diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 030c413..1baa6e2 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 const { app, BrowserWindow, session, desktopCapturer, ipcMain, clipboard } = require('electron');
 const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');
 const path = require('path');
-const packageJson = require('./package.json');
-const PERIODIC_UPDATE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MS = 1 * 60 * 1000;
 
 const updateState = {
-    status: 'idle', // idle | checking | available | downloading | downloaded | installing | not-available | error
+    status: 'idle', // idle | checking | available | downloading | downloaded | not-available | error
     info: null,
     error: null,
 };
@@ -25,37 +23,8 @@ function isNewerVersionAvailable(info) {
 }
 
 let updateCheckInProgress = false;
-let installInProgress = false;
-let periodicUpdateTimer = null;
-
-function resolveBackendUrl() {
-    const configuredUrl = (process.env.CHATTZ_URL || process.env.APP_BASE_URL || '').trim();
-    if (configuredUrl) {
-        return configuredUrl.replace(/\/$/, '');
-    }
-
-    const packagedFallback = typeof packageJson.homepage === 'string'
-        ? packageJson.homepage.trim()
-        : '';
-    if (app.isPackaged && packagedFallback) {
-        return packagedFallback.replace(/\/$/, '');
-    }
-
-    return 'http://localhost:3000';
-}
-
-function webContentsOrigin(webContents) {
-    if (!webContents || typeof webContents.getURL !== 'function') {
-        return null;
-    }
-    return safeOrigin(webContents.getURL());
-}
 
 async function runUpdateCheck(reason = 'manual') {
-    if (installInProgress) {
-        console.log(`Update check skipped (${reason}): install already in progress`);
-        return;
-    }
     if (updateCheckInProgress) {
         console.log(`Update check skipped (${reason}): another check is already in progress`);
         return;
@@ -85,62 +54,10 @@ async function runUpdateCheck(reason = 'manual') {
     }
 }
 
-function installDownloadedUpdate() {
-    if (installInProgress) {
-        console.log('Update install already in progress');
-        return;
-    }
-
-    installInProgress = true;
-    updateState.status = 'installing';
-    updateState.error = null;
-    broadcastUpdateState();
-
-    const wins = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
-    for (const win of wins) {
-        if (win.isDestroyed()) continue;
-        try {
-            win.removeAllListeners('close');
-            win.destroy();
-        } catch (err) {
-            console.warn('Failed to destroy window before update install', err);
-        }
-    }
-
-    setImmediate(() => {
-        try {
-            autoUpdater.quitAndInstall(false, true);
-        } catch (err) {
-            installInProgress = false;
-            updateState.status = 'error';
-            updateState.error = err && err.message ? err.message : String(err);
-            broadcastUpdateState();
-            console.error('quitAndInstall failed', err);
-        }
-    });
-
-    setTimeout(() => {
-        if (installInProgress) {
-            console.warn('Update install is still waiting for app shutdown');
-        }
-    }, 15000);
-}
-
-function startPeriodicUpdateChecks() {
-    if (periodicUpdateTimer || !app.isPackaged) {
-        return;
-    }
-
-    periodicUpdateTimer = setInterval(() => {
-        void runUpdateCheck('periodic');
-    }, PERIODIC_UPDATE_CHECK_INTERVAL_MS);
-}
-
 function createWindow() {
     const sess = session.fromPartition('persist:chattz');
-    const backendUrl = resolveBackendUrl();
+    const backendUrl = (process.env.CHATTZ_URL || process.env.APP_BASE_URL || 'http://localhost:3000').replace(/\/$/, '');
     const backendOrigin = new URL(backendUrl).origin;
-    console.log(`Desktop backend URL: ${backendUrl}`);
 
     const win = new BrowserWindow({
         width: 1200,
@@ -158,13 +75,13 @@ function createWindow() {
     win.setMenuBarVisibility(true);
 
