diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 67da2ed..39707c8 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@ pub fn run() {
                 if let Err(error) = macos::allow_media_autoplay(&window) {
                     log::warn!(target: "launcher", "{error}");
                 }
+                if let Err(error) = macos::activate_and_focus_window(&window) {
+                    log::warn!(target: "launcher", "Could not focus launcher window on startup: {error}");
+                }
             }
 
             Ok(())
@@ -235,6 +238,9 @@ pub fn run() {
                 if let Err(error) = macos::allow_media_autoplay(&window) {
                     log::warn!(target: "launcher", "{error}");
                 }
+                if let Err(error) = macos::activate_and_focus_window(&window) {
+                    log::warn!(target: "launcher", "Could not focus launcher window on ready: {error}");
+                }
             }
 
         presence::handle_run_event(app, &event);
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/macos.rs b/src-tauri/src/macos.rs
index a6d5294..a657b85 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/macos.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/macos.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ pub fn allow_media_autoplay(window: &tauri::WebviewWindow) -> Result<(), String>
     use objc2::msg_send;
     use objc2::runtime::AnyObject;
 
+    unsafe extern "C" {
+        fn object_getInstanceVariable(
+            obj: *mut AnyObject,
+            name: *const std::ffi::c_char,
+            out_value: *mut *mut std::ffi::c_void,
+        ) -> *const std::ffi::c_void;
+    }
+
     window
         .with_webview(|webview| unsafe {
             let webview = webview.inner() as *mut AnyObject;
@@ -103,7 +111,18 @@ pub fn allow_media_autoplay(window: &tauri::WebviewWindow) -> Result<(), String>
                 return;
             }
 
-            let configuration: *mut AnyObject = msg_send![webview, configuration];
+            // -[WKWebView configuration] returns a copy. To affect live playback,
+            // access the internal `_configuration` ivar directly when available.
+            let mut raw_config: *mut std::ffi::c_void = std::ptr::null_mut();
+            let ivar_name = c"_configuration";
+            let ivar = object_getInstanceVariable(webview, ivar_name.as_ptr(), &mut raw_config);
+            let configuration: *mut AnyObject = if !ivar.is_null() && !raw_config.is_null() {
+                log::debug!(target: "launcher", "Accessing live WKWebView._configuration ivar");
+                raw_config as *mut AnyObject
+            } else {
+                msg_send![webview, configuration]
+            };
+
             if configuration.is_null() {
                 return;
             }
diff --git a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
index 3832826..917701a 100644
--- a/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
+++ b/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
         "decorations": false,
         "resizable": false,
         "maximizable": false,
-        "shadow": true
+        "shadow": true,
+        "focus": true
       }
     ],
     "withGlobalTauri": true,
diff --git a/src/app.css b/src/app.css
index 951bf04..23dfe7c 100644
--- a/src/app.css
+++ b/src/app.css
@@ -172,17 +172,21 @@
   [role="button"]:not([disabled]) {
     cursor: pointer;
   }
-
-  /* Suppress browser and WebKit native media controls and overlay play buttons on theme videos */
-  video::-webkit-media-controls,
-  video::-webkit-media-controls-enclosure,
-  video::-webkit-media-controls-panel,
-  video::-webkit-media-controls-play-button,
-  video::-webkit-media-controls-start-playback-button,
-  video::-webkit-media-controls-overlay-play-button {
-    display: none !important;
-    -webkit-appearance: none !important;
-    opacity: 0 !important;
-    pointer-events: none !important;
-  }
+}
+
+/* Suppress browser and WebKit native media controls and overlay play buttons on theme videos */
+video::-webkit-media-controls,
+video::-webkit-media-controls-enclosure,
+video::-webkit-media-controls-panel,
+video::-webkit-media-controls-play-button,
+video::-webkit-media-controls-start-playback-button,
+video::-webkit-media-controls-overlay-play-button,
+video::-webkit-media-controls-overlay-enclosure {
+  display: none !important;
+  -webkit-appearance: none !important;
+  opacity: 0 !important;
+  visibility: hidden !important;
+  pointer-events: none !important;
+  width: 0 !important;
+  height: 0 !important;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/components/ui/titlebar/titlebar.svelte b/src/lib/components/ui/titlebar/titlebar.svelte
index 831d210..41a7ccd 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/ui/titlebar/titlebar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/ui/titlebar/titlebar.svelte
@@ -27,57 +27,55 @@
 </script>
 
