diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index a9ea738..8580231 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -171,6 +171,8 @@ body { font: 14px/1.5 system-ui, sans-serif; background: var(--bg); color: var(-
 .settings-view .conn-status.connected { background: var(--accent-bg); color: var(--green); }
 .settings-view .conn-status.disconnected { background: var(--warn-bg); color: var(--error); }
 .conn-hint { font-size: 12px; color: var(--text-muted); margin: 8px 0 0; line-height: 1.5; }
+.capture-mode { font-size: 12px; color: var(--text-muted); margin: 8px 0 0; line-height: 1.5; }
+.capture-mode:empty { display: none; }
 .version-warn { font-size: 12px; color: var(--warn); margin: 8px 0 0; line-height: 1.5; }
 .version-warn:empty { display: none; }
 .conn-instructions { margin-top: 16px; font-size: 13px; color: var(--text-faint); line-height: 1.7; }
@@ -272,6 +274,7 @@ body { font: 14px/1.5 system-ui, sans-serif; background: var(--bg); color: var(-
         <div class="conn-status disconnected" id="conn-status">
             ⬤ Not connected — ensure the server is running on the URL above
         </div>
+        <div class="capture-mode" id="capture-mode"></div>
         <div class="version-warn" id="version-warn"></div>
         <div class="conn-hint" id="conn-hint"></div>
         <div class="conn-instructions" id="conn-instructions"></div>
@@ -313,6 +316,7 @@ const STATE = {
     typeCounts: [],
     pendingDeleteId: null,
     serverAvailable: false,
+    captureMode: '',
 };
 
 const API_BASE = () => STATE.serverUrl;
@@ -760,9 +764,14 @@ function renderMessages() {
     populateFilterOptions();
 
     if (!STATE.captureActive && !STATE.sessionViewId) {
-        list.innerHTML = `<div class="empty-state"><p>${t('No capture active')}</p>
-            <button id="trace-start-btn">${t('Start Capture')}</button></div>`;
-        $('#trace-start-btn', list).addEventListener('click', startCapture);
+        if (STATE.captureMode === 'disabled') {
+            list.innerHTML = `<div class="empty-state"><p>${t('Capture unavailable')}</p>
+                <p style="font-size:12px;">${t('Open a saved session from the Sessions tab.')}</p></div>`;
+        } else {
+            list.innerHTML = `<div class="empty-state"><p>${t('No capture active')}</p>
+                <button id="trace-start-btn">${t('Start Capture')}</button></div>`;
+            $('#trace-start-btn', list).addEventListener('click', startCapture);
+        }
         updateStatus();
         return;
     }
@@ -837,6 +846,7 @@ function stopPolling() {
 
 // ──────────────────── Capture ────────────────────
 async function startCapture() {
+    if (STATE.captureMode === 'disabled') return;
     try {
         const data = await API.startCapture();
         STATE.captureActive = true;
@@ -864,7 +874,14 @@ async function stopCapture() {
 
 function updateCaptureButton() {
     const btn = el('capture-btn');
+    const newCapture = el('new-capture-btn');
     btn.classList.remove('stop', 'connect');
+    const captureOff = STATE.captureMode === 'disabled' && STATE.serverAvailable;
+    newCapture.style.display = captureOff ? 'none' : '';
+    if (captureOff) {
+        btn.style.display = 'none';
+        return;
+    }
     if (STATE.sessionViewId && !STATE.captureActive) {
         btn.style.display = 'none';
         return;
@@ -1062,6 +1079,23 @@ function updateVersionWarn(serverVersion) {
     elv.textContent = '';
 }
 
