diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f137ad8b..0f7ea02e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ Automatic restoring and continuous saving of tmux env is also possible with
 - `prefix + Ctrl-s` - save
 - `prefix + Ctrl-r` - restore
 
+On tmux `3.2+`, these bindings open a popup by default so save/restore progress
+can stream directly in the popup with verbose logs. On older tmux versions, the
+plugin falls back to the status-line messages automatically.
+
 ### About
 
 This plugin goes to great lengths to save and restore all the details from your
@@ -90,6 +94,11 @@ You should now be able to use the plugin.
 **Configuration**
 
 - [Changing the default key bindings](docs/custom_key_bindings.md).
+- Popup UI options:
+  `@resurrect-popup 'auto'|'on'|'off'`,
+  `@resurrect-popup-width`,
+  `@resurrect-popup-height`,
+  `@resurrect-popup-close-delay`.
 - [Setting up hooks on save & restore](docs/hooks.md).
 - Only a conservative list of programs is restored by default:<br/>
   `vi vim nvim emacs man less more tail top htop irssi weechat mutt`.<br/>
diff --git a/docs/custom_key_bindings.md b/docs/custom_key_bindings.md
index 99bfc2c6..0cf1db4d 100644
--- a/docs/custom_key_bindings.md
+++ b/docs/custom_key_bindings.md
@@ -9,3 +9,15 @@ To change these, add to `.tmux.conf`:
 
     set -g @resurrect-save 'S'
     set -g @resurrect-restore 'R'
+
+Popup UI is enabled automatically on tmux `3.2+`. To force the old status-line
+behavior instead, add:
+
+    set -g @resurrect-popup 'off'
+
+To force popup mode or tune the popup size / close delay:
+
+    set -g @resurrect-popup 'on'
+    set -g @resurrect-popup-width '70%'
+    set -g @resurrect-popup-height '70%'
+    set -g @resurrect-popup-close-delay '2'
diff --git a/resurrect.tmux b/resurrect.tmux
index 21fed7e1..c8d4d474 100755
--- a/resurrect.tmux
+++ b/resurrect.tmux
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ set_save_bindings() {
 	local key_bindings=$(get_tmux_option "$save_option" "$default_save_key")
 	local key
 	for key in $key_bindings; do
-		tmux bind-key "$key" run-shell "$CURRENT_DIR/scripts/save.sh"
+		tmux bind-key "$key" run-shell "$CURRENT_DIR/scripts/run_with_popup.sh save"
 	done
 }
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ set_restore_bindings() {
 	local key_bindings=$(get_tmux_option "$restore_option" "$default_restore_key")
 	local key
 	for key in $key_bindings; do
-		tmux bind-key "$key" run-shell "$CURRENT_DIR/scripts/restore.sh"
+		tmux bind-key "$key" run-shell "$CURRENT_DIR/scripts/run_with_popup.sh restore"
 	done
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/check_tmux_version.sh b/scripts/check_tmux_version.sh
index b0aedece..6bdd11ad 100755
--- a/scripts/check_tmux_version.sh
+++ b/scripts/check_tmux_version.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ get_tmux_option() {
 display_message() {
 	local message="$1"
 
+	if [ "${RESURRECT_OUTPUT_MODE:-}" = "popup" ]; then
+		printf '[%s] %s\n' "$(date '+%H:%M:%S')" "$message"
+		return
+	fi
+
 	# display_duration defaults to 5 seconds, if not passed as an argument
 	if [ "$#" -eq 2 ]; then
 		local display_duration="$2"
diff --git a/scripts/helpers.sh b/scripts/helpers.sh
index 20d87dcd..26059e96 100644
--- a/scripts/helpers.sh
+++ b/scripts/helpers.sh
@@ -25,11 +25,105 @@ get_tmux_option() {
 	fi
 }
 
