diff --git a/emmental/header/__init__.py b/emmental/header/__init__.py
index dd0df9d..ff32647 100644
--- a/emmental/header/__init__.py
+++ b/emmental/header/__init__.py
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 # Copyright 2022 (c) Anna Schumaker.
 """A custom Gtk.HeaderBar configured for our application."""
 import pathlib
+import typing
 from gi.repository import GObject
 from gi.repository import Gtk
 from gi.repository import Adw
 from .. import db
 from .. import buttons
+from .. import gsetup
 from . import open
 from . import replaygain
 from . import volume
@@ -39,7 +41,8 @@ class Header(Gtk.HeaderBar):
         """Initialize the HeaderBar."""
         super().__init__(title=title, subtitle=SUBTITLE, sql=sql)
         self._open = open.Button()
-        self._title = Adw.WindowTitle(title=self.title, subtitle=self.subtitle)
+        self._title = Adw.WindowTitle(title=self.title, subtitle=self.subtitle,
+                                      tooltip_text=gsetup.env_string())
         self._volume = volume.Controls()
         self._replaygain = replaygain.Selector()
 
@@ -64,7 +67,8 @@ class Header(Gtk.HeaderBar):
         self.pack_start(self._open)
         if __debug__:
             self._window = settings.Window(sql)
-            self._settings = Gtk.Button.new_from_icon_name("settings-symbolic")
+            self._settings = Gtk.Button(icon_name="settings-symbolic",
+                                        tooltip_text="open settings editor")
             self._settings.connect("clicked", self.__run_settings)
             self.pack_start(self._settings)
 
@@ -72,14 +76,21 @@ class Header(Gtk.HeaderBar):
         self.set_title_widget(self._title)
 
         self._open.connect("track-requested", self.__track_requested)
-        self.connect("notify::volume", self.__notify_volume)
+        self.connect("notify", self.__notify)
 
     def __run_settings(self, button: Gtk.Button) -> None:
         if __debug__:
             self._window.present()
 
-    def __notify_volume(self, header, param) -> None:
-        self._button.set_icon_name(_volume_icon(self.volume))
+    def __notify(self, header: typing.Self, param: GObject.ParamSpec) -> None:
+        match param.name:
+            case "volume":
+                self._button.set_icon_name(_volume_icon(self.volume))
+
+        rg_status = f"{self.rg_mode} mode" if self.rg_enabled else "off"
+        status = (f"volume: {round(self.volume * 100)}%\n"
+                  f"normalizing: {rg_status}")
+        self._button.set_tooltip_text(status)
 
     def __track_requested(self, button: open.Button,
                           path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
diff --git a/emmental/header/open.py b/emmental/header/open.py
index abdc558..2e9efd4 100644
--- a/emmental/header/open.py
+++ b/emmental/header/open.py
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ class Button(Gtk.Button):
 
     def __init__(self):
         """Initialize our open button."""
-        super().__init__(icon_name="document-open-symbolic")
+        super().__init__(icon_name="document-open-symbolic",
+                         tooltip_text="open a file for playback")
         self._filters = Gio.ListStore()
         self._filter = Gtk.FileFilter(name="Audio Files",
                                       mime_types=["inode/directory",
diff --git a/tests/header/test_header.py b/tests/header/test_header.py
index 733e6d0..ff684c6 100644
--- a/tests/header/test_header.py
+++ b/tests/header/test_header.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ class TestHeader(tests.util.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.header._title.get_subtitle(),
                          emmental.header.SUBTITLE)
 
+        self.assertEqual(self.header._title.get_tooltip_text(),
+                         emmental.gsetup.env_string())
+
     def test_open(self):
         """Check that the Open button works as expected."""
         self.assertIsInstance(self.header._open, emmental.header.open.Button)
@@ -51,6 +54,8 @@ class TestHeader(tests.util.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.header.sql, self.sql)
         self.assertEqual(self.header._settings.get_icon_name(),
                          "settings-symbolic")
+        self.assertEqual(self.header._settings.get_tooltip_text(),
+                         "open settings editor")
 
         with unittest.mock.patch.object(self.header._window,
                                         "present") as mock_present:
@@ -77,6 +82,8 @@ class TestHeader(tests.util.TestCase):
                 self.assertEqual(self.header._volume.volume, vol)
                 self.assertEqual(self.header._button.get_icon_name(),
                                  f"audio-volume-{icon}-symbolic")
+                self.assertEqual(self.header._button.get_tooltip_text(),
+                                 f"volume: {i*10}%\nnormalizing: off")
 
     def test_replaygain(self):
         """Test that we can configure ReplayGain as expected."""
@@ -89,11 +96,15 @@ class TestHeader(tests.util.TestCase):
         self.header.rg_mode = "track"
         self.assertTrue(self.header._replaygain.enabled)
         self.assertEqual(self.header._replaygain.mode, "track")
+        self.assertEqual(self.header._button.get_tooltip_text(),
+                         "volume: 100%\nnormalizing: track mode")
 
         self.header._replaygain.enabled = False
         self.header._replaygain.mode = "album"
         self.assertFalse(self.header.rg_enabled)
         self.assertEqual(self.header.rg_mode, "album")
+        self.assertEqual(self.header._button.get_tooltip_text(),
+                         "volume: 100%\nnormalizing: off")
 
     def test_popover(self):
         """Check that the menu popover was set up correctly."""
diff --git a/tests/header/test_open.py b/tests/header/test_open.py
index 4184938..c6bca1e 100644
--- a/tests/header/test_open.py
+++ b/tests/header/test_open.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ class TestButton(unittest.TestCase):
         """Check that the button was set up properly."""
         self.assertIsInstance(self.button, Gtk.Button)
         self.assertEqual(self.button.get_icon_name(), "document-open-symbolic")
+        self.assertEqual(self.button.get_tooltip_text(),
+                         "open a file for playback")
 
     def test_filter(self):
         """Check that the file filter is set up properly."""