diff --git a/public/channelSync.js b/public/channelSync.js
index 51d473d..8024cd8 100644
--- a/public/channelSync.js
+++ b/public/channelSync.js
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@
     }
     M.currentChannelId = id;
     M.rememberChannel(id);
+    setPlaybackBlocked(false);
     const proto = location.protocol === "https:" ? "wss:" : "ws:";
     M.ws = new WebSocket(proto + "//" + location.host + "/api/channels/" + id + "/ws");
     
@@ -278,6 +279,7 @@
         M.wantSync = false;
         M.synced = false;
         M.audio.pause();
+        setPlaybackBlocked(false);
         if (M.ws) {
           const oldWs = M.ws;
           M.ws = null;
@@ -351,6 +353,7 @@
     M.ws.onclose = () => {
       M.synced = false;
       M.ws = null;
+      setPlaybackBlocked(false);
       M.$("#sync-indicator").classList.add("disconnected");
       M.updateUI();
       // Auto-reconnect if user wants to be synced
@@ -372,6 +375,85 @@
       M.updateUI();
     };
   };
+
+  let playbackUnlockListenersInstalled = false;
+  let playbackBlockedToastShown = false;
+
+  function removePlaybackUnlockListeners() {
+    if (!playbackUnlockListenersInstalled) return;
+    document.removeEventListener("pointerdown", retryPlaybackFromUserActivation, true);
+    document.removeEventListener("keydown", retryPlaybackFromUserActivation, true);
+    playbackUnlockListenersInstalled = false;
+  }
+
+  function installPlaybackUnlockListeners() {
+    if (playbackUnlockListenersInstalled) return;
+    document.addEventListener("pointerdown", retryPlaybackFromUserActivation, true);
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", retryPlaybackFromUserActivation, true);
+    playbackUnlockListenersInstalled = true;
+  }
+
+  function setPlaybackBlocked(blocked) {
+    const changed = M.playbackBlocked !== blocked;
+    M.playbackBlocked = blocked;
+
+    if (blocked) {
+      installPlaybackUnlockListeners();
+      if (!playbackBlockedToastShown) {
+        playbackBlockedToastShown = true;
+        M.showToast("Click play or press any key to resume this channel", "warning", 7000);
+      }
+    } else {
+      playbackBlockedToastShown = false;
+      removePlaybackUnlockListeners();
+    }
+
+    if (changed) M.updateUI?.();
+  }
+
+  async function ensureSyncedAudioSource(timestamp, forceReload = false) {
+    if (!M.currentTrackId) return;
+
+    if (forceReload || !M.audio.src) {
+      const cachedUrl = await M.loadTrackBlob(M.currentTrackId);
+      M.audio.src = cachedUrl || M.getTrackUrl(M.currentTrackId);
+    }
+
+    const nextTime = Number.isFinite(timestamp) ? Math.max(0, timestamp) : 0;
+    try {
+      M.audio.currentTime = nextTime;
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn("[Playback] Unable to set synced time yet", error);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function playSyncedAudio(timestamp, forceReload = false) {
+    if (!M.currentTrackId || M.serverPaused) return false;
+    await ensureSyncedAudioSource(timestamp, forceReload);
+    M.resumeVisualizer?.();
+
+    try {
+      await M.audio.play();
+      setPlaybackBlocked(false);
+      return true;
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn("[Playback] Browser blocked or delayed autoplay", error);
+      setPlaybackBlocked(true);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  function retryPlaybackFromUserActivation() {
+    if (!M.playbackBlocked) return;
+    M.retryBlockedPlayback?.();
+  }
+
+  M.retryBlockedPlayback = async function() {
+    if (!M.currentTrackId || !M.synced || M.serverPaused) return false;
+    return playSyncedAudio(M.getServerTime(), !M.audio.src);
+  };
+
+  M.audio.addEventListener("play", () => setPlaybackBlocked(false));
   
   // Handle channel state update from server
   M.handleUpdate = async function(data) {
@@ -402,6 +484,7 @@
     