     sess.setPermissionCheckHandler((webContents, permission) => {
-        const origin = webContentsOrigin(webContents);
+        const origin = safeOrigin(webContents.getURL());
         if (origin !== backendOrigin) return false;
         return permission === 'media' || permission === 'clipboard-write';
     });
 
     sess.setPermissionRequestHandler((webContents, permission, callback) => {
-        const origin = webContentsOrigin(webContents);
+        const origin = safeOrigin(webContents.getURL());
         if (origin === backendOrigin && (permission === 'media' || permission === 'clipboard-write')) {
             callback(true);
         } else {
@@ -267,7 +184,6 @@ app.whenReady().then(() => {
     });
 
     ipcMain.on('download-update', () => {
-        if (installInProgress) return;
         updateState.status = 'downloading';
         updateState.error = null;
         broadcastUpdateState();
@@ -275,14 +191,13 @@ app.whenReady().then(() => {
     });
 
     ipcMain.on('quit-and-install', () => {
-        installDownloadedUpdate();
+        autoUpdater.quitAndInstall();
     });
 
     // Check once on startup
     setTimeout(() => {
         void runUpdateCheck('startup');
     }, 5000);
-    startPeriodicUpdateChecks();
 
     app.on('activate', () => {
         if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
@@ -297,13 +212,6 @@ app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
     }
 });
 
-app.on('before-quit', () => {
-    if (periodicUpdateTimer) {
-        clearInterval(periodicUpdateTimer);
-        periodicUpdateTimer = null;
-    }
-});
-
 function safeOrigin(value) {
     try {
         return new URL(value).origin;
diff --git a/static/shared/app-core.js b/static/shared/app-core.js
index 8531b48..aaaa0b4 100644
--- a/static/shared/app-core.js
+++ b/static/shared/app-core.js
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ const state = {
     viewMode: 'chat', // 'chat' or 'video'
     iceServers: [{ urls: "stun:stun.l.google.com:19302" }],
     peerGainNodes: new Map(), // userId -> GainNode
-    peerAudioNodes: new Map(), // userId -> { sourceNode, compressorNode, gainNode }
     visibleVolumeSliders: new Set(), // userIds whose sliders are visible
   },
   voicePresencePollId: null,
@@ -577,103 +576,50 @@ function renderChannels() {
         pList.style.paddingLeft = "24px";
         for (const p of participants) {
           const pRow = document.createElement("div");
-          pRow.className = `channel-row voice-participant-row ${p.is_speaking ? 'voice-speaking' : ''}`;
-          pRow.style.display = "block";
+          pRow.className = `channel-row ${p.is_speaking ? 'voice-speaking' : ''}`;
           pRow.style.padding = "2px 8px";
           pRow.style.flexWrap = "wrap";
 
-          const topRow = document.createElement("div");
-          topRow.style.display = "flex";
-          topRow.style.alignItems = "center";
-          topRow.style.gap = "8px";
-          topRow.style.width = "100%";
-
-          const avatar = document.createElement("div");
-          avatar.className = "avatar";
-          avatar.style.width = "20px";
-          avatar.style.height = "20px";
-          avatar.style.fontSize = "10px";
-          avatar.textContent = shortName(p.display_name);
-          topRow.appendChild(avatar);
-
-          const name = document.createElement("span");
-          name.style.flex = "1";
-          name.style.overflow = "hidden";
-          name.style.textOverflow = "ellipsis";
-          name.textContent = p.display_name;
-          topRow.appendChild(name);
-
-          const isRemoteParticipant = p.user_id !== state.me.id;
-          if (isRemoteParticipant) {
-            const volumeToggle = document.createElement("button");
-            volumeToggle.type = "button";
-            volumeToggle.title = "Toggle volume slider";
-            volumeToggle.style.display = "grid";
-            volumeToggle.style.placeItems = "center";
-            volumeToggle.style.width = "20px";
-            volumeToggle.style.height = "20px";
-            volumeToggle.style.color = "var(--text-muted)";
-            volumeToggle.innerHTML = '<i data-lucide="volume-2" style="width: 14px; height: 14px;"></i>';
-            topRow.appendChild(volumeToggle);
-
-            volumeToggle.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
-              toggleVolumeSlider(e);
-            });
+          let sliderHtml = '';
+          if (p.user_id !== state.me.id) {
+            const vol = state.userVolumes.get(p.user_id) ?? 1.0;
+            const isVisible = state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.has(p.user_id);
+            sliderHtml = `
+              <div class="user-volume-control ${isVisible ? 'show-volume' : ''}" data-user-id="${p.user_id}">
+                <i data-lucide="volume-2" style="width: 12px; height: 12px; opacity: 0.6;"></i>
+                <input type="range" min="0" max="2" step="0.1" value="${vol}" class="volume-slider">
+                <span class="vol-pct">${Math.round(vol * 100)}%</span>
+              </div>
+            `;
           }
 
