diff --git a/neode-ui/package.json b/neode-ui/package.json
index 7c5f58d2..f1bdb2fe 100644
--- a/neode-ui/package.json
+++ b/neode-ui/package.json
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
     "build:docker": "vite build",
     "build:production": "NODE_ENV=production vue-tsc -b && vite build --mode production",
     "preview": "vite preview",
-    "type-check": "vue-tsc --noEmit"
+    "type-check": "vue-tsc --noEmit",
+    "prebuild": "cp ../../loop-start.mp3 public/assets/audio/ 2>/dev/null || true"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "dockerode": "^4.0.9",
@@ -42,4 +43,4 @@
     "vue-tsc": "^3.1.3",
     "ws": "^8.18.0"
   }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/neode-ui/public/assets/audio/loop-start.mp3 b/neode-ui/public/assets/audio/loop-start.mp3
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..17ad6a34
Binary files /dev/null and b/neode-ui/public/assets/audio/loop-start.mp3 differ
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/App.vue b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
index de4a8b0f..e69b2be8 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/App.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ const isReady = ref(false)
  * - User has already seen the intro
  * - User is on a direct route (refresh/bookmark)
  */
-onMounted(() => {
+onMounted(async () => {
   window.addEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown)
   const seenIntro = localStorage.getItem('neode_intro_seen') === '1'
   const isDirectRoute = route.path !== '/'
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ onMounted(() => {
   if (seenIntro || isDirectRoute) {
     showSplash.value = false
     document.body.classList.add('splash-complete')
-    // Set isReady immediately for direct routes or when intro is already seen
-    // Router will handle navigation
+    // Wait for router to finish initial navigation before showing content (fixes hard refresh)
+    await router.isReady()
     isReady.value = true
   }
   // If splash should show, wait for it to complete
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/SplashScreen.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/SplashScreen.vue
index 4b078e5d..c966d6b7 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/SplashScreen.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/SplashScreen.vue
@@ -96,9 +96,20 @@
         </div>
       </Transition>
 
+      <!-- Tap to start - required for audio (browser autoplay policy) -->
+      <div
+        v-if="showTapToStart"
+        class="absolute inset-0 z-[100] flex items-center justify-center bg-black/40 cursor-pointer"
+        @click="handleTapToStart"
+      >
+        <p class="font-mono text-white/90 text-lg sm:text-xl px-6 py-4 rounded-lg border border-white/20 bg-black/30 backdrop-blur-sm">
+          Tap to start
+        </p>
+      </div>
+
       <!-- Skip Button -->
       <button
-        v-if="!alienIntroComplete"
+        v-if="!alienIntroComplete && !showTapToStart"
         @click="handleSkipClick"
         class="absolute bottom-8 right-8 z-20 bg-black/60 border border-white/30 text-white/70 font-mono text-xs px-4 py-2 rounded backdrop-blur-[10px] hover:bg-black/80 hover:text-white/90 hover:border-white/50 hover:-translate-y-0.5 active:translate-y-0 transition-all duration-300"
       >
@@ -126,6 +137,7 @@ const MS_PER_CHAR = 55
 const BLINK_AFTER_TYPING = 1500
 
 const showSplash = ref(true)
+const showTapToStart = ref(true)
 const backgroundOpacity = ref(0)
 const alienIntroComplete = ref(false)
 const fadeAlienIntro = ref(false)
@@ -213,6 +225,13 @@ watch([showWelcome, showLogo], ([welcome, logo]) => {
 // Check if user has seen intro
 const seenIntro = localStorage.getItem('neode_intro_seen') === '1'
 
+function handleTapToStart() {
+  if (!showTapToStart.value) return
+  resumeAudioContext()
+  showTapToStart.value = false
+  startAlienIntro()
+}
+
 function handleSkipClick() {
   resumeAudioContext()
   skipIntro()
@@ -383,17 +402,8 @@ onMounted(() => {
     showSplash.value = false
     document.body.classList.add('splash-complete')
     emit('complete')
-  } else {
-    startAlienIntro()
-    // Unlock audio on first user interaction (required for autoplay in most browsers)
-    const unlock = () => {
-      resumeAudioContext()
-      document.removeEventListener('click', unlock)
-      document.removeEventListener('touchstart', unlock)
-    }
-    document.addEventListener('click', unlock, { once: true })
-    document.addEventListener('touchstart', unlock, { once: true })
   }
+  // Typing starts only after user taps "Tap to start" (required for loop-start + music)
 })
 
 onBeforeUnmount(() => {
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/useLoginSounds.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/useLoginSounds.ts
index 016f4615..3e35f772 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/composables/useLoginSounds.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/useLoginSounds.ts
@@ -41,15 +41,29 @@ function playTone(
 const INTRO_AUDIO_URL = '/assets/audio/cosmic-updrift.mp3'
 const LOOP_START_URL = '/assets/audio/loop-start.mp3'
 