     if (!data.track) {
       M.setTrackTitle("No tracks");
+      setPlaybackBlocked(false);
       return;
     }
     M.serverTimestamp = data.currentTimestamp;
@@ -440,15 +523,11 @@
       if (!M.serverPaused) {
         // Server is playing - ensure we're playing and synced
         if (isNewTrack || !M.audio.src) {
-          // Try cache first
-          const cachedUrl = await M.loadTrackBlob(M.currentTrackId);
-          M.audio.src = cachedUrl || M.getTrackUrl(M.currentTrackId);
-          M.audio.currentTime = data.currentTimestamp;
-          M.audio.play().catch(() => {});
-        } else if (M.audio.paused) {
-          M.audio.currentTime = data.currentTimestamp;
-          M.audio.play().catch(() => {});
+          await playSyncedAudio(data.currentTimestamp, true);
+        } else if (M.audio.paused || M.playbackBlocked) {
+          await playSyncedAudio(data.currentTimestamp, false);
         } else {
+          setPlaybackBlocked(false);
           // Check drift
           const drift = Math.abs(M.audio.currentTime - data.currentTimestamp);
           if (drift >= 2) {
@@ -458,6 +537,7 @@
         }
       } else {
         // Server is paused - ensure we're paused too
+        setPlaybackBlocked(false);
         if (!M.audio.paused) {
           M.audio.pause();
         }
diff --git a/public/controls.js b/public/controls.js
index fb8d7c0..571b69b 100644
--- a/public/controls.js
+++ b/public/controls.js
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
     M.resumeVisualizer?.();
     
     if (M.synced) {
+      if (!M.serverPaused && M.playbackBlocked) {
+        M.retryBlockedPlayback?.();
+        return;
+      }
       if (blockSyncedControlIfNeeded()) return;
       if (M.ws && M.ws.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
         M.ws.send(JSON.stringify({ action: M.serverPaused ? "unpause" : "pause" }));
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 858b39e..57b2b7e 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 <meta charset="UTF-8">
 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
 <title>Blastoise! A very special music server</title>
-<link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css?v=22">
+<link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css?v=23">
 </head>
 <body>
 <div id="app">
diff --git a/public/styles.css b/public/styles.css
index bfd5b2a..a32d209 100644
--- a/public/styles.css
+++ b/public/styles.css
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ h3 { font-size: 0.8rem; color: #999; margin-bottom: 0.3rem; text-transform: uppe
 #channels-list .listener::before { content: ""; position: absolute; left: -0.3rem; top: 50%; width: 0.2rem; height: 1px; background: #333; }
 #channels-list .listener-mult { color: #999; font-size: 0.55rem; }
 #library-panel, #queue-panel { flex: 1 1 0; min-width: 0; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; background: #1a1a1a; border-radius: 6px; padding: 0.5rem; display: flex; flex-direction: column; min-height: 250px; max-height: 60vh; position: relative; }
-#library-panel { order: 2; }
-#queue-panel { order: 3; }
+#queue-panel { order: 2; }
+#library-panel { order: 3; }
 .panel-tabs { display: flex; gap: 0; margin-bottom: 0; flex-shrink: 0; }
 .panel-tab { background: #252525; border: none; color: #999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8rem; font-weight: bold; padding: 0.3rem 0.6rem; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 4px 4px 0 0; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin-right: 2px; }
 .panel-tab:hover { color: #aaa; background: #2a2a2a; }
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ h3 { font-size: 0.8rem; color: #999; margin-bottom: 0.3rem; text-transform: uppe
 #btn-mode.mode-shuffle { color: #c4f; text-shadow: 0 0 6px #c4f; }
 #btn-mode:hover { opacity: 0.8; }
 #status-icon { font-size: 0.85rem; width: 1rem; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; }
+#status-icon.playback-blocked { color: #eb0; text-shadow: 0 0 8px rgba(238, 187, 0, 0.65); }
 .control-disabled { opacity: 0.45 !important; cursor: not-allowed !important; }
 #progress-container { background: #222; border-radius: 4px; height: 5px; cursor: pointer; position: relative; flex: 1; min-width: 0; }
 #progress-bar { background: #555; height: 100%; border-radius: 4px; width: 0%; transition: width 0.3s linear; pointer-events: none; }
@@ -293,8 +294,10 @@ button:hover { background: #333; }
 #guest-section .guest-btn { width: 100%; background: #333; color: #eee; border: 1px solid #444; padding: 0.5rem; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; cursor: pointer; }
 #guest-section .guest-btn:hover { background: #444; }
 
-#player-content { display: none; flex-direction: column; flex: 1; }
+#player-content { display: none; flex-direction: column; flex: 1; min-height: 0; }
 #player-content.visible { display: flex; }
+#player-content.visualizer-active #main-content { flex: 0 1 60vh; max-height: 60vh; }
+#player-content.visualizer-active .visualizer-shell { flex: 1 1 118px; height: auto; min-height: 118px; }
 
 ::-webkit-scrollbar { width: 6px; }
 ::-webkit-scrollbar-track { background-color: #111; border-radius: 3px; }
@@ -572,9 +575,22 @@ button:hover { background: #333; }
   /* Player bar - stacked layout */
   .visualizer-shell {
     height: 74px;
+    min-height: 74px;
+    max-height: 74px;
+    flex: 0 0 74px;
     margin: 0 0 0.3rem 0;
     max-width: 100%;
   }
+  #player-content.visualizer-active #main-content {
+    flex: 1;
+    max-height: none;
+  }
+  #player-content.visualizer-active .visualizer-shell {
+    flex: 0 0 74px;
+    height: 74px;
+    min-height: 74px;
+    max-height: 74px;
+  }
 