+get_digits_from_string() {
+	local string="$1"
+	local only_digits="$(echo "$string" | tr -dC '[:digit:]')"
+	echo "$only_digits"
+}
+
+tmux_version_int() {
+	local tmux_version_string="$(tmux -V)"
+	echo "$(get_digits_from_string "$tmux_version_string")"
+}
+
+tmux_version_at_least() {
+	local minimum_version="$1"
+	local current_version_int="$(tmux_version_int)"
+	local minimum_version_int="$(get_digits_from_string "$minimum_version")"
+	[ "$current_version_int" -ge "$minimum_version_int" ]
+}
+
+tmux_popup_supported() {
+	tmux_version_at_least "3.2"
+}
+
+should_use_popup() {
+	local popup_mode="$(get_tmux_option "$popup_mode_option" "$default_popup_mode")"
+
+	case "$popup_mode" in
+		on|auto)
+			tmux_popup_supported
+			;;
+		off)
+			return 1
+			;;
+		*)
+			return 1
+			;;
+	esac
+}
+
+is_popup_output() {
+	[ "${SCRIPT_OUTPUT:-}" = "popup" ]
+}
+
+popup_log() {
+	local message="$1"
+
+	if is_popup_output; then
+    printf '%s\n' "$message" | ts '[%F %.T]'
+	fi
+}
+
+popup_close_delay() {
+	get_tmux_option "$popup_close_delay_option" "$default_popup_close_delay"
+}
+
+wait_for_popup_close() {
+	if is_popup_output; then
+		local delay="$(popup_close_delay)"
+		if [ -n "$delay" ] && [ "$delay" != "0" ]; then
+			sleep "$delay"
+		fi
+	fi
+}
+
+shell_quote() {
+	printf '%q' "$1"
+}
+
+popup_icon() {
+	local operation="$1"
+
+	case "$operation" in
+		save)
+			printf "\\Uf10e9"
+			;;
+		restore)
+			printf "\\Uf10ed"
+			;;
+	esac
+}
+
+popup_header() {
+	local operation="$1"
+	local label="$2"
+
+	if is_popup_output; then
+		printf '%s %s\n' "$(popup_icon "$operation")" "$label" | ts '[%F %.T]'
+	fi
+}
+
 # Ensures a message is displayed for 5 seconds in tmux prompt.
 # Does not override the 'display-time' tmux option.
 display_message() {
 	local message="$1"
 
+	if is_popup_output; then
+		popup_log "$message"
+		return
+	fi
+
 	# display_duration defaults to 5 seconds, if not passed as an argument
 	if [ "$#" -eq 2 ]; then
 		local display_duration="$2"
@@ -52,7 +146,7 @@ display_message() {
 
 
 supported_tmux_version_ok() {
-	$CURRENT_DIR/check_tmux_version.sh "$SUPPORTED_VERSION"
+	RESURRECT_OUTPUT_MODE="${SCRIPT_OUTPUT:-}" "$CURRENT_DIR/check_tmux_version.sh" "$SUPPORTED_VERSION"
 }
 
 remove_first_char() {
diff --git a/scripts/restore.sh b/scripts/restore.sh
index 1a5e3f98..a3a14b89 100755
--- a/scripts/restore.sh
+++ b/scripts/restore.sh
@@ -249,6 +249,7 @@ detect_if_restoring_from_scratch() {
 	local total_number_of_panes="$(tmux list-panes -a | wc -l | sed 's/ //g')"
 	if [ "$total_number_of_panes" -eq 1 ]; then
 		restore_from_scratch_true
+		popup_log "Only one pane is currently open; restore will reuse it"
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -256,6 +257,7 @@ detect_if_restoring_pane_contents() {
 	if capture_pane_contents_option_on; then
 		cache_tmux_default_command
 		restore_pane_contents_true
+		popup_log "Restoring saved pane contents"
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -265,6 +267,7 @@ restore_all_panes() {
 	detect_if_restoring_from_scratch   # sets a global variable
 	detect_if_restoring_pane_contents  # sets a global variable
 	if is_restoring_pane_contents; then
+		popup_log "Extracting archived pane contents"
 		pane_content_files_restore_from_archive
 	fi
 	while read line; do
@@ -364,24 +367,48 @@ cleanup_restored_pane_contents() {
 }
 
