diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/+page.svelte
index e8785ff..b2e2957 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/dashboard/capsules/+page.svelte
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@
 	let creating = $state(false);
 	let createError = $state<string | null>(null);
 
+	// Snapshot dialog state
+	let snapshotTarget = $state<{ capsule: Capsule; pauseFirst: boolean } | null>(null);
+	let snapshotName = $state('');
+	let snapshotting = $state(false);
+	let snapshotError = $state<string | null>(null);
+
 	// Destroy confirmation state
 	let destroyTarget = $state<Capsule | null>(null);
 	let destroying = $state(false);
@@ -172,30 +178,32 @@
 		actionLoading = null;
 	}
 
-	async function handleSnapshot(id: string) {
+	function handleSnapshot(capsule: Capsule) {
 		openMenuId = null;
-		actionLoading = id;
-		const result = await createSnapshot(id);
-		if (result.ok) {
-			// Snapshot may have paused the capsule — refresh to get updated status
-			await fetchCapsules();
-		} else {
-			toast.error(result.error);
-		}
-		actionLoading = null;
+		snapshotName = '';
+		snapshotError = null;
+		snapshotTarget = { capsule, pauseFirst: false };
 	}
 
-	async function handlePauseAndSnapshot(id: string) {
+	function handlePauseAndSnapshot(capsule: Capsule) {
 		openMenuId = null;
-		actionLoading = id;
-		// Snapshot endpoint pauses automatically if running
-		const result = await createSnapshot(id);
+		snapshotName = '';
+		snapshotError = null;
+		snapshotTarget = { capsule, pauseFirst: true };
+	}
+
+	async function handleSnapshotConfirm() {
+		if (!snapshotTarget) return;
+		snapshotting = true;
+		snapshotError = null;
+		const result = await createSnapshot(snapshotTarget.capsule.id, snapshotName.trim() || undefined);
 		if (result.ok) {
+			snapshotTarget = null;
 			await fetchCapsules();
 		} else {
-			toast.error(result.error);
+			snapshotError = result.error;
 		}
-		actionLoading = null;
+		snapshotting = false;
 	}
 
 	async function handleDestroy() {
@@ -640,7 +648,7 @@
 					Pause
 				</button>
 				<button
-					onclick={() => handlePauseAndSnapshot(openCapsule.id)}
+					onclick={() => handlePauseAndSnapshot(openCapsule)}
 					class="flex w-full items-center gap-2.5 px-3 py-2 text-meta text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] transition-colors duration-150 hover:bg-[var(--color-bg-3)] hover:text-[var(--color-text-primary)]"
 				>
 					<svg width="13" height="13" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="shrink-0">
@@ -660,7 +668,7 @@
 					Resume
 				</button>
 				<button
-					onclick={() => handleSnapshot(openCapsule.id)}
+					onclick={() => handleSnapshot(openCapsule)}
 					class="flex w-full items-center gap-2.5 px-3 py-2 text-meta text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] transition-colors duration-150 hover:bg-[var(--color-bg-3)] hover:text-[var(--color-text-primary)]"
 				>
 					<svg width="13" height="13" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="shrink-0">
@@ -685,6 +693,96 @@
 	{/if}
 {/if}
 
