diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/pipeline.yaml b/.forgejo/workflows/pipeline.yaml
index 30aa0d7..9e241e8 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/pipeline.yaml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/pipeline.yaml
@@ -11,6 +11,25 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: 24
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+      - name: Update version from tag
+        run: |
+          # Extract version from tag (e.g. v1.2.3 -> 1.2.3)
+          VERSION=${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}
+          echo "Bumping version to $VERSION"
+          npm version $VERSION --no-git-tag-version
+          
+          # Configure Git
+          git config user.name "Forgejo Actions"
+          git config user.email "actions@noreply.flegr.me"
+          
+          # Commit and push back to main if version changed
+          if [ -n "$(git status --porcelain package.json)" ]; then
+            git add package.json package-lock.json
+            git commit -m "chore: bump version to $VERSION [skip ci]"
+            git push origin HEAD:main
+          fi
       - run: npm ci
       - run: npm run dist:linux
       - name: Build Windows installer with 32-bit Wine prefix
@@ -36,6 +55,9 @@ jobs:
           copy_first '*.AppImage' 'chattz-linux.AppImage'
           copy_first '*.exe' 'chattz-windows.exe'
           copy_first '*.msi' 'chattz-windows.msi'
+          # Metadata files for electron-updater
+          copy_first 'latest-linux.yml' 'latest-linux.yml'
+          copy_first 'latest.yml' 'latest.yml'
       - name: Cache Cargo registry
         uses: actions/cache@v4
         with:
diff --git a/desktop/app.js b/desktop/app.js
index a0d5a5a..d260cfa 100644
--- a/desktop/app.js
+++ b/desktop/app.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const state = {
     viewMode: 'chat', // 'chat' or 'video'
     iceServers: [{ urls: "stun:stun.l.google.com:19302" }],
     peerGainNodes: new Map(), // userId -> GainNode
+    visibleVolumeSliders: new Set(), // userIds whose sliders are visible
   },
   voicePresencePollId: null,
   onlineUsers: new Set(),
@@ -111,6 +112,9 @@ const el = {
   userName: document.getElementById("user-name"),
   userAvatar: document.getElementById("user-avatar"),
   logoutBtn: document.getElementById("logout-btn"),
+  updateNotifier: document.getElementById("update-notifier"),
+  updateDownloadBtn: document.getElementById("update-download-btn"),
+  updateInstallBtn: document.getElementById("update-install-btn"),
 
   // Voice Connection
   voiceConnection: document.getElementById("voice-connection"),
@@ -416,8 +420,9 @@ function renderChannels() {
           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" data-user-id="${p.user_id}">
+              <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>
@@ -454,10 +459,12 @@ function renderChannels() {
           pRow.addEventListener('contextmenu', (e) => {
             if (p.user_id === state.me.id) return;
             e.preventDefault();
-            const control = pRow.querySelector('.user-volume-control');
-            if (control) {
-              control.classList.toggle('show-volume');
+            if (state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.has(p.user_id)) {
+              state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.delete(p.user_id);
+            } else {
+              state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.add(p.user_id);
             }
+            renderChannels();
           });
 