   #player-bar { 
     flex-direction: column; 
@@ -1006,7 +1022,7 @@ body[data-ui-theme="cinema"] {
 }
 
 body[data-ui-theme="cinema"] #main-content { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 150px minmax(280px, 0.8fr) minmax(420px, 1.45fr); }
-body[data-ui-theme="cinema"] #queue-panel { order: 3; max-height: 70vh; }
+body[data-ui-theme="cinema"] #queue-panel { order: 2; max-height: 70vh; }
 body[data-ui-theme="cinema"] #queue .track.active { font-size: 1rem; padding: 0.65rem 0.75rem; }
 body[data-ui-theme="cinema"] #player-bar { border-top: 4px solid var(--accent); }
 
diff --git a/public/trackContainer.js b/public/trackContainer.js
index fadbf29..3c219fc 100644
--- a/public/trackContainer.js
+++ b/public/trackContainer.js
@@ -29,6 +29,39 @@
 
   // Active context menu
   let activeContextMenu = null;
+  const TRACK_DRAG_TYPE = "application/x-blastoise-tracks";
+
+  function getDataTransferTypes(e) {
+    return [...(e.dataTransfer?.types || [])];
+  }
+
+  function hasTrackDrag(e, allowedSources = null) {
+    if (dragSource) return !allowedSources || allowedSources.includes(dragSource);
+    return getDataTransferTypes(e).includes(TRACK_DRAG_TYPE);
+  }
+
+  function restoreDragState(e) {
+    if (dragSource && draggedTrackIds.length > 0) return true;
+
+    const raw = e.dataTransfer?.getData(TRACK_DRAG_TYPE);
+    if (!raw) return false;
+
+    try {
+      const payload = JSON.parse(raw);
+      if (!["queue", "library", "playlist"].includes(payload.source)) return false;
+      const trackIds = Array.isArray(payload.trackIds) ? payload.trackIds.filter(Boolean) : [];
+      if (trackIds.length === 0) return false;
+
+      dragSource = payload.source;
+      draggedTrackIds = trackIds;
+      draggedIndices = Array.isArray(payload.indices)
+        ? payload.indices.filter(i => Number.isInteger(i))
+        : [];
+      return true;
+    } catch {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
 
   /**
    * Create a track container manager
@@ -133,7 +166,7 @@
 
     function wirePlaylistContainerDrop(container) {
       container.ondragover = (e) => {
-        if (dragSource === 'queue' || dragSource === 'library' || dragSource === 'playlist') {
+        if (hasTrackDrag(e, ['queue', 'library', 'playlist'])) {
           e.preventDefault();
           e.dataTransfer.dropEffect = dragSource === 'playlist' ? "move" : "copy";
           container.classList.add("drop-target");
@@ -153,6 +186,7 @@
           el.classList.remove("drop-above", "drop-below");
         });
         
+        restoreDragState(e);
         if (draggedTrackIds.length > 0) {
           e.preventDefault();
           
@@ -391,6 +425,11 @@
       div.classList.add("dragging");
       // Use "copyMove" to allow both copy and move operations
       e.dataTransfer.effectAllowed = "copyMove";
+      e.dataTransfer.setData(TRACK_DRAG_TYPE, JSON.stringify({
+        source: type,
+        trackIds: draggedTrackIds,
+        indices: draggedIndices
+      }));
       e.dataTransfer.setData("text/plain", `${type}:${draggedTrackIds.join(",")}`);
     }
 
@@ -414,6 +453,7 @@
     }
 
     function handleDragOver(e, div, index) {
+      if (!hasTrackDrag(e, ['queue', 'library', 'playlist'])) return;
       e.preventDefault();
       
       // Set drop effect based on source
@@ -444,6 +484,7 @@
     }
 
     function handleDrop(e, div, index) {
+      restoreDragState(e);
       console.log(`[Drag] handleDrop: type=${type} index=${index} dropTargetIndex=${dropTargetIndex} dragSource=${dragSource} draggedIndices=${draggedIndices}`);
       e.preventDefault();
       e.stopPropagation();
@@ -489,7 +530,7 @@
 
     function wireQueueContainerDrop(container) {
       container.ondragover = (e) => {
-        if (dragSource === 'library' || dragSource === 'playlist') {
+        if (hasTrackDrag(e, ['library', 'playlist'])) {
           e.preventDefault();
           e.dataTransfer.dropEffect = "copy";
           if (M.queue.length === 0) {
@@ -506,6 +547,7 @@
 
