInterval) -> String {
         let total = Int(interval)
diff --git a/Notes Watch App/WatchAppServices.swift b/Notes Watch App/WatchAppServices.swift
index 654e624..9274741 100644
--- a/Notes Watch App/WatchAppServices.swift	
+++ b/Notes Watch App/WatchAppServices.swift	
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ final class WatchAppServices {
 
     private let logger = Logger(subsystem: "dev.rzen.indie.Notes.watchkitapp", category: "recording")
 
+    /// Why the last start attempt failed, surfaced in the UI — on a real watch
+    /// there's no console, so a silent failure is indistinguishable from a dead
+    /// button. Cleared when a recording starts successfully.
+    private(set) var lastError: String?
+
     /// Request permission (once) then begin recording. A no-op if already
     /// recording or permission is refused.
     func startRecording() async {
@@ -44,8 +49,10 @@ final class WatchAppServices {
         }
         do {
             try recorder.startRecording()
+            lastError = nil
         } catch {
             logger.error("could not start recording: \(error, privacy: .public)")
+            lastError = error.localizedDescription
         }
     }