diff --git a/VoiceInk/PlaybackController.swift b/VoiceInk/PlaybackController.swift
index 4d11502..b4dfd3b 100644
--- a/VoiceInk/PlaybackController.swift
+++ b/VoiceInk/PlaybackController.swift
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ import Combine
 import Foundation
 import SwiftUI
 import MediaRemoteAdapter
-
-/// Pauses media when recording starts, resumes when recording stops
 class PlaybackController: ObservableObject {
     static let shared = PlaybackController()
     private var mediaController: MediaRemoteAdapter.MediaController
@@ -12,6 +10,7 @@ class PlaybackController: ObservableObject {
     private var isMediaPlaying = false
     private var lastKnownTrackInfo: TrackInfo?
     private var originalMediaAppBundleId: String?
+
     
     @Published var isPauseMediaEnabled: Bool = UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: "isPauseMediaEnabled") {
         didSet {
@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ class PlaybackController: ObservableObject {
         mediaController = MediaRemoteAdapter.MediaController()
         
         if !UserDefaults.standard.contains(key: "isPauseMediaEnabled") {
-            UserDefaults.standard.set(true, forKey: "isPauseMediaEnabled")
+            UserDefaults.standard.set(false, forKey: "isPauseMediaEnabled")
         }
         
         mediaController.startListening()
@@ -40,29 +39,47 @@ class PlaybackController: ObservableObject {
     }
     
     func pauseMedia() async {
-        guard isPauseMediaEnabled else { return }
-
-        if isMediaPlaying {
-            wasPlayingWhenRecordingStarted = true
-            originalMediaAppBundleId = lastKnownTrackInfo?.payload.bundleIdentifier
-            mediaController.pause()
-        } else {
-            wasPlayingWhenRecordingStarted = false
-            originalMediaAppBundleId = nil
+        wasPlayingWhenRecordingStarted = false
+        originalMediaAppBundleId = nil
+        
+        guard isPauseMediaEnabled, 
+              isMediaPlaying,
+              lastKnownTrackInfo?.payload.isPlaying == true,
+              let bundleId = lastKnownTrackInfo?.payload.bundleIdentifier else {
+            return
         }
+        
+        wasPlayingWhenRecordingStarted = true
+        originalMediaAppBundleId = bundleId
+        mediaController.pause()
     }
 
     func resumeMedia() async {
-        guard isPauseMediaEnabled, wasPlayingWhenRecordingStarted else { return }
-        
-        if let bundleId = originalMediaAppBundleId, isAppStillRunning(bundleId: bundleId) {
-            mediaController.play()
+        defer {
+            wasPlayingWhenRecordingStarted = false
+            originalMediaAppBundleId = nil
         }
         
-        originalMediaAppBundleId = nil
+        guard isPauseMediaEnabled,
+              wasPlayingWhenRecordingStarted,
+              let bundleId = originalMediaAppBundleId else {
+            return
+        }
+        
+        guard isAppStillRunning(bundleId: bundleId) else {
+            return
+        }
+        
+        guard let currentTrackInfo = lastKnownTrackInfo,
+              let currentBundleId = currentTrackInfo.payload.bundleIdentifier,
+              currentBundleId == bundleId,
+              currentTrackInfo.payload.isPlaying == false else {
+            return
+        }
+        
+        mediaController.play()
     }
     
-    /// Checks if an app with the given bundle identifier is currently running
     private func isAppStillRunning(bundleId: String) -> Bool {
         let runningApps = NSWorkspace.shared.runningApplications
         return runningApps.contains { $0.bundleIdentifier == bundleId }
diff --git a/VoiceInk/Recorder.swift b/VoiceInk/Recorder.swift
index a623c6d..582774f 100644
--- a/VoiceInk/Recorder.swift
+++ b/VoiceInk/Recorder.swift
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ class Recorder: ObservableObject {
         audioMeter = AudioMeter(averagePower: 0, peakPower: 0)
         
