diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/settings/constants.ts b/apps/desktop/src/app/settings/constants.ts
index 9ef127c65122..5ae4eb393f5e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/settings/constants.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/settings/constants.ts
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ export const FIELD_LABELS: Record<string, string> = defineFieldCopy({
   },
   stt: {
     enabled: 'Speech To Text',
+    echoTranscripts: 'Echo Transcripts',
     provider: 'Speech-To-Text Provider',
     local: {
       model: 'Local Transcription Model',
@@ -486,6 +487,7 @@ export const FIELD_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = defineFieldCopy({
   },
   stt: {
     enabled: 'Enable local or provider-backed speech transcription.',
+    echoTranscripts: 'Post the raw 🎙️ transcript of voice messages back to the chat.',
     elevenlabs: {
       languageCode: 'Optional ISO-639-3 language code. Blank lets ElevenLabs auto-detect.'
     }
@@ -568,6 +570,7 @@ export const SECTIONS: DesktopConfigSection[] = [
     keys: [
       'tts.provider',
       'stt.enabled',
+      'stt.echo_transcripts',
       'stt.provider',
       'voice.auto_tts',
       'tts.edge.voice',
diff --git a/gateway/config.py b/gateway/config.py
index 7693cef1c27e..1c7735a6ed70 100644
--- a/gateway/config.py
+++ b/gateway/config.py
@@ -603,6 +603,7 @@ class GatewayConfig:
 
     # STT settings
     stt_enabled: bool = True  # Whether to auto-transcribe inbound voice messages
+    stt_echo_transcripts: bool = True  # Whether to echo raw STT transcripts back to the user
 
     # Session isolation in shared chats
     group_sessions_per_user: bool = True  # Isolate group/channel sessions per participant when user IDs are available
@@ -726,6 +727,7 @@ def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
             "always_log_local": self.always_log_local,
             "filter_silence_narration": self.filter_silence_narration,
             "stt_enabled": self.stt_enabled,
+            "stt_echo_transcripts": self.stt_echo_transcripts,
             "group_sessions_per_user": self.group_sessions_per_user,
             "thread_sessions_per_user": self.thread_sessions_per_user,
             "max_concurrent_sessions": self.max_concurrent_sessions,
@@ -772,6 +774,13 @@ def from_dict(cls, data: Dict[str, Any]) -> "GatewayConfig":
         stt_enabled = data.get("stt_enabled")
         if stt_enabled is None:
             stt_enabled = data.get("stt", {}).get("enabled") if isinstance(data.get("stt"), dict) else None
+        stt_echo_transcripts = data.get("stt_echo_transcripts")
+        if stt_echo_transcripts is None:
+            stt_echo_transcripts = (
+                data.get("stt", {}).get("echo_transcripts")
+                if isinstance(data.get("stt"), dict)
+                else None
+            )
 
         group_sessions_per_user = data.get("group_sessions_per_user")
         thread_sessions_per_user = data.get("thread_sessions_per_user")
@@ -815,6 +824,7 @@ def from_dict(cls, data: Dict[str, Any]) -> "GatewayConfig":
                 data.get("filter_silence_narration"), True
             ),
             stt_enabled=_coerce_bool(stt_enabled, True),
+            stt_echo_transcripts=_coerce_bool(stt_echo_transcripts, True),
             group_sessions_per_user=_coerce_bool(group_sessions_per_user, True),
             thread_sessions_per_user=_coerce_bool(thread_sessions_per_user, False),
             multiplex_profiles=_coerce_bool(multiplex_profiles, False),
@@ -917,6 +927,8 @@ def load_gateway_config() -> GatewayConfig:
             stt_cfg = yaml_cfg.get("stt")
             if isinstance(stt_cfg, dict):
                 gw_data["stt"] = stt_cfg
+            if "stt_echo_transcripts" in yaml_cfg:
+                gw_data["stt_echo_transcripts"] = yaml_cfg["stt_echo_transcripts"]
 
