diff --git a/importarr/importer.py b/importarr/importer.py
index fefc2fc..2730941 100644
--- a/importarr/importer.py
+++ b/importarr/importer.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import os
 import shutil
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Callable
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -13,6 +14,10 @@ class ImportResult:
     bytes: int
 
 
+class ImportCancelled(Exception):
+    """Raised when an import is cancelled at a safe copy boundary."""
+
+
 class Importer:
     def __init__(self, movies_root: Path, tv_root: Path):
         self.movies_root = movies_root
@@ -22,14 +27,24 @@ class Importer:
         target_root = self.tv_root if _looks_like_tv(source) else self.movies_root
         return _unique_path(target_root / source.name)
 
-    def import_file(self, source: Path) -> ImportResult:
+    def import_file(self, source: Path, should_cancel: Callable[[], bool] | None = None) -> ImportResult:
         target = self.target_for(source)
         target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         partial = target.with_name(target.name + ".partial")
-        with source.open("rb") as src, partial.open("wb") as dst:
-            shutil.copyfileobj(src, dst, length=1024 * 1024)
-            dst.flush()
-            os.fsync(dst.fileno())
+        try:
+            with source.open("rb") as src, partial.open("wb") as dst:
+                while True:
+                    if should_cancel and should_cancel():
+                        raise ImportCancelled("import cancelled")
+                    chunk = src.read(1024 * 1024)
+                    if not chunk:
+                        break
+                    dst.write(chunk)
+                dst.flush()
+                os.fsync(dst.fileno())
+        except ImportCancelled:
+            partial.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+            raise
         if partial.stat().st_size != source.stat().st_size:
             raise IOError("partial copy size mismatch")
         partial.rename(target)
diff --git a/importarr/main.py b/importarr/main.py
index c2fe286..be89765 100644
--- a/importarr/main.py
+++ b/importarr/main.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from .build_info import build_info
 from .config import Settings
-from .importer import Importer
+from .importer import ImportCancelled, Importer
 from .sabnzbd import SabnzbdClient
 from .readiness import classify_history_item
 from .scanner import scan_videos
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ class RunNowRequest(BaseModel):
     force: bool = False
 
 
+class QueueControlRequest(BaseModel):
+    mode: str
+
+
 def require_write_auth(authorization: Annotated[str | None, Header()] = None) -> None:
     if not settings.auth_token:
         return
@@ -53,6 +57,7 @@ def index(request: Request) -> HTMLResponse:
 @app.get("/api/status")
 def status() -> dict[str, object]:
     history = state.list_history()
+    control = control_status()
     return {
         "app": "Importarr",
         "build": build_info(),
@@ -66,13 +71,81 @@ def status() -> dict[str, object]:
         "manual_batches": len(state.list_manual_batches(active_only=True)),
         "imported_total": sum(1 for row in history if row["status"] == "imported"),
         "failed_total": sum(1 for row in history if row["status"] == "failed"),
-        "current": None,
+        "current": control["current"],
+        "control": control,
     }
 