 <div data-tauri-drag-region class="titlebar z-[100]" class:macos-window={$platform === 'macos'}>
-  {#if $custom_theme_audio_playing}
-    {#if $custom_theme_audio_playing}
-      <div class="relative flex items-center justify-center group">
-        <div class="relative flex items-center justify-center p-1 cursor-pointer">
-          <div
-            class="absolute inset-0 bg-background rounded
-               scale-80 opacity-0
-               group-hover:opacity-100
-               group-hover:scale-100
-               {$reduceAnimations ? '' : 'transition-all duration-200 ease-out'}"
-          ></div>
+  {#if $custom_theme_audio_playing || ($active_custom_theme && $active_custom_theme.name !== 'Default')}
+    <div class="relative flex items-center justify-center group">
+      <div class="relative flex items-center justify-center p-1 cursor-pointer">
+        <div
+          class="absolute inset-0 bg-background rounded
+             scale-80 opacity-0
+             group-hover:opacity-100
+             group-hover:scale-100
+             {$reduceAnimations ? '' : 'transition-all duration-200 ease-out'}"
+        ></div>
 
-          {#if $custom_theme_volume > 0.7}
-            <ThemeIcon name="volume" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
-          {:else if $custom_theme_volume >= 0.15}
-            <ThemeIcon name="volume-low" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
-          {:else if $custom_theme_volume > 0}
-            <ThemeIcon name="volume-low" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
-          {:else}
-            <ThemeIcon name="volume-off" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
-          {/if}
-        </div>
+        {#if $custom_theme_volume > 0.7}
+          <ThemeIcon name="volume" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
+        {:else if $custom_theme_volume >= 0.15}
+          <ThemeIcon name="volume-low" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
+        {:else if $custom_theme_volume > 0}
+          <ThemeIcon name="volume-low" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
+        {:else}
+          <ThemeIcon name="volume-off" set={iconSet} class="z-10 pointer-events-none" size={14} />
+        {/if}
+      </div>
+
+      <div
+        class="absolute top-full right-0 translate-x-[7px]
+           opacity-0 invisible pointer-events-none -translate-y-2
+           group-hover:opacity-100 group-hover:visible group-hover:pointer-events-auto group-hover:translate-y-0
+           {$reduceAnimations ? '' : 'transition-all duration-200 ease-out'}
+           z-50"
+      >
+        <div class="h-2 w-full"></div>
 
         <div
-          class="absolute top-full right-0 translate-x-[7px]
-             opacity-0 invisible pointer-events-none -translate-y-2
-             group-hover:opacity-100 group-hover:visible group-hover:pointer-events-auto group-hover:translate-y-0
-             {$reduceAnimations ? '' : 'transition-all duration-200 ease-out'}
-             z-50"
+          class="flex items-center justify-center h-[120px] w-[35px]
+             bg-black/20 backdrop-blur-sm border border-white/10 rounded-xl"
         >
-          <div class="h-2 w-full"></div>
-
-          <div
-            class="flex items-center justify-center h-[120px] w-[35px]
-               bg-black/20 backdrop-blur-sm border border-white/10 rounded-xl"
-          >
-            <input
-              type="range"
-              min="0"
-              max="1"
-              step="0.01"
-              bind:value={$custom_theme_volume}
-              oninput={() => {
-                config.value<number>('volume').set($custom_theme_volume);
-              }}
-              class="volume-slider"
-            />
-          </div>
+          <input
+            type="range"
+            min="0"
+            max="1"
+            step="0.01"
+            bind:value={$custom_theme_volume}
+            oninput={() => {
+              config.value<number>('volume').set($custom_theme_volume);
+            }}
+            class="volume-slider"
+          />
         </div>
       </div>
-    {/if}
+    </div>
   {/if}
   <div class="relative flex items-center justify-center p-1 group" id="titlebar-minimize">
     <div
diff --git a/src/lib/themeMedia.ts b/src/lib/themeMedia.ts
index de6cd5c..f10ddec 100644
--- a/src/lib/themeMedia.ts
+++ b/src/lib/themeMedia.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
  */
 import { invoke } from '@tauri-apps/api/core';
 import { listen } from '@tauri-apps/api/event';
-import { writable } from 'svelte/store';
+import { get, writable } from 'svelte/store';
+import { custom_theme_volume } from './global';
 
 type MediaCleanup = () => void;
 
@@ -193,48 +194,29 @@ export const clearThemeMediaCache = () => {
   objectUrls.clear();
 };
 
