diff --git a/Android/app/build.gradle.kts b/Android/app/build.gradle.kts
index 4f101d7f..a4dee660 100644
--- a/Android/app/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/Android/app/build.gradle.kts
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ android {
         applicationId = "com.archipelago.app"
         minSdk = 26
         targetSdk = 35
-        versionCode = 55
-        versionName = "0.5.35"
+        versionCode = 56
+        versionName = "0.5.36"
 
         vectorDrawables {
             useSupportLibrary = true
diff --git a/Android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/Android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 14b4895f..e5be0acb 100644
--- a/Android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/Android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     <!-- Embedded FIPS mesh tunnel (ArchyVpnService) runs as a foreground service. -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS" />
 
     <application
@@ -67,6 +68,12 @@
             </intent-filter>
         </activity>
 
+        <service
+            android:name=".ui.screens.CompanionAudioService"
+            android:exported="false"
+            android:stopWithTask="false"
+            android:foregroundServiceType="mediaPlayback" />
+
         <!-- Embedded FIPS mesh node: split-tunnel VpnService (fd00::/8 only),
              configured entirely by scanning the node's pairing QR. -->
         <service
diff --git a/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/MainActivity.kt b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/MainActivity.kt
index 025c006a..7156c55e 100644
--- a/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/MainActivity.kt
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.collectAsState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.core.splashscreen.SplashScreen.Companion.installSplashScreen
 import com.archipelago.app.ui.navigation.AppNavHost
-import com.archipelago.app.ui.screens.releaseKioskWebView
+import com.archipelago.app.ui.screens.finishKioskActivity
 import com.archipelago.app.ui.theme.ArchipelagoTheme
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 
@@ -56,11 +56,8 @@ class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
 
