diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/dev.yml b/.gitea/workflows/dev.yml
index e603c25..d03ead2 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/dev.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/dev.yml
@@ -66,3 +66,17 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           attic login radiantwave https://attic.radiantwavetech.com "$ATTIC_TOKEN"
           attic push radiantwave:radiantwave-dev ./result-pkg
+
+      # Publish the manifest kiosks poll for live app updates. `storePath`
+      # must match exactly the closure pushed to the dev Attic cache above
+      # (readlink resolves the result-pkg out-link symlink to its real
+      # /nix/store path), so a kiosk can `nix copy --from` it without ever
+      # building from source. Upload mirrors the ISO scp pattern to the
+      # fileserver via the build-server's `radiantwave-infra` SSH alias.
+      - name: Publish manifest
+        run: |
+          STOREPATH=$(readlink -f ./result-pkg)
+          printf '{"version":"%s","storePath":"%s"}\n' "${{ env.APP_VERSION }}" "$STOREPATH" > manifest.json
+          cat manifest.json
+          scp manifest.json \
+            radiantwave-infra:/mnt/infrastructure_data/files/radiantwave-dev/manifest.json
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 244d966..1c302fd 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -112,7 +112,14 @@ add_executable(test_provisioning
     tests/test_provisioning.cpp
 )
 target_include_directories(test_provisioning PRIVATE src)
-target_link_libraries(test_provisioning PRIVATE SDL3::SDL3)
+# provisioning.h pulls in app_state.h, so the test compiles against the SDL3,
+# SDL3_mixer, and SQLite headers transitively (app_state.h -> audio_manager.h ->
+# SDL3_mixer; app_state.h -> database_manager.h -> sqlite3.h).
+target_link_libraries(test_provisioning PRIVATE
+    SDL3::SDL3
+    SDL3_mixer::SDL3_mixer
+    SQLite3::SQLite3
+)
 
 add_executable(test_assets
     tests/test_assets.cpp
diff --git a/nixos/vm.nix b/nixos/vm.nix
index db9ed59..3f7ecc9 100644
--- a/nixos/vm.nix
+++ b/nixos/vm.nix
@@ -112,6 +112,18 @@ in
       export WLR_RENDERER=pixman
       export WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS=1
 
+      # Prefer the PipeWire audio backend so SDL enumerates every sink
+      # (built-in analog, HDMI, and the loopback virtual speaker) instead of
+      # silently falling back to an ALSA-only device view that hides the
+      # PipeWire sinks and makes the device selector show a single entry.
+      export SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pipewire
+      if [ -n "$${XDG_RUNTIME_DIR:-}" ]; then
+        for i in {1..20}; do
+          [ -S "$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/pipewire-0" ] && break
+          sleep 0.5
+        done
+      fi
+
       cage -- ${radiantWaveApp}/bin/radiantwave > /tmp/kiosk.log 2>&1
     fi
   '';
diff --git a/src/audio/audio_manager.cpp b/src/audio/audio_manager.cpp
index 7fc16a8..a62c14c 100644
--- a/src/audio/audio_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/audio/audio_manager.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
         if (lower.find("analog") != std::string::npos ||
             lower.find("built-in") != std::string::npos ||
             lower.find("builtin") != std::string::npos ||
+            lower.find("virtual") != std::string::npos ||
             lower.find("realtek") != std::string::npos ||
             lower.find("hda") != std::string::npos ||
             lower.find("speaker") != std::string::npos ||
@@ -76,7 +77,6 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
         enabled_ = cfg.audio.enabled;
         currentDevice_ = cfg.audio.output_device;
         currentTrack_ = cfg.audio.current_track;
-
         if (!MIX_Init())
         {
             std::string err = SDL_GetError();
@@ -86,17 +86,68 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
             return false;
         }
 