 main() {
-	if supported_tmux_version_ok && check_saved_session_exists; then
-		start_spinner "Restoring..." "Tmux restore complete!"
-		execute_hook "pre-restore-all"
-		restore_all_panes
-		handle_session_0
-		restore_window_properties >/dev/null 2>&1
-		execute_hook "pre-restore-pane-processes"
-		restore_all_pane_processes
-		# below functions restore exact cursor positions
-		restore_active_pane_for_each_window
-		restore_zoomed_windows
-		restore_grouped_sessions  # also restores active and alt windows for grouped sessions
-		restore_active_and_alternate_windows
-		restore_active_and_alternate_sessions
-		cleanup_restored_pane_contents
-		execute_hook "post-restore-all"
+	if ! supported_tmux_version_ok; then
+		wait_for_popup_close
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	if ! check_saved_session_exists; then
+		wait_for_popup_close
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	if [ "${SCRIPT_OUTPUT:-}" != "quiet" ]; then
+		popup_header "restore" "loading..."
+		start_spinner "restoring..." "Tmux restore complete!"
+	fi
+	popup_log "Loading restore data from $(last_resurrect_file)"
+
+	popup_log "Running pre-restore-all hook"
+	execute_hook "pre-restore-all"
+	popup_log "Restoring panes and sessions"
+	restore_all_panes
+	handle_session_0
+	popup_log "Restoring window layouts and names"
+	restore_window_properties >/dev/null 2>&1
+	popup_log "Running pre-restore-pane-processes hook"
+	execute_hook "pre-restore-pane-processes"
+	popup_log "Restoring pane processes"
+	restore_all_pane_processes
+	popup_log "Restoring active panes, zoom state, grouped sessions, and client state"
+	# below functions restore exact cursor positions
+	restore_active_pane_for_each_window
+	restore_zoomed_windows
+	restore_grouped_sessions  # also restores active and alt windows for grouped sessions
+	restore_active_and_alternate_windows
+	restore_active_and_alternate_sessions
+	popup_log "Cleaning temporary restore artifacts"
+	cleanup_restored_pane_contents
+	popup_log "Running post-restore-all hook"
+	execute_hook "post-restore-all"
+	if [ "${SCRIPT_OUTPUT:-}" != "quiet" ]; then
 		stop_spinner
 		display_message "Tmux restore complete!"
 	fi
+	wait_for_popup_close
 }
 main
diff --git a/scripts/run_with_popup.sh b/scripts/run_with_popup.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..a32ee027
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run_with_popup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+CURRENT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
+
+source "$CURRENT_DIR/variables.sh"
+source "$CURRENT_DIR/helpers.sh"
+
+action="$1"
+script_path=""
+title=""
+
+case "$action" in
+	save)
+		script_path="$CURRENT_DIR/save.sh"
+		title="tmux-resurrect save"
+		;;
+	restore)
+		script_path="$CURRENT_DIR/restore.sh"
+		title="tmux-resurrect restore"
+		;;
+	*)
+		exit 1
+		;;
+esac
+
+run_command() {
+	"$script_path"
+}
+
+run_popup() {
+	local popup_width="$(get_tmux_option "$popup_width_option" "$default_popup_width")"
+	local popup_height="$(get_tmux_option "$popup_height_option" "$default_popup_height")"
+	local popup_command="$(shell_quote "$script_path") popup"
+
+	tmux display-popup -T "$title" -w "$popup_width" -h "$popup_height" -E "$popup_command"
+}
+
+main() {
+	if should_use_popup; then
+		run_popup
+	else
+		run_command
+	fi
+}
+main
diff --git a/scripts/save.sh b/scripts/save.sh
index 01edcdeb..3dbfbcb8 100755
--- a/scripts/save.sh
+++ b/scripts/save.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ delimiter=$'\t'
 
