diff --git a/libraries/audio/impl/build.gradle.kts b/libraries/audio/impl/build.gradle.kts
index 419e81962c..c0db3c4f86 100644
--- a/libraries/audio/impl/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/libraries/audio/impl/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import extension.setupDependencyInjection
+import extension.testCommonDependencies
 
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2025 Element Creations Ltd.
@@ -22,4 +23,6 @@ dependencies {
 
     implementation(libs.androidx.corektx)
     implementation(projects.libraries.di)
+
+    testCommonDependencies(libs)
 }
diff --git a/libraries/audio/impl/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/audio/impl/DefaultAudioFocus.kt b/libraries/audio/impl/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/audio/impl/DefaultAudioFocus.kt
index bc6a42d2f9..a9bc6fdbfd 100644
--- a/libraries/audio/impl/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/audio/impl/DefaultAudioFocus.kt
+++ b/libraries/audio/impl/src/main/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/audio/impl/DefaultAudioFocus.kt
@@ -48,9 +48,8 @@ class DefaultAudioFocus(
                 }
                 AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT,
                 AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK -> {
-                    // For recording, ignore transient focus losses (e.g., notification sounds).
-                    // The AudioRecord API keeps capturing regardless.
-                    if (requester != AudioFocusRequester.RecordVoiceMessage) {
+                    Timber.d("AudioFocus: transient loss ($it)")
+                    if (requester.pausesOnTransientFocusLoss()) {
                         onFocusLost()
                     }
                 }
@@ -96,8 +95,8 @@ class DefaultAudioFocus(
 private fun AudioFocusRequester.toAudioUsage(): Int {
     return when (this) {
         AudioFocusRequester.ElementCall,
-        AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage,
         AudioFocusRequester.RecordVoiceMessage -> AudioAttributes.USAGE_VOICE_COMMUNICATION
+        AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage,
         AudioFocusRequester.MediaViewer -> AudioAttributes.USAGE_MEDIA
     }
 }
@@ -105,12 +104,22 @@ private fun AudioFocusRequester.toAudioUsage(): Int {
 private fun AudioFocusRequester.toAudioStream(): Int {
     return when (this) {
         AudioFocusRequester.ElementCall,
-        AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage,
         AudioFocusRequester.RecordVoiceMessage -> AudioManager.STREAM_VOICE_CALL
+        AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage,
         AudioFocusRequester.MediaViewer -> AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC
     }
 }
 
+private fun AudioFocusRequester.pausesOnTransientFocusLoss(): Boolean {
+    return when (this) {
+        // The AudioRecord API keeps capturing regardless.
+        AudioFocusRequester.RecordVoiceMessage,
+        AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage -> false
+        AudioFocusRequester.ElementCall,
+        AudioFocusRequester.MediaViewer -> true
+    }
+}
+
 private fun AudioFocusRequester.willPausedWhenDucked(): Boolean {
     return when (this) {
         // (note that for Element Call, there is no action when the focus is lost)
diff --git a/libraries/audio/impl/src/test/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/audio/impl/DefaultAudioFocusTest.kt b/libraries/audio/impl/src/test/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/audio/impl/DefaultAudioFocusTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d0e255dd41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/audio/impl/src/test/kotlin/io/element/android/libraries/audio/impl/DefaultAudioFocusTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+ * Copyright 2026 New Vector Ltd.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial.
+ * Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+ */
+
+package io.element.android.libraries.audio.impl
+
+import android.media.AudioAttributes
+import android.media.AudioManager
+import androidx.core.content.getSystemService
+import com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat
+import io.element.android.libraries.audio.api.AudioFocusRequester
+import io.element.android.tests.testutils.robolectric.RobolectricTest
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.robolectric.RuntimeEnvironment
+import org.robolectric.Shadows.shadowOf
+
+class DefaultAudioFocusTest : RobolectricTest() {
+    @Test
+    fun `voice message playback requests focus for media, not for a call`() {
+        assertThat(usageOf(AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage)).isEqualTo(AudioAttributes.USAGE_MEDIA)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `media viewer playback requests focus for media`() {
+        assertThat(usageOf(AudioFocusRequester.MediaViewer)).isEqualTo(AudioAttributes.USAGE_MEDIA)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `voice message recording requests focus for voice communication`() {
+        assertThat(usageOf(AudioFocusRequester.RecordVoiceMessage)).isEqualTo(AudioAttributes.USAGE_VOICE_COMMUNICATION)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `element call requests focus for voice communication`() {
+        assertThat(usageOf(AudioFocusRequester.ElementCall)).isEqualTo(AudioAttributes.USAGE_VOICE_COMMUNICATION)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a transient focus loss does not pause a voice message`() {
+        assertThat(losesFocusOn(AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage, AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT)).isFalse()
+        assertThat(losesFocusOn(AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage, AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK)).isFalse()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a permanent focus loss pauses a voice message`() {
+        assertThat(losesFocusOn(AudioFocusRequester.VoiceMessage, AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS)).isTrue()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a transient focus loss does not stop a voice message recording`() {
+        assertThat(losesFocusOn(AudioFocusRequester.RecordVoiceMessage, AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT)).isFalse()
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a transient focus loss still pauses the media viewer`() {
+        assertThat(losesFocusOn(AudioFocusRequester.MediaViewer, AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT)).isTrue()
+    }
+
+    private fun losesFocusOn(requester: AudioFocusRequester, focusChange: Int): Boolean {
+        val context = RuntimeEnvironment.getApplication()
+        val audioManager = requireNotNull(context.getSystemService<AudioManager>())
+        var focusLost = false
+        DefaultAudioFocus(context).requestAudioFocus(requester) { focusLost = true }
+        val request = requireNotNull(shadowOf(audioManager).lastAudioFocusRequest)
+        request.listener.onAudioFocusChange(focusChange)
+        return focusLost
+    }
+
+    private fun usageOf(requester: AudioFocusRequester): Int {
+        val context = RuntimeEnvironment.getApplication()
+        val audioManager = requireNotNull(context.getSystemService<AudioManager>())
+        DefaultAudioFocus(context).requestAudioFocus(requester) {}
+        val request = requireNotNull(shadowOf(audioManager).lastAudioFocusRequest)
+        return requireNotNull(request.audioFocusRequest).audioAttributes.usage
+    }
+}