-        // Create mixer device with default audio device
-        mixer_ = MIX_CreateMixerDevice(SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK, nullptr);
+        // Startup diagnostics: which audio backend SDL picked (PipeWire, ALSA,
+        // Pulse, dummy, ...) and what playback devices it actually sees. This is
+        // the first place a "only the built-in speakers show up" report points;
+        // a single device here means SDL itself never enumerated the HDMI sink.
+        const char *driver = SDL_GetCurrentAudioDriver();
+        std::string driverName = driver ? driver : "(none)";
+        int deviceCount = 0;
+        SDL_AudioDeviceID *devices = SDL_GetAudioPlaybackDevices(&deviceCount);
+        std::string deviceNames;
+        if (devices)
+        {
+            for (int i = 0; i < deviceCount; ++i)
+            {
+                if (i)
+                {
+                    deviceNames += ", ";
+                }
+                const char *n = SDL_GetAudioDeviceName(devices[i]);
+                deviceNames += n ? n : "(unnamed)";
+            }
+            SDL_free(devices);
+        }
+        logger::Logger::instance().info(
+            "Audio",
+            "SDL audio driver: " + driverName + "; " +
+                std::to_string(deviceCount) + " playback device(s) [" +
+                (deviceNames.empty() ? "(none)" : deviceNames) + "]");
+
+        // Try to open the mixer on the device previously persisted in config;
+        // fall back to the system default when the configured device is gone.
+        SDL_AudioDeviceID targetId = SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK;
+        if (!currentDevice_.empty())
+        {
+            int count = 0;
+            SDL_AudioDeviceID *devices = SDL_GetAudioPlaybackDevices(&count);
+            if (devices)
+            {
+                for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i)
+                {
+                    const char *name = SDL_GetAudioDeviceName(devices[i]);
+                    if (name && currentDevice_ == name)
+                    {
+                        targetId = devices[i];
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+                SDL_free(devices);
+            }
+        }
+
+        mixer_ = MIX_CreateMixerDevice(targetId, nullptr);
         if (!mixer_)
         {
             std::string err = SDL_GetError();
             logger::Logger::instance().warning("Audio",
-                                               "Could not open default audio playback device. Check speaker connections (MIX_CreateMixerDevice error: " + err + ")");
+                                               "Could not open audio playback device. Check speaker connections (MIX_CreateMixerDevice error: " + err + ")");
             initialized_ = false;
             return false;
         }
 
+        currentDeviceId_ = targetId;
+
         slots_[0].track = MIX_CreateTrack(mixer_);
         slots_[1].track = MIX_CreateTrack(mixer_);
         initialized_ = true;
@@ -135,6 +186,40 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
         return enabled_ ? (volume_ / 100.0f) : 0.0f;
     }
 
+    SDL_PropertiesID AudioManager::createInfiniteLoopOptions()
+    {
+        // MIX_PlayTrack()'s options default to a single pass; requesting
+        // infinite loops is what keeps a track going until it is explicitly
+        // faded out or the app shuts down.
+        SDL_PropertiesID props = SDL_CreateProperties();
+        if (props)
+        {
+            SDL_SetNumberProperty(props, MIX_PROP_PLAY_LOOPS_NUMBER, -1);
+        }
+        return props;
+    }
+
+    bool AudioManager::playTrackLooping(int slotIndex)
+    {
+        if (!initialized_ || !mixer_ || slotIndex < 0 || slotIndex >= 2 ||
+            !slots_[slotIndex].track)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        SDL_PropertiesID props = createInfiniteLoopOptions();
+        if (!props)
+        {
+            logger::Logger::instance().error(
+                "Audio", "Failed to create playback options for " +
+                             displayNameFor(currentTrack_));
+            return false;
+        }
+        bool ok = MIX_PlayTrack(slots_[slotIndex].track, props);
+        SDL_DestroyProperties(props);
+        return ok;
+    }
+
     void AudioManager::shutdown()
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
@@ -181,18 +266,62 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
             {
                 const char *name = SDL_GetAudioDeviceName(devices[i]);
                 std::string raw = name ? name : "";
-                list.push_back({raw, mapToFriendlyDeviceName(raw)});
+                AudioDeviceItem item;
+                item.raw_name = raw;
+                item.friendly_name = mapToFriendlyDeviceName(raw);
+                item.id = devices[i];
+                list.push_back(item);
             }
             SDL_free(devices);
         }
         else
         {
-            list.push_back({"", "Built-In Speakers"});
+            if (devices)
+            {
+                SDL_free(devices);
+            }
+            const char *driver = SDL_GetCurrentAudioDriver();
+            // Zero enumerated devices is a symptom, not a real output. Surface
+            // the truth (a single "System Default" entry that still routes to
+            // whatever the OS default is) instead of pretending a fabricated
+            // device, and say which backend was active so kiosk logs show why.
+            logger::Logger::instance().debug(
+                "Audio",
+                "No playback devices enumerated (audio driver: " +
+                    std::string(driver ? driver : "none") +
+                    "); falling back to the system default");
+            list.push_back({"", "System Default", 0});
         }
 
         return list;
     }
 
+    std::string AudioManager::resolvePlaybackDeviceName(SDL_AudioDeviceID id)
+    {
+        if (id == 0 || id == SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK)
+        {
+            return "";
+        }
+
+        int count = 0;
+        SDL_AudioDeviceID *devices = SDL_GetAudioPlaybackDevices(&count);
+        std::string found;
+        if (devices)
+        {
+            for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i)
+            {
+                if (devices[i] == id)
+                {
+                    const char *name = SDL_GetAudioDeviceName(devices[i]);
+                    found = name ? name : "";
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+            SDL_free(devices);
+        }
+        return found;
+    }
+
     void AudioManager::setVolume(int volume_0_to_100)
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
@@ -253,14 +382,76 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
     bool AudioManager::switchDevice(const std::string &raw_device_name)
     {
         std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
-        currentDevice_ = raw_device_name;
 