-          if (p.is_muted) {
-            const muteIcon = document.createElement("i");
-            muteIcon.setAttribute("data-lucide", "mic-off");
-            muteIcon.className = "voice-muted-icon";
-            topRow.appendChild(muteIcon);
-          }
-
-          pRow.appendChild(topRow);
-
-          const volumeControl = document.createElement("div");
-          volumeControl.className = `user-volume-control ${state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.has(p.user_id) ? 'show-volume' : ''}`;
-          volumeControl.dataset.userId = p.user_id;
-
-          if (isRemoteParticipant) {
-            const volumeIcon = document.createElement("i");
-            volumeIcon.setAttribute("data-lucide", "volume-2");
-            volumeIcon.style.width = "12px";
-            volumeIcon.style.height = "12px";
-            volumeIcon.style.opacity = "0.6";
-            volumeControl.appendChild(volumeIcon);
-
-            const slider = document.createElement("input");
-            slider.type = "range";
-            slider.min = "0";
-            slider.max = "2";
-            slider.step = "0.1";
-            slider.value = String(state.userVolumes.get(p.user_id) ?? 1.0);
-            slider.className = "volume-slider";
-            volumeControl.appendChild(slider);
-
-            const volumePct = document.createElement("span");
-            volumePct.className = "vol-pct";
-            volumePct.textContent = `${Math.round((state.userVolumes.get(p.user_id) ?? 1.0) * 100)}%`;
-            volumeControl.appendChild(volumePct);
+          pRow.innerHTML = `
+            <div style="display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; width: 100%;">
+              <div class="avatar" style="width:20px;height:20px;font-size:10px">${shortName(p.display_name)}</div> 
+              <span style="flex: 1; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;">${escapeHtml(p.display_name)}</span>
+              ${p.is_muted ? '<i data-lucide="mic-off" class="voice-muted-icon"></i>' : ''}
+            </div>
+            ${sliderHtml}
+          `;
 
+          const slider = pRow.querySelector('.volume-slider');
+          if (slider) {
             slider.addEventListener('input', (e) => {
               const val = parseFloat(e.target.value);
               state.userVolumes.set(p.user_id, val);
-              volumePct.textContent = `${Math.round(val * 100)}%`;
+              pRow.querySelector('.vol-pct').textContent = `${Math.round(val * 100)}%`;
 
               const gainNode = state.voice.peerGainNodes.get(p.user_id);
-              if (gainNode && state.voice.audioContext) {
+              if (gainNode) {
                 gainNode.gain.setTargetAtTime(val, state.voice.audioContext.currentTime, 0.05);
               }
             });
-
-            volumeControl.addEventListener('click', (e) => e.stopPropagation());
-            volumeControl.addEventListener('mousedown', (e) => e.stopPropagation());
-            pRow.appendChild(volumeControl);
+            // Stop propagation to prevent joining channel again when clicking slider
+            slider.addEventListener('click', (e) => e.stopPropagation());
           }
 