 
+def control_status() -> dict[str, object]:
+    mode = state.get_app_state("queue_mode", "running") or "running"
+    current = state.get_app_state("current_job")
+    cancel_requested = (state.get_app_state("cancel_requested", "false") or "false") == "true"
+    return {
+        "queue_mode": mode,
+        "queue_accepting_new_jobs": mode == "running",
+        "cancel_requested": cancel_requested,
+        "current": current,
+    }
+
+
+def queue_accepting_new_jobs() -> bool:
+    return (state.get_app_state("queue_mode", "running") or "running") == "running"
+
+
+def cancel_requested() -> bool:
+    return (state.get_app_state("cancel_requested", "false") or "false") == "true"
+
+
+def consume_cancel_request() -> bool:
+    if not cancel_requested():
+        return False
+    state.set_app_state("cancel_requested", "false")
+    return True
+
+
+def set_current_job(name: str | None) -> None:
+    state.set_app_state("current_job", name or "")
+
+
+@app.post("/api/control/queue")
+def set_queue_control(payload: QueueControlRequest, _: None = Depends(require_write_auth)) -> dict[str, object]:
+    if payload.mode not in {"running", "paused", "stopped"}:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="mode must be running, paused, or stopped")
+    state.set_app_state("queue_mode", payload.mode)
+    if payload.mode == "running":
+        state.set_app_state("cancel_requested", "false")
+    return control_status()
+
+
+@app.post("/api/control/start")
+def start_queue(_: None = Depends(require_write_auth)) -> dict[str, object]:
+    state.set_app_state("queue_mode", "running")
+    state.set_app_state("cancel_requested", "false")
+    return control_status()
+
+
+@app.post("/api/control/pause")
+def pause_queue(_: None = Depends(require_write_auth)) -> dict[str, object]:
+    state.set_app_state("queue_mode", "paused")
+    return control_status()
+
+
+@app.post("/api/control/stop")
+def stop_queue(_: None = Depends(require_write_auth)) -> dict[str, object]:
+    state.set_app_state("queue_mode", "stopped")
+    return control_status()
+
+
+@app.post("/api/control/cancel-current")
+def cancel_current(_: None = Depends(require_write_auth)) -> dict[str, object]:
+    state.set_app_state("cancel_requested", "true")
+    return control_status()
+
+
 @app.get("/api/manual-batches")
 def manual_batches() -> list[dict[str, object]]:
-    sync_manual_queue()
+    if queue_accepting_new_jobs():
+        sync_manual_queue()
     rows = []
     for batch in state.list_manual_batches():
         videos = [item for item in state.list_queue_items() if item["batch_id"] == batch["id"]] if batch["status"] == "active" else []
@@ -107,9 +180,10 @@ async def jobs() -> dict[str, object]:
 
 @app.get("/api/preview")
 async def preview() -> dict[str, object]:
-    await sync_queue()
+    if queue_accepting_new_jobs():
+        await sync_queue()
     jobs = queue_jobs()
-    return {"sab_status": "ok", "jobs": jobs, "would_import": sum(1 for row in jobs if row["state"] in {"ready", "manual_batch"})}
+    return {"sab_status": "ok", "jobs": jobs, "would_import": sum(1 for row in jobs if row["state"] in {"ready", "manual_batch"}), "control": control_status()}
 
 
 async def sync_queue() -> None:
@@ -156,6 +230,8 @@ def manual_batch_jobs() -> list[dict[str, object]]:
 
 
 def sync_manual_queue() -> None:
+    if not queue_accepting_new_jobs():
+        return
     root = settings.download_root.resolve()
     for batch in state.list_manual_batches(active_only=True):
         seen: set[str] = set()
@@ -185,37 +261,58 @@ async def _import_ready_sab_jobs(importer: Importer, force: bool = False) -> int
         return 0
     imported = 0
     for item in data.get("history", {}).get("slots", []):
+        if consume_cancel_request():
+            break
         readiness = classify_history_item(item, active, settings.sab_category, settings.download_root, force_status=force)
         if readiness.storage is None or (not readiness.ready and not force):
             continue
         for video in scan_videos(readiness.storage):
+            if consume_cancel_request():
+                return imported
+            set_current_job(str(video.path))
             try:
-                result = importer.import_file(video.path)
+                result = importer.import_file(video.path, should_cancel=consume_cancel_request)
                 state.add_history(result.source, result.target, "imported", result.bytes)
                 state.mark_queue_item("sab", str(video.path), "imported")
                 imported += 1
+            except ImportCancelled:
+                state.add_history(video.path, video.path, "cancelled", 0, "cancelled")
+                state.mark_queue_item("sab", str(video.path), "skipped", "cancelled")
+                return imported
             except Exception as exc:
                 state.add_history(video.path, video.path, "failed", 0, exc.__class__.__name__)
                 state.mark_queue_item("sab", str(video.path), "failed", exc.__class__.__name__)
+            finally:
+                set_current_job(None)
     return imported
 