 # if "quiet" script produces no output
 SCRIPT_OUTPUT="$1"
+SAVE_RESULT_DETAIL=""
 
 grouped_sessions_format() {
 	local format
@@ -238,41 +239,64 @@ remove_old_backups() {
 save_all() {
 	local resurrect_file_path="$(resurrect_file_path)"
 	local last_resurrect_file="$(last_resurrect_file)"
+	popup_log "Writing tmux snapshot to $resurrect_file_path"
 	mkdir -p "$(resurrect_dir)"
+	popup_log "dumping grouped sessions..."
 	fetch_and_dump_grouped_sessions > "$resurrect_file_path"
+	popup_log "dumping panes..."
 	dump_panes   >> "$resurrect_file_path"
+	popup_log "dumping windows..."
 	dump_windows >> "$resurrect_file_path"
+	popup_log "dumping state..."
 	dump_state   >> "$resurrect_file_path"
+	popup_log "running post-save-layout hook..."
 	execute_hook "post-save-layout" "$resurrect_file_path"
 	if files_differ "$resurrect_file_path" "$last_resurrect_file"; then
 		ln -fs "$(basename "$resurrect_file_path")" "$last_resurrect_file"
+		SAVE_RESULT_DETAIL="Save written to $resurrect_file_path"
 	else
 		rm "$resurrect_file_path"
+		SAVE_RESULT_DETAIL="No changes detected; existing save was kept"
 	fi
 	if capture_pane_contents_option_on; then
+		popup_log "Capturing pane contents"
 		mkdir -p "$(pane_contents_dir "save")"
 		dump_pane_contents
 		pane_contents_create_archive
 		rm "$(pane_contents_dir "save")"/*
 	fi
+	popup_log "Pruning expired backup files"
 	remove_old_backups
+	popup_log "Running post-save-all hook"
 	execute_hook "post-save-all"
 }
 
-show_output() {
-	[ "$SCRIPT_OUTPUT" != "quiet" ]
+is_quiet() {
+	[ "$SCRIPT_OUTPUT" = "quiet" ]
+}
+
+show_any_output() {
+	! is_quiet
 }
 
 main() {
-	if supported_tmux_version_ok; then
-		if show_output; then
-			start_spinner "Saving..." "Tmux environment saved!"
-		fi
-		save_all
-		if show_output; then
-			stop_spinner
-			display_message "Tmux environment saved!"
-		fi
+	if ! supported_tmux_version_ok; then
+		wait_for_popup_close
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	if show_any_output; then
+		popup_header "save" "saving..."
+		start_spinner "saving..." "Tmux environment saved!"
+	fi
+	save_all
+	if is_popup_output && [ -n "$SAVE_RESULT_DETAIL" ]; then
+		popup_log "$SAVE_RESULT_DETAIL"
+	fi
+	if show_any_output; then
+		stop_spinner
+		display_message "Tmux environment saved!"
 	fi
+	wait_for_popup_close
 }
 main
diff --git a/scripts/spinner_helpers.sh b/scripts/spinner_helpers.sh
index fe73cd70..ae46f8b6 100644
--- a/scripts/spinner_helpers.sh
+++ b/scripts/spinner_helpers.sh
@@ -1,8 +1,93 @@
 start_spinner() {
+	if is_popup_output; then
+		return
+	fi
 	$CURRENT_DIR/tmux_spinner.sh "$1" "$2" &
 	export SPINNER_PID=$!
 }
 