           pList.appendChild(pRow);
@@ -1936,6 +1943,324 @@ async function init() {
 
     await loadGuilds();
     await loadDMConversations();
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error("presence sync failed", err);
+  }
+}
+
+function initUpdater() {
+  if (!window.electronAPI) return;
+
+  window.electronAPI.onUpdateAvailable((info) => {
+    console.log("Update available:", info.version);
+    el.updateNotifier.classList.remove("hidden");
+    el.updateDownloadBtn.classList.remove("hidden");
+    el.updateInstallBtn.classList.add("hidden");
+  });
+
+  window.electronAPI.onUpdateDownloaded((info) => {
+    console.log("Update downloaded:", info.version);
+    el.updateNotifier.classList.remove("hidden");
+    el.updateDownloadBtn.classList.add("hidden");
+    el.updateInstallBtn.classList.remove("hidden");
+    el.updateInstallBtn.title = `Install Update ${info.version}`;
+  });
+
+  window.electronAPI.onUpdateError((err) => {
+    console.error("Update error:", err);
+    // Optionally hide indicator on error
+    // el.updateNotifier.classList.add("hidden");
+  });
+
+  el.updateDownloadBtn.onclick = () => {
+    el.updateDownloadBtn.disabled = true;
+    el.updateDownloadBtn.style.opacity = "0.5";
+    window.electronAPI.downloadUpdate();
+  };
+
+  el.updateInstallBtn.onclick = () => {
+    window.electronAPI.quitAndInstall();
+  };
+}
+
+async function init() {
+  lucide.createIcons();
+
+  try {
+    const searchParams = new URLSearchParams(location.search);
+    const jwtToken = searchParams.get("token");
+    const refreshToken = searchParams.get("refresh_token");
+
+    if (jwtToken || refreshToken) {
+      if (jwtToken) localStorage.setItem("chattz_token", jwtToken);
+      if (refreshToken) localStorage.setItem("chattz_refresh_token", refreshToken);
+
+      searchParams.delete("token");
+      searchParams.delete("refresh_token");
+      const nextQuery = searchParams.toString();
+      const nextUrl = `${location.pathname}${nextQuery ? `?${nextQuery}` : ""}`;
+      history.replaceState(null, "", nextUrl);
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.error("Failed to parse token from URL:", e);
+  }
+
+  el.loginBtn.onclick = () => { location.href = "/auth/login"; };
+
+  el.logoutBtn.onclick = async () => {
+    await leaveVoice();
+    localStorage.removeItem("chattz_token");
+    localStorage.removeItem("chattz_refresh_token");
+    try { await api("/auth/logout", { method: "POST" }); } catch (e) { }
+    location.reload();
+  };
+
+  el.addGuildBtn.onclick = () => { el.modalContainer.classList.remove("hidden"); };
+  el.createInviteBtn.onclick = createInviteLink;
+  el.modalCancel.onclick = () => { el.modalContainer.classList.add("hidden"); };
+
+  el.addTextBtn.onclick = () => {
+    if (!state.selectedGuildId) {
+      alert("Create or select a server first.");
+      return;
+    }
+    el.modalTitle.textContent = "Create Text Channel";
+    el.channelModal.classList.remove("hidden");
+  };
+
+  el.addVoiceBtn.onclick = () => {
+    if (!state.selectedGuildId) {
+      alert("Create or select a server first.");
+      return;
+    }
+    el.modalTitle.textContent = "Create Voice Channel";
+    el.channelModal.classList.remove("hidden");
+  };
+
+  el.channelModalCancel.onclick = () => { el.channelModal.classList.add("hidden"); };
+
+  el.guildForm.onsubmit = async (e) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    const name = el.guildName.value.trim();
+    if (!name) return;
+    try {
+      const guild = await api("/guilds", {
+        method: "POST",
+        body: JSON.stringify({ name }),
+      });
+      el.guildName.value = "";
+      el.modalContainer.classList.add("hidden");
+      state.guilds.push(guild);
+      state.selectedGuildId = guild.id;
+      state.selectedTextChannelId = null;
+      state.selectedVoiceChannelId = null;
+      state.selectedDmUserId = null;
+      state.selectedDmDisplayName = null;
+      localStorage.setItem(LAST_GUILD_STORAGE_KEY, guild.id);
+      renderGuilds();
+      await loadChannels();
+      await loadGuildMembers();
+      await refreshVoicePresence();
+      renderMessages([]);
+      updateHeaderLabels();
+    } catch (err) { alert(err.message); }
+  };
+
+  el.channelForm.onsubmit = async (e) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    if (!state.selectedGuildId) {
+      alert("Select a server first.");
+      return;
+    }
+    const kindInput = document.querySelector('input[name="channel-kind"]:checked');
+    const kind = kindInput ? kindInput.value : "text";
+    const channelName = el.channelName.value.trim();
+    if (!channelName) {
+      alert("Channel name is required.");
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      const created = await api("/channels", {
+        method: "POST",
+        body: JSON.stringify({
+          guild_id: state.selectedGuildId,
+          name: channelName,
+          kind: kind,
+        }),
+      });
+      el.channelName.value = "";
+      el.channelModal.classList.add("hidden");
+      await loadChannels();
+      if (created.kind === "text") {
+        state.selectedTextChannelId = created.id;
+        state.selectedVoiceChannelId = null;
+        state.selectedDmUserId = null;
+        state.selectedDmDisplayName = null;
+        renderChannels();
+        renderDMs();
+        updateHeaderLabels();
