diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index 8cdf1406..90ca2c2d 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@
 #define DIRECT_SEND_PERHOP_FACTOR       6.0f
 #define DIRECT_SEND_PERHOP_EXTRA_MILLIS 250
 #define LAZY_CONTACTS_WRITE_DELAY       5000
+#define USER_IDLE_SAVE_THRESHOLD       15000  // Defer saves until 15s after last keypress
 
 #define PUBLIC_GROUP_PSK                "izOH6cXN6mrJ5e26oRXNcg=="
 
@@ -3462,18 +3463,19 @@ void MyMesh::loop() {
   }
 
   // is there are pending dirty contacts write needed?
+  bool userActive = _lastUserInput && (millis() - _lastUserInput) < USER_IDLE_SAVE_THRESHOLD;
   if (dirty_contacts_expiry && millisHasNowPassed(dirty_contacts_expiry)) {
 #if defined(NRF52_PLATFORM) || defined(STM32_PLATFORM)
     // nRF52/STM32: blocking save (fast on internal flash, no chunking needed)
-    if (!_deferSaves) {
+    if (!_deferSaves && !userActive) {
       _store->saveContacts(this);
       dirty_contacts_expiry = 0;
     } else {
       dirty_contacts_expiry = futureMillis(2000);
     }
 #else
-    if (_deferSaves) {
-      // Voice session receiving — push save forward to avoid SPI contention
+    if (_deferSaves || userActive) {
+      // Voice session or active keyboard use -- push save forward
       dirty_contacts_expiry = futureMillis(2000);
     } else if (!_store->isSaveInProgress()) {
       _store->beginSaveContacts(this);
@@ -3483,10 +3485,11 @@ void MyMesh::loop() {
   }
 
 #if !defined(NRF52_PLATFORM) && !defined(STM32_PLATFORM)
-  // Drive chunked contact save — write a batch each loop iteration
-  if (_store->isSaveInProgress() && !_deferSaves) {
+  // Drive chunked contact save -- write a batch each loop iteration
+  // Paused while user is actively pressing keys or voice session is receiving
+  if (_store->isSaveInProgress() && !_deferSaves && !userActive) {
     if (!_store->saveContactsChunk(20)) {  // 20 contacts per chunk (~3KB, ~30ms)
-      _store->finishSaveContacts();  // Done or error — verify and commit
+      _store->finishSaveContacts();  // Done or error -- verify and commit
     }
   }
 #endif
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h
index a823e398..b95cfb11 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.h
@@ -160,6 +160,10 @@ public:
   void setDeferSaves(bool defer) { _deferSaves = defer; }
   bool isDeferSaves() const { return _deferSaves; }
 
+  // Notify that the user pressed a key — defers contact saves until idle.
+  // Call from main.cpp keyboard handler on every keypress.
+  void notifyUserInput() { _lastUserInput = millis(); }
+
   // Repeater admin - UI-initiated operations
   bool uiLoginToRepeater(uint32_t contact_idx, const char* password, uint32_t& est_timeout_ms);
   bool uiSendCliCommand(uint32_t contact_idx, const char* command);
@@ -274,6 +278,7 @@ private:
   VoiceEnvelopeHandler _voiceEnvHandler = nullptr;
   mutable bool _forceNextImport = false;
   bool _deferSaves = false;
+  unsigned long _lastUserInput = 0;  // millis() of last keypress -- defer saves until idle
   uint32_t pending_login;
   uint32_t pending_status;
   uint32_t pending_telemetry, pending_discovery;   // pending _TELEMETRY_REQ
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
index 9a073c15..d8bd365b 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -3619,6 +3619,9 @@ void handleKeyboardInput() {
   Serial.printf("handleKeyboardInput: key='%c' (0x%02X) composeMode=%d\n", 
                 key >= 32 ? key : '?', key, composeMode);
   
+  // Defer contact saves while user is actively pressing keys
+  the_mesh.notifyUserInput();
+  
   // Alarm ringing: ANY key dismisses (highest priority after lock screen)
   #ifdef MECK_AUDIO_VARIANT
   {