-        logger::Logger::instance().debug("Audio", "Switched audio output device to: " + mapToFriendlyDeviceName(raw_device_name));
+        // Resolve the config's raw name to an SDL device id so the mixer is
+        // actually reopened on the requested device (""/unresolvable = default).
+        SDL_AudioDeviceID targetId = SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK;
+        if (!raw_device_name.empty())
+        {
+            int count = 0;
+            SDL_AudioDeviceID *devices = SDL_GetAudioPlaybackDevices(&count);
+            if (devices)
+            {
+                for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i)
+                {
+                    const char *name = SDL_GetAudioDeviceName(devices[i]);
+                    if (name && raw_device_name == name)
+                    {
+                        targetId = devices[i];
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+                SDL_free(devices);
+            }
+        }
+
+        return switchDeviceById(targetId);
+    }
+
+    bool AudioManager::switchDeviceById(SDL_AudioDeviceID id)
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+
+        // 0 is the synthetic "default / built-in" entry from getPlaybackDevices().
+        if (id == 0)
+        {
+            id = SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK;
+        }
+
+        // No mixer yet: just record the choice for initialize().
+        if (!mixer_ || !initialized_)
+        {
+            currentDeviceId_ = id;
+            currentDevice_ = resolvePlaybackDeviceName(id);
+            if (configManager_)
+            {
+                configManager_->update([name = currentDevice_](config::AppConfig &cfg)
+                                       { cfg.audio.output_device = name; });
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        if (!recreateMixerOnDevice(id))
+        {
+            logger::Logger::instance().error("Audio",
+                                             "Failed to switch audio output device to: " + mapToFriendlyDeviceName(resolvePlaybackDeviceName(id)));
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        currentDeviceId_ = id;
+        // After recreation SDL may have normalized the id (e.g. default).
+        if (SDL_GetAudioDeviceName(id) == nullptr && id != SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK)
+        {
+            currentDeviceId_ = SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK;
+        }
+        currentDevice_ = resolvePlaybackDeviceName(currentDeviceId_);
+
+        logger::Logger::instance().info("Audio", "Switched audio output device to: " + mapToFriendlyDeviceName(currentDevice_));
 
         if (configManager_)
         {
-            configManager_->update([raw_device_name](config::AppConfig &cfg)
-                                   { cfg.audio.output_device = raw_device_name; });
+            configManager_->update([name = currentDevice_](config::AppConfig &cfg)
+                                   { cfg.audio.output_device = name; });
         }
 
         return true;
@@ -272,6 +463,150 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
         return currentDevice_;
     }
 