-const unmutingArmed = new WeakSet<HTMLMediaElement>();
-
-/** Restore full sound as soon as the user interacts with the launcher. */
-const armUnmuteOnInteraction = (node: HTMLMediaElement, targetVolume: number) => {
-  if (unmutingArmed.has(node)) return;
-  unmutingArmed.add(node);
-
-  const unmute = () => {
-    window.removeEventListener('pointerdown', unmute, true);
-    window.removeEventListener('keydown', unmute, true);
-    window.removeEventListener('click', unmute, true);
-    unmutingArmed.delete(node);
-    if (node.isConnected) {
-      node.muted = false;
-      node.volume = targetVolume;
-      if (node.paused) {
-        void node.play().catch(() => {});
-      }
-    }
-  };
-
-  window.addEventListener('pointerdown', unmute, true);
-  window.addEventListener('keydown', unmute, true);
-  window.addEventListener('click', unmute, true);
-};
-
 /** Retry playback on the first click or key press after an autoplay rejection. */
 const armAutoplayRetry = (node: HTMLMediaElement) => {
   if (autoplayArmed.has(node)) return;
   autoplayArmed.add(node);
 
   const retry = () => {
-    document.removeEventListener('pointerdown', retry, true);
-    document.removeEventListener('keydown', retry, true);
-    document.removeEventListener('click', retry, true);
+    window.removeEventListener('pointerdown', retry, true);
+    window.removeEventListener('keydown', retry, true);
+    window.removeEventListener('click', retry, true);
+    window.removeEventListener('focus', retry, true);
     autoplayArmed.delete(node);
-    if (node.isConnected) void node.play().catch(() => {});
+    if (node.isConnected) {
+      node.muted = false;
+      const targetVolume = get(custom_theme_volume);
+      if (targetVolume > 0) node.volume = targetVolume;
+      void node.play().catch(() => {});
+    }
   };
 
-  document.addEventListener('pointerdown', retry, true);
-  document.addEventListener('keydown', retry, true);
-  document.addEventListener('click', retry, true);
+  window.addEventListener('pointerdown', retry, true);
+  window.addEventListener('keydown', retry, true);
+  window.addEventListener('click', retry, true);
+  window.addEventListener('focus', retry, true);
 };
 
 export const playThemeMedia = (node: HTMLMediaElement) => {
@@ -246,38 +228,28 @@ export const playThemeMedia = (node: HTMLMediaElement) => {
     node.removeAttribute('controls');
   }
 
-  void node
-    .play()
-    .then(() => {
-      console.debug('Theme media playing', {
-        element: node.tagName,
-        muted: node.muted,
-        volume: node.volume,
-        source: node.currentSrc,
-      });
-    })
-    .catch((error) => {
-      console.warn('Theme media autoplay was blocked', error);
-      if (node instanceof HTMLVideoElement && !node.muted) {
-        // Fallback: Start muted immediately so the background video plays
-        // automatically without freezing or showing native play buttons,
-        // and unmute on the first user interaction.
-        const targetVolume = node.volume > 0 ? node.volume : 0.15;
-        node.muted = true;
-        void node
-          .play()
-          .then(() => {
-            console.debug('Theme video started playing muted after autoplay block');
-            armUnmuteOnInteraction(node, targetVolume);
-          })
-          .catch((mutedError) => {
-            console.warn('Theme video muted autoplay was also blocked', mutedError);
-            armAutoplayRetry(node);
-          });
-      } else {
+  node.muted = false;
+  const currentVolume = get(custom_theme_volume);
+  if (node.volume === 0 && currentVolume > 0) {
+    node.volume = currentVolume;
+  }
+
+  const playPromise = node.play();
+  if (playPromise !== undefined) {
+    playPromise
+      .then(() => {
+        console.debug('Theme media playing', {
+          element: node.tagName,
+          muted: node.muted,
+          volume: node.volume,
+          source: node.currentSrc,
+        });
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        console.warn('Theme media autoplay was blocked', error);
         armAutoplayRetry(node);
-      }
-    });
+      });
+  }
 };
 
 /**
@@ -291,13 +263,7 @@ const loadMediaSource = (node: HTMLMediaElement, source: string) => {
   mediaCleanups.delete(node);
 
   const previousTime = Number.isFinite(node.currentTime) ? node.currentTime : 0;
-  const wasPlaying = !node.paused;
-  const needsPreparation =
-    node instanceof HTMLVideoElement && isMac && loopbackThemePattern.test(source);
-
-  // Keep the last frame visible while the first H.264 encode runs instead of
-  // letting WebKit struggle through the software VP9 track.
-  if (needsPreparation) node.pause();
+  const wasPlaying = !node.paused || node.autoplay;
 
   void themeMediaUrl(source, node instanceof HTMLVideoElement).then((url) => {
     if (mediaTokens.get(node) !== token || !node.isConnected) return;
@@ -324,7 +290,7 @@ const loadMediaSource = (node: HTMLMediaElement, source: string) => {
         }
       }
 