     override fun onDestroy() {
         super.onDestroy()
-        // Swiped out of recents (or otherwise finished) — let go of the
-        // retained kiosk WebView so the next launch starts clean. Without
-        // this the FIPS service keeps the process (and the static WebView)
-        // alive, and "close the app" no longer restarted it. isFinishing
-        // keeps config changes (rotation) on the fast reattach path.
-        if (isFinishing) releaseKioskWebView()
+        // Keep an authorized playing WebView owned by the media service;
+        // discard ordinary dashboard state when the task is finished.
+        if (isFinishing) finishKioskActivity()
     }
 }
diff --git a/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioBridge.kt b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioBridge.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c76838f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioBridge.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+package com.archipelago.app.ui.screens
+
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.net.Uri
+import android.os.SystemClock
+import android.webkit.WebView
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import androidx.webkit.JavaScriptReplyProxy
+import androidx.webkit.WebMessageCompat
+import androidx.webkit.WebViewCompat
+import androidx.webkit.WebViewFeature
+import org.json.JSONObject
+
+/** Metadata/control only: the authorized WebView owns the stream and queue. */
+internal data class CompanionAudioState(
+    val session: String, val sequence: Long, val title: String,
+    val playing: Boolean, val position: Double, val duration: Double,
+    val previous: Boolean, val next: Boolean, val shuffle: Boolean,
+    val shuffled: Boolean, val artwork: String,
+) {
+    companion object {
+        fun parse(value: JSONObject): CompanionAudioState {
+            require(value.optInt("version") == 1 && value.getString("action") == "state")
+            val session = value.getString("session")
+            require(session.matches(Regex("[0-9a-f-]{36}")))
+            val sequence = value.getLong("sequence")
+            require(sequence >= 0 && sequence <= 9007199254740991L)
+            val position = value.getDouble("position"); val duration = value.getDouble("duration")
+            require(position.isFinite() && duration.isFinite() && duration in 0.0..604800.0 && position in 0.0..duration)
+            val title = value.getString("title"); require(title.length <= 512)
+            val artwork = value.optString("artwork", "")
+            require(artwork.length <= 90000 && (artwork.isEmpty() || artwork.startsWith("data:image/jpeg;base64,")))
+            return CompanionAudioState(session, sequence, title, value.getBoolean("playing"), position, duration,
+                value.optBoolean("previous"), value.optBoolean("next"), value.optBoolean("shuffle"),
+                value.optBoolean("shuffled"), artwork)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+internal object CompanionAudioBridge {
+    private val bindings = java.util.WeakHashMap<WebView, Set<String>>()
+    private val retired = linkedSetOf<String>()
+    private var view: WebView? = null
+    private var origin: String? = null
+    private var reply: ((String) -> Unit)? = null
+    var state: CompanionAudioState? = null
+        private set
+    var updatedAt: Long = 0
+        private set
+    fun retains(web: WebView?) = web != null && view === web && state != null
+    fun attach(web: WebView, urls: List<String>) {
+        if (!WebViewFeature.isFeatureSupported(WebViewFeature.WEB_MESSAGE_LISTENER)) return
+        val origins = urls.mapNotNull(::cloudVideoOrigin).toSet()
+        if (origins.isEmpty()) return
+        val existing = bindings[web]
+        if (existing != null) {
+            if (existing != origins) { bindings[web] = emptySet(); release(web) }
+            return
+        }
+        bindings[web] = origins
+        WebViewCompat.addWebMessageListener(web, "ArchipelagoAudio", origins,
+            object : WebViewCompat.WebMessageListener {
+                override fun onPostMessage(web: WebView, message: WebMessageCompat, source: Uri, main: Boolean, proxy: JavaScriptReplyProxy) {
+                    if (bindings[web] != origins) return
+                    val raw = runCatching { message.data }.getOrNull() ?: return
+                    receive(web, raw, source.toString(), main, origins) { proxy.postMessage(it) }
+                }
+            })
+    }
+    internal fun receive(web: WebView, raw: String, source: String, main: Boolean,
+                         origins: Set<String>, proxy: (String) -> Unit) {
+        if (!cloudVideoSenderAllowed(web.url, source, origins, main)) return
+        if (raw.length > 96000) return
+        val data = runCatching { JSONObject(raw) }.getOrNull() ?: return
+        val session = data.optString("session")
+        if (data.optString("action") == "release") {
+            if (web === view && session == state?.session) terminate()
+            return
+        }
+        val incoming = runCatching { CompanionAudioState.parse(data) }.getOrNull() ?: return
+        if (session in retired) return
+        val old = state
+        if (old != null && old.session == session) {
+            if (view !== web || incoming.sequence <= old.sequence) return
+        } else {
+            if (!incoming.playing) return // Do not start a service for idle metadata.
+            if (old != null) { command("pause"); retire(old.session) }
+        }
+        view = web; origin = cloudVideoOrigin(source); reply = proxy
+        state = if (old != null && old.session == session && !data.has("artwork")) incoming.copy(artwork = old.artwork) else incoming; updatedAt = SystemClock.elapsedRealtime()
+        runCatching {
+            val service = CompanionAudioService.instance
+            if (service != null) service.refresh()
+            else ContextCompat.startForegroundService(web.context.applicationContext,
+                Intent(web.context.applicationContext, CompanionAudioService::class.java))
+        }.onFailure {
+            event("error", "Background playback could not start. Reopen the companion and press Play.")
+            command("pause"); terminate()
+        }
+    }
+    private fun retire(session: String) {
+        retired.add(session)
+        while (retired.size > 64) retired.remove(retired.first())
+    }
+    private fun event(type: String, value: String? = null, position: Double? = null) {
+        val current = state ?: return
+        if (cloudVideoOrigin(view?.url) != origin) { terminate(); return }
+        val message = JSONObject().put("version", 1).put("session", current.session).put("type", type)
+        if (value != null) message.put(if (type == "error") "error" else "command", value)
+        if (position != null) message.put("position", position)
+        runCatching { reply?.invoke(message.toString()) }
+    }
+    fun command(name: String, position: Double? = null) = event("command", name, position)
+    fun release(web: WebView) { if (view === web) { command("stop"); terminate() } }
+    fun terminate() {
+        state?.session?.let(::retire)
+        state = null; view = null; origin = null; reply = null
+        CompanionAudioService.instance?.finishPlayback()
+        releaseDetachedKioskWebView()
+    }
+    fun stop() { command("stop"); terminate() }
+}
diff --git a/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioService.kt b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioService.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..71644053
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioService.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+package com.archipelago.app.ui.screens
+
+import android.app.Notification
+import android.app.NotificationChannel
+import android.app.NotificationManager
+import android.app.PendingIntent
+import android.app.Service
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.IntentFilter
+import android.graphics.Bitmap
+import android.graphics.BitmapFactory
+import android.media.AudioManager
+import android.media.MediaMetadata
+import android.media.session.MediaSession
+import android.media.session.PlaybackState
+import android.os.Bundle
+import android.os.Handler
+import android.os.IBinder
+import android.os.Looper
+import android.os.SystemClock
+import android.util.Base64
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import com.archipelago.app.MainActivity
+
+/** Foreground ownership of the existing authenticated WebView player. No stream
+ * URL, auth token or cookie is copied into native playback or notifications. */
+class CompanionAudioService : Service() {
+    companion object {
+        internal var instance: CompanionAudioService? = null
+        private const val CHANNEL = "companion-audio"
+        private const val NOTIFICATION = 4056
+    }
+    private lateinit var media: MediaSession
+    private val handler = Handler(Looper.getMainLooper())
+    private var lastArtwork = ""
+    private var bitmap: Bitmap? = null
+    private var finishing = false
+    private val noisy = object : BroadcastReceiver() {
+        override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