+    SDL_AudioDeviceID AudioManager::getCurrentDeviceId() const
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+        return currentDeviceId_;
+    }
+
+    bool AudioManager::handleDeviceEvent(const SDL_Event &event)
+    {
+        if (event.type != SDL_EVENT_AUDIO_DEVICE_ADDED &&
+            event.type != SDL_EVENT_AUDIO_DEVICE_REMOVED)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+        if (!mixer_ || !initialized_)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // Only playback device events are relevant to the active output.
+        if (event.adevice.recording)
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        const SDL_AudioDeviceID changedId = event.adevice.which;
+
+        // If a specific device (not the default) was removed, fail over to the
+        // system default so playback keeps going on whatever remains.
+        if (event.type == SDL_EVENT_AUDIO_DEVICE_REMOVED &&
+            currentDeviceId_ != SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK &&
+            changedId == currentDeviceId_)
+        {
+            logger::Logger::instance().warning("Audio",
+                                               "Active audio output device removed; failing over to the system default");
+            if (recreateMixerOnDevice(SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK))
+            {
+                currentDeviceId_ = SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK;
+                currentDevice_ = "";
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        // A device arrived or a non-active device left: nothing to remap, but
+        // the audio settings page refreshes its list on its own timer.
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    // Must be called with mutex_ held. Creates a fresh mixer on the given
+    // device, recreating the two track slots and resuming the active track if
+    // one was playing.
+    //
+    // The new mixer is created BEFORE the current one is destroyed. Reversing
+    // the order (destroy-then-reopen) quits the whole SDL audio subsystem the
+    // moment the last device closes: MIX_DestroyMixer() follows up with
+    // SDL_QuitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_AUDIO), which tears down SDL's device registry
+    // and renumbers every enumerated device id on the way back up. The id this
+    // switch was asked to open is then stale and the reopen fails with
+    // "Invalid audio device instance ID". Keeping the current device open while
+    // the replacement opens also means a failed switch leaves the current
+    // output playing instead of going permanently mute.
+    bool AudioManager::recreateMixerOnDevice(SDL_AudioDeviceID targetId)
+    {
+        // Capture the playback state we want to preserve across the switch.
+        std::string resumeTrack = currentTrack_;
+        float fadeSeconds = slots_[activeSlot_].fadeInDuration > 0.0f
+                                ? slots_[activeSlot_].fadeInDuration
+                                : 0.0f;
+
+        // Open the replacement mixer on the target device first, while the
+        // current device (and SDL's device registry) is still alive.
+        MIX_Mixer *newMixer = MIX_CreateMixerDevice(targetId, nullptr);
+        if (!newMixer)
+        {
+            std::string err = SDL_GetError();
+            logger::Logger::instance().error(
+                "Audio",
+                "Could not open audio output device "
+                + mapToFriendlyDeviceName(resolvePlaybackDeviceName(targetId))
+                + "; keeping the current device (MIX_CreateMixerDevice error: "
+                + err + ")");
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        MIX_Track *newTracks[2];
+        for (int i = 0; i < 2; ++i)
+        {
+            newTracks[i] = MIX_CreateTrack(newMixer);
+        }
+        if (!newTracks[0] || !newTracks[1])
+        {
+            MIX_DestroyMixer(newMixer);
+            logger::Logger::instance().error(
+                "Audio", "Could not create mixer tracks; keeping the current device (SDL error: "
+                             + std::string(SDL_GetError()) + ")");
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        // Tear down the existing mixer (its tracks die with it) and adopt the
+        // new one.
+        for (int i = 0; i < 2; ++i)
+        {
+            slots_[i].track = nullptr;
+            if (slots_[i].audio)
+            {
+                MIX_DestroyAudio(slots_[i].audio);
+                slots_[i].audio = nullptr;
+            }
+        }
+        if (mixer_)
+        {
+            MIX_DestroyMixer(mixer_);
+            mixer_ = nullptr;
+        }
+
+        mixer_ = newMixer;
+        slots_[0].track = newTracks[0];
+        slots_[1].track = newTracks[1];
+
+        float gain = enabled_ ? (volume_ / 100.0f) : 0.0f;
+        MIX_SetMixerGain(mixer_, gain);
+
+        // Resume the previously active track at full gain (or restart its
+        // fade-in if it was still ramping).
+        if (!resumeTrack.empty())
+        {
+            if (loadTrackInto(activeSlot_, resumeTrack))
+            {
+                if (fadeSeconds > 0.0f)
+                {
+                    startFadeIn(activeSlot_, fadeSeconds);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    MIX_SetTrackGain(slots_[activeSlot_].track, 1.0f);
+                    playTrackLooping(activeSlot_); // Loop playback
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
     bool AudioManager::loadTrackInto(int slotIndex, const std::string &wav_filename)
     {
         if (!initialized_ || !mixer_ || !slots_[slotIndex].track)
@@ -322,7 +657,7 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
         slot.fadeInDuration = seconds;
         slot.fadeInElapsed = 0.0f;
         MIX_SetTrackGain(slot.track, 0.0f);
-        MIX_PlayTrack(slot.track, 0); // Loop playback
+        playTrackLooping(slotIndex); // Loop playback
         logger::Logger::instance().info("Audio", "Started playback of " + displayNameFor(currentTrack_) + " (fade-in)");
     }
 
@@ -336,7 +671,7 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
             return false;
 
         MIX_SetTrackGain(slots_[activeSlot_].track, 1.0f);
-        MIX_PlayTrack(slots_[activeSlot_].track, 0); // Loop playback
+        playTrackLooping(activeSlot_); // Loop playback
 
         // Explicit user selection: persist the manual track so it survives a
         // restart and is used whenever dynamic audio is turned off. Dynamic
@@ -373,10 +708,11 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
             slot.fadeInElapsed = 0.0f;
             slot.fadeOutRemaining = 0.0f;
             MIX_SetTrackGain(slot.track, 1.0f);
-            if (!MIX_TrackPlaying(slot.track))
-            {
-                MIX_PlayTrack(slot.track, 0); // Loop playback
-            }
+            // Always restart: MIX_PlayTrack() re-starts a playing track too, so
+            // this cancels any in-flight stop-fade inherited from a quick
+            // pop->push within the fade window. Gating on MIX_TrackPlaying()
+            // left a fading track to finish its fade and go silently stopped.
+            playTrackLooping(activeSlot_); // Loop playback
             return true;
         }
 
@@ -411,10 +747,14 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
         if (!loadTrackInto(otherSlot, wav_filename))
             return false;
 