-      if (wasPlaying || node.autoplay) playThemeMedia(node);
+      playThemeMedia(node);
     };
 
     const onError = () => {
@@ -336,7 +302,7 @@ const loadMediaSource = (node: HTMLMediaElement, source: string) => {
       if (node.src !== source) {
         node.src = source;
         node.load();
-        if (wasPlaying || node.autoplay) playThemeMedia(node);
+        playThemeMedia(node);
       }
     };
 
@@ -652,14 +618,18 @@ export function smoothThemeMedia(node: HTMLElement) {
       media.removeAttribute('controls');
     }
 
-    playThemeMedia(media);
-
     const source =
       media.getAttribute('src') ??
       media.querySelector<HTMLSourceElement>('source[src]')?.getAttribute('src') ??
       undefined;
-    if (!source) return;
-    if (!isThemeAssetUrl(source) && !loopbackThemePattern.test(source)) return;
+    if (!source) {
+      playThemeMedia(media);
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!isThemeAssetUrl(source) && !loopbackThemePattern.test(source)) {
+      playThemeMedia(media);
+      return;
+    }
     if (lastSource.get(media) === source) return;
 
     lastSource.set(media, source);
diff --git a/src/lib/themes.ts b/src/lib/themes.ts
index 1749037..15186da 100644
--- a/src/lib/themes.ts
+++ b/src/lib/themes.ts
@@ -445,6 +445,8 @@ export const loadTheme = async (theme: Theme, themeContainer: HTMLElement, volum
 
   // Ensure all media elements mounted by v1 themes start playback automatically
   themeContainer.querySelectorAll<HTMLMediaElement>('video, audio').forEach((media) => {
+    media.muted = false;
+    media.volume = volume;
     playThemeMedia(media);
   });
 };
diff --git a/src/lib/utils.ts b/src/lib/utils.ts
index f4c6b59..5211e2c 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils.ts
@@ -267,12 +267,13 @@ export function trackMediaContainer(node: HTMLElement) {
 
   function update() {
     custom_theme_audio_playing.set(
-      Array.from(media).some((el) => !el.paused && !(el instanceof HTMLVideoElement && el.muted))
+      Array.from(media).some((el) => !el.paused)
     );
   }
 
   function register(el: HTMLMediaElement) {
     media.add(el);
+    update();
 
     const handler = () => update();
     el.addEventListener('play', handler);
@@ -280,6 +281,7 @@ export function trackMediaContainer(node: HTMLElement) {
 
     return () => {
       media.delete(el);
+      update();
       el.removeEventListener('play', handler);
       el.removeEventListener('pause', handler);
     };
diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index e38a91c..dbc8b8f 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -277,9 +277,12 @@
     const last_theme = localThemes.find((t) => t.name === lastThemeName);
     const canLoadLastTheme = Boolean(last_theme && isThemeTrusted(last_theme));
 
+    const initialVolume = await config_theme_volume.get(0.15);
+    custom_theme_volume.set(initialVolume);
+
     if (!last_theme || !canLoadLastTheme) {
       await config.value<string>('theme').set('Default');
-      loadTheme(defaultTheme, $custom_theme_container!, await config_theme_volume.get(0.15));
+      loadTheme(defaultTheme, $custom_theme_container!, initialVolume);
       if (last_theme && !canLoadLastTheme) {
         sileo.error({
           title: 'Theme needs approval',
@@ -288,10 +291,10 @@
         });
       }
     } else {
-      loadTheme(last_theme, $custom_theme_container!, await config_theme_volume.get(0.15));
+      loadTheme(last_theme, $custom_theme_container!, initialVolume);
     }
 
-    custom_theme_volume.set(await config_theme_volume.get(0.15));
+    void invoke('reveal_window').catch(() => {});
     patch.set(await config_patching.get(true));
     customCursor.set(await config_custom_cursor.get(true));
     cursorSmoothening.set(await config_cursor_smoothening.get(true));
@@ -381,6 +384,23 @@
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head>
+  <style>
+    video::-webkit-media-controls,
+    video::-webkit-media-controls-enclosure,
+    video::-webkit-media-controls-panel,
+    video::-webkit-media-controls-play-button,
+    video::-webkit-media-controls-start-playback-button,
+    video::-webkit-media-controls-overlay-play-button,
+    video::-webkit-media-controls-overlay-enclosure {
+      display: none !important;
+      -webkit-appearance: none !important;
+      opacity: 0 !important;
+      visibility: hidden !important;
+      pointer-events: none !important;
+      width: 0 !important;
+      height: 0 !important;
+    }
+  </style>
   <!-- eslint-disable-next-line svelte/no-at-html-tags -->
   {@html `<style>${$active_custom_theme?.cssStyle || ''}</style>`}
   {#if $active_custom_theme?.definition}