+        await api(`/channels/${created.id}/messages?limit=100`).then(renderMessages);
+      } else {
+        state.selectedVoiceChannelId = created.id;
+        state.selectedTextChannelId = null;
+        state.selectedDmUserId = null;
+        state.selectedDmDisplayName = null;
+        renderChannels();
+        renderDMs();
+        updateHeaderLabels();
+        await joinVoice();
+      }
+    } catch (err) { alert(err.message); }
+  };
+
+  el.messageForm.onsubmit = async (e) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    const body = el.messageBody.value.trim();
+    if (!body) return;
+    try {
+      if (state.selectedTextChannelId) {
+        await api(`/channels/${state.selectedTextChannelId}/messages`, {
+          method: "POST",
+          body: JSON.stringify({ body }),
+        });
+      } else if (state.selectedDmUserId) {
+        await api(`/dms/${state.selectedDmUserId}/messages`, {
+          method: "POST",
+          body: JSON.stringify({ body }),
+        });
+      } else {
+        return;
+      }
+      el.messageBody.value = "";
+      const messages = state.selectedTextChannelId
+        ? await api(`/channels/${state.selectedTextChannelId}/messages?limit=100`)
+        : await api(`/dms/${state.selectedDmUserId}/messages?limit=100`);
+      renderMessages(messages);
+      await loadDMConversations();
+      renderDMs();
+    } catch (err) { alert(err.message); }
+  };
+
+  el.voiceVideoBtn.onclick = toggleVideo;
+  el.voiceScreenBtn.onclick = toggleScreenShare;
+  el.voiceMuteBtn.onclick = toggleMute;
+  el.voiceLeaveBtn.onclick = leaveVoice;
+
+  el.addSoundBtn.onclick = () => {
+    el.soundModal.classList.remove("hidden");
+  };
+  el.soundModalCancel.onclick = () => {
+    el.soundModal.classList.add("hidden");
+  };
+
+  el.soundForm.onsubmit = async (e) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    if (!state.selectedGuildId) return;
+
+    const formData = new FormData();
+    formData.append('name', el.soundName.value);
+    formData.append('icon', el.soundIcon.value);
+    formData.append('file', el.soundFile.files[0]);
+
+    el.soundSubmitBtn.disabled = true;
+    el.soundSubmitBtn.textContent = 'Uploading...';
+
+    try {
+      // Need to use fetch directly because api() might not handle FormData correctly depending on implementation
+      const response = await fetch(`/guilds/${state.selectedGuildId}/sounds`, {
+        method: 'POST',
+        body: formData
+      });
+      if (!response.ok) {
+        const err = await response.json();
+        throw new Error(err.error || 'Upload failed');
+      }
+      el.soundModal.classList.add("hidden");
+      el.soundForm.reset();
+      await loadSounds();
+    } catch (err) {
+      alert(err.message);
+    } finally {
+      el.soundSubmitBtn.disabled = false;
+      el.soundSubmitBtn.textContent = 'Add Sound';
+    }
+  };
+
+  // --- GIF Picker Logic ---
+  const TENOR_API_KEY = "exTiFGKJ0CzESIHzVQWy3pRO8I1MAdpRomg95DBSu2sg6e7YcHgThMI4giGAx8D0"; // Placeholder / Public key if available, otherwise "YOUR_API_KEY"
+  const TENOR_CLIENT_KEY = "pavel-discord";
+
+  el.gifBtn.onclick = () => {
+    el.gifPicker.classList.remove("hidden");
+    searchGifs(""); // Initial featured search
+  };
+
+  el.gifPickerClose.onclick = () => {
+    el.gifPicker.classList.add("hidden");
+  };
+
+  let searchTimeout = null;
+  el.gifSearchInput.oninput = () => {
+    clearTimeout(searchTimeout);
+    searchTimeout = setTimeout(() => {
+      searchGifs(el.gifSearchInput.value);
+    }, 500);
+  };
+
+  async function searchGifs(query) {
+    el.gifResults.innerHTML = '<div class="gif-loading">Searching...</div>';
+    const baseUrl = "https://api.klipy.com/v2";
+    const endpoint = query
+      ? `${baseUrl}/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(query)}&key=${TENOR_API_KEY}&client_key=${TENOR_CLIENT_KEY}&limit=20`
+      : `${baseUrl}/featured?key=${TENOR_API_KEY}&client_key=${TENOR_CLIENT_KEY}&limit=20`;
+
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch(endpoint);
+      const data = await res.json();
+      renderGifs(data.results);
+    } catch (err) {
+      el.gifResults.innerHTML = '<div class="gif-loading">Error loading GIFs</div>';
+    }
+  }
+
+  function renderGifs(gifs) {
+    el.gifResults.innerHTML = "";
+    if (!gifs || gifs.length === 0) {
+      el.gifResults.innerHTML = '<div class="gif-loading">No GIFs found</div>';
+      return;
+    }
+
+    gifs.forEach(gif => {
+      // Use tinygif for preview, standard gif for sending
+      const previewUrl = gif.media_formats.tinygif.url;
+      const fullUrl = gif.media_formats.gif.url;
+
+      const item = document.createElement("div");
+      item.className = "gif-item";
+
+      const img = document.createElement("img");
+      img.src = previewUrl;
+      img.loading = "lazy";
+      img.onclick = () => {
+        el.messageBody.value = fullUrl;
+        el.gifPicker.classList.add("hidden");
+        el.messageForm.dispatchEvent(new Event('submit'));
+      };
+
+      item.appendChild(img);
+      el.gifResults.appendChild(item);
+    });
+  }
+
+  try {
+    state.me = await api("/me");
+    el.userName.textContent = state.me.display_name;
+    el.userAvatar.textContent = state.me.display_name[0].toUpperCase();
+
+    state.guilds = await api("/guilds");
+    renderGuilds();
+
+    await loadDMConversations();
 
