diff --git a/mucapy/main.py b/mucapy/main.py
index 7663c43..96d847f 100644
--- a/mucapy/main.py
+++ b/mucapy/main.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from PyQt5.QtWidgets import (QApplication, QMainWindow, QVBoxLayout, QHBoxLayout
                             QShortcut, QListWidget, QFormLayout, QLineEdit,
                             QCheckBox, QTabWidget, QListWidgetItem, QSplitter,
                             QProgressBar)  # Add QProgressBar
-from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt, QTimer, QDir, QSize, QSettings, QDateTime, QRect, QThread, pyqtSignal, QMutex
+from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt, QTimer, QDir, QSize, QSettings, QDateTime, QRect, QThread, pyqtSignal, QMutex, QObject
 from PyQt5.QtGui import (QImage, QPixmap, QIcon, QColor, QKeySequence, QPainter,
                         QPen, QBrush)
 import time
@@ -301,8 +301,9 @@ class CameraThread(QThread):
             self.cap.release()
         self.running = False
 
-class MultiCamYOLODetector:
-    def __init__(self):
+class MultiCamYOLODetector(QObject):
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
         self.cameras = []
         self.camera_threads = {}  # Dictionary to store camera threads
         self.net = None
@@ -489,7 +490,10 @@ class MultiCamYOLODetector:
                     print(f"Warning: Could not read frame from camera {cam_path}")
                     frame = np.zeros((720, 1280, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
                 else:
-                    frame = self.get_detections(frame)
+                    # Only perform detection if net is loaded and detection is requested
+                    parent_window = self.parent()
+                    if parent_window and self.net is not None and parent_window.detection_enabled:
+                        frame = self.get_detections(frame)
                 frames.append(frame)
             except:
                 frame = np.zeros((720, 1280, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
@@ -1319,8 +1323,9 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         
         # Initialize default values
         self.current_layout = 0  # Default to single camera layout
-        self.detector = MultiCamYOLODetector()
+        self.detector = MultiCamYOLODetector(self)  # Pass self as parent
         self.camera_settings = {}
+        self.detection_enabled = True  # Add detection toggle flag
         
         # Load saved settings first
         self.load_saved_settings()
@@ -1525,6 +1530,14 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.toggle_sidebar_action.triggered.connect(self.toggle_sidebar_visibility)
         view_menu.addAction(self.toggle_sidebar_action)
         
+        # Add toggle detection action
+        self.toggle_detection_action = QAction('Enable Detection', self)
+        self.toggle_detection_action.setCheckable(True)
+        self.toggle_detection_action.setChecked(True)
+        self.toggle_detection_action.setShortcut('Ctrl+D')
+        self.toggle_detection_action.triggered.connect(self.toggle_detection)
+        view_menu.addAction(self.toggle_detection_action)
+        
         # Camera menu
         self.camera_menu = menubar.addMenu('Cameras')
         
@@ -2221,6 +2234,16 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
                     }
                 """)
 
+    def toggle_detection(self):
+        """Toggle detection enabled/disabled"""
+        self.detection_enabled = self.toggle_detection_action.isChecked()
+        if self.detection_enabled:
+            self.start_btn.setEnabled(True)
+            self.stop_btn.setEnabled(True)
+        else:
+            self.start_btn.setEnabled(False)
+            self.stop_btn.setEnabled(False)
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)