           const toggleVolumeSlider = (e) => {
-            if (!isRemoteParticipant) return;
+            if (p.user_id === state.me.id) return;
             e.preventDefault();
             e.stopPropagation();
             if (state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.has(p.user_id)) {
@@ -687,9 +633,6 @@ function renderChannels() {
           // Electron can swallow contextmenu events on some platforms; use
           // right-button mousedown as a reliable fallback for slider toggle.
           pRow.addEventListener('contextmenu', toggleVolumeSlider);
-          pRow.addEventListener('auxclick', (e) => {
-            if (e.button === 2) toggleVolumeSlider(e);
-          });
           pRow.addEventListener('mousedown', (e) => {
             if (e.button === 2) toggleVolumeSlider(e);
           });
@@ -1040,24 +983,7 @@ function shouldInitiateOffer(peerId) {
   return state.me.id > peerId;
 }
 
-function disconnectPeerAudioNodes(peerId) {
-  const nodes = state.voice.peerAudioNodes.get(peerId);
-  if (!nodes) return;
-
-  for (const node of [nodes.sourceNode, nodes.compressorNode, nodes.gainNode]) {
-    try {
-      node?.disconnect();
-    } catch { }
-  }
-
-  state.voice.peerAudioNodes.delete(peerId);
-  state.voice.peerGainNodes.delete(peerId);
-}
-
 function stopAndClearAudioPipeline() {
-  for (const peerId of state.voice.peerAudioNodes.keys()) {
-    disconnectPeerAudioNodes(peerId);
-  }
   if (state.voice.deepFilterProcessor) {
     state.voice.deepFilterProcessor.destroy();
     state.voice.deepFilterProcessor = null;
@@ -1283,7 +1209,7 @@ async function createLocalVoiceStream() {
       sampleRate: 48000,
       echoCancellation: true,
       noiseSuppression: false,
-      autoGainControl: true,
+      autoGainControl: false,
     },
     video: false,
   };
@@ -1406,27 +1332,16 @@ function ensurePeerConnection(peerId) {
       const ctx = state.voice.audioContext;
       if (ctx.state === 'suspended') ctx.resume();
 
-      disconnectPeerAudioNodes(peerId);
-
       const sourceNode = ctx.createMediaStreamSource(audio.srcObject);
-      const compressorNode = ctx.createDynamicsCompressor();
       const gainNode = ctx.createGain();
 
-      compressorNode.threshold.setValueAtTime(-24, ctx.currentTime);
-      compressorNode.knee.setValueAtTime(18, ctx.currentTime);
-      compressorNode.ratio.setValueAtTime(4, ctx.currentTime);
-      compressorNode.attack.setValueAtTime(0.003, ctx.currentTime);
-      compressorNode.release.setValueAtTime(0.25, ctx.currentTime);
-
       const currentVolume = state.userVolumes.get(peerId) ?? 1.0;
       gainNode.gain.setValueAtTime(currentVolume, ctx.currentTime);
 
-      sourceNode.connect(compressorNode);
-      compressorNode.connect(gainNode);
+      sourceNode.connect(gainNode);
       gainNode.connect(ctx.destination);
 
       state.voice.peerGainNodes.set(peerId, gainNode);
-      state.voice.peerAudioNodes.set(peerId, { sourceNode, compressorNode, gainNode });
 
       // Mute the original element as we play through Web Audio destination
       audio.volume = 0;
@@ -1611,7 +1526,6 @@ async function joinVoice() {
         pc.close();
         state.voice.peerConnections.delete(msg.user_id);
       }
-      disconnectPeerAudioNodes(msg.user_id);
       document.getElementById(`audio-${msg.user_id}`)?.remove();
     } else if (msg.type === "signal") {
       await handleSignal(msg.from_user_id, msg.kind, msg.data);