             if "group_sessions_per_user" in yaml_cfg:
                 gw_data["group_sessions_per_user"] = yaml_cfg["group_sessions_per_user"]
diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index 7e50f73638c4..9381f0eab0f6 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -10147,10 +10147,11 @@ async def _prepare_inbound_message_text(
                     message_text,
                     audio_paths,
                 )
-                # Echo each successful transcript back to the user immediately,
-                # before the agent loop runs. Lets the user verify STT quality
-                # in real-time and see the raw whisper output verbatim.
-                if _successful_transcripts:
+                # Echo each successful transcript back to the user immediately
+                # when configured. Lets users verify STT quality in real-time,
+                # while allowing quiet STT for users who only want the agent to
+                # receive the transcription.
+                if _successful_transcripts and self._should_echo_stt_transcripts():
                     _echo_adapter = self.adapters.get(source.platform)
                     _echo_meta = self._thread_metadata_for_source(source, self._reply_anchor_for_event(event))
                     if _echo_adapter:
@@ -12638,6 +12639,10 @@ def _should_send_voice_reply(
 
         return True
 
+    def _should_echo_stt_transcripts(self) -> bool:
+        """Return whether inbound voice/STT transcripts should be echoed to chat."""
+        return bool(getattr(self.config, "stt_echo_transcripts", True))
+
     async def _send_voice_reply(self, event: MessageEvent, text: str) -> None:
         """Generate TTS audio and send as a voice message before the text reply."""
         import uuid as _uuid
@@ -14738,9 +14743,9 @@ async def _dequeue_pending_with_transcription(
             enriched_text, successful_transcripts = await self._enrich_message_with_transcription(
                 text, audio_paths,
             )
-            # Echo raw transcripts back to the user so voice interrupts
-            # feel identical to fresh voice messages.
-            if successful_transcripts:
+            # Echo raw transcripts back to the user when configured so voice
+            # interrupts feel identical to fresh voice messages.
+            if successful_transcripts and self._should_echo_stt_transcripts():
                 echo_adapter = self.adapters.get(source.platform)
                 echo_meta = {"thread_id": source.thread_id} if source.thread_id else None
                 if echo_adapter:
@@ -18608,7 +18613,7 @@ async def monitor_for_interrupt():
                                 # real transcript instead of an empty string
                                 # (or file-path placeholder). Matches the UX
                                 # of fresh voice messages including the
-                                # 🎙️ echo back to the user.
+                                # optional 🎙️ echo back to the user.
                                 _media_urls = getattr(_peek_event, "media_urls", None) or []
                                 _media_types = getattr(_peek_event, "media_types", None) or []
                                 _audio_paths = []
@@ -18626,7 +18631,7 @@ async def monitor_for_interrupt():
                                             pending_text, _audio_paths,
                                         )
                                         pending_text = _enriched
-                                        if _transcripts:
+                                        if _transcripts and self._should_echo_stt_transcripts():
                                             _echo_meta = {"thread_id": source.thread_id} if source.thread_id else None
                                             for _tx in _transcripts:
                                                 try:
@@ -19025,9 +19030,9 @@ def _stream_confirmed_final_delivery(
                     # Transcribe audio media on the dequeued event BEFORE it is
                     # handed back as the next user turn, so queued/interrupting
                     # voice messages drain with the real transcript instead of
-                    # a file-path placeholder. Echo each transcript back to the
-                    # user (same 🎙️ format as fresh voice messages) so voice
-                    # interrupts feel identical to text interrupts.
+                    # a file-path placeholder. When configured, echo each
+                    # transcript back to the user in the same 🎙️ format as
+                    # fresh voice messages.
                     _pending_text = pending_event.text or ""
                     _media_urls = getattr(pending_event, "media_urls", None) or []
                     _media_types = getattr(pending_event, "media_types", None) or []
@@ -19046,7 +19051,7 @@ def _stream_confirmed_final_delivery(
                                 _pending_text, _audio_paths,
                             )
                             pending = _enriched or None
-                            if _transcripts:
+                            if _transcripts and self._should_echo_stt_transcripts():
                                 _echo_meta = {"thread_id": source.thread_id} if source.thread_id else None
                                 for _tx in _transcripts:
                                     try:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/config.py b/hermes_cli/config.py
index 3cd901c803ee..f7fb4c51b12b 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/config.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/config.py
@@ -2017,6 +2017,10 @@ def _ensure_hermes_home_managed(home: Path):
     