 
 def _import_manual_batches(importer: Importer) -> int:
-    sync_manual_queue()
+    if queue_accepting_new_jobs():
+        sync_manual_queue()
     imported = 0
     for batch in state.list_manual_batches(active_only=True):
         path = Path(batch["path"])
         items = [item for item in state.list_queue_items() if item["source_type"] == "manual" and item["batch_id"] == batch["id"]]
         for item in items:
+            if consume_cancel_request():
+                return imported
             source = Path(item["source_path"])
+            set_current_job(str(source))
             try:
-                result = importer.import_file(source)
+                result = importer.import_file(source, should_cancel=consume_cancel_request)
                 state.add_history(result.source, result.target, "imported", result.bytes)
                 state.mark_queue_item("manual", item["source_id"], "imported")
                 imported += 1
+            except ImportCancelled:
+                state.add_history(source, source, "cancelled", 0, "cancelled")
+                state.mark_queue_item("manual", item["source_id"], "skipped", "cancelled")
+                return imported
             except Exception as exc:
                 state.add_history(source, source, "failed", 0, exc.__class__.__name__)
                 state.mark_queue_item("manual", item["source_id"], "failed", exc.__class__.__name__)
+            finally:
+                set_current_job(None)
         if not scan_videos(path):
             state.complete_manual_batch(batch["id"])
     return imported
diff --git a/importarr/state.py b/importarr/state.py
index febac87..d5c6270 100644
--- a/importarr/state.py
+++ b/importarr/state.py
@@ -55,6 +55,17 @@ class State:
         )
         self.conn.commit()
 