 stop_spinner() {
+	if is_popup_output; then
+		return
+	fi
 	kill $SPINNER_PID
 }
+
+spinner_wave_label() {
+	local message="$(printf '%s' "$1" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')"
+
+	case "$message" in
+		"saving..."|"restoring...")
+			echo "$message"
+			;;
+		*)
+			echo ""
+			;;
+	esac
+}
+
+spinner_wave_message() {
+	local message="$1"
+	local frame="$2"
+	local rendered=""
+	local message_length="${#message}"
+	local index=0
+	local char=""
+
+	if [ -z "$message" ]; then
+		return
+	fi
+
+	while [ "$index" -lt "${#message}" ]; do
+		char="${message:$index:1}"
+		if [ "$char" = " " ]; then
+			rendered="${rendered}${char}"
+		else
+			local color="$(spinner_wave_color "$frame" "$index" "$message_length")"
+			rendered="${rendered}#[fg=colour${color}]${char}"
+		fi
+		index=$((index + 1))
+	done
+
+	printf '%s#[default]' "$rendered"
+}
+
+spinner_wave_color() {
+	local frame="$1"
+	local index="$2"
+	local message_length="$3"
+	local min_color=240
+	local max_color=253
+	local gradient_width=5
+	local pause_frames=10
+	local half_width=$((gradient_width / 2))
+	local pass_frames=$((message_length + gradient_width))
+	local cycle_frames=$((pass_frames + pause_frames))
+	local active_frame=0
+	local center=0
+	local distance=0
+
+	if [ -z "$message_length" ] || [ "$message_length" -le 0 ]; then
+		echo "$max_color"
+		return
+	fi
+
+	active_frame=$((frame % cycle_frames))
+	if [ "$active_frame" -ge "$pass_frames" ]; then
+		echo "$max_color"
+		return
+	fi
+
+	center=$((active_frame - half_width))
+	distance=$((index - center))
+	if [ "$distance" -lt 0 ]; then
+		distance=$(( -distance ))
+	fi
+
+	if [ "$distance" -gt "$half_width" ]; then
+		echo "$max_color"
+		return
+	fi
+
+	echo $((min_color + (distance * (max_color - min_color) / half_width)))
+}
diff --git a/scripts/tmux_spinner.sh b/scripts/tmux_spinner.sh
index 9b1b9792..a4e06919 100755
--- a/scripts/tmux_spinner.sh
+++ b/scripts/tmux_spinner.sh
@@ -12,17 +12,133 @@
 #   ..
 #   kill $SPINNER_PID # Stops spinner and displays 'End message!'
 