+            if (intent?.action == AudioManager.ACTION_AUDIO_BECOMING_NOISY) CompanionAudioBridge.command("pause")
+        }
+    }
+    private val watchdog = object : Runnable {
+        override fun run() {
+            val state = CompanionAudioBridge.state ?: return
+            val age = SystemClock.elapsedRealtime() - CompanionAudioBridge.updatedAt
+            if (age > 90000) CompanionAudioBridge.stop()
+            else {
+                if (age > 15000) CompanionAudioBridge.command("sync")
+                handler.postDelayed(this, 5000)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    override fun onCreate() {
+        super.onCreate(); instance = this
+        getSystemService(NotificationManager::class.java).createNotificationChannel(
+            NotificationChannel(CHANNEL, "Audio playback", NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW))
+        media = MediaSession(this, "Archipelago audio")
+        media.setCallback(object : MediaSession.Callback() {
+            override fun onPlay() = CompanionAudioBridge.command("play")
+            override fun onPause() = CompanionAudioBridge.command("pause")
+            override fun onStop() = CompanionAudioBridge.stop()
+            override fun onSkipToNext() { if (CompanionAudioBridge.state?.next == true) CompanionAudioBridge.command("next") }
+            override fun onSkipToPrevious() { if (CompanionAudioBridge.state?.previous == true) CompanionAudioBridge.command("previous") }
+            override fun onSeekTo(pos: Long) {
+                val duration = CompanionAudioBridge.state?.duration ?: return
+                CompanionAudioBridge.command("seek", (pos / 1000.0).coerceIn(0.0, duration))
+            }
+            override fun onCustomAction(action: String, extras: Bundle?) {
+                if (action == "shuffle" && CompanionAudioBridge.state?.shuffle == true) CompanionAudioBridge.command("shuffle")
+            }
+        }, handler)
+        media.setFlags(MediaSession.FLAG_HANDLES_MEDIA_BUTTONS or MediaSession.FLAG_HANDLES_TRANSPORT_CONTROLS)
+        media.setSessionActivity(openPlayer())
+        media.isActive = true
+        ContextCompat.registerReceiver(this, noisy, IntentFilter(AudioManager.ACTION_AUDIO_BECOMING_NOISY), ContextCompat.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED)
+        handler.postDelayed(watchdog, 5000)
+    }
+    override fun onBind(intent: Intent?): IBinder? = null
+    override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent?, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int {
+        val state = CompanionAudioBridge.state
+        if (state == null) { finishPlayback(); return START_NOT_STICKY }
+        finishing = false; instance = this
+        if (intent?.action != null && intent.getStringExtra("session") == state.session) {
+            when (intent.action) {
+                "stop" -> CompanionAudioBridge.stop()
+                "play", "pause" -> CompanionAudioBridge.command(intent.action!!)
+                "next" -> if (state.next) CompanionAudioBridge.command("next")
+                "previous" -> if (state.previous) CompanionAudioBridge.command("previous")
+                "shuffle" -> if (state.shuffle) CompanionAudioBridge.command("shuffle")
+            }
+        }
+        if (!finishing) refresh()
+        return START_NOT_STICKY // Never reconstruct an authorized stream after process death.
+    }
+    private fun openPlayer() = PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0,
+        Intent(this, MainActivity::class.java).addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP),
+        PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT or PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE)
+    private fun action(name: String, label: String, icon: Int, session: String): Notification.Action {
+        val intent = Intent(this, CompanionAudioService::class.java).setAction(name).putExtra("session", session)
+        val pending = PendingIntent.getService(this, name.hashCode(), intent, PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT or PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE)
+        return Notification.Action.Builder(icon, label, pending).build()
+    }
+    internal fun refresh() {
+        if (finishing) return
+        val state = CompanionAudioBridge.state ?: return
+        if (state.artwork != lastArtwork) {
+            lastArtwork = state.artwork
+            bitmap = decodeArtwork(state.artwork)
+        }
+        val metadata = MediaMetadata.Builder().putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_TITLE, state.title)
+            .putString(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_ARTIST, "Archipelago")
+            .putLong(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_DURATION, (state.duration * 1000).toLong())
+        bitmap?.let { metadata.putBitmap(MediaMetadata.METADATA_KEY_ALBUM_ART, it) }
+        media.setMetadata(metadata.build())
+        var actions = PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY or PlaybackState.ACTION_PAUSE or PlaybackState.ACTION_PLAY_PAUSE or PlaybackState.ACTION_STOP
+        if (state.duration > 0) actions = actions or PlaybackState.ACTION_SEEK_TO
+        if (state.previous) actions = actions or PlaybackState.ACTION_SKIP_TO_PREVIOUS
+        if (state.next) actions = actions or PlaybackState.ACTION_SKIP_TO_NEXT
+        val playback = PlaybackState.Builder().setActions(actions)
+            .setState(if (state.playing) PlaybackState.STATE_PLAYING else PlaybackState.STATE_PAUSED,
+                (state.position * 1000).toLong(), if (state.playing) 1f else 0f, SystemClock.elapsedRealtime())
+        if (state.shuffle) playback.addCustomAction("shuffle", if (state.shuffled) "Shuffle on" else "Shuffle off", android.R.drawable.ic_menu_rotate)
+        media.setPlaybackState(playback.build())
+        val controls = mutableListOf<Notification.Action>()
+        if (state.previous) controls.add(action("previous", "Previous", android.R.drawable.ic_media_previous, state.session))
+        controls.add(action(if (state.playing) "pause" else "play", if (state.playing) "Pause" else "Play",
+            if (state.playing) android.R.drawable.ic_media_pause else android.R.drawable.ic_media_play, state.session))
+        if (state.next) controls.add(action("next", "Next", android.R.drawable.ic_media_next, state.session))
+        val compact = controls.indices.toList().toIntArray()
+        if (state.shuffle) controls.add(action("shuffle", if (state.shuffled) "Shuffle on" else "Shuffle off", android.R.drawable.ic_menu_rotate, state.session))
+        controls.add(action("stop", "Stop", android.R.drawable.ic_menu_close_clear_cancel, state.session))
+        val notification = Notification.Builder(this, CHANNEL)
+            .setSmallIcon(android.R.drawable.ic_media_play).setContentTitle(state.title).setContentText("Archipelago")
+            .setContentIntent(openPlayer()).setOnlyAlertOnce(true).setOngoing(state.playing)
+            .setVisibility(Notification.VISIBILITY_PUBLIC).setCategory(Notification.CATEGORY_TRANSPORT)
+            .setStyle(Notification.MediaStyle().setMediaSession(media.sessionToken).setShowActionsInCompactView(*compact))
+            .setActions(*controls.toTypedArray())
+        bitmap?.let { notification.setLargeIcon(it) }
+        startForeground(NOTIFICATION, notification.build())
+    }
+    override fun onTaskRemoved(rootIntent: Intent?) {
+        if (CompanionAudioBridge.state?.playing != true) CompanionAudioBridge.stop()
+        super.onTaskRemoved(rootIntent)
+    }
+    internal fun finishPlayback() {
+        if (finishing) return
+        finishing = true
+        if (instance === this) instance = null
+        stopForeground(STOP_FOREGROUND_REMOVE); stopSelf()
+    }
+    override fun onDestroy() {
+        handler.removeCallbacksAndMessages(null)
+        runCatching { unregisterReceiver(noisy) }
+        media.isActive = false; media.release(); bitmap = null
+        if (instance === this) { instance = null; CompanionAudioBridge.stop() }
+        super.onDestroy()
+    }
+}
+
+internal fun decodeArtwork(data: String): Bitmap? = runCatching {
+    if (!data.startsWith("data:image/jpeg;base64,") || data.length > 90000) return null
+    val bytes = Base64.decode(data.substringAfter(','), Base64.NO_WRAP)
+    if (bytes.size < 4 || bytes[0] != 0xff.toByte() || bytes[1] != 0xd8.toByte() || bytes[2] != 0xff.toByte()) return null
+    val bounds = BitmapFactory.Options().apply { inJustDecodeBounds = true }
+    BitmapFactory.decodeByteArray(bytes, 0, bytes.size, bounds)
+    if (bounds.outWidth !in 1..512 || bounds.outHeight !in 1..512) return null
+    BitmapFactory.decodeByteArray(bytes, 0, bytes.size)
+}.getOrNull()
diff --git a/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/WebViewScreen.kt b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/WebViewScreen.kt
index ec6dcb13..a273763c 100644
--- a/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/WebViewScreen.kt
+++ b/Android/app/src/main/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/WebViewScreen.kt
@@ -144,6 +144,29 @@ private fun openExternalUrl(context: android.content.Context, url: String) {
  *  this when the task is genuinely finishing. */
 fun releaseKioskWebView() = KioskWebView.drop()
 
