diff --git a/electron/ipc/system.ts b/electron/ipc/system.ts
index 8e07e39..cc701a4 100644
--- a/electron/ipc/system.ts
+++ b/electron/ipc/system.ts
@@ -332,12 +332,15 @@ export function setupSystemHandlers(): void {
     const title = typeof payload?.title === 'string' ? payload.title.trim() : '';
     const body = typeof payload?.body === 'string' ? payload.body : '';
     const mainWindow = getMainWindow();
+    const suppressSystemNotification = mainWindow?.isVisible() === true
+      && !mainWindow.isMinimized()
+      && mainWindow.isMaximized();
 
     if (!title) {
       return false;
     }
 
-    if (Notification.isSupported()) {
+    if (!suppressSystemNotification && Notification.isSupported()) {
       try {
         const notification = new Notification({
           title,
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/README.md b/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/README.md
index 14c7592..0a7b6d1 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/README.md
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/README.md
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ Additional runtime guards:
 The Electron main process handles the actual desktop notification and window-attention behavior.
 
 - `show-desktop-notification` creates a system `Notification` with the window icon when supported.
+- `show-desktop-notification` skips the OS toast while the main window is visible and maximized.
 - Notification clicks restore, show, and focus the main window.
 - `request-window-attention` flashes the taskbar entry directly when Electron is minimized or otherwise backgrounded and actionable unread exists.
 - `show-desktop-notification` can still request attention for live toast delivery.
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ The Electron main process handles the actual desktop notification and window-att
 
 ### Platform-specific policy
 
-- Windows: the facade also plays `AppSound.Notification` before showing the desktop notification.
+- Windows: the facade only plays `AppSound.Notification` when the app is not the active selected window.
 - Linux: desktop alerts are expected to surface through the system notification center, with window attention requested when the app is backgrounded.
 - macOS and browser-only builds use the same desktop notification adapter, but there is no extra renderer-side sound policy in this domain.
 
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/application/notifications.facade.ts b/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/application/notifications.facade.ts
index e74e8a2..46a8968 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/application/notifications.facade.ts
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/application/notifications.facade.ts
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ export class NotificationsFacade {
       !context.isWindowFocused || !context.isDocumentVisible
     );
 
-    if (this.platformKind === 'windows') {
+    if (this.shouldPlayNotificationSound()) {
       this.audio.play(AppSound.Notification);
     }
 
@@ -349,6 +349,14 @@ export class NotificationsFacade {
     };
   }
 
+  private shouldPlayNotificationSound(): boolean {
+    return this.platformKind === 'windows' && !this.isWindowActive();
+  }
+
+  private isWindowActive(): boolean {
+    return this._windowFocused() && this._documentVisible() && !this._windowMinimized();
+  }
+
   private ensureRoomTracking(roomId: string, channelId: string, baselineTimestamp: number): void {
     const settings = this._settings();
 
diff --git a/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/feature/settings/notifications-settings.component.html b/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/feature/settings/notifications-settings.component.html
index a849232..faa360e 100644
--- a/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/feature/settings/notifications-settings.component.html
+++ b/toju-app/src/app/domains/notifications/feature/settings/notifications-settings.component.html
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
       <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
         <h4 class="text-base font-semibold text-foreground">Delivery</h4>
         <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-          Desktop alerts use the system notification center on Linux and request taskbar attention when the app is not focused. Windows also plays the
-          configured notification sound.
+          Desktop alerts use the system notification center on Linux and request taskbar attention when the app is not focused. Maximized app window
+          suppress system popups, and only play the configured notification sound while the app is in the background.
         </p>
       </div>
     </div>