+    def get_app_state(self, key: str, default: str | None = None) -> str | None:
+        row = self.conn.execute("select value from app_state where key = ?", (key,)).fetchone()
+        return row["value"] if row else default
+
+    def set_app_state(self, key: str, value: str) -> None:
+        self.conn.execute(
+            "insert into app_state(key, value) values (?, ?) on conflict(key) do update set value=excluded.value",
+            (key, value),
+        )
+        self.conn.commit()
+
     def add_manual_batch(self, path: Path) -> dict[str, Any]:
         self.conn.execute("insert or ignore into manual_batches(path) values (?)", (str(path),))
         self.conn.commit()
diff --git a/importarr/static/importarr.css b/importarr/static/importarr.css
index d5970d4..f42c6a8 100644
--- a/importarr/static/importarr.css
+++ b/importarr/static/importarr.css
@@ -1 +1 @@
-body{font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;margin:0;background:#111827;color:#e5e7eb}header,main{max-width:1100px;margin:auto;padding:1rem}.topbar{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:1rem;align-items:center;background:#0f172a}.build{text-align:right}.build strong{font-size:1.2rem}.cards{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(12rem,1fr));gap:1rem}.cards article,.panel{background:#1f2937;border-radius:.75rem;padding:1rem;margin-top:1rem}strong{display:block;font-size:2rem}span,small,dd{color:#9ca3af}table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;background:#1f2937;margin-top:1rem}th,td{padding:.6rem;border-bottom:1px solid #374151;text-align:left}input,button{padding:.6rem;border-radius:.4rem;border:1px solid #374151}button{background:#38bdf8;color:#082f49;font-weight:700}.inline-form{display:flex;gap:.5rem;flex-wrap:wrap}.inline-form input[name=path]{min-width:min(100%,28rem);flex:1}.info{display:grid;grid-template-columns:10rem 1fr;gap:.4rem 1rem}.info dt{font-weight:700}.info dd{margin:0;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.state{background:#0f172a;border:1px solid #374151;border-radius:999px;padding:.15rem .5rem}
+body{font-family:system-ui,sans-serif;margin:0;background:#111827;color:#e5e7eb}header,main{max-width:1100px;margin:auto;padding:1rem}.topbar{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;gap:1rem;align-items:center;background:#0f172a}.build{text-align:right}.build strong{font-size:1.2rem}.cards{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(12rem,1fr));gap:1rem}.cards article,.panel{background:#1f2937;border-radius:.75rem;padding:1rem;margin-top:1rem}strong{display:block;font-size:2rem}span,small,dd{color:#9ca3af}table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;background:#1f2937;margin-top:1rem}th,td{padding:.6rem;border-bottom:1px solid #374151;text-align:left}input,button{padding:.6rem;border-radius:.4rem;border:1px solid #374151}button{background:#38bdf8;color:#082f49;font-weight:700}.danger{background:#f87171;color:#450a0a}.controls{display:flex;gap:.5rem;flex-wrap:wrap}.inline-form{display:flex;gap:.5rem;flex-wrap:wrap}.inline-form input[name=path]{min-width:min(100%,28rem);flex:1}.info{display:grid;grid-template-columns:10rem 1fr;gap:.4rem 1rem}.info dt{font-weight:700}.info dd{margin:0;overflow-wrap:anywhere}.state{background:#0f172a;border:1px solid #374151;border-radius:999px;padding:.15rem .5rem}
diff --git a/importarr/templates/index.html b/importarr/templates/index.html
index 3005867..a3899fd 100644
--- a/importarr/templates/index.html
+++ b/importarr/templates/index.html
@@ -32,8 +32,20 @@
         <dt>Movies root</dt><dd>{{ status.movies_root }}</dd>
         <dt>TV root</dt><dd>{{ status.tv_root }}</dd>
         <dt>Write auth</dt><dd>{{ 'enabled' if status.auth_enabled else 'disabled' }}</dd>
+        <dt>Queue mode</dt><dd id="queue-mode">{{ status.control.queue_mode }}</dd>
+        <dt>Current job</dt><dd id="current-job">{{ status.current or 'idle' }}</dd>
       </dl>
     </section>
+    <section class="panel">
+      <h2>Queue controls</h2>
+      <p>Pause and stop prevent new jobs from being added to the queue. They do not interrupt an import already in progress; use cancel current job for that.</p>
+      <div class="controls">
+        <button type="button" data-control="start">Start</button>
+        <button type="button" data-control="pause">Pause</button>
+        <button type="button" data-control="stop">Stop</button>
+        <button type="button" data-control="cancel-current" class="danger">Cancel current job</button>
+      </div>
+    </section>
     <section>
       <h2>Manual batches</h2>
       <form id="batch-form" class="inline-form">
@@ -51,7 +63,8 @@
     </section>
   </main>
   <script>
-  async function refresh(){ const r=await fetch('/api/jobs'); const d=await r.json(); document.title=d.jobs.length?`📥 ${d.jobs.length} jobs - Importarr`:'📥 - idle · Importarr'; document.getElementById('jobs').innerHTML='<table><tr><th>Name</th><th>State</th><th>Context</th></tr>'+d.jobs.map(j=>`<tr><td>${j.name||''}</td><td><span class="state">${j.state}</span></td><td><small>${j.relative_path||j.storage||j.reason||''}</small></td></tr>`).join('')+'</table>'; }
