diff --git a/src/components/Controls.tsx b/src/components/Controls.tsx
index 185eb7a..0eab364 100644
--- a/src/components/Controls.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Controls.tsx
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ export const Controls: React.FC<ControlsProps> = ({ currentPitch }) => {
             )}
             {shouldShowFilters && <TargetNoteControls />}
 
-            {/* Bottom Section: Tools Grid (2 Columns now) */}
-            <div className="tools-grid" style={inPhraseMode ? { gridTemplateColumns: '1fr' } : undefined}>
+            {/* Bottom Section: Tools Grid (stacked in all modes) */}
+            <div className="tools-grid" style={{ gridTemplateColumns: '1fr' }}>
                 {/* Tool 1: Tuner */}
                 <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: '8px', border: '1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.2)', padding: '12px', borderRadius: '8px' }}>
                     <div style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'space-between' }}>
diff --git a/src/components/MetronomeWidget.tsx b/src/components/MetronomeWidget.tsx
index 77ae164..e344866 100644
--- a/src/components/MetronomeWidget.tsx
+++ b/src/components/MetronomeWidget.tsx
@@ -55,10 +55,15 @@ export const MetronomeWidget: React.FC<MetronomeWidgetProps> = ({
 
     const isSync = syncMode === 'option' && !!rhythm.syncToExercise;
     const runActive = gate === true;
+    // Phrase mode (syncMode 'option') has no on/off switch — the sync
+    // checkbox replaces it (unchecked = free metronome, checked = synced to
+    // the exercise), so the metronome is always armed there. Gating on
+    // rhythm.active would leave phrase users with no way to enable clicks.
+    const armed = syncMode === 'option' ? true : rhythm.active;
     // Sync: pendulum/click only while the run is active (the run's scheduler
     // is the click source; the widget's own scheduler stays off).
     // Free/plain: the widget's own scheduler runs whenever armed.
-    const running = isSync ? runActive : rhythm.active;
+    const running = isSync ? runActive : armed;
 
     const { restart } = useMetronome({
         bpm: rhythm.bpm,
@@ -78,7 +83,6 @@ export const MetronomeWidget: React.FC<MetronomeWidgetProps> = ({
     }, [isSync, runActive]);
 
     const beatMs = 60000 / Math.max(1, rhythm.bpm);
-    const armed = rhythm.active;
 
     return (
         <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexDirection: 'column', gap: '8px' }}>
diff --git a/src/components/PhraseTrainer.tsx b/src/components/PhraseTrainer.tsx
index b3c958f..b4958f4 100644
--- a/src/components/PhraseTrainer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/PhraseTrainer.tsx
@@ -85,13 +85,15 @@ export const PhraseTrainer = forwardRef<PhraseHandle, PhraseTrainerProps>(
         const pace: PhraseSettings['pace'] = settings.rhythm.syncToExercise ? 'tempo' : 'step';
         phrase.pace = pace;
         // Click decision — ONE source: the metronome widget's sound checkbox.
-        // - Sync (tempo): run clicks when armed && sound (count-in incl.);
-        //   widget silent while idle.
-        // - Free metronome: widget clicks freely; the run stays silent to
-        //   avoid doubling (sync off in tempo = free widget during runs).
-        phrase.clickSound = pace === 'tempo'
-            ? settings.rhythm.active && settings.rhythm.sound
-            : settings.rhythm.active && settings.rhythm.sound && !settings.rhythm.syncToExercise;
+        // Phrase mode has no metronome on/off switch (the sync checkbox
+        // replaces it, see MetronomeWidget), so rhythm.active must NOT gate
+        // clicks here — with the default active:false a synced run would
+        // stay silent with no way to fix it from this mode.
+        // - Sync (tempo): run clicks when sound is on (count-in included);
+        //   the widget stays silent while idle.
+        // - Free metronome (step): the widget clicks freely; the run stays
+        //   silent to avoid doubling.
+        phrase.clickSound = settings.rhythm.sound;
         const setPhrase = useCallback((updates: Partial<PhraseSettings>) => {
             updateSettings(s => ({ ...s, phrase: { ...getPhraseSettings(s), ...updates } }));
         }, [updateSettings]);