+<!-- Snapshot Dialog -->
+{#if snapshotTarget}
+	<div class="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center">
+		<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+		<div
+			class="absolute inset-0 bg-black/60"
+			onclick={() => { if (!snapshotting) snapshotTarget = null; }}
+			onkeydown={(e) => { if (e.key === 'Escape' && !snapshotting) snapshotTarget = null; }}
+		></div>
+
+		<div class="relative w-full max-w-[420px] rounded-[var(--radius-card)] border border-[var(--color-border-mid)] bg-[var(--color-bg-2)] overflow-hidden" style="animation: fadeUp 0.2s ease both">
+			<!-- Header band -->
+			<div class="flex items-center gap-4 border-b border-[var(--color-border)] bg-[var(--color-bg-3)] px-6 py-5">
+				<div class="flex h-10 w-10 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-[var(--radius-input)] bg-[var(--color-accent)]/15 text-[var(--color-accent)] shadow-[0_0_12px_var(--color-accent-glow)]">
+					<svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.75" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
+						<path d="M14.5 4h-5L7 7H2v13a2 2 0 002 2h16a2 2 0 002-2V7h-5l-2.5-3z" />
+						<circle cx="12" cy="15" r="3" />
+					</svg>
+				</div>
+				<div>
+					<h2 class="font-serif text-heading tracking-[-0.02em] text-[var(--color-text-bright)]">Capture snapshot</h2>
+					<p class="mt-0.5 text-meta text-[var(--color-text-muted)] font-mono">{snapshotTarget.capsule.id}</p>
+				</div>
+			</div>
+
+			<div class="px-6 pt-5 pb-6 space-y-4">
+				{#if snapshotTarget.pauseFirst}
+					<div class="flex items-start gap-2.5 rounded-[var(--radius-input)] border border-[var(--color-amber)]/25 bg-[var(--color-amber)]/8 px-3 py-2.5">
+						<svg class="mt-px shrink-0 text-[var(--color-amber)]" width="13" height="13" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
+							<path d="M10.29 3.86L1.82 18a2 2 0 001.71 3h16.94a2 2 0 001.71-3L13.71 3.86a2 2 0 00-3.42 0z" />
+							<line x1="12" y1="9" x2="12" y2="13" />
+							<line x1="12" y1="17" x2="12.01" y2="17" />
+						</svg>
+						<p class="text-meta text-[var(--color-amber)] leading-relaxed">This capsule will be <strong class="font-semibold">paused first</strong> — memory state is captured at rest.</p>
+					</div>
+				{:else}
+					<p class="text-ui text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)]">The capsule's current memory state will be captured and stored as a reusable snapshot.</p>
+				{/if}
+
+				{#if snapshotError}
+					<div class="rounded-[var(--radius-input)] border border-[var(--color-red)]/30 bg-[var(--color-red)]/5 px-3 py-2 text-meta text-[var(--color-red)]">
+						{snapshotError}
+					</div>
+				{/if}
+
+				<div>
+					<div class="mb-1.5 flex items-baseline justify-between">
+						<label class="text-label font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.05em] text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)]" for="snapshot-name">Snapshot name</label>
+						<span class="text-meta text-[var(--color-text-muted)]">optional</span>
+					</div>
+					<input
+						id="snapshot-name"
+						type="text"
+						bind:value={snapshotName}
+						disabled={snapshotting}
+						class="w-full rounded-[var(--radius-input)] border border-[var(--color-border)] bg-[var(--color-bg-4)] px-3 py-2 font-mono text-ui text-[var(--color-text-bright)] outline-none placeholder:text-[var(--color-text-muted)] transition-colors duration-150 focus:border-[var(--color-accent)] disabled:opacity-50"
+						placeholder="e.g. after-apt-install, pre-migration"
+						onkeydown={(e) => { if (e.key === 'Enter' && !snapshotting) handleSnapshotConfirm(); }}
+					/>
+					<p class="mt-1.5 text-meta text-[var(--color-text-muted)]">Leave blank to use an auto-generated name.</p>
+				</div>
+
+				<div class="flex justify-end gap-3 pt-1">
+					<button
+						onclick={() => { snapshotTarget = null; }}
+						disabled={snapshotting}
+						class="rounded-[var(--radius-button)] border border-[var(--color-border)] px-4 py-2 text-ui text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] transition-colors duration-150 hover:border-[var(--color-border-mid)] hover:text-[var(--color-text-primary)] disabled:opacity-50"
+					>
+						Cancel
+					</button>
+					<button
+						onclick={handleSnapshotConfirm}
+						disabled={snapshotting}
+						class="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-[var(--radius-button)] bg-[var(--color-accent)] px-5 py-2 text-ui font-semibold text-white transition-all duration-150 hover:brightness-115 hover:-translate-y-px active:translate-y-0 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:hover:translate-y-0"
+					>
+						{#if snapshotting}
+							<svg class="animate-spin" width="13" height="13" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2">
+								<path d="M21 12a9 9 0 1 1-6.219-8.56" />
+							</svg>
+							Capturing...
+						{:else}
+							Capture snapshot
+						{/if}
+					</button>
+				</div>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	</div>
+{/if}
+
 <!-- Create Capsule Dialog -->
 {#if showCreateDialog}
 	<div class="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center">