-/** Play loop-start when transitioning from typing intro to Welcome Noderunner, as the intro music comes in */
+/** Play loop-start when transitioning from typing intro to Welcome Noderunner, as the intro music comes in.
+ * Uses Web Audio API so it plays after context is resumed (user gesture). */
 export function playLoopStart() {
+  const ctx = getContext()
+  if (!ctx) return
   try {
-    const audio = new Audio(LOOP_START_URL)
-    audio.volume = 0.5
-    audio.play().catch(() => {})
+    if (ctx.state === 'suspended') ctx.resume()
   } catch {
-    // ignore
+    return
   }
+  fetch(LOOP_START_URL)
+    .then((res) => res.arrayBuffer())
+    .then((buf) => ctx.decodeAudioData(buf))
+    .then((decoded) => {
+      const src = ctx.createBufferSource()
+      src.buffer = decoded
+      const gain = ctx.createGain()
+      gain.gain.value = 0.5
+      src.connect(gain)
+      gain.connect(ctx.destination)
+      src.start(0)
+    })
+    .catch(() => {})
 }
 
 /** Resume audio context (call on first user interaction to unlock autoplay) */
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/router/index.ts b/neode-ui/src/router/index.ts
index c05e7d1e..5b643933 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/router/index.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/router/index.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ const router = createRouter({
         },
       ],
     },
-    { path: '/dashboard/', redirect: '/dashboard' },
     {
       path: '/dashboard',
       component: () => import('../views/Dashboard.vue'),
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
index ae3d52a4..eaf1b5ba 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
     <!-- Sidebar - Desktop Only, animates in at end with separate parts -->
     <aside
       data-controller-zone="sidebar"
-      class="hidden md:flex w-[256px] flex-shrink-0 relative flex-col"
+      class="hidden md:flex w-[256px] flex-shrink-0 relative flex-col z-10"
       :class="{ 'sidebar-animate': showZoomIn }"
     >
       <div class="sidebar-shell">
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
     <!-- Main Content (Xbox: Right goes here from sidebar) -->
     <main
       data-controller-zone="main"
-      class="flex-1 overflow-hidden relative pb-20 md:pb-0 glass-piece"
+      class="flex-1 overflow-hidden relative pb-20 md:pb-0 glass-piece z-10"
       :class="{ 'glass-throw-main': showZoomIn }"
     >
       <!-- Connection Status Banner -->
@@ -1011,9 +1011,11 @@ function getTransitionName(currentRoute: any) {
   }
 }
 
-/* When not animating, show everything */
+/* When not animating, show everything (direct load / hard refresh) */
 aside:not(.sidebar-animate) .sidebar-shell {
   border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18);
+  opacity: 1;
+  transform: none;
 }
 aside:not(.sidebar-animate) .sidebar-inner,
 aside:not(.sidebar-animate) .sidebar-logo,
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Login.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Login.vue
index 1a54f2fc..2f845696 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Login.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Login.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 <template>
-  <div class="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center p-4 relative z-10">
+  <div class="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center p-4 relative z-10 login-fly-perspective">
     <div class="w-full max-w-md relative z-20">
-      <!-- Login Card -->
+      <!-- Login Card - flies towards user on success -->
       <div
-        class="glass-card p-8 pt-20 relative login-card overflow-visible transition-all duration-300"
-        :class="{ 'whoosh-away': whooshAway }"
+        class="glass-card p-8 pt-20 relative login-card overflow-visible"
+        :class="{ 'login-fly-towards': whooshAway }"
       >
         <!-- Logo - half in, half out of container -->
         <div class="absolute -top-10 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 z-10">
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ async function handleSetup() {
     playLoginSuccessWhoosh()
     loginTransition.setJustLoggedIn(true)
     await store.login(password.value)
-    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 350))
+    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 520))
     router.replace({ name: 'home' })
   } catch (err) {
     whooshAway.value = false
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ async function handleLogin() {
     whooshAway.value = true
     playLoginSuccessWhoosh()
     loginTransition.setJustLoggedIn(true)
-    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 350))
+    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 520))
     router.replace({ name: 'home' })
   } catch (err) {
     whooshAway.value = false
@@ -245,10 +245,39 @@ function replayIntro() {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
-/* Whoosh accent - login card blurs and shrinks as whoosh plays */
-.whoosh-away {
-  transform: scale(0.92);
-  filter: blur(6px);
-  opacity: 0.6;
+/* Perspective for 3D fly effect */
+.login-fly-perspective {
+  perspective: 1200px;
+  perspective-origin: center center;
+}
+
+.login-card {
+  transform-style: preserve-3d;
+  transition: transform 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94),
+              opacity 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94),
+              filter 0.5s ease-out;
+}
+
+/* Fly towards user - card zooms forward as it transitions out */
+.login-fly-towards {
+  animation: login-fly-towards 0.5s cubic-bezier(0.25, 0.46, 0.45, 0.94) forwards;
+}
+
+@keyframes login-fly-towards {
+  0% {
+    transform: translateZ(0) scale(1);
+    opacity: 1;
+    filter: blur(0);
+  }
+  60% {
+    transform: translateZ(180px) scale(1.4);
+    opacity: 0.95;
+    filter: blur(2px);
+  }
+  100% {
+    transform: translateZ(400px) scale(2);
+    opacity: 0;
+    filter: blur(8px);
+  }
 }
 </style>