     "stt": {
         "enabled": True,
+        # When true, gateway voice messages are transcribed for the agent and
+        # the raw transcript is also echoed back to the user as a 🎙️ message.
+        # Set false to keep STT for the agent while suppressing that user-facing echo.
+        "echo_transcripts": True,
         "provider": "local",  # "local" (free, faster-whisper) | "groq" | "openai" (Whisper API) | "mistral" (Voxtral Transcribe) | "elevenlabs" (Scribe)
         "local": {
             "model": "base",  # tiny, base, small, medium, large-v3
diff --git a/scripts/release.py b/scripts/release.py
index b71a3a455860..eb9cf9d89553 100755
--- a/scripts/release.py
+++ b/scripts/release.py
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@
     "simpolism@gmail.com": "simpolism",
     "jake@nousresearch.com": "simpolism",
     "mgongzai@gmail.com": "vKongv",
+    "perkintahmaz50@gmail.com": "devatnull",
     "0x.badfriend@gmail.com": "discodirector",
     "altriatree@gmail.com": "TruaShamu",
     "contact-me@stark-x.cn": "Stark-X",
diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_stt_transcript_echo_config.py b/tests/gateway/test_stt_transcript_echo_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4fd3649c9ec5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_stt_transcript_echo_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+from gateway.config import GatewayConfig, load_gateway_config
+from gateway.run import GatewayRunner
+
+
+def test_stt_echo_transcripts_defaults_on_for_backwards_compatibility():
+    cfg = GatewayConfig.from_dict({})
+
+    assert cfg.stt_enabled is True
+    assert cfg.stt_echo_transcripts is True
+    assert cfg.to_dict()["stt_echo_transcripts"] is True
+
+
+def test_stt_echo_transcripts_can_be_disabled_in_stt_section():
+    cfg = GatewayConfig.from_dict({"stt": {"enabled": True, "echo_transcripts": False}})
+
+    assert cfg.stt_enabled is True
+    assert cfg.stt_echo_transcripts is False
+
+
+def test_top_level_stt_echo_transcripts_takes_precedence():
+    cfg = GatewayConfig.from_dict({
+        "stt_echo_transcripts": False,
+        "stt": {"echo_transcripts": True},
+    })
+
+    assert cfg.stt_echo_transcripts is False
+
+
+def test_load_gateway_config_honors_top_level_stt_echo_transcripts(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path))
+    (tmp_path / "config.yaml").write_text(
+        "stt:\n  echo_transcripts: true\nstt_echo_transcripts: false\n",
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+
+    cfg = load_gateway_config()
+
+    assert cfg.stt_echo_transcripts is False
+
+
+def test_gateway_runner_uses_stt_echo_transcripts_flag():
+    runner = GatewayRunner.__new__(GatewayRunner)
+
+    runner.config = SimpleNamespace(stt_echo_transcripts=False)
+    assert runner._should_echo_stt_transcripts() is False
+
+    runner.config = SimpleNamespace(stt_echo_transcripts=True)
+    assert runner._should_echo_stt_transcripts() is True
+
+    runner.config = SimpleNamespace()
+    assert runner._should_echo_stt_transcripts() is True
+
+
+def test_all_gateway_transcript_echo_sends_are_gated():
+    source = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "gateway" / "run.py"
+    lines = source.read_text().splitlines()
+
+    echo_send_lines = [
+        index
+        for index, line in enumerate(lines)
+        if "f'🎙️" in line or 'f"🎙️' in line
+    ]
+
+    assert echo_send_lines
+    for index in echo_send_lines:
+        context = "\n".join(lines[max(0, index - 12): index + 1])
+        assert "_should_echo_stt_transcripts()" in context
diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/configuration.md b/website/docs/user-guide/configuration.md
index 0bcda2138a45..93df14b4b8dd 100644
--- a/website/docs/user-guide/configuration.md
+++ b/website/docs/user-guide/configuration.md
@@ -1543,6 +1543,8 @@ Hashes are deterministic — the same user always maps to the same hash, so the
 
 ```yaml
 stt:
+  enabled: true                # Auto-transcribe inbound voice messages (default: true)
+  echo_transcripts: true       # Post raw transcripts back to the chat as 🎙️ "..." (default: true)
   provider: "local"            # "local" | "groq" | "openai" | "mistral"
   local:
     model: "base"              # tiny, base, small, medium, large-v3
@@ -1551,6 +1553,8 @@ stt:
   # model: "whisper-1"         # Legacy fallback key still respected
 ```
 
+Set `stt.echo_transcripts: false` when the gateway should transcribe voice notes for the agent but must not post the raw transcript back to the chat (for example, customer-facing WhatsApp bots).
+
 Provider behavior:
 
 - `local` uses `faster-whisper` running on your machine. Install it separately with `pip install faster-whisper`.