+/** A playing session is owned by the foreground media service after task close. */
+fun finishKioskActivity() {
+    val view = KioskWebView.instance ?: return
+    if (!CompanionAudioBridge.retains(view)) { KioskWebView.drop(); return }
+    (view.parent as? ViewGroup)?.removeView(view)
+    KioskWebView.backgroundOwned = true
+    KioskWebView.clearDelegates()
+    view.setOnTouchListener(null)
+    view.setOnApplyWindowInsetsListener(null)
+    view.setDownloadListener(null)
+    view.webChromeClient = null
+    view.webViewClient = object : WebViewClient() {
+        override fun onPageStarted(web: WebView?, url: String?, favicon: Bitmap?) {
+            web?.let { CompanionAudioBridge.release(it) }
+        }
+    }
+    (view.context as? android.content.MutableContextWrapper)?.baseContext = view.context.applicationContext
+}
+
+internal fun releaseDetachedKioskWebView() {
+    if (KioskWebView.backgroundOwned && !CompanionAudioBridge.retains(KioskWebView.instance)) KioskWebView.drop()
+}
+
 /** Restart the app in place: throw away the retained page and relaunch the
  *  task from scratch. The mesh/VPN service is deliberately left running — this
  *  is the "give me a clean app" button (hub menu), not a process kill. */
@@ -294,6 +317,7 @@ private fun isSameHost(url: String, base: String): Boolean {
 data class InAppLaunch(val url: String, val icon: String? = null, val name: String? = null)
 
 private object KioskWebView {
+    var backgroundOwned = false
     var instance: WebView? = null
     var url: String? = null
 
@@ -306,13 +330,19 @@ private object KioskWebView {
     var onQrStatus: (String, Boolean) -> Unit = { _, _ -> }
     var onQrClose: () -> Unit = {}
 
+    fun clearDelegates() {
+        onRouteOutbound = {}; onOpenInApp = {}; onQrOpen = {}
+        onQrStatus = { _, _ -> }; onQrClose = {}
+    }
     fun drop() {
-        instance?.let {
+        val old = instance
+        instance = null; url = null; backgroundOwned = false
+        clearDelegates()
+        old?.let {
+            CompanionAudioBridge.release(it)
             (it.parent as? ViewGroup)?.removeView(it)
             it.destroy()
         }
-        instance = null
-        url = null
     }
 }
 
@@ -901,7 +931,9 @@ fun WebViewScreen(
                     // stale closures from the previous visit are replaced.
                     if (KioskWebView.url != serverUrl) KioskWebView.drop()
                     val reused = KioskWebView.instance
-                    (reused ?: WebView(context)).apply {
+                    (reused ?: WebView(android.content.MutableContextWrapper(context))).apply {
+                        (this.context as? android.content.MutableContextWrapper)?.baseContext = context
+                        KioskWebView.backgroundOwned = false
                         (parent as? ViewGroup)?.removeView(this)
                         layoutParams = ViewGroup.LayoutParams(
                             ViewGroup.LayoutParams.MATCH_PARENT,
@@ -917,6 +949,7 @@ fun WebViewScreen(
 
                         applyArchipelagoSettings()
                         cloudPip.attach(this, listOfNotNull(serverUrl, meshFallbackUrl))
+                        CompanionAudioBridge.attach(this, listOfNotNull(serverUrl, meshFallbackUrl))
                         setDownloadListener(downloads)
                         settings.apply {
                             setSupportMultipleWindows(true)  // enables onCreateWindow for window.open
@@ -1091,6 +1124,7 @@ fun WebViewScreen(
 