     try {
       const online = await api("/presence");
@@ -1960,6 +2285,7 @@ async function init() {
 
     initChatWs();
     startVoicePresencePolling();
+    initUpdater();
     lucide.createIcons();
   } catch (err) {
     console.error("init failed", err);
diff --git a/desktop/index.html b/desktop/index.html
index 28521c9..ac9fa8d 100644
--- a/desktop/index.html
+++ b/desktop/index.html
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@
             <div class="user-status">Online</div>
           </div>
           <div class="user-actions">
+            <div id="update-notifier" class="update-notifier hidden">
+              <button id="update-download-btn" title="Download Update"><i data-lucide="download"></i></button>
+              <button id="update-install-btn" title="Install Update" class="hidden"><i
+                  data-lucide="arrow-up-circle"></i></button>
+            </div>
             <button id="user-settings-btn" title="Settings"><i data-lucide="settings"></i></button>
             <button id="logout-btn" title="Logout"><i data-lucide="log-out"></i></button>
           </div>
@@ -263,4 +268,4 @@
   <script src="app.js?v=20260225-voice-debug-1" defer></script>
 </body>
 
-</html>
+</html>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/desktop/preload.js b/desktop/preload.js
index 4c4f19c..ae9d90e 100644
--- a/desktop/preload.js
+++ b/desktop/preload.js
@@ -2,5 +2,11 @@ const { contextBridge, ipcRenderer } = require('electron');
 
 contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('electronAPI', {
     copyToClipboard: (text) => ipcRenderer.invoke('clipboard-write', text),
-    getConfig: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('get-config')
+    getConfig: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('get-config'),
+    checkForUpdates: () => ipcRenderer.send('check-for-updates'),
+    downloadUpdate: () => ipcRenderer.send('download-update'),
+    quitAndInstall: () => ipcRenderer.send('quit-and-install'),
+    onUpdateAvailable: (callback) => ipcRenderer.on('update-available', (event, info) => callback(info)),
+    onUpdateDownloaded: (callback) => ipcRenderer.on('update-downloaded', (event, info) => callback(info)),
+    onUpdateError: (callback) => ipcRenderer.on('update-error', (event, error) => callback(error))
 });
diff --git a/desktop/styles.css b/desktop/styles.css
index 5d4e40a..fda1104 100644
--- a/desktop/styles.css
+++ b/desktop/styles.css
@@ -621,6 +621,35 @@ select {
   box-shadow: 0 0 4px var(--brand-glow);
 }
 
+.update-notifier {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  margin-right: 8px;
+}
+
+.update-notifier button {
+  background: none;
+  border: none;
+  padding: 4px;
+  color: var(--brand);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: transform 0.2s;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+}
+
+.update-notifier button:hover {
+  transform: scale(1.2);
+  color: var(--brand-glow);
+}
+
+.update-notifier button i {
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+}
+
+
 .user-info {
   flex: 1;
   min-width: 0;
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 96e11b4..0f0878d 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const { app, BrowserWindow, session, desktopCapturer, ipcMain, clipboard } = require('electron');
+const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');
 const path = require('path');
 const url = require('url');
 
