diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6b9e2e0..7181bfe 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ install.sh            install / uninstall into a local prefix
 bin/meetrec           GUI launcher (installed into ~/.local/bin)
 bin/meetrec-cli       CLI launcher (installed into ~/.local/bin)
 share/applications/meetrec.desktop   XDG desktop entry
-share/icons/hicolor/                app icon (SVG + PNG fallbacks)
+share/icons/hicolor/                app icon (PNGs; source: icon/make_icon_v3.py)
 android/              native Android app (Kotlin + whisper.cpp JNI)
 ```
 
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/drawable-nodpi/ic_launcher_bg.png b/android/app/src/main/res/drawable-nodpi/ic_launcher_bg.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30fb91e
Binary files /dev/null and b/android/app/src/main/res/drawable-nodpi/ic_launcher_bg.png differ
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/drawable-nodpi/ic_launcher_fg.png b/android/app/src/main/res/drawable-nodpi/ic_launcher_fg.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..145a07d
Binary files /dev/null and b/android/app/src/main/res/drawable-nodpi/ic_launcher_fg.png differ
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_launcher_foreground.xml b/android/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_launcher_foreground.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2a04521..0000000
--- a/android/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_launcher_foreground.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
-    android:width="108dp"
-    android:height="108dp"
-    android:viewportWidth="108"
-    android:viewportHeight="108">
-    <!-- MeetRec glyph: mic + waveform (voice becoming transcript). -->
-    <path
-        android:fillColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:pathData="M45.6,24.6h16.8a8.4,8.4 0 0 1 8.4,8.4v8.4a8.4,8.4 0 0 1 -8.4,8.4h-16.8a8.4,8.4 0 0 1 -8.4,-8.4v-8.4a8.4,8.4 0 0 1 8.4,-8.4z" />
-    <path
-        android:strokeColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:strokeWidth="5.4"
-        android:strokeLineCap="round"
-        android:pathData="M37.2,42.6 v4.8 a16.8,16.8 0 0 0 33.6,0 v-4.8" />
-    <path
-        android:fillColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:pathData="M34.8,71.4h4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,2.4v3.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,2.4h-4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,-2.4v-3.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,-2.4z" />
-    <path
-        android:fillColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:pathData="M43.2,68.4h4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,2.4v9.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,2.4h-4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,-2.4v-9.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,-2.4z" />
-    <path
-        android:fillColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:pathData="M51.6,70.8h4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,2.4v4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,2.4h-4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,-2.4v-4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,-2.4z" />
-    <path
-        android:fillColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:pathData="M59.9,68.4h4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,2.4v9.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,2.4h-4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,-2.4v-9.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,-2.4z" />
-    <path
-        android:fillColor="#FFFFFF"
-        android:pathData="M68.4,71.4h4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,2.4v3.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,2.4h-4.8a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 -2.4,-2.4v-3.6a2.4,2.4 0 0 1 2.4,-2.4z" />
-</vector>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher.xml b/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher.xml
index 2d2852f..524a89f 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <adaptive-icon xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-    <background android:drawable="@color/launcher_bg" />
-    <foreground android:drawable="@drawable/ic_launcher_foreground" />
+    <!-- meetrec icon v3 (see icon/make_icon_v3.py): near-black gradient
+         tile with a red record button; used full-bleed as the background
+         layer so the launcher mask crops it to shape. -->
+    <background android:drawable="@drawable/ic_launcher_bg" />
+    <foreground android:drawable="@drawable/ic_launcher_fg" />
 </adaptive-icon>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher_round.xml b/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher_round.xml
index 2d2852f..075e83f 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher_round.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/res/mipmap-anydpi-v26/ic_launcher_round.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <adaptive-icon xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-    <background android:drawable="@color/launcher_bg" />
-    <foreground android:drawable="@drawable/ic_launcher_foreground" />
+    <background android:drawable="@drawable/ic_launcher_bg" />
+    <foreground android:drawable="@drawable/ic_launcher_fg" />
 </adaptive-icon>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml b/android/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 1c86d4c..0000000
--- a/android/app/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<resources>
-    <color name="launcher_bg">#C0392B</color>
-</resources>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/icon/make_icon_v3.py b/icon/make_icon_v3.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..89b7bf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/icon/make_icon_v3.py
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""MeetRec icon v3 — mic/transcript glyph inside a big record button.
+Gradient tile + soft shadow + large red record circle; the mic whose
+capsule is a transcript card sits inside the button.
+"""
+import numpy as np
+from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFilter
+
+S = 512
+RADIUS = 116
+
+def vgrad(c_top, c_bot):
+    """Vertical gradient as an RGB ndarray (S, S, 3)."""