         Task {
-            // Complete system audio operations first
             await mediaController.unmuteSystemAudio()
+            try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 100_000_000)
             await playbackController.resumeMedia()
         }
         deviceManager.isRecordingActive = false
diff --git a/VoiceInk/Views/Settings/SettingsView.swift b/VoiceInk/Views/Settings/SettingsView.swift
index 2201d2d..ac4aafc 100644
--- a/VoiceInk/Views/Settings/SettingsView.swift
+++ b/VoiceInk/Views/Settings/SettingsView.swift
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import Cocoa
 import KeyboardShortcuts
 import LaunchAtLogin
 import AVFoundation
-// Additional imports for Settings components
 
 struct SettingsView: View {
     @EnvironmentObject private var updaterViewModel: UpdaterViewModel
@@ -23,7 +22,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
     var body: some View {
         ScrollView {
             VStack(spacing: 24) {
-                // Hotkey Selection Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "command.circle",
                     title: "VoiceInk Shortcut",
@@ -36,7 +34,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                             shortcutName: .toggleMiniRecorder
                         )
 
-                        // Hotkey 2 Configuration (Conditional)
                         if hotkeyManager.selectedHotkey2 != .none {
                             Divider()
                             hotkeyView(
@@ -50,7 +47,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                             )
                         }
 
-                        // "Add another hotkey" button
                         if hotkeyManager.selectedHotkey1 != .none && hotkeyManager.selectedHotkey2 == .none {
                             HStack {
                                 Spacer()
@@ -71,7 +67,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
 
                         Divider()
 
-                        // Cancel Recording Override Toggle
                         Toggle(isOn: $isCustomCancelEnabled) {
                             Text("Override default double-tap Escape cancellation")
                         }
@@ -82,7 +77,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                             }
                         }
                         
-                        // Show shortcut recorder only when override is enabled
                         if isCustomCancelEnabled {
                             HStack(spacing: 12) {
                                 Text("Custom Cancel Shortcut")
@@ -123,7 +117,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
-                // Recording Feedback Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "speaker.wave.2.bubble.left.fill",
                     title: "Recording Feedback",
@@ -145,16 +138,15 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                         .help("Automatically mute system audio when recording starts and restore when recording stops")
 
                         Toggle(isOn: $playbackController.isPauseMediaEnabled) {
-                            Text("Pause media during recording")
+                            Text("Pause media during recording (Experimental)")
                         }
                         .toggleStyle(.switch)
-                        .help("Automatically pause active media playback when recording starts and resume when recording stops")
+                        .help("Automatically pause active media playback when recording starts and resume when recording stops. This feature is experimental and may occasionally cause unexpected behavior.")
 
 
                     }
                 }
 
-                // Recorder Preference Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "rectangle.on.rectangle",
                     title: "Recorder Style",
@@ -173,7 +165,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
-                // Paste Method Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "doc.on.clipboard",
                     title: "Paste Method",
@@ -191,7 +182,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
-                // App Appearance Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "dock.rectangle",
                     title: "App Appearance",
@@ -206,7 +196,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
-                // Data & Privacy Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "lock.shield",
                     title: "Data & Privacy",
@@ -215,7 +204,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     AudioCleanupSettingsView()
                 }
                 
-                // Startup Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "power",
                     title: "Startup",
@@ -230,7 +218,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
                 
-                // Updates Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "arrow.triangle.2.circlepath",
                     title: "Updates",
@@ -249,7 +236,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
-                // Reset Onboarding Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "arrow.counterclockwise",
                     title: "Reset Onboarding",
@@ -267,7 +253,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     }
                 }
 
-                // Data Management Section
                 SettingsSection(
                     icon: "arrow.up.arrow.down.circle",
                     title: "Data Management",
@@ -320,7 +305,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
         }
         .background(Color(NSColor.controlBackgroundColor))
         .onAppear {
-            // Initialize custom cancel shortcut state from stored preferences
             isCustomCancelEnabled = KeyboardShortcuts.getShortcut(for: .cancelRecorder) != nil
         }
         .alert("Reset Onboarding", isPresented: $showResetOnboardingAlert) {