                         webViewClient = object : WebViewClient() {
                             override fun onPageStarted(view: WebView?, url: String?, favicon: Bitmap?) {
+                                CompanionAudioBridge.release(view ?: return)
                                 cloudPip.reset()
                                 isLoading = true
                                 hasError = false
diff --git a/Android/app/src/test/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioTest.kt b/Android/app/src/test/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1ef6d8e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Android/app/src/test/java/com/archipelago/app/ui/screens/CompanionAudioTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+package com.archipelago.app.ui.screens
+
+import org.json.JSONObject
+import org.junit.Assert.*
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.junit.Before
+import org.robolectric.Shadows
+import org.robolectric.RuntimeEnvironment
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith
+import org.robolectric.Robolectric
+import org.robolectric.RobolectricTestRunner
+import org.robolectric.annotation.Config
+
+@RunWith(RobolectricTestRunner::class)
+@Config(manifest = Config.NONE, sdk = [28, 35])
+class CompanionAudioTest {
+    @Before fun compatReceiverPermission() {
+        val app = RuntimeEnvironment.getApplication()
+        // The real merged manifest contributes this AndroidX permission.
+        Shadows.shadowOf(app).grantPermissions(app.packageName + ".DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION")
+    }
+    @Test fun actualBridgeBindsOriginSessionAndSequenceAndReleasesStoppedPlayback() {
+        val app = RuntimeEnvironment.getApplication()
+        val web = android.webkit.WebView(app)
+        web.loadUrl("https://node.test/cloud")
+        val events = mutableListOf<JSONObject>()
+        fun send(message: JSONObject, origin: String = "https://node.test", main: Boolean = true) {
+            CompanionAudioBridge.receive(web, message.toString(), origin, main, setOf("https://node.test")) { events.add(JSONObject(it)) }
+        }
+        try {
+            send(state(), main = false); assertNull(CompanionAudioBridge.state)
+            send(state(), origin = "https://foreign.test"); assertNull(CompanionAudioBridge.state)
+            send(state()); assertTrue(CompanionAudioBridge.retains(web))
+            send(state().put("sequence", 0).put("playing", false)); assertTrue(CompanionAudioBridge.state!!.playing)
+            CompanionAudioBridge.command("seek", 32.0)
+            assertEquals("seek", events.last().getString("command")); assertEquals(32.0, events.last().getDouble("position"), 0.0)
+            send(state().put("sequence", 2).put("playing", false)); assertFalse(CompanionAudioBridge.state!!.playing)
+            CompanionAudioBridge.stop(); assertNull(CompanionAudioBridge.state)
+            assertEquals("stop", events.last().getString("command"))
+            send(state().put("sequence", 3)); assertNull(CompanionAudioBridge.state) // delayed state cannot revive a stopped session
+        } finally { CompanionAudioBridge.release(web); web.destroy() }
+    }
+    @Test fun liveBridgeBuildsForegroundMediaNotificationForSameSession() {
+        val app = RuntimeEnvironment.getApplication()
+        val web = android.webkit.WebView(app); web.loadUrl("https://node.test/cloud")
+        val payload = state().put("session", "22345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789abc")
+        CompanionAudioBridge.receive(web, payload.toString(), "https://node.test", true, setOf("https://node.test")) {}
+        val lifecycle = Robolectric.buildService(CompanionAudioService::class.java).create()
+        try {
+            lifecycle.get().onStartCommand(null, 0, 1)
+            val notification = Shadows.shadowOf(lifecycle.get()).lastForegroundNotification
+            assertNotNull(notification)
+            assertEquals("Current song", notification.extras.getString(android.app.Notification.EXTRA_TITLE))
+            assertEquals(5, notification.actions.size)
+            assertNotNull(notification.extras.getParcelable<android.media.session.MediaSession.Token>(android.app.Notification.EXTRA_MEDIA_SESSION))
+            lifecycle.get().onTaskRemoved(null)
+            assertTrue(CompanionAudioBridge.retains(web))
+        } finally { CompanionAudioBridge.release(web); lifecycle.destroy(); web.destroy() }
+    }
+
+    private fun state() = JSONObject("""{"version":1,"action":"state","session":"12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789abc","sequence":1,"title":"Current song","playing":true,"position":10,"duration":120,"previous":true,"next":true,"shuffle":true,"shuffled":false}""")
+    @Test fun malformedOrUnboundedMetadataCannotBecomeNativePlayback() {
+        for ((key, value) in listOf("version" to 2, "session" to "foreign", "sequence" to -1,
+                "position" to -1, "position" to 121, "duration" to 604801, "title" to "x".repeat(513),
+                "artwork" to "https://node.test/protected?token=secret")) {
+            assertTrue("Must reject $key", runCatching { CompanionAudioState.parse(state().put(key, value)) }.isFailure)
+        }
+    }
+    @Test fun currentMetadataPreservesPauseSeekAndQueueCapabilities() {
+        val parsed = CompanionAudioState.parse(state().put("playing", false).put("shuffled", true))
+        assertFalse(parsed.playing); assertTrue(parsed.shuffled)
+        assertTrue(parsed.previous && parsed.next && parsed.shuffle)
+        assertEquals(10.0, parsed.position, 0.0)
+        assertEquals(120.0, parsed.duration, 0.0)
+        assertEquals("", parsed.artwork)
+    }
+    @Test fun artworkNeverFetchesProtectedUrlsAndRejectsInvalidBytes() {
+        assertNull(decodeArtwork("https://node.test/protected"))
+        assertNull(decodeArtwork("data:image/jpeg;base64,AAAA"))
+        assertNull(decodeArtwork("data:image/jpeg;base64," + "A".repeat(90000)))
+    }
+    @Test fun serviceRestartWithoutLiveAuthorizedSessionDoesNotResumePlayback() {
+        val lifecycle = Robolectric.buildService(CompanionAudioService::class.java).create()
+        try {
+            assertEquals(android.app.Service.START_NOT_STICKY, lifecycle.get().onStartCommand(null, 0, 1))
+            assertNull(CompanionAudioBridge.state)
+            assertNull(CompanionAudioService.instance)
+        } finally { lifecycle.destroy() }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/SESSION-HANDOVER-20261007.md b/docs/SESSION-HANDOVER-20261007.md
index 7d9a21bb..f6bdebab 100644
--- a/docs/SESSION-HANDOVER-20261007.md
+++ b/docs/SESSION-HANDOVER-20261007.md
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ candidate worktree is `/home/archipelago/Projects/archy-session-key` on branch
 `work/post-190-session-key`. Do not use credentials from chat or print private
 node, wallet, session or registry data.
 
+Latest active checkpoint: see **Companion56 native-audio qualification** at the end. Earlier receipts below are historical and apply only to their named source/artifacts.
+
 ## Current candidate
 
 Recent commits, newest first:
@@ -289,7 +291,7 @@ No percentage is inferred from test counts.
 | 17 HTTPS apps | In progress | Exact hostname/trust and companion acceptance |
 | 18 Firewall/tunnel | In progress | Read-only UI done; settings persistence/reboot/rollback qualification |
 | 19 Media guide/Cloud PiP | Nearly finished | PiP operator-accepted; finish reusable contract and remaining edge cases |
-| 20 Native background media | In progress | Cloud PiP done; native audio service/controls and device checks remain |
+| 20 Native background media | In progress | Native service/controls implemented and APK56 delivered; matching LAN HTTP UI qualification and physical device checks remain |
 | 21 Public files/folders | Queued, before22 | Shared pricing interface with blue tints, unrelated-node discovery and tiny marker |
 | 22 Mesh file sharing | Queued, final task | Node/computer choice, tree/search picker, retained multi-selection, delivery design and usual paid-file flow |
 