+    c_top = np.array(c_top, dtype=float)
+    c_bot = np.array(c_bot, dtype=float)
+    t = (np.arange(S)[:, None, None] / (S - 1))
+    arr = c_top[None, None, :] * (1 - t) + c_bot[None, None, :] * t
+    return np.repeat(arr, S, axis=1).astype(np.uint8)
+
+# --- Near-black tile background (subtle depth) ---
+bg = vgrad((0x18, 0x18, 0x18), (0x00, 0x00, 0x00))
+img = Image.fromarray(np.dstack([bg, np.full((S, S), 255, np.uint8)]), "RGBA")
+
+# --- Rounded-square mask (app tile) ---
+mask = Image.new("L", (S, S), 0)
+ImageDraw.Draw(mask).rounded_rectangle([0, 0, S - 1, S - 1], radius=RADIUS, fill=255)
+out = Image.new("RGBA", (S, S), (0, 0, 0, 0))
+out.paste(img, (0, 0), mask)
+
+# --- Big record button (red vertical gradient circle) ---
+CX, CY, R = 256, 256, 176
+red = vgrad((0xFF, 0x8A, 0x8A), (0xDD, 0x2B, 0x3A))
+red_img = Image.fromarray(np.dstack([red, np.full((S, S), 255, np.uint8)]), "RGBA")
+circ = Image.new("L", (S, S), 0)
+ImageDraw.Draw(circ).ellipse([CX - R, CY - R, CX + R, CY + R], fill=255)
+out.paste(red_img, (0, 0), circ)
+
+d = ImageDraw.Draw(out)
+WHITE = (255, 255, 255, 255)
+REDINK = (0xD9, 0x26, 0x37, 255)   # red "text" on the white card
+
+# --- Button bezel ring ---
+d.ellipse([CX - R - 14, CY - R - 14, CX + R + 14, CY + R + 14],
+          outline=(255, 255, 255, 190), width=6)
+
+# --- Mic/transcript glyph (v2 design, centered in the button) ---
+# Capsule = transcript card
+d.rounded_rectangle([192, 117, 320, 277], radius=30, fill=WHITE)
+# Text lines + typing cursor
+d.rounded_rectangle([214, 149, 298, 161], radius=6, fill=REDINK)
+d.rounded_rectangle([214, 181, 298, 193], radius=6, fill=REDINK)
+d.rounded_rectangle([214, 213, 274, 225], radius=6, fill=REDINK)
+d.rounded_rectangle([214, 245, 254, 257], radius=6, fill=REDINK)
+d.rounded_rectangle([266, 242, 273, 260], radius=3, fill=REDINK)
+# Cradle, stem, base
+d.arc([178, 155, 334, 335], start=0, end=180, fill=WHITE, width=18)
+d.line([256, 333, 256, 369], fill=WHITE, width=18)
+d.rounded_rectangle([212, 365, 300, 387], radius=11, fill=WHITE)
+
+# --- Export sizes ---
+master = out.resize((1024, 1024), Image.LANCZOS)
+for sz in [1024, 512, 256, 128, 64, 32]:
+    master.resize((sz, sz), Image.LANCZOS).save(f"meetrec-icon-v3-{sz}.png")
+
+print("done")
diff --git a/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-1024.png b/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-1024.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..098023a
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diff --git a/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-128.png b/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-128.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db58d1f
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diff --git a/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-256.png b/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-256.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ac33be
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diff --git a/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-32.png b/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-32.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c76517
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diff --git a/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-512.png b/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-512.png
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index 0000000..30fb91e
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diff --git a/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-64.png b/icon/meetrec-icon-v3-64.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4c655ca
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diff --git a/share/icons/hicolor/128x128/apps/meetrec.png b/share/icons/hicolor/128x128/apps/meetrec.png
index b97e34d..db58d1f 100644
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diff --git a/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/meetrec.png b/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/meetrec.png
index 9fc962b..3ac33be 100644
Binary files a/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/meetrec.png and b/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/apps/meetrec.png differ
diff --git a/share/icons/hicolor/32x32/apps/meetrec.png b/share/icons/hicolor/32x32/apps/meetrec.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3c76517
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diff --git a/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/meetrec.png b/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/meetrec.png
index 36f3c51..429bff5 100644
Binary files a/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/meetrec.png and b/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/meetrec.png differ
diff --git a/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps/meetrec.png b/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps/meetrec.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30fb91e
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diff --git a/share/icons/hicolor/64x64/apps/meetrec.png b/share/icons/hicolor/64x64/apps/meetrec.png
index d53cc97..4c655ca 100644
Binary files a/share/icons/hicolor/64x64/apps/meetrec.png and b/share/icons/hicolor/64x64/apps/meetrec.png differ
diff --git a/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/meetrec.svg b/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/meetrec.svg
deleted file mode 100644
index 0911c5b..0000000
--- a/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/meetrec.svg
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<svg width="128" height="128" viewBox="0 0 128 128" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
-  <title>MeetRec</title>
-  <defs>
-    <linearGradient id="bg" x1="0" y1="0" x2="0" y2="1">
-      <stop offset="0" stop-color="#e74c3c"/>
-      <stop offset="1" stop-color="#922b21"/>
-    </linearGradient>
-  </defs>
-
-  <rect x="4" y="4" width="120" height="120" rx="28" fill="url(#bg)"/>
-
-  <!-- microphone: capsule + cradle -->
-  <rect x="50" y="18" width="28" height="42" rx="14" fill="#ffffff"/>
-  <path d="M 36 48 v 8 a 28 28 0 0 0 56 0 v -8"
-        fill="none" stroke="#ffffff" stroke-width="9" stroke-linecap="round"/>
-
-  <!-- waveform: voice becoming transcript -->
-  <g fill="#ffffff">
-    <rect x="32" y="96" width="8" height="14" rx="4"/>
-    <rect x="46" y="91" width="8" height="24" rx="4"/>
-    <rect x="60" y="95" width="8" height="16" rx="4"/>
-    <rect x="74" y="91" width="8" height="24" rx="4"/>
-    <rect x="88" y="96" width="8" height="14" rx="4"/>
-  </g>
-</svg>
\ No newline at end of file