diff --git a/src/aare/gui/main_window.py b/src/aare/gui/main_window.py
index 6917a8c9..5a3187e8 100644
--- a/src/aare/gui/main_window.py
+++ b/src/aare/gui/main_window.py
@@ -597,6 +597,11 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.quick_unmount_button = QPushButton("⏏ Unmount", dewar_tab)
         self.quick_unmount_button.clicked.connect(lambda: self._on_manual_unmount_requested())
 
+        # main_window.py, next to quick_unmount_button (~L597)
+        self.mount_next_button = QPushButton("⏭ Mount next", dewar_tab)
+        self.mount_next_button.clicked.connect(self._mount_next_from_queue)
+        # add to automation_row loop + self._queue_action_buttons as kind "next"
+
         automation_row = QHBoxLayout()
         for w in (
             self.job_list_panel.play_button,
@@ -2395,6 +2400,19 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
             return "The hutch safety alarm is active. Mounting is blocked until it clears."
         return None
 
+    def _mount_next_from_queue(self) -> None:
+        """Manual step-through: mount queue head; if head already on gonio, pop it and mount the following one.
+        Pops only after /status confirms mount, so a failed robot move never loses a sample."""
+        queue = self.job_list_panel.table_model.samples
+        mounted = getattr(self._latest_daq_status, "sample", None)
+        if queue and mounted is not None and mounted.db_id == queue[0].db_id:
+            self.job_list_panel.table_model.remove_sample(mounted.db_id)
+            queue = self.job_list_panel.table_model.samples
+        if not queue:
+            self._on_manual_unmount_requested()  # or no-op; your call
+            return
+        self._on_manual_mount_requested(queue[0])
+
     def _on_manual_mount_requested(self, sample, reference: bool = False) -> None:
         """Pre-check the hutch before sending a manual mount to the server.