+function updateCaptureModeLine() {
+    const elm = el('capture-mode');
+    switch (STATE.captureMode) {
+        case 'gsmtap':
+            elm.textContent = t('Capture mode: GSMTAP — the server is listening for incoming UDP/GSMTAP traffic. Ensure a GSMTAP source (e.g. simtrace2-pysniff or simtrace2-sniff) is feeding the server.');
+            break;
+        case 'direct':
+            elm.textContent = t('Capture mode: direct — the server captures from SIMtrace2 hardware. Keep the device connected.');
+            break;
+        case 'disabled':
+            elm.textContent = t('Capture is disabled — only pre-captured traces (saved sessions / PCAP import) are available.');
+            break;
+        default:
+            elm.textContent = '';
+    }
+}
+
 function connectServer() {
     if (_connTimer) return;
     _connTimer = setInterval(checkConnection, 5000);
@@ -1076,6 +1110,7 @@ function disconnectServer() {
     STATE.serverAvailable = false;
     el('conn-status').textContent = '⬤ ' + t('Disconnected — click Connect to resume');
     el('conn-status').className = 'conn-status disconnected';
+    el('capture-mode').textContent = '';
     el('version-warn').textContent = '';
     el('conn-hint').textContent = '';
     el('conn-instructions').innerHTML = '';
@@ -1096,9 +1131,11 @@ async function checkConnection() {
     try {
         const data = await API.status();
         STATE.serverAvailable = true;
-        el('conn-status').textContent = '⬤ ' + t('Connected') + ' — ' + data.server;
+        STATE.captureMode = data.capture_mode || '';
+        el('conn-status').textContent = '⬤ ' + t('Connected') + ' — ' + data.server + ' v' + (data.version || '?');
         el('conn-status').className = 'conn-status connected';
         updateVersionWarn(data.version);
+        updateCaptureModeLine();
         el('conn-hint').textContent = '';
         el('conn-instructions').innerHTML = '';
         el('connect-btn').textContent = t('Disconnect');
@@ -1112,8 +1149,10 @@ async function checkConnection() {
         updateCaptureButton();
     } catch (e) {
         STATE.serverAvailable = false;
+        STATE.captureMode = '';
         el('conn-status').textContent = '⬤ ' + t('Not connected — ensure the server is running on the URL above');
         el('conn-status').className = 'conn-status disconnected';
+        el('capture-mode').textContent = '';
         el('version-warn').textContent = '';
         const url = STATE.serverUrl || location.origin;
         el('conn-hint').textContent = t(isLikelyBlocked() ? HINT_BLOCKED : HINT_UNREACHABLE).replace('{url}', url);
@@ -1167,7 +1206,7 @@ function onFilterChange() {
 }
 
 // ──────────────────── Versioning ────────────────────
-const PWA_VERSION = '1.1.0';
+const PWA_VERSION = '1.2.0';
 const MIN_SERVER_VERSION = '1.0.0';
 
 function parseVersion(v) {
@@ -1261,6 +1300,12 @@ const LANG_RU = {
     'Server version unknown — update simtrace2-pysniff-server.': 'Версия сервера неизвестна — обновите simtrace2-pysniff-server.',
     'Server version {v} is outdated. Please update simtrace2-pysniff-server.': 'Версия сервера {v} устарела. Обновите simtrace2-pysniff-server.',
     'Server version {v} is newer than expected. Update simtrace2-pysniff for full compatibility.': 'Версия сервера {v} новее ожидаемой. Обновите simtrace2-pysniff для полной совместимости.',
+    'Capture mode: GSMTAP — the server is listening for incoming UDP/GSMTAP traffic. Ensure a GSMTAP source (e.g. simtrace2-pysniff or simtrace2-sniff) is feeding the server.': 'Режим захвата: GSMTAP — сервер ожидает входящий UDP/GSMTAP-трафик. Убедитесь, что источник GSMTAP (например, simtrace2-pysniff или simtrace2-sniff) передаёт данные серверу.',
+    'Capture mode: direct — the server captures from SIMtrace2 hardware. Keep the device connected.': 'Режим захвата: direct — сервер захватывает данные с устройства SIMtrace2. Не отключайте устройство.',
+    'Capture is disabled — only pre-captured traces (saved sessions / PCAP import) are available.': 'Захват отключён — доступны только ранее записанные трассировки (сохранённые сессии / импорт PCAP).',
+    'Capture unavailable': 'Захват недоступен',
+    'Open a saved session from the Sessions tab.': 'Откройте сохранённую сессию на вкладке «Сессии».',
+    'Capture disabled': 'Захват отключён',
 };
 
 function t(text) {
diff --git a/frontend/manifest.json b/frontend/manifest.json
index fbc3875..66c1fe5 100644
--- a/frontend/manifest.json
+++ b/frontend/manifest.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "name": "SIMtrace Analyser",
   "short_name": "SIMtrace",
   "description": "PWA frontend for browsing SIMtrace2 APDU traces",
-  "version": "1.1.0",
+  "version": "1.2.0",
   "start_url": "index.html",
   "display": "standalone",
   "background_color": "#0f172a",
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 38e041f..5f1d0b7 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.backends._legacy:_Backend"
 
