diff --git a/ttstoy/webui/templates/dashboard.html b/ttstoy/webui/templates/dashboard.html
index 4796c85..fd05ac2 100644
--- a/ttstoy/webui/templates/dashboard.html
+++ b/ttstoy/webui/templates/dashboard.html
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@
     </div>
   </div>
   <div style="display:flex;gap:0.75rem;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;">
-    <button class="btn btn-primary" onclick="submitTTS()">
-      <span id="spinner" class="spin" style="display:none;"></span> Speak in VC
+    <button class="btn btn-primary" id="vc-btn" onclick="submitTTS()" disabled style="opacity:0.5;">
+      <span id="spinner" class="spin" style="display:none;"></span><span id="vc-lock">&#x1F512;</span> Speak in VC
     </button>
     <button class="btn btn-secondary" id="gen-only-btn" onclick="generateOnly()" style="display:none;">
       <span id="gen-spinner" class="spin" style="display:none;"></span> Generate Only
@@ -359,6 +359,23 @@ loadSettings();
 loadSfxEmojis();
 // Show generate-only button for all modes
 document.getElementById('gen-only-btn').style.display = '';
+
+// VC lock toggle — click the lock icon to unlock
+document.getElementById('vc-lock').addEventListener('click', function(e) {
+  e.stopPropagation();
+  const btn = document.getElementById('vc-btn');
+  const lock = document.getElementById('vc-lock');
+  if (btn.disabled) {
+    btn.disabled = false;
+    btn.style.opacity = '1';
+    lock.textContent = '\u{1F513}';
+  } else {
+    btn.disabled = true;
+    btn.style.opacity = '0.5';
+    lock.textContent = '\u{1F512}';
+  }
+});
+document.getElementById('vc-lock').style.cursor = 'pointer';
 let sfxEmojis = [];
 let sfxDrawerOpen = false;