diff --git a/src/plugins/api-server/backend/main.ts b/src/plugins/api-server/backend/main.ts
index 11600de8b5..ffe1d41f74 100644
--- a/src/plugins/api-server/backend/main.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/api-server/backend/main.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { registerCallback } from '@/providers/song-info';
 import { createBackend } from '@/utils';
 
 import { JWTPayloadSchema } from './scheme';
-import { registerAuth, registerControl, registerWebsocket } from './routes';
+import { registerAuth, registerControl, registerWebsocket, wsNotifyClose } from './routes';
 
 import { APPLICATION_NAME } from '@/i18n';
 
@@ -31,8 +31,14 @@ import type {
 
 export const backend = createBackend<BackendType, APIServerConfig>({
   async start(ctx) {
+    const { app } = await import('electron');
     const config = await ctx.getConfig();
 
+    // Notify WebSocket clients that playback has stopped before quitting
+    app.on('before-quit', () => {
+      wsNotifyClose?.();
+    });
+
     this.init(ctx);
     registerCallback((songInfo) => {
       this.songInfo = songInfo;
@@ -201,6 +207,7 @@ export const backend = createBackend<BackendType, APIServerConfig>({
     }
   },
   end() {
+    wsNotifyClose?.();
     this.server?.close();
     this.server = undefined;
   },
diff --git a/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/index.ts b/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/index.ts
index a2467098e8..1c4370594b 100644
--- a/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/index.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/index.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 export { register as registerControl } from './control';
 export { register as registerAuth } from './auth';
-export { register as registerWebsocket } from './websocket';
+export { register as registerWebsocket, wsNotifyClose } from './websocket';
diff --git a/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/websocket.ts b/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/websocket.ts
index c71987d832..86a4b1a282 100644
--- a/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/websocket.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/api-server/backend/routes/websocket.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,18 @@ export const register = (
     );
   };
 
+  // Notify all WebSocket clients that playback has stopped (e.g. app closing/hiding)
+  // We intentionally do NOT close or clear sockets here so that clients like
+  // Boring Notch keep their connection alive and can receive updates when
+  // Pear Desktop comes back from hiding.
+  wsNotifyClose = () => {
+    console.log(`[API Server WebSocket] NotifyClose called. Sending isPlaying:false to ${sockets.size} clients.`);
+    send(DataTypes.PlayerStateChanged, {
+      isPlaying: false,
+      position: lastSongInfo?.elapsedSeconds ?? 0,
+    });
+  };
+
   const createPlayerState = ({
     songInfo,
     volumeState,
@@ -152,3 +164,7 @@ export const register = (
     })) as (ctx: Context, next: Next) => Promise<Response>,
   );
 };
+
+// Exposed so the backend can call it on app close/hide
+export let wsNotifyClose: (() => void) | undefined;
+