-        // Fade out whatever is currently playing on the active slot.
+        // Fade out whatever is currently playing on the active slot. Clear any
+        // in-flight fade-in bookkeeping first so update() stops ramping this
+        // slot's gain up while the mixer fades it down.
         TrackSlot &active = slots_[activeSlot_];
         if (active.audio)
         {
+            active.fadeInDuration = 0.0f;
+            active.fadeInElapsed = 0.0f;
             MIX_StopTrack(active.track, MIX_TrackMSToFrames(active.track, static_cast<Sint64>(fade * 1000.0)));
             active.fadeOutRemaining = fade;
         }
@@ -442,6 +782,10 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
             {
                 continue;
             }
+            // The mixer owns the ramp now; drop any pending fade-in so the
+            // per-frame update() cannot fight the fade-out.
+            slot.fadeInDuration = 0.0f;
+            slot.fadeInElapsed = 0.0f;
             MIX_StopTrack(slot.track, MIX_TrackMSToFrames(slot.track, static_cast<Sint64>(fade * 1000.0)));
             slot.fadeOutRemaining = fade;
             faded = true;
@@ -476,7 +820,29 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
         {
             TrackSlot &slot = slots_[i];
             if (!slot.track)
+            {
                 continue;
+            }
+
+            // A slot mid stop-fade belongs to the mixer: skip both the fade-in
+            // ramp and the active-gain pin so nothing drives its gain up while
+            // the mixer ramps it down (this also keeps a quit/pop fade clean).
+            if (slot.fadeOutRemaining > 0.0f)
+            {
+                slot.fadeOutRemaining -= dt;
+                if (slot.fadeOutRemaining <= 0.0f)
+                {
+                    slot.fadeOutRemaining = 0.0f;
+                    // Free the audio once the fade-out has finished; the track
+                    // object itself is reused.
+                    if (slot.audio)
+                    {
+                        MIX_DestroyAudio(slot.audio);
+                        slot.audio = nullptr;
+                    }
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
 
             if (slot.fadeInDuration > 0.0f)
             {
@@ -493,21 +859,12 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio
                 // Keep the active track at full per-track gain; the mixer gain
                 // carries the user's volume / mute state.
                 MIX_SetTrackGain(slot.track, 1.0f);
-            }
-
-            if (slot.fadeOutRemaining > 0.0f)
-            {
-                slot.fadeOutRemaining -= dt;
-                if (slot.fadeOutRemaining <= 0.0f)
+                // Self-heal: playback must continue indefinitely, so restart a
+                // track that stopped unexpectedly (there is no pause state and
+                // nothing else should legitimately stop the active track).
+                if (slot.audio && enabled_ && !MIX_TrackPlaying(slot.track))
                 {
-                    slot.fadeOutRemaining = 0.0f;
-                    // Free the audio once the fade-out has finished; the track
-                    // object itself is reused.
-                    if (slot.audio)
-                    {
-                        MIX_DestroyAudio(slot.audio);
-                        slot.audio = nullptr;
-                    }
+                    playTrackLooping(i);
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/audio/audio_manager.h b/src/audio/audio_manager.h
index fe5760d..33ee175 100644
--- a/src/audio/audio_manager.h
+++ b/src/audio/audio_manager.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "config/config_manager.h"
+#include <SDL3/SDL.h>
 #include <SDL3_mixer/SDL_mixer.h>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <string>
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ namespace radiantwave::audio {
 struct AudioDeviceItem {
     std::string raw_name;      // e.g. alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
     std::string friendly_name; // e.g. "Built-In Speakers"
+    SDL_AudioDeviceID id = 0;  // SDL playback device id (0 = synthetic fallback)
 };
 
 // Maps raw technical audio device strings to user-friendly labels
@@ -51,7 +53,24 @@ public:
 
     // Audio device selection
     bool switchDevice(const std::string& raw_device_name);
+    bool switchDeviceById(SDL_AudioDeviceID id);
     std::string getCurrentDevice() const;
+    SDL_AudioDeviceID getCurrentDeviceId() const;
+
+    // Handle an SDL audio device event (SDL_EVENT_AUDIO_DEVICE_ADDED / REMOVED).
+    // Returns true if the active device was affected and the mixer was recreated.
+    bool handleDeviceEvent(const SDL_Event& event);
+
+    // Pure helper (no SDL audio open): find the playback device with the given
+    // SDL id, returning its raw name ("" when not found / id invalid). Exposed
+    // for tests; the real lookup is through getPlaybackDevices().
+    static std::string resolvePlaybackDeviceName(SDL_AudioDeviceID id);
+
+    // Builds the SDL_PropertiesID passed to MIX_PlayTrack() for tracks that
+    // loop forever (MIX_PROP_PLAY_LOOPS_NUMBER = -1). Exposed for tests; no
+    // mixer, track, or audio device is required. The caller owns the property
+    // set and must release it with SDL_DestroyProperties().
+    static SDL_PropertiesID createInfiniteLoopOptions();
 
