diff --git a/static/app.js b/static/app.js
index 0b5899f..2da9b75 100644
--- a/static/app.js
+++ b/static/app.js
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ var maxReconnectDelay = 16000;
 var myNickname = null;
 var isHost = false;
 var myVotes = [];
+var hostToken = null;
+
+var urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
+hostToken = urlParams.get("host");
 
 function formatDuration(seconds) {
   if (seconds == null) return "";
@@ -99,6 +103,9 @@ function renderFullState(data) {
   }
 
   renderNicknameDisplay();
+  if (isHost) {
+    renderHostControls(true);
+  }
 }
 
 function formatSeconds(s) {
@@ -157,6 +164,20 @@ function updatePlayback(data) {
     document.getElementById("current-title").textContent = "\u2014";
     document.getElementById("current-duration").textContent = "";
   }
+
+  if (isHost) {
+    var pauseBtn = document.getElementById("host-pause");
+    var resumeBtn = document.getElementById("host-resume");
+    if (pauseBtn && resumeBtn) {
+      if (payload.paused) {
+        pauseBtn.style.display = "none";
+        resumeBtn.style.display = "inline-flex";
+      } else {
+        pauseBtn.style.display = "inline-flex";
+        resumeBtn.style.display = "none";
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 function updateTime(data) {
@@ -242,6 +263,7 @@ function handleWsMessage(event) {
       if (data.payload && data.payload.role === "host") {
         isHost = true;
         renderNicknameDisplay();
+        renderHostControls(true);
       }
       break;
   }
@@ -328,6 +350,17 @@ function enableNicknameEdit() {
   };
 }
 
+function renderHostControls(showHost) {
+  var container = document.getElementById("host-controls");
+  if (!container) return;
+
+  if (showHost) {
+    container.style.display = "flex";
+  } else {
+    container.style.display = "none";
+  }
+}
+
 function connectWs() {
   var proto = location.protocol === "https:" ? "wss" : "ws";
   var url = proto + "://" + location.host + "/ws";
@@ -337,6 +370,13 @@ function connectWs() {
     console.log("WebSocket connected");
     reconnectDelay = 1000;
 
+    if (hostToken) {
+      ws.send(JSON.stringify({
+        type: "client.host_claim",
+        payload: { token: hostToken }
+      }));
+    }
+
     var storedNickname = localStorage.getItem("jam-session-nickname");
     if (storedNickname && !myNickname) {
       ws.send(JSON.stringify({
@@ -380,7 +420,29 @@ document.getElementById("add-form").addEventListener("submit", function (e) {
     showToast("Not connected. Trying to reconnect...");
     btn.disabled = false;
     btn.textContent = "Add";
-    connectWs();
+connectWs();
+
+document.getElementById("host-pause").addEventListener("click", function () {
+  if (ws && ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN && isHost) {
+    ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "client.host.pause", payload: {} }));
+    this.style.display = "none";
+    document.getElementById("host-resume").style.display = "inline-flex";
+  }
+});
+
+document.getElementById("host-resume").addEventListener("click", function () {
+  if (ws && ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN && isHost) {
+    ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "client.host.resume", payload: {} }));
+    this.style.display = "none";
+    document.getElementById("host-pause").style.display = "inline-flex";
+  }
+});
+
+document.getElementById("host-skip").addEventListener("click", function () {
+  if (ws && ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN && isHost) {
+    ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "client.host.skip", payload: {} }));
+  }
+});
   }
 });
 
diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index ef73b3e..161900f 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@
       <div id="now-playing-info">
         <p id="current-title">&mdash;</p>
         <p id="current-duration"></p>
+        <div id="host-controls" class="host-controls" style="display:none">
+          <button id="host-pause" class="host-btn" aria-label="Pause playback">
+            <span class="host-btn-icon">&#9208;</span>
+          </button>
+          <button id="host-resume" class="host-btn" aria-label="Resume playback" style="display:none">
+            <span class="host-btn-icon">&#9654;</span>
+          </button>
+          <button id="host-skip" class="host-btn" aria-label="Skip to next track">
+            <span class="host-btn-icon">&#9193;</span>
+          </button>
+        </div>
         <p id="progress-time">--:--</p>
       </div>
     </section>
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index a3d7ff7..0fabef8 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -346,3 +346,38 @@ button:hover {
   color: #666;
   user-select: none;
 }
+
+/* === Host Controls === */
+
+.host-controls {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+  margin-top: 12px;
+  margin-bottom: 8px;
+}
+
+.host-btn {
+  background: #e94560;
+  color: #ffffff;
+  border: none;
+  border-radius: 8px;
+  min-width: 44px;
+  min-height: 44px;
+  padding: 8px 12px;
+  font-size: 20px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  transition: background 0.2s;
+  line-height: 1;
+}
+
+.host-btn:hover {
+  background: #d13350;
+}
+
+.host-btn-icon {
+  line-height: 1;
+}