@@ -327,3 +329,50 @@ Task22 now follows task21 at the end. Its detailed scope is in
 `post-1.9.0-work-backlog.md`. This is a recorded requirement/design task, not a
 claim that the picker or transport/payment flow has been implemented. Existing
 public-sharing blue pricing and marker requirements are retained unchanged.
+
+
+## Companion56 native-audio qualification — 2026-10-07
+
+- Operator withdrew the accidental screensaver/Play/Skip prompts. No changes
+  were made for them, so nothing required reverting.
+- Companion0.5.36/build56 is delivered at
+  `http://192.168.63.240/packages/archipelago-companion-0.5.36.apk`.
+  SHA256 `6bee2a2a13231525997946926bb47c473e01b81c03737d22d1bce18af9982c6e`.
+  Canonical signing, clean packaging and HTTP byte verification passed. The
+  standard fleet APK and live backend/catalogs were preserved.
+- 29 Android tests pass (including native bridge, foreground notification and
+  task-removal retention on SDK28/35). These are automated tests, not phone
+  acceptance. Durable receipt:
+  `~/.local/state/archipelago/release-qualification/companion-056/`.
+- The native MediaSession/foreground service controls the same retained
+  authenticated WebView player, with queue controls, bounded thumbnail data,
+  session/origin checks and logout/stop cleanup. No protected stream URLs or
+  credentials are sent to Android and no second decoder/payment is started.
+- Initial complete dashboard qualification passed1440 tests/175files and its
+  production build. That UI was deployed on dev with backup and unchanged
+  backend, catalog/session/intent hashes and container IDs/start times.
+- Live LAN HTTP browser inspection then found `crypto.randomUUID` absent. The
+  new bridge now generates UUIDv4 using `crypto.getRandomValues`, which that
+  browser supports. A regression covers this exact condition; final full UI
+  suite/build and replacement deployment are underway. Do not ask the operator
+  to accept native audio until the matching corrected Yaya UI is deployed.
+- Yaya remains at its previous UI until qualification completes. Physical
+  Android background, lock-screen, swipe-away, reconnect and stop acceptance
+  remains required. CloudPiP55 remains operator accepted.
+- Dedicated IndeeHub agent owns backend changes and the full isolated seven-app
+  fixture. Its first latest suite had2002pass/1failure/5ignored: the new fixture
+  incorrectly expected no directory, although an empty directory is valid.
+  Assertion corrected to require no journal files. Final isolated recheck:
+  **2,003 passed, zero failed, five ignored**, committed as `b9c75b21`. This
+  is not a live IndeeHub delivery; optimized binary and full VM cutover still
+  remain before Yaya activation.
+
+- First HTTP-fix full UI run:1440 passed, one60-second Home wallet-display
+  timeout and a worker `snapshotSaved` timeout under severe memory/I/O pressure.
+  Focused rerun:all12 Home wallet-cache tests and all6 companion bridge tests
+  passed (18/18). Clean full rerun is underway; retain both failed and passing
+  logs. The initial1440-green full receipt predates the UUID fix.
+- Extended real V4V browser qualification supports optional simulated Android
+  transport while using the actual authenticated iframe and bundled free demo
+  media. It checks native command routing and JPEG thumbnail delivery; no
+  physical Android result is implied. The new end-to-end run remains pending.
diff --git a/docs/app-media-integration.md b/docs/app-media-integration.md
index 256685f6..6971d00c 100644
--- a/docs/app-media-integration.md
+++ b/docs/app-media-integration.md
@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ reference app; its updated real-node acceptance is tracked in
 [v4v-native-player-20261006.md](v4v-native-player-20261006.md). Local tests are not
 proof that a particular deployed app or companion version supports every feature.
 
-Cloud video picture-in-picture (PiP) in the Android companion is a separate open
-implementation task. Do not advertise the audio bridge as a video/PiP API. Native
-fullscreen support alone does not provide Android PiP. A versioned video contract
-and examples must be added here when implementation and device tests pass.
+Cloud video PiP is implemented in companion0.5.35/build55; the operator accepted
+the delivered Cloud PiP flow on2026-10-07. Audio and video use separate channels.
+Native background audio is a companion0.5.36/build56 candidate:29 Android tests
+and six companion-bridge dashboard tests pass; physical background/lock-screen/task
+removal acceptance remains required. Do not infer those phone results from
+browser or Robolectric tests.
 
 ## Declare the audio integration
 
@@ -152,7 +154,7 @@ those guards merely to make a test pass.
    viewport test cannot prove OS background playback or PiP support. Do not promise
    playback after the operating system kills the process.
 
-## Cloud video PiP acceptance scope (not yet implemented)
+## Cloud video PiP contract and remaining acceptance
 
 Start with Cloud's existing authorized video viewer and companion fullscreen host.
 Provide an explicit PiP control when supported, with clear unavailable behavior.
@@ -165,3 +167,67 @@ logout/session expiry, FIPS disconnect/reconnect, and process recreation. Valida
 on a physical companion with ordinary and FIPS-accessed Cloud videos before APK
 publication. Document the proven video integration contract for other app authors
 only after that implementation is qualified.
+
+
+The dashboard uses the main-frame-only `ArchipelagoCloudVideo` channel, admitted
+only for the paired node's exact HTTP(S) origins. Its version1 capability check
+is separate from `archipelago-v1` app audio integration. The Cloud host arms a
+random request/session ID with video dimensions and playing state, then enters
+fullscreen on the existing video in the same user gesture before requesting PiP.
+Native commands and replies carry that session; a different session is ignored.
+`state` updates playback controls and `release` retires the session. `restored`
+returns to the same video; closing requests pause/cleanup. No video URL, cookie,
+bearer token or second player crosses the channel. The entire dashboard must
+never be used as the PiP surface. This is currently a Cloud-host contract, not
+permission for arbitrary embedded apps to call native PiP directly.
+
+## Companion native audio: build56 candidate
+
+Apps continue using the existing version1 app audio protocol above. They do not
+need a second Android stream or a separate queue implementation. The dashboard
+owns a main-frame `ArchipelagoAudio` channel restricted to paired node origins;
+embedded app frames cannot invoke it directly. The foreground `mediaPlayback`
+service owns the retained WebView session after the Activity/task closes and
+exposes an Android MediaSession with playback metadata, play/pause, previous/next,
+seek, shuffle and Stop. Playback state is confirmed by the existing app player,
+not optimistically advanced by native controls.
+
+Dashboard→native messages contain version1, a random session, monotonically
+increasing sequence, bounded title/position/duration, playback/control flags and
+optional JPEG thumbnail bytes. Artwork is fetched by the already authenticated
+page with same-origin credentials only, capped at512KiB, resized to192px and sent
+as a bounded data URL. Native code does not fetch artwork URLs or receive auth
+credentials. Cross-origin images without CORS may have no notification thumbnail;
+missing artwork never blocks playback. Native image decoding bounds dimensions.
+
+Native→dashboard controls carry the same session. Retired sessions, stale sequence
+numbers, foreign origins and subframes cannot revive/control playback. A short
+heartbeat resynchronizes state; if the dashboard stops responding for90seconds,
+the native owner stops instead of advertising a live session indefinitely.
+Playback stays in the same authenticated WebView/iframe; app authorization and
+entitlement checks remain with that player. App removal, frame replacement,
+logout, navigation/disconnect or explicit Stop release the corresponding session.
+A non-playing task removed from Recents is released. A playing one is retained;
+reopening reattaches the existing document, queue and position. A killed process
+is not automatically restarted into an authenticated stream.
+
+The implementation uses the platform MediaSession with the existing WebView
+player, rather than adding another decoder. No boot receiver or new storage
+permission is involved. Pair this APK with the matching dashboard build: an older
+dashboard does not send the native audio protocol merely because the APK changed.
+
+Qualification commands:
+
+```sh
+cd neode-ui
+./node_modules/.bin/vitest run src/composables/__tests__/useCompanionAudio.test.ts src/composables/__tests__/useAppMediaBridge.test.ts src/components/__tests__/GlobalAudioPlayerExternal.test.ts
+cd ../Android
+./gradlew :app:testDebugUnitTest
+```
+
+Before marking physical acceptance, use V4V on the matching server: play a track,
+close its panel, press Home, lock the phone, pause/resume/seek/skip/shuffle from
+native controls, remove the companion task while playing, reopen into the same
+queue/position, then Stop. Repeat logout, headset disconnect and network loss.
+Confirm download, fullscreen and Cloud PiP still work. App force-stop/process
+kill is a stop condition, not a promise of uninterrupted playback.
diff --git a/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.apk b/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.apk
index 4ccb3bb5..0f758c5a 100644
Binary files a/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.apk and b/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.apk differ
diff --git a/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.json b/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.json
index 07cd50a8..23a281f1 100644
--- a/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.json
+++ b/neode-ui/public/packages/archipelago-companion.json
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "versionName": "0.5.35",
-  "versionCode": 55
+  "versionName": "0.5.36",
+  "versionCode": 56
 }
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/GlobalAudioPlayer.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/GlobalAudioPlayer.vue
index fe26e6f3..668a1cd8 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/GlobalAudioPlayer.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/GlobalAudioPlayer.vue
@@ -69,8 +69,10 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, watch, nextTick, onBeforeUnmount } from 'vue'
 import { useAudioPlayer } from '@/composables/useAudioPlayer'
+import { useCompanionAudio } from '@/composables/useCompanionAudio'
 