     // Playback control
     bool playTrack(const std::string& wav_filename);
@@ -84,6 +103,21 @@ private:
     void startFadeIn(int slotIndex, float seconds);
     std::string displayNameFor(const std::string& wav_filename) const;
 
+    // Starts the track on the given slot with infinite looping. The track must
+    // already be loaded on the slot. Calling this on a playing/stopped/fading
+    // track restarts it (cancelling any in-flight stop-fade).
+    bool playTrackLooping(int slotIndex);
+
+    // Recreates the mixer on the given playback device id (0 = system default).
+    // Called with mutex_ held. Preserves playback state: whichever track was
+    // playing on the active slot is reloaded and resumed at full gain, an
+    // in-progress fade is restarted. The replacement mixer is opened before the
+    // current one is destroyed so SDL's device ids stay valid (destroy-first
+    // quits the whole audio subsystem and orphans the id being opened).
+    // Returns false on failure without touching the current mixer, so the
+    // existing output keeps playing.
+    bool recreateMixerOnDevice(SDL_AudioDeviceID targetId);
+
     config::ConfigManager* configManager_ = nullptr;
     db::DatabaseManager* db_ = nullptr;
 
@@ -91,6 +125,7 @@ private:
     bool enabled_ = true;
     int volume_ = 80; // 0 - 100
     std::string currentDevice_ = "";
+    SDL_AudioDeviceID currentDeviceId_ = SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK;
     std::string currentTrack_ = "";
 
     MIX_Mixer* mixer_ = nullptr;
diff --git a/src/audio_settings_page.cpp b/src/audio_settings_page.cpp
index 73ca32f..90f9738 100644
--- a/src/audio_settings_page.cpp
+++ b/src/audio_settings_page.cpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ void AudioSettingsPage::onPush(AppState& state) {
         } else if (modalState_ == ModalState::DeviceSelector) {
             if (!devices_.empty()) {
                 currentDeviceIndex_ = modalSelectedIndex_;
-                state_->audio.switchDevice(devices_[currentDeviceIndex_].raw_name);
+                applyDeviceSelection();
             }
             modalState_ = ModalState::None;
         } else if (modalState_ == ModalState::TrackSelector) {
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void AudioSettingsPage::onResume(AppState& state) {
         } else if (modalState_ == ModalState::DeviceSelector) {
             if (!devices_.empty()) {
                 currentDeviceIndex_ = modalSelectedIndex_;
-                state_->audio.switchDevice(devices_[currentDeviceIndex_].raw_name);
+                applyDeviceSelection();
             }
             modalState_ = ModalState::None;
         } else if (modalState_ == ModalState::TrackSelector) {
@@ -280,6 +280,19 @@ void AudioSettingsPage::refreshDeviceAndTrackLists() {
     }
 }
 
+void AudioSettingsPage::applyDeviceSelection() {
+    if (!state_) return;
+    if (currentDeviceIndex_ < 0 || currentDeviceIndex_ >= static_cast<int>(devices_.size())) return;
+
+    const bool ok = state_->audio.switchDeviceById(devices_[currentDeviceIndex_].id);
+    if (ok) {
+        statusMessage_ = "Switched to " + devices_[currentDeviceIndex_].friendly_name;
+    } else {
+        statusMessage_ = "Device unavailable - kept the current output";
+    }
+    refreshDeviceAndTrackLists();
+}
+
 void AudioSettingsPage::enableDynamicAudio() {
     if (!state_) return;
     state_->config.update([](radiantwave::config::AppConfig& cfg) {
@@ -324,7 +337,7 @@ void AudioSettingsPage::handleEvent(const SDL_Event& event) {
                 if (modalState_ == ModalState::DeviceSelector) {
                     if (!devices_.empty()) {
                         currentDeviceIndex_ = modalSelectedIndex_;
-                        state_->audio.switchDevice(devices_[currentDeviceIndex_].raw_name);
+                        applyDeviceSelection();
                     }
                 } else if (modalState_ == ModalState::TrackSelector) {
                     if (modalSelectedIndex_ == 0) {
@@ -518,7 +531,7 @@ void AudioSettingsPage::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer) {
     }
 
     std::string devName = (currentDeviceIndex_ >= 0 && currentDeviceIndex_ < static_cast<int>(devices_.size()))
-        ? devices_[currentDeviceIndex_].friendly_name : "Built-In Speakers";
+        ? devices_[currentDeviceIndex_].friendly_name : "System Default";
     deviceText_.ensure(renderer, fontHeader_, "Device: " + devName, white);
     if (deviceText_.texture) {
         SDL_FRect dst{500.0f, currentY, deviceText_.width, deviceText_.height};
diff --git a/src/audio_settings_page.h b/src/audio_settings_page.h
index 7a2d4be..3ac7cd4 100644
--- a/src/audio_settings_page.h
+++ b/src/audio_settings_page.h
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ private:
     void enableDynamicAudio();
     void selectTrack(int trackIdx);
 