+CURRENT_DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
+
+source "$CURRENT_DIR/helpers.sh"
+source "$CURRENT_DIR/spinner_helpers.sh"
+source "$CURRENT_DIR/variables.sh"
+
 MESSAGE="$1"
 END_MESSAGE="$2"
-SPIN='-\|/'
+DEFAULT_SPIN_CHARS='-\|/'
+SPIN_CHARS=$( get_tmux_option "$spinner_chars_option" "$DEFAULT_SPIN_CHARS" )
+SPIN_CHARS_LENGTH=$( echo -n "$SPIN_CHARS" | wc -m )
+WAVE_LABEL="$(spinner_wave_label "$MESSAGE")"
+CONTROL_MODE_FIFO=""
+CONTROL_MODE_DIR=""
+CONTROL_MODE_PID=""
+CONTROL_MODE_READY="false"
+TARGET_CLIENT_TTY=""
+
+tmux_quote() {
+	printf "'%s'" "$(printf '%s' "$1" | sed "s/'/'\\\\''/g")"
+}
+
+tmux_control_target_client() {
+	tmux display-message -p -F "#{client_tty}" 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+tmux_control_start() {
+	TARGET_CLIENT_TTY="$(tmux_control_target_client)"
+
+	if [ -z "$TARGET_CLIENT_TTY" ]; then
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	CONTROL_MODE_DIR="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/tmux-resurrect-spinner.XXXXXX" 2>/dev/null)"
+	if [ -z "$CONTROL_MODE_DIR" ]; then
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	CONTROL_MODE_FIFO="$CONTROL_MODE_DIR/control-mode"
+	if ! mkfifo "$CONTROL_MODE_FIFO"; then
+		rmdir "$CONTROL_MODE_DIR"
+		CONTROL_MODE_DIR=""
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	tmux -C <"$CONTROL_MODE_FIFO" >/dev/null 2>&1 &
+	CONTROL_MODE_PID="$!"
+
+	if ! exec 3>"$CONTROL_MODE_FIFO"; then
+		kill "$CONTROL_MODE_PID" 2>/dev/null
+		wait "$CONTROL_MODE_PID" 2>/dev/null
+		rm -f "$CONTROL_MODE_FIFO"
+		rmdir "$CONTROL_MODE_DIR"
+		CONTROL_MODE_FIFO=""
+		CONTROL_MODE_DIR=""
+		CONTROL_MODE_PID=""
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	CONTROL_MODE_READY="true"
+}
+
+tmux_control_send() {
+	local command="$1"
+
+	if [ "$CONTROL_MODE_READY" = "true" ] && [ -n "$CONTROL_MODE_PID" ]; then
+		printf '%s\n' "$command" >&3 2>/dev/null || return 1
+		return 0
+	fi
+
+	return 1
+}
+
+tmux_send_display_message() {
+	local message="$1"
+	local quoted_message="$(tmux_quote "$message")"
+
+	if tmux_control_send "display-message -c $(tmux_quote "$TARGET_CLIENT_TTY") $quoted_message"; then
+		return 0
+	fi
+
+	tmux display-message "$message"
+}
+
+cleanup() {
+	local final_message="$1"
+
+	if [ -n "$final_message" ]; then
+		tmux_send_display_message "$final_message"
+	fi
+
+	if [ "$CONTROL_MODE_READY" = "true" ]; then
+		exec 3>&-
+		CONTROL_MODE_READY="false"
+	fi
+
+	if [ -n "$CONTROL_MODE_PID" ]; then
+		wait "$CONTROL_MODE_PID" 2>/dev/null
+	fi
+
+	if [ -n "$CONTROL_MODE_FIFO" ]; then
+		rm -f "$CONTROL_MODE_FIFO"
+	fi
+
+	if [ -n "$CONTROL_MODE_DIR" ]; then
+		rmdir "$CONTROL_MODE_DIR" 2>/dev/null
+	fi
+}
+
+handle_exit() {
+	cleanup "$END_MESSAGE"
+	exit
+}
 
-trap "tmux display-message '$END_MESSAGE'; exit" SIGINT SIGTERM
+trap "handle_exit" SIGINT SIGTERM
 
 main() {
 	local i=0
+	tmux_control_start
 	while true; do
-	  i=$(( (i+1) %4 ))
-	  tmux display-message " ${SPIN:$i:1} $MESSAGE"
+	  if [ -n "$WAVE_LABEL" ]; then
+		tmux_send_display_message "$(spinner_wave_message "$WAVE_LABEL" "$i")"
+		i=$((i + 1))
+	  else
+		i=$(( (i+1) % $SPIN_CHARS_LENGTH ))
+		tmux_send_display_message " ${SPIN_CHARS:$i:1} $MESSAGE"
+	  fi
 	  sleep 0.1
 	done
 }
diff --git a/scripts/variables.sh b/scripts/variables.sh
index 9d42e02a..df1f03be 100644
--- a/scripts/variables.sh
+++ b/scripts/variables.sh
@@ -46,3 +46,14 @@ hook_prefix="@resurrect-hook-"
 
 delete_backup_after_option="@resurrect-delete-backup-after"
 default_delete_backup_after="30" # days
+
+spinner_chars_option="@resurrect-spinner-chars"
+
+popup_mode_option="@resurrect-popup"
+default_popup_mode="auto"
+popup_height_option="@resurrect-popup-height"
+default_popup_height="80%"
+popup_width_option="@resurrect-popup-width"
+default_popup_width="80%"
+popup_close_delay_option="@resurrect-popup-close-delay"
+default_popup_close_delay="1"