 [project]
 name = "simtrace2-pysniff"
-version = "1.1.0"
+version = "1.2.0"
 description = "Python-based sniffing tool for SIMtrace2 hardware (SIM card communication sniffer)"
 readme = {file = "README.md", content-type = "text/markdown"}
 license = {text = "GPL-2.0-or-later"}
diff --git a/simtrace2_pysniff/__init__.py b/simtrace2_pysniff/__init__.py
index 82cb9e9..65f3412 100644
--- a/simtrace2_pysniff/__init__.py
+++ b/simtrace2_pysniff/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from .gsmtap import GsmtapSender, GsmtapReceiver
 from .pcap import PcapWriter
 from .dump import FileDumper, format_message
 
-__version__ = '1.1.0'
+__version__ = '1.2.0'
 __all__ = [
     'SniffSession',
     'DeviceDisconnected',
diff --git a/simtrace2_pysniff/server/__main__.py b/simtrace2_pysniff/server/__main__.py
index e52ced0..5cfa6f0 100644
--- a/simtrace2_pysniff/server/__main__.py
+++ b/simtrace2_pysniff/server/__main__.py
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ def main():
                    help='HTTP server port (default: 8081)')
     p.add_argument('--db', default=DEFAULT_DB_PATH,
                    help=f'SQLite database path (default: {DEFAULT_DB_PATH})')
-    p.add_argument('--capture', choices=['gsmtap', 'direct'], default='gsmtap',
-                   help='Capture mode: gsmtap (listen UDP 4729) or direct (SIMtrace2 USB)')
+    p.add_argument('--capture', choices=['gsmtap', 'direct', 'disabled'], default='gsmtap',
+                   help='Capture mode: gsmtap (listen UDP 4729), direct (SIMtrace2 USB), or disabled (no capture)')
     p.add_argument('--gsmtap-port', type=int, default=4729,
                    help='UDP port for GSMTAP listener (default: 4729)')
     p.add_argument('--web-dir', default=_default_web_dir(), metavar='PATH',
@@ -39,15 +39,17 @@ def main():
 
     db = Database(args.db)
 
+    capture = None
     if args.capture == 'gsmtap':
         backend = GsmtapListener(bind_port=args.gsmtap_port)
-    else:
+        capture = CaptureManager(backend, db)
+    elif args.capture == 'direct':
         backend = DirectSniffer()
-
-    capture = CaptureManager(backend, db)
+        capture = CaptureManager(backend, db)
 
     RequestHandler.db = db
     RequestHandler.capture = capture
+    RequestHandler.capture_mode = args.capture
 
     server = HTTPServer(('127.0.0.1', args.port), RequestHandler)
     server.web_dir = args.web_dir
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ def main():
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         pass
     finally:
-        if capture.active:
+        if capture and capture.active:
             capture.stop_session()
         server.server_close()
 
diff --git a/simtrace2_pysniff/server/server.py b/simtrace2_pysniff/server/server.py
index bfddafa..496a30b 100644
--- a/simtrace2_pysniff/server/server.py
+++ b/simtrace2_pysniff/server/server.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ def _content_disposition(filename):
 class RequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
     db: Database = None
     capture: CaptureManager = None
+    capture_mode: str = 'gsmtap'
 
     def log_message(self, fmt, *args):
         print(f'[{self.log_date_time_string()}] {args[0]}', file=sys.stderr)
@@ -197,13 +198,15 @@ class RequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
     def _handle_status(self):
         active_session = self.db.get_active_session()
+        capture = self.capture
         self._send_json({
             'server': 'simtrace-analyser-server',
             'version': __version__,
-            'capture_active': self.capture.active,
-            'session_id': self.capture.session_id,
+            'capture_mode': self.capture_mode,
+            'capture_active': capture.active if capture else False,
+            'session_id': capture.session_id if capture else None,
             'mode': active_session['mode'] if active_session else None,
-            'messages_count': self.db.count_messages(self.capture.session_id) if self.capture.session_id else 0,
+            'messages_count': self.db.count_messages(capture.session_id) if capture and capture.session_id else 0,
         })
 