       container.ondrop = (e) => {
         container.classList.remove("drop-target");
+        restoreDragState(e);
         if ((dragSource === 'library' || dragSource === 'playlist') && draggedTrackIds.length > 0) {
           e.preventDefault();
           const targetIndex = dropTargetIndex !== null ? dropTargetIndex : M.queue.length;
diff --git a/public/ui.js b/public/ui.js
index 80bbd70..5a4b15e 100644
--- a/public/ui.js
+++ b/public/ui.js
@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@
   // Update general UI state
   M.updateUI = function() {
     const isConnecting = M.wantSync && !M.synced;
+    const playbackBlocked = M.synced && M.playbackBlocked && !M.serverPaused;
     // While connecting, treat as not playing (paused state)
-    const isPlaying = M.synced ? !M.serverPaused : (!isConnecting && !M.audio.paused);
+    const isPlaying = M.synced ? (!M.serverPaused && !M.audio.paused && !playbackBlocked) : (!isConnecting && !M.audio.paused);
     M.$("#btn-sync").classList.toggle("synced", M.wantSync);
     M.$("#btn-sync").classList.toggle("connected", M.synced);
     M.$("#btn-sync").title = M.wantSync ? "Unsync" : "Sync";
@@ -25,7 +26,10 @@
     M.$("#progress-bar").classList.toggle("local", !M.synced);
     M.$("#progress-bar").classList.toggle("muted", M.audio.volume === 0);
     M.$("#btn-mute").textContent = M.audio.volume === 0 ? "🔇" : "🔊";
-    M.$("#status-icon").textContent = isPlaying ? "⏸" : "▶";
+    const statusIcon = M.$("#status-icon");
+    statusIcon.textContent = isPlaying ? "⏸" : "▶";
+    statusIcon.classList.toggle("playback-blocked", playbackBlocked);
+    statusIcon.title = playbackBlocked ? "Resume this channel" : (isPlaying ? "Pause" : "Play");
     
     // Show/hide controls based on permissions
     const hasControl = M.canControl();
@@ -33,10 +37,11 @@
     ["#status-icon", "#btn-prev", "#btn-next", "#btn-mode", "#progress-container"].forEach(sel => {
       const el = M.$(sel);
       if (!el) return;
-      el.classList.toggle("control-disabled", controlsDisabled);
-      if ("ariaDisabled" in el) el.ariaDisabled = controlsDisabled ? "true" : "false";
+      const disabled = controlsDisabled && !(sel === "#status-icon" && playbackBlocked);
+      el.classList.toggle("control-disabled", disabled);
+      if ("ariaDisabled" in el) el.ariaDisabled = disabled ? "true" : "false";
     });
-    M.$("#status-icon").style.cursor = controlsDisabled ? "not-allowed" : "pointer";
+    statusIcon.style.cursor = controlsDisabled && !playbackBlocked ? "not-allowed" : "pointer";
   };
   
   // Update auth-related UI
diff --git a/public/upload.js b/public/upload.js
index 1226647..d8964fe 100644
--- a/public/upload.js
+++ b/public/upload.js
@@ -165,18 +165,23 @@
     
     // Drag and drop on library panel
     let dragCounter = 0;
+
+    function isFileDrag(e) {
+      return [...(e.dataTransfer?.types || [])].includes("Files");
+    }
     
     libraryPanel.ondragenter = (e) => {
       if (!M.currentUser) return;
-      if (!e.dataTransfer.types.includes("Files")) return;
+      if (!isFileDrag(e)) return;
       e.preventDefault();
       dragCounter++;
       dropzone.classList.remove("hidden");
     };
     
     libraryPanel.ondragleave = (e) => {
+      if (!isFileDrag(e)) return;
       e.preventDefault();
-      dragCounter--;
+      dragCounter = Math.max(0, dragCounter - 1);
       if (dragCounter === 0) {
         dropzone.classList.add("hidden");
       }
@@ -184,12 +189,13 @@
     
     libraryPanel.ondragover = (e) => {
       if (!M.currentUser) return;
-      if (!e.dataTransfer.types.includes("Files")) return;
+      if (!isFileDrag(e)) return;
       e.preventDefault();
       e.dataTransfer.dropEffect = "copy";
     };
     
     libraryPanel.ondrop = (e) => {
+      if (!isFileDrag(e)) return;
       e.preventDefault();
       dragCounter = 0;
       dropzone.classList.add("hidden");
diff --git a/public/visualizer.js b/public/visualizer.js
index ad083ff..3e7e8d0 100644
--- a/public/visualizer.js
+++ b/public/visualizer.js
@@ -675,6 +675,7 @@
     mode = normalizeMode(nextMode);
     if (selector) selector.value = mode;
     if (shell) shell.classList.toggle("hidden", mode === "off");
+    document.getElementById("player-content")?.classList.toggle("visualizer-active", mode !== "off");
     if (remember) rememberMode(mode);
 
     if (mode === "off") {