+    // Applies the currently selected device (devices_[currentDeviceIndex_]) via
+    // the audio manager and records user-facing success/failure feedback.
+    void applyDeviceSelection();
+
     AppState* state_ = nullptr;
     int selectedItem_ = 0; // 0 = Volume, 1 = Device, 2 = Track, 3 = Status, 4 = Back
 
diff --git a/src/home.cpp b/src/home.cpp
index cc7eb77..ad9e384 100644
--- a/src/home.cpp
+++ b/src/home.cpp
@@ -180,6 +180,16 @@ void Home::render(SDL_Renderer *renderer)
         SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &line);
     }
 
+    // Large bold reminder to connect WiFi, drawn below the menu while no
+    // network is joined (refreshed every 5s in update()).
+    if (wifiNote_.texture && ssid_.empty())
+    {
+        float noteX = (fw - wifiNote_.width) / 2.0f;
+        float noteY = settingsY_ + settings_.height + 40.0f;
+        SDL_FRect noteDst{noteX, noteY, wifiNote_.width, wifiNote_.height};
+        SDL_RenderTexture(renderer, wifiNote_.texture, nullptr, &noteDst);
+    }
+
     // Bottom-right status footer (20pt, aligned to a virtual rectangle:
     // names left-aligned at the rect's left edge, values right-aligned at
     // the rect's right edge; the longest name's colon sits 4 spaces from its
@@ -352,6 +362,15 @@ void Home::createTextures(AppState &state)
 
     TTF_CloseFont(font);
 
+    font = TTF_OpenFont("assets/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf", 48);
+    if (font)
+    {
+        TTF_SetFontStyle(font, TTF_STYLE_BOLD);
+        wifiNote_ = renderText(state.renderer, font, "Please connect to WiFi", white);
+        TTF_SetFontStyle(font, TTF_STYLE_NORMAL);
+        TTF_CloseFont(font);
+    }
+
     SDL_Surface *bgSurface = IMG_Load("assets/images/RWT-Circular-Color-ForOnDark-NoText.png");
     if (bgSurface)
     {
@@ -410,6 +429,11 @@ void Home::destroyTextures()
         SDL_DestroyTexture(settings_.texture);
         settings_.texture = nullptr;
     }
+    if (wifiNote_.texture)
+    {
+        SDL_DestroyTexture(wifiNote_.texture);
+        wifiNote_.texture = nullptr;
+    }
     for (auto &t : footerNames_)
         t.destroy();
     for (auto &t : footerValues_)
diff --git a/src/home.h b/src/home.h
index 40d04ce..c56db1b 100644
--- a/src/home.h
+++ b/src/home.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ private:
     TextLine play_;
     TextLine settings_;
     TextLine bg_;
+    TextLine wifiNote_;
 
     AppState* state_ = nullptr;
     float playY_ = 0;
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 7cee294..d097fcd 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -196,6 +196,13 @@ SDL_AppResult SDL_AppEvent(void *appstate, SDL_Event *event) {
 		state.quitRequested = true;
 	}
 
+	if (event->type == SDL_EVENT_AUDIO_DEVICE_ADDED ||
+		event->type == SDL_EVENT_AUDIO_DEVICE_REMOVED) {
+		// Route device hotplug to the audio manager so an active device that
+		// disappears is failed over to the system default automatically.
+		state.audio.handleDeviceEvent(*event);
+	}
+
 	if (event->type == SDL_EVENT_WINDOW_RESIZED) {
 		radiantwave::logger::Logger::instance().info(
 			"Graphics", "Window resized to " +
diff --git a/tests/test_audio.cpp b/tests/test_audio.cpp
index b14ab1d..e35c4d6 100644
--- a/tests/test_audio.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_audio.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,34 @@ TEST(AudioTest, FriendlyDeviceNameMapping) {
     EXPECT_EQ(mapToFriendlyDeviceName("AMD Radeon HD Audio Controller HDMI"), "TV / HDMI Monitor");
     EXPECT_EQ(mapToFriendlyDeviceName("USB Audio Headset Dongle"), "USB Audio Device");
     EXPECT_EQ(mapToFriendlyDeviceName("bluez_sink.00_11_22_33_44_55"), "Bluetooth Audio");
+    EXPECT_EQ(mapToFriendlyDeviceName("Virtual Speaker"), "Built-In Speakers");
     EXPECT_EQ(mapToFriendlyDeviceName(""), "Default Audio Output");
 }
 