 const audioPlayer = useAudioPlayer()
+useCompanionAudio(audioPlayer)
 const barEl = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null)
 
 // Publish the player's height as a CSS variable so page scroll containers can
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useCompanionAudio.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useCompanionAudio.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..422d8d3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useCompanionAudio.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { defineComponent, nextTick, ref } from 'vue'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { useCompanionAudio } from '../useCompanionAudio'
+import type { useAudioPlayer } from '../useAudioPlayer'
+
+beforeEach(() => vi.useFakeTimers())
+afterEach(() => { vi.useRealTimers(); delete (window as any).ArchipelagoAudio })
+function fixture(install = true) {
+  const messages: any[] = []
+  const bridge: any = { onmessage: null, postMessage: (raw: string) => messages.push(JSON.parse(raw)) }
+  if (install) (window as any).ArchipelagoAudio = bridge
+  const player = {
+    currentSrc: ref<string | null>('https://node.test/private?token=secret'), currentName: ref('A song'),
+    playing: ref(true), currentTime: ref(12), duration: ref(120), externalArtwork: ref(''),
+    externalApp: ref(true), externalShuffle: ref(false), error: ref<string | null>(null),
+    pause: vi.fn(), play: vi.fn(), seek: vi.fn(), nextExternal: vi.fn(), previousExternal: vi.fn(), shuffleExternal: vi.fn(),
+    stop: vi.fn(() => { player.currentSrc.value = null; player.playing.value = false }),
+  }
+  let audio!: ReturnType<typeof useCompanionAudio>
+  const wrapper = mount(defineComponent({ setup() { audio = useCompanionAudio(player as unknown as ReturnType<typeof useAudioPlayer>); return () => null } }))
+  return { messages, bridge, player, wrapper, audio,
+    command: (command: string, extra = {}) => bridge.onmessage({ data: JSON.stringify({ version: 1, type: 'command', session: messages[0]?.session, command, ...extra }) }) }
+
+}
+
+describe('companion native audio control of the existing player', () => {
+  it('sends bounded metadata and queue controls without stream URLs or credentials', async () => {
+    const f = fixture(); await nextTick()
+    expect(f.messages[0]).toMatchObject({ action: 'state', title: 'A song', playing: true, position: 12, duration: 120, next: true, previous: true, shuffle: true })
+    expect(JSON.stringify(f.messages)).not.toContain('secret')
+    expect(JSON.stringify(f.messages)).not.toContain('https:')
+    f.player.currentTime.value = 13; await nextTick(); f.player.currentTime.value = 14; await nextTick()
+    expect(f.messages).toHaveLength(1)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1000)
+    expect(f.messages).toHaveLength(2); expect(f.messages[1].position).toBe(14)
+    f.wrapper.unmount(); expect(f.messages[f.messages.length - 1].action).toBe('release')
+  })
+  it('starts unique valid sessions on LAN HTTP without crypto.randomUUID', async () => {
+    const descriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(crypto, 'randomUUID')
+    Object.defineProperty(crypto, 'randomUUID', { configurable: true, value: undefined })
+    const f = fixture()
+    try {
+      await nextTick()
+      const first = f.messages[0].session
+      expect(first).toMatch(/^[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-4[0-9a-f]{3}-[89ab][0-9a-f]{3}-[0-9a-f]{12}$/)
+      f.player.currentSrc.value = 'app:second'; await nextTick()
+      expect(f.messages[2].session).not.toBe(first)
+    } finally {
+      f.wrapper.unmount()
+      if (descriptor) Object.defineProperty(crypto, 'randomUUID', descriptor)
+      else Reflect.deleteProperty(crypto, 'randomUUID')
+    }
+  })
+  it('operates the same queue and ignores controls from a stale session', async () => {
+    const f = fixture(); await nextTick()
+    f.command('pause', { session: 'foreign' }); expect(f.player.pause).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    f.command('pause'); f.command('next'); f.command('previous'); f.command('shuffle'); f.command('seek', { position: 900 })
+    expect(f.player.pause).toHaveBeenCalledOnce(); expect(f.player.nextExternal).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(f.player.previousExternal).toHaveBeenCalledOnce(); expect(f.player.shuffleExternal).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(f.player.seek).toHaveBeenCalledWith(120)
+    f.command('seek', { position: '5' }); expect(f.player.seek).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    f.command('stop'); await nextTick(); expect(f.player.stop).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(f.messages[f.messages.length - 1].action).toBe('release'); f.wrapper.unmount()
+  })
+  it('replaces native session when changing source and releases on logout/player stop', async () => {
+    const f = fixture(); await nextTick(); const first = f.messages[0].session
+    f.player.currentSrc.value = 'app:new'; await nextTick()
+    expect(f.messages[1]).toMatchObject({ action: 'release', session: first })
+    expect(f.messages[2].session).not.toBe(first)
+    f.command('pause', { session: first }); expect(f.player.pause).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    f.player.currentSrc.value = null; await nextTick()
+    expect(f.messages[f.messages.length - 1].action).toBe('release'); f.wrapper.unmount()
+  })
+  it('connects a late native bridge and answers synchronization while backgrounded', async () => {
+    const f = fixture(false); await nextTick(); expect(f.messages).toHaveLength(0)
+    ;(window as any).ArchipelagoAudio = f.bridge
+    document.dispatchEvent(new Event('visibilitychange'))
+    expect(f.messages).toHaveLength(1)
+    f.command('sync'); expect(f.messages).toHaveLength(2)
+    f.wrapper.unmount(); const count = f.messages.length
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(30000); expect(f.messages).toHaveLength(count)
+  })
+  it('does not revive paused sessions and reports native start failures without leaking details', async () => {
+    const f = fixture(); await nextTick()
+    f.bridge.onmessage({ data: JSON.stringify({ version: 1, session: f.messages[0].session, type: 'error', error: 'sensitive details' }) })
+    expect(f.player.pause).toHaveBeenCalledOnce(); expect(f.player.error.value).toContain('Background playback')
+    expect(f.player.error.value).not.toContain('sensitive')
+    f.player.playing.value = false; await nextTick(); const count = f.messages.length
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10000); expect(f.messages).toHaveLength(count)
+    f.wrapper.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/useCompanionAudio.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/useCompanionAudio.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a46667d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/useCompanionAudio.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+import { onBeforeUnmount, watch } from 'vue'
+import { useAudioPlayer } from './useAudioPlayer'
+
+type AudioBridge = { postMessage: (message: string) => void; onmessage: ((event: { data: string }) => void) | null }
+type NativeWindow = Window & { ArchipelagoAudio?: AudioBridge }
+
+/** LAN HTTP WebViews expose getRandomValues, but not secure-context randomUUID. */
+function audioSessionId(): string {
+  const bytes = crypto.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(16))
+  bytes[6] = (bytes[6]! & 0x0f) | 0x40
+  bytes[8] = (bytes[8]! & 0x3f) | 0x80
+  const hex = Array.from(bytes, byte => byte.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')).join('')
+  return `${hex.slice(0, 8)}-${hex.slice(8, 12)}-${hex.slice(12, 16)}-${hex.slice(16, 20)}-${hex.slice(20)}`
+}
+
+/** Send a small decoded thumbnail, never a protected URL or authorization data. */
+async function thumbnail(url: string, signal: AbortSignal): Promise<string> {
+  if (!url) return ''
+  const source = new URL(url, window.location.href)
+  if (source.username || source.password || (source.protocol !== 'https:' && source.origin !== window.location.origin)) return ''
+  const response = await fetch(source.href, { signal, credentials: 'same-origin', referrerPolicy: 'no-referrer' })
+  if (!response.ok || !response.headers.get('content-type')?.startsWith('image/')) return ''
+  const reader = response.body?.getReader()
+  if (!reader) return ''
+  const chunks: Uint8Array[] = []
+  let size = 0
+  try {
+    while (true) {
+      const chunk = await reader.read()
+      if (chunk.done) break
+      size += chunk.value.byteLength
+      if (size > 512 * 1024) { await reader.cancel(); return '' }
+      chunks.push(chunk.value)
+    }
+  } finally { reader.releaseLock() }
+  const bytes = new Uint8Array(size)
+  let offset = 0
+  for (const chunk of chunks) { bytes.set(chunk, offset); offset += chunk.length }
+  const picture = await createImageBitmap(new Blob([bytes]), { resizeWidth: 192, resizeHeight: 192, resizeQuality: 'medium' })
+  try {
+    const canvas = document.createElement('canvas'); canvas.width = 192; canvas.height = 192
+    const context = canvas.getContext('2d'); if (!context) return ''
+    context.drawImage(picture, 0, 0, 192, 192)
+    const result = canvas.toDataURL('image/jpeg', 0.75)
+    return result.length <= 90000 ? result : ''
+  } finally { picture.close() }
+}
+
+export function useCompanionAudio(player = useAudioPlayer()) {
+  let bridge: AudioBridge | undefined
+  let session = '', source = '', sequence = 0
+  let artwork = '', sentArtwork = ''
+  let imageRequest: AbortController | null = null
+  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined
+  let disposed = false
+  let previousHandler: AudioBridge['onmessage'] = null
+  function post(value: object) { try { bridge?.postMessage(JSON.stringify(value)) } catch { /* Lifecycle cleanup can close the document channel. */ } }
+  function release() {
+    if (session) post({ version: 1, action: 'release', session })
+    session = ''; source = ''; artwork = ''; sentArtwork = ''
+    imageRequest?.abort(); imageRequest = null
+    if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
+    timer = undefined
+  }
+  function receive(event: { data: string }) {
+    let value: any
+    try { value = JSON.parse(event.data) } catch { return }
+    if (value.version !== 1 || !session || value.session !== session) return
+    if (value.type === 'error') {
+      player.pause(); player.error.value = 'Background playback could not start. Reopen the companion and press Play.'
+      release(); return
+    }
+    if (value.type !== 'command') return
+    switch (value.command) {
+      case 'play': if (player.currentSrc.value && !player.playing.value) player.play(player.currentSrc.value, player.currentName.value); break
+      case 'pause': player.pause(); break
+      case 'stop': player.stop(); release(); break
+      case 'seek': if (Number.isFinite(value.position)) player.seek(Math.max(0, Math.min(value.position, player.duration.value))); break
+      case 'next': player.nextExternal(); break
+      case 'previous': player.previousExternal(); break
+      case 'shuffle': player.shuffleExternal(); break
+      case 'sync': publish(); break
+    }
+  }
+  function connect() {
+    const candidate = (window as NativeWindow).ArchipelagoAudio
+    if (!candidate) return false
+    if (bridge !== candidate) {
+      release()
+      if (bridge?.onmessage === receive) bridge.onmessage = previousHandler
+      bridge = candidate; previousHandler = candidate.onmessage; candidate.onmessage = receive
+    }
+    return true
+  }
+  function publish() {
+    if (disposed || !connect()) return
+    if (!player.currentSrc.value || !player.currentName.value) { release(); return }
+    if (!session || source !== player.currentSrc.value) {
+      if (!player.playing.value) { release(); return }
+      release(); session = audioSessionId(); source = player.currentSrc.value; sequence = 0
+      loadArtwork()
+    }
+    const duration = Number.isFinite(player.duration.value) ? Math.max(0, Math.min(player.duration.value, 604800)) : 0
+    const position = Number.isFinite(player.currentTime.value) ? Math.max(0, Math.min(player.currentTime.value, duration)) : 0
+    const message: Record<string, unknown> = { version: 1, action: 'state', session, sequence: ++sequence,
+      title: player.currentName.value.slice(0, 512), playing: player.playing.value, position, duration,
+      previous: player.externalApp.value, next: player.externalApp.value,
+      shuffle: player.externalApp.value, shuffled: player.externalShuffle.value }
+    if (artwork !== sentArtwork || sequence === 1) { message.artwork = artwork; sentArtwork = artwork }
+    post(message)
+  }
+  function loadArtwork() {
+    imageRequest?.abort(); artwork = ''
+    if (!session || !player.externalArtwork.value) return
+    const target = session; const request = new AbortController(); imageRequest = request
+    void thumbnail(player.externalArtwork.value, request.signal).then(value => {
+      if (!disposed && !request.signal.aborted && target === session) { artwork = value; publish() }
+    }).catch(() => { /* Optional image failure never interrupts music. */ })
+  }
+  // Playback transitions/track changes are immediate; position updates are bounded.
+  watch([player.currentSrc, player.currentName, player.playing, player.externalShuffle], publish, { immediate: true, flush: 'post' })
+  watch([player.currentTime, player.duration], () => {
+    if (!timer) timer = setTimeout(() => { timer = undefined; publish() }, 1000)
+  })
+  watch(player.externalArtwork, () => { loadArtwork(); publish() })
+  const sync = () => publish()
+  window.addEventListener('pageshow', sync)
+  document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', sync)
+  const heartbeat = setInterval(publish, 10000)
+  onBeforeUnmount(() => {
+    disposed = true; release(); clearInterval(heartbeat)
+    window.removeEventListener('pageshow', sync); document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', sync)
+    if (bridge?.onmessage === receive) bridge.onmessage = previousHandler
+  })
+  return { sync }
+}
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/stores/auth.ts b/neode-ui/src/stores/auth.ts
index 77606ef5..1049f520 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/stores/auth.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/stores/auth.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 // Authentication store — login, logout, session management
 