+  async function refresh(){ const r=await fetch('/api/jobs'); const d=await r.json(); document.title=d.jobs.length?`📥 ${d.jobs.length} jobs - Importarr`:'📥 - idle · Importarr'; document.getElementById('jobs').innerHTML='<table><tr><th>Name</th><th>State</th><th>Context</th></tr>'+d.jobs.map(j=>`<tr><td>${j.name||''}</td><td><span class="state">${j.state}</span></td><td><small>${j.relative_path||j.storage||j.reason||''}</small></td></tr>`).join('')+'</table>'; if(d.control){ document.getElementById('queue-mode').textContent=d.control.queue_mode; document.getElementById('current-job').textContent=d.control.current||'idle'; } }
+  document.querySelectorAll('[data-control]').forEach(button=>button.addEventListener('click', async()=>{ await fetch(`/api/control/${button.dataset.control}`,{method:'POST'}); await refresh(); }));
   document.getElementById('browse-batch').addEventListener('click',()=>document.getElementById('batch-picker').click());
   document.getElementById('batch-picker').addEventListener('change',e=>{ const f=e.target.files[0]; if(!f)return; const top=(f.webkitRelativePath||'').split('/')[0]; if(top) document.querySelector('#batch-form [name="path"]').value=top; });
   document.getElementById('batch-form').addEventListener('submit', async e=>{ e.preventDefault(); await fetch('/api/manual-batches',{method:'POST',headers:{'content-type':'application/json'},body:JSON.stringify({path:e.target.path.value})}); location.reload(); });
diff --git a/tests/test_queue_controls.py b/tests/test_queue_controls.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ecc26e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_queue_controls.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+from importarr.config import Settings
+from importarr.state import State
+
+
+def configure_main(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("IMPORTARR_STATE_PATH", str(tmp_path / "initial.db"))
+    import importarr.main as main
+
+    download = tmp_path / "downloads"
+    movies = tmp_path / "movies"
+    tv = tmp_path / "tv"
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main, "settings", Settings(download_root=download, movies_root=movies, tv_root=tv, state_path=tmp_path / "state.db"))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main, "state", State(tmp_path / "state.db"))
+    return main, download, movies, tv
+
+
+def test_pause_prevents_manual_queue_sync(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    main, download, _movies, _tv = configure_main(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    batch = download / "Release"
+    batch.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (batch / "Movie.mkv").write_bytes(b"movie")
+    main.state.add_manual_batch(batch)
+
+    main.state.set_app_state("queue_mode", "paused")
+    main.sync_manual_queue()
+
+    assert main.state.list_queue_items() == []
+
+
+def test_start_reenables_manual_queue_sync(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    main, download, _movies, _tv = configure_main(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    batch = download / "Release"
+    batch.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (batch / "Movie.mkv").write_bytes(b"movie")
+    main.state.add_manual_batch(batch)
+
+    main.state.set_app_state("queue_mode", "paused")
+    main.sync_manual_queue()
+    main.state.set_app_state("queue_mode", "running")
+    main.sync_manual_queue()
+
+    assert len(main.state.list_queue_items()) == 1
+
+
+def test_cancel_current_stops_before_next_manual_item(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    main, download, movies, tv = configure_main(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    batch = download / "Release"
+    batch.mkdir(parents=True)
+    (batch / "A.mkv").write_bytes(b"a")
+    (batch / "B.mkv").write_bytes(b"b")
+    main.state.add_manual_batch(batch)
+    main.sync_manual_queue()
+    main.state.set_app_state("cancel_requested", "true")
+
+    assert main._import_manual_batches(main.Importer(movies, tv)) == 0
+    assert len(main.state.list_queue_items()) == 2
+
+
+def test_cancel_current_stops_active_copy(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    main, download, movies, tv = configure_main(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    batch = download / "Release"
+    batch.mkdir(parents=True)
+    source = batch / "A.mkv"
+    source.write_bytes(b"a" * (1024 * 1024 + 1))
+    main.state.add_manual_batch(batch)
+    main.sync_manual_queue()
+
+    calls = 0
+
+    def cancel_during_copy() -> bool:
+        nonlocal calls
+        calls += 1
+        return calls > 1
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(main, "consume_cancel_request", cancel_during_copy)
+
+    assert main._import_manual_batches(main.Importer(movies, tv)) == 0
+    assert source.exists()
+    assert not any(movies.glob("*.partial"))
+    assert main.state.list_queue_items(active_only=False)[0]["state"] == "skipped"