diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index da89fd7a..105a075e 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -1138,6 +1138,14 @@ impl EffectcraftApp {
         true
     }
 
+    /// A preview plays with Video off in the Preview panel (audio only): the current time stays
+    /// put, so the viewer and Timeline say so instead of looking stuck (#1118). The frame under
+    /// the audible sample, when one is known.
+    pub fn video_preview_off(&self) -> Option<Option<i64>> {
+        let p = self.playback.plan.filter(|_| self.playback.playing)?;
+        (!p.video).then_some(self.playback.audio_frame)
+    }
+
     /// The viewer shows grids, guides and safe margins (hidden while a preview without
     /// Include Overlays plays).
     pub fn overlays_visible(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
index 76977ed7..5d558036 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
@@ -1483,7 +1483,15 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
     } else {
         effectcraft_engine::time::format_timecode_ae(fr.frame_at(time + comp.display_start), fr, false)
     };
-    p.text(pos2(tc_rect.min.x, tc_rect.max.y + 8.0), Align2::LEFT_CENTER, format!("{other} ({:.2} fps)", fr.as_f64()), Tokens::ui(10.5), t.text_faint);
+    // Audio-only preview (Video off in the Preview panel): the current time stays put, so that
+    // line says why and where the sound is instead (#1118).
+    if let Some(af) = app.video_preview_off() {
+        let at = af.map(|f| format!(" · {}", effectcraft_engine::time::format_timecode_ae(f + fr.frame_at(comp.display_start), fr, false))).unwrap_or_default();
+        let msg = format!("{}{at}", crate::i18n::tr("Video preview off: audio only"));
+        p.text(pos2(tc_rect.min.x, tc_rect.max.y + 8.0), Align2::LEFT_CENTER, msg, Tokens::ui(10.5), t.cache_green);
+    } else {
+        p.text(pos2(tc_rect.min.x, tc_rect.max.y + 8.0), Align2::LEFT_CENTER, format!("{other} ({:.2} fps)", fr.as_f64()), Tokens::ui(10.5), t.text_faint);
+    }
     app.auto.add("timeline.timecode", tc_rect, &tc);
     super::toggle_time_display(app, &tc_resp);
     if tc_resp.dragged() {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
index 6d47ce40..f4bb5a88 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer.rs
@@ -2018,6 +2018,12 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
         painter.rect_filled(r, 11.0, Color32::from_black_alpha(170));
         painter.text(r.center(), Align2::CENTER_CENTER, crate::i18n::tr("Caching frames…"), Tokens::ui(11.5), t.cache_green);
     }
+    if app.video_preview_off().is_some() {
+        let r = Rect::from_min_size(area.min + vec2(10.0, 10.0), vec2(330.0, 22.0));
+        painter.rect_filled(r, 11.0, Color32::from_black_alpha(190));
+        painter.text(r.center(), Align2::CENTER_CENTER, crate::i18n::tr("Video preview is off (Preview panel): audio only"), Tokens::ui(11.5), t.timecode);
+        ui.ctx().data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(egui::Id::new("viewer-video-off-chip"), r));
+    }
 
     vt::draw_snap(&ctx, &painter, &map, &ectx);
     vt::rulers(app, ui, &map, outer, area);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_video_preview_off.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_video_preview_off.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e27a37c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/ui_video_preview_off.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+//! #1118: a preview with Video off in the Preview panel says so while it plays.
+
+use effectcraft_engine::Session;
+use effectcraft_ui_egui::EffectcraftApp;
+use egui_kittest::Harness;
+use serde_json::json;
+
+fn frame(h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>) -> i64 {
+    let app = h.state();
+    let c = app.session.active_comp().unwrap();
+    c.frame_rate.frame_at(app.session.time())
+}
+
+/// #1118: with Video off in the Preview panel the preview plays audio only and the current time
+/// stays put; the viewer says so while it plays, and stops saying so once it stops.
+#[test]
+fn an_audio_only_preview_says_video_preview_is_off() {
+    let mut s = Session::default();
+    s.execute("comp.new", json!({"name": "Muted", "width": 320, "height": 180, "duration": 10})).unwrap();
+    let sc = s.prefs.preview.current;
+    s.prefs.preview.get_mut(sc).include_video = false;
+    let mut h = Harness::builder().with_size(egui::vec2(1400.0, 900.0)).with_step_dt(1.0 / 30.0).build_eframe(|_| EffectcraftApp::new(s));
+    h.run_steps(4);
+    let chip = |h: &Harness<'_, EffectcraftApp>| h.ctx.data(|d| d.get_temp::<egui::Rect>(egui::Id::new("viewer-video-off-chip")));
+    assert!(chip(&h).is_none());
+    let now = h.ctx.input(|i| i.time);
+    h.state_mut().play(now);
+    h.run_steps(10);
+    assert!(h.state().video_preview_off().is_some());
+    assert!(chip(&h).is_some(), "the viewer shows the Video-off notice");
+    assert_eq!(frame(&h), 0, "the current time stays put with Video off");
+    h.state_mut().stop();
+    h.ctx.data_mut(|d| d.remove::<egui::Rect>(egui::Id::new("viewer-video-off-chip")));
+    h.run_steps(3);
+    assert!(h.state().video_preview_off().is_none());
+    assert!(chip(&h).is_none(), "no notice once stopped");
+}