     def _handle_list_sessions(self):
@@ -259,7 +262,7 @@ class RequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
     def _handle_capture_latest(self, params):
         after_id = int(params.get('after', [0])[0])
-        if not self.capture.active:
+        if not self.capture or not self.capture.active:
             self._send_json({'messages': [], 'next_after': after_id, 'active': False})
             return
         msg_id = self.capture.latest_msg_id
@@ -273,11 +276,14 @@ class RequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
     def _handle_capture_status(self):
         self._send_json({
-            'active': self.capture.active,
-            'session_id': self.capture.session_id,
+            'active': self.capture.active if self.capture else False,
+            'session_id': self.capture.session_id if self.capture else None,
         })
 
     def _handle_capture_start(self):
+        if self.capture_mode == 'disabled' or self.capture is None:
+            self._send_error(403, 'Capture disabled')
+            return
         if self.capture.active:
             self.capture.stop_session()
         session_id = self.capture.start_session()
@@ -285,6 +291,9 @@ class RequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         self._send_json({'session_id': session_id, 'started': started})
 
     def _handle_capture_stop(self):
+        if self.capture_mode == 'disabled' or self.capture is None:
+            self._send_error(403, 'Capture disabled')
+            return
         if not self.capture.active:
             self._send_error(400, 'No active capture')
             return
@@ -336,7 +345,7 @@ class RequestHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         self._send_json({'ok': True})
 
     def _handle_delete_session(self, session_id):
-        if self.capture.session_id == session_id:
+        if self.capture and self.capture.session_id == session_id:
             self.capture.stop_session()
         self.db.delete_session(session_id)
         self.db.vacuum()
diff --git a/tests/test_pcap_import.py b/tests/test_pcap_import.py
index dc3e09f..6546e65 100644
--- a/tests/test_pcap_import.py
+++ b/tests/test_pcap_import.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class TestImportEndpoint(unittest.TestCase):
 class TestVersion(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_package_version(self):
         from simtrace2_pysniff import __version__
-        self.assertEqual(__version__, '1.1.0')
+        self.assertEqual(__version__, '1.2.0')
 
     def test_status_includes_version(self):
         import os
@@ -171,5 +171,57 @@ class TestVersion(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(h._json['version'], __version__)
 
 
+class TestCaptureDisabled(unittest.TestCase):
+    def _handler(self, capture_mode):
+        import os
+        from simtrace2_pysniff.server.server import RequestHandler
+        from simtrace2_pysniff.server.database import Database
+
+        class Fake(RequestHandler):
+            def __init__(self, db, capture_mode):
+                self.db = db
+                self.capture = None
+                self.capture_mode = capture_mode
+                self._status = None
+                self._json = None
+
+            def _send_json(self, data, status=200):
+                self._status = status
+                self._json = data
+
+            def _send_error(self, status, message):
+                self._status = status
+                self._json = {'error': message}
+
+        tmp = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix='.db', delete=False)
+        tmp.close()
+        db = Database(tmp.name)
+        self.addCleanup(lambda: (db._conn.close(), os.remove(tmp.name)))
+        return Fake(db, capture_mode)
+
+    def test_status_reports_disabled(self):
+        h = self._handler('disabled')
+        h._handle_status()
+        self.assertEqual(h._json['capture_mode'], 'disabled')
+        self.assertFalse(h._json['capture_active'])
+        self.assertIsNone(h._json['session_id'])
+
+    def test_capture_start_403(self):
+        h = self._handler('disabled')
+        h._handle_capture_start()
+        self.assertEqual(h._status, 403)
+        self.assertIn('Capture disabled', h._json['error'])
+
+    def test_capture_stop_403(self):
+        h = self._handler('disabled')
+        h._handle_capture_stop()
+        self.assertEqual(h._status, 403)
+
+    def test_status_reports_gsmtap(self):
+        h = self._handler('gsmtap')
+        h._handle_status()
+        self.assertEqual(h._json['capture_mode'], 'gsmtap')
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()