 import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
-import { ref } from 'vue'
+import { ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import { useAudioPlayer } from '@/composables/useAudioPlayer'
 import { rpcClient } from '../api/rpc-client'
 import { useSyncStore } from './sync'
 import { useResourcesStore } from './resources'
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ import { useResourcesStore } from './resources'
 export const useAuthStore = defineStore('auth', () => {
   // State
   const isAuthenticated = ref(localStorage.getItem('neode-auth') === 'true')
+  watch(isAuthenticated, authenticated => { if (!authenticated) useAudioPlayer().stop() }, { flush: 'sync' })
   const isLoading = ref(false)
   const error = ref<string | null>(null)
   let sessionValidated = false
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ export const useAuthStore = defineStore('auth', () => {
   }
 
   async function logout(): Promise<void> {
+    useAudioPlayer().stop()
     const sync = useSyncStore()
     try {
       await rpcClient.logout()
diff --git a/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-login.cjs b/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-login.cjs
index 35e47938..5e530976 100644
--- a/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-login.cjs
+++ b/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-login.cjs
@@ -63,6 +63,20 @@ const { chromium, expect } = require(process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_MODULE || '../../neo
           return route.fallback();
         });
       }
+      if (process.env.QUALIFY_COMPANION_BRIDGE === '1') {
+        if (process.env.QUALIFY_PLAYBACK !== '1') throw Error('Companion bridge qualification requires real playback');
+        await context.addInitScript(() => {
+          if (window !== window.top) return;
+          window.__qualificationAudioBridge = [];
+          window.ArchipelagoAudio = {
+            onmessage: null,
+            postMessage(raw) {
+              window.__qualificationAudioBridge.push(JSON.parse(raw));
+              if (window.__qualificationAudioBridge.length > 300) window.__qualificationAudioBridge.shift();
+            },
+          };
+        });
+      }
       page = await context.newPage();
       page.on('response', response => { const u = new URL(response.url()); if (u.origin === appOrigin && u.pathname === '/api/auth/nostr/login') proof.login.push(response.status()); });
       await page.goto(origin + '/dashboard/discover', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded', timeout: 60000 });
diff --git a/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-playback.cjs b/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-playback.cjs
index f2496b3d..201e4365 100644
--- a/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-playback.cjs
+++ b/tests/lifecycle/v4v-native-playback.cjs
@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@
 // No fixture media, intercepted success, payment or application state fabrication.
 const { expect } = require(process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_MODULE || '../../neode-ui/node_modules/@playwright/test');
 module.exports = async function qualifyPlayback(page, appOrigin, proof) {
+  const nativeBridge = process.env.QUALIFY_COMPANION_BRIDGE === '1';
+  async function control(command, button) {
+    if (!nativeBridge) return page.getByRole('button', { name: button, exact: true }).click();
+    await page.evaluate(command => {
+      const state = window.__qualificationAudioBridge?.filter(value => value.action === 'state').at(-1);
+      if (!state?.session || !window.ArchipelagoAudio?.onmessage) throw Error('Companion audio session missing');
+      window.ArchipelagoAudio.onmessage({ data: JSON.stringify({ version: 1, type: 'command', session: state.session, command }) });
+    }, command);
+  }
   const app = page.frames().find(frame => frame.url().startsWith(appOrigin + '/'));
   if (!app) throw Error('Managed V4V iframe missing after login');
   proof.initialBrowse = new URL(app.url()).pathname === '/browse';
@@ -46,18 +55,18 @@ module.exports = async function qualifyPlayback(page, appOrigin, proof) {
   await expect(bar).toBeVisible();
   await expect(bar).toContainText(tracks[0].title);
   await app.waitForFunction(time => window.__qualificationMedia.some(audio => !audio.paused && audio.currentTime > time + 1), initial, { timeout: 15000, polling: 100 });
-  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Pause audio', exact: true }).click();
+  await control('pause', 'Pause audio');
   await app.waitForFunction(() => window.__qualificationMedia.every(audio => audio.paused), undefined, { polling: 100 });
-  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Play audio', exact: true }).click();
+  await control('play', 'Play audio');
   await app.waitForFunction(() => window.__qualificationMedia.some(audio => !audio.paused), undefined, { polling: 100 });
-  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Next track', exact: true }).click();
+  await control('next', 'Next track');
   await app.waitForFunction(id => window.PulsewireLegacy.getReactBridge().helpers.activePlayerRelease()?.id === id, tracks[1].id, { polling: 100 });
   await expect(bar).toContainText(tracks[1].title);
   // Previous after >3 seconds intentionally restarts the current song in V4V.
   await app.waitForFunction(() => window.__qualificationMedia.some(audio => !audio.paused && audio.currentTime > 4), undefined, { polling: 100 });
-  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Previous track', exact: true }).click();
+  await control('previous', 'Previous track');
   await app.waitForFunction(() => window.__qualificationMedia.some(audio => !audio.paused && audio.currentTime < 3), undefined, { polling: 100 });
-  await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Shuffle', exact: true }).click();
+  await control('shuffle', 'Shuffle');
   await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Shuffle', exact: true })).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true');
   expect(await app.evaluate(() => window.PulsewireLegacy.getReactBridge().getState().ui.shuffleEnabled)).toBe(true);
   const artwork = await app.evaluate(() => window.PulsewireLegacy.getReactBridge().helpers.activePlayerRelease()?.cover || '');
@@ -74,6 +83,15 @@ module.exports = async function qualifyPlayback(page, appOrigin, proof) {
     for (const axis of ['x', 'y', 'width', 'height']) expect(Math.abs(geometry.image[axis] - geometry.bar[axis])).toBeLessThanOrEqual(2);
     proof.renderedArtwork = true;
   }
+  if (nativeBridge) {
+    await expect.poll(() => page.evaluate(() => window.__qualificationAudioBridge?.filter(value => value.action === 'state').at(-1)?.title)).toContain(tracks[1].title);
+    const nativeState = await page.evaluate(() => window.__qualificationAudioBridge.filter(value => value.action === 'state').at(-1));
+    expect(nativeState.playing).toBe(true);
+    expect(nativeState.session).toMatch(/^[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-4[0-9a-f]{3}-[89ab][0-9a-f]{3}-[0-9a-f]{12}$/);
+    expect(nativeState.shuffled).toBe(true);
+    if (artwork) await expect.poll(() => page.evaluate(() => window.__qualificationAudioBridge.some(value => value.action === 'state' && value.artwork?.startsWith('data:image/jpeg;base64,'))), { timeout: 15000 }).toBe(true);
+    proof.companionBridge = { realBrowserPlayer: true, nativeTransportSimulated: true, controls: ['pause', 'play', 'next', 'previous', 'shuffle'], thumbnail: Boolean(artwork), physicalAndroid: false };
+  }
   const barBounds = await bar.boundingBox();
   for (const name of ['Previous track', 'Next track', 'Open playing app']) {
     const control = bar.getByRole('button', { name, exact: true });