+TEST(AudioTest, ResolvePlaybackDeviceNameHandlesSentinels) {
+    // The sentinel and 0 mean "system default" and never correspond to a real
+    // enumerated playback device, so they resolve to the empty (default) name.
+    EXPECT_EQ(AudioManager::resolvePlaybackDeviceName(0), "");
+    EXPECT_EQ(AudioManager::resolvePlaybackDeviceName(SDL_AUDIO_DEVICE_DEFAULT_PLAYBACK), "");
+}
+
+TEST(AudioTest, GetPlaybackDevicesFallsBackWithIdZeroWhenNone) {
+    AudioManager am;
+    auto devices = am.getPlaybackDevices();
+    // Headless hosts (CI) expose no playback devices, so expect the synthetic
+    // fallback entry that carries id 0 (the "system default" marker).
+    if (devices.empty()) {
+        // No devices and no fallback would be a contract violation.
+        FAIL() << "getPlaybackDevices() returned an empty list without fallback";
+    }
+    for (const auto& d : devices) {
+        if (d.raw_name.empty()) {
+            EXPECT_EQ(d.id, 0u);
+            EXPECT_EQ(d.friendly_name, "System Default");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 TEST(AudioTest, AudioManagerVolumeClamping) {
     radiantwave::config::ConfigManager config;
     std::string temp_path = (std::filesystem::temp_directory_path() / "test_rw_audio_cfg.yaml").string();
@@ -36,3 +61,14 @@ TEST(AudioTest, AudioManagerVolumeClamping) {
     am.shutdown();
     std::filesystem::remove(temp_path);
 }
+
+TEST(AudioTest, PlayOptionsLoopInfinite) {
+    // Regression: MIX_PlayTrack() must not default to a single pass. Tracks
+    // have to loop forever so playback never runs out mid-scroll; a track that
+    // stops (rather than attenuates) also can't be revived by raising app
+    // volume. Assert the options request infinite looping (-1).
+    SDL_PropertiesID props = AudioManager::createInfiniteLoopOptions();
+    ASSERT_NE(props, 0u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(SDL_GetNumberProperty(props, MIX_PROP_PLAY_LOOPS_NUMBER, 0), -1);
+    SDL_DestroyProperties(props);
+}
diff --git a/tests/test_scroller_streams.cpp b/tests/test_scroller_streams.cpp
index 8156aa5..f0a9736 100644
--- a/tests/test_scroller_streams.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_scroller_streams.cpp
@@ -94,6 +94,62 @@ TEST(ScrollerStreamsTest, InterleavesSelectedWithDefault)
     EXPECT_EQ(streams[3].audioFilename, "OriginalAudio.wav");
 }
 
+TEST(ScrollerStreamsTest, InterleavedListCyclesBackToFirstSelected)
+{
+    // Three selected proclamations: the built list must be
+    // [S1, Default, S2, Default, S3, Default]. ScrollerPage advances through
+    // this list with a modulo, so once the trailing default finishes the cycle
+    // restarts at the FIRST selected proclamation — the "always on" default
+    // must never accumulate or take over the queue.
+    ProclamationRecord b;
+    b.id = "B";
+    b.title = "B";
+    b.content = "bbbb";
+    b.selected = true;
+    b.solfeggio_frequency_id = 2;
+
+    ProclamationRecord c;
+    c.id = "C";
+    c.title = "C";
+    c.content = "cccc";
+    c.selected = true;
+    c.solfeggio_frequency_id = 3;
+
+    ProclamationRecord d;
+    d.id = "D";
+    d.title = "D";
+    d.content = "dddd";
+    d.selected = true;
+    d.solfeggio_frequency_id = 4;
+
+    ProclamationRecord def;
+    def.id = kDefaultId;
+    def.title = "Default";
+    def.content = "dddddddddd";
+    def.selected = true;
+    def.solfeggio_frequency_id = 5;
+
+    auto streams = buildStreams({b, def, c, d}, {}, palette(), {}, kDefaultId);
+
+    ASSERT_EQ(streams.size(), 6u);
+    EXPECT_EQ(streams[0].name, "B");
+    EXPECT_EQ(streams[1].name, "Default");
+    EXPECT_EQ(streams[2].name, "C");
+    EXPECT_EQ(streams[3].name, "Default");
+    EXPECT_EQ(streams[4].name, "D");
+    EXPECT_EQ(streams[5].name, "Default");
+
+    // Every default copy is independent playback state (fresh counters), so a
+    // copy finishing its passes advances to the next stream rather than
+    // restarting "the default" forever.
+    for (size_t i = 1; i < streams.size(); i += 2) {
+        EXPECT_EQ(streams[i].name, "Default");
+        EXPECT_EQ(streams[i].completed, 0) << "default copy " << i;
+        EXPECT_EQ(streams[i].wordsPlaced, 0) << "default copy " << i;
+        EXPECT_EQ(streams[i].repeat, kDefaultRepeatCount) << "default copy " << i;
+    }
+}
+
 TEST(ScrollerStreamsTest, DefaultOnlyWhenNothingSelected)
 {
     ProclamationRecord p1;