@@ -121,6 +122,44 @@ app.commandLine.appendSwitch('log-level', '3'); // Silences standard Chromium wa
 app.whenReady().then(() => {
     createWindow();
 
+    // Configure Auto-Updater
+    autoUpdater.autoDownload = false;
+    autoUpdater.logger = console;
+
+    autoUpdater.on('update-available', (info) => {
+        const wins = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
+        if (wins.length > 0) wins[0].webContents.send('update-available', info);
+    });
+
+    autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', (info) => {
+        const wins = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
+        if (wins.length > 0) wins[0].webContents.send('update-downloaded', info);
+    });
+
+    autoUpdater.on('error', (err) => {
+        const wins = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows();
+        if (wins.length > 0) wins[0].webContents.send('update-error', err.message);
+    });
+
+    ipcMain.on('check-for-updates', () => {
+        autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify().catch(err => {
+            console.error("Manual update check failed", err);
+        });
+    });
+
+    ipcMain.on('download-update', () => {
+        autoUpdater.downloadUpdate();
+    });
+
+    ipcMain.on('quit-and-install', () => {
+        autoUpdater.quitAndInstall();
+    });
+
+    // Check once on startup
+    setTimeout(() => {
+        autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify().catch(() => { });
+    }, 5000);
+
     app.on('activate', () => {
         if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
             createWindow();
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 7efcf1c..7c39f92 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
         "": {
             "name": "chattz-electron",
             "version": "0.1.0",
+            "dependencies": {
+                "electron-updater": "^6.8.3"
+            },
             "devDependencies": {
                 "electron": "^34.5.8",
                 "electron-builder": "^25.1.8"
@@ -1091,7 +1094,6 @@
             "version": "2.0.1",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/argparse/-/argparse-2.0.1.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-8+9WqebbFzpX9OR+Wa6O29asIogeRMzcGtAINdpMHHyAg10f05aSFVBbcEqGf/PXw1EjAZ+q2/bEBg3DvurK3Q==",
-            "dev": true,
             "license": "Python-2.0"
         },
         "node_modules/assert-plus": {
@@ -1846,7 +1848,6 @@
             "version": "4.4.3",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/debug/-/debug-4.4.3.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-RGwwWnwQvkVfavKVt22FGLw+xYSdzARwm0ru6DhTVA3umU5hZc28V3kO4stgYryrTlLpuvgI9GiijltAjNbcqA==",
-            "dev": true,
             "license": "MIT",
             "dependencies": {
                 "ms": "^2.1.3"
@@ -2369,6 +2370,82 @@
                 "node": ">= 10.0.0"
             }
         },
+        "node_modules/electron-updater": {
+            "version": "6.8.3",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/electron-updater/-/electron-updater-6.8.3.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-Z6sgw3jgbikWKXei1ENdqFOxBP0WlXg3TtKfz0rgw2vIZFJUyI4pD7ZN7jrkm7EoMK+tcm/qTnPUdqfZukBlBQ==",
+            "license": "MIT",
+            "dependencies": {
+                "builder-util-runtime": "9.5.1",
+                "fs-extra": "^10.1.0",
+                "js-yaml": "^4.1.0",
+                "lazy-val": "^1.0.5",
+                "lodash.escaperegexp": "^4.1.2",
+                "lodash.isequal": "^4.5.0",
+                "semver": "~7.7.3",
+                "tiny-typed-emitter": "^2.1.0"
+            }
+        },
+        "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/builder-util-runtime": {
+            "version": "9.5.1",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/builder-util-runtime/-/builder-util-runtime-9.5.1.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-qt41tMfgHTllhResqM5DcnHyDIWNgzHvuY2jDcYP9iaGpkWxTUzV6GQjDeLnlR1/DtdlcsWQbA7sByMpmJFTLQ==",
+            "license": "MIT",
+            "dependencies": {
+                "debug": "^4.3.4",
+                "sax": "^1.2.4"
+            },
+            "engines": {
+                "node": ">=12.0.0"
+            }
+        },
+        "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/fs-extra": {
+            "version": "10.1.0",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/fs-extra/-/fs-extra-10.1.0.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-oRXApq54ETRj4eMiFzGnHWGy+zo5raudjuxN0b8H7s/RU2oW0Wvsx9O0ACRN/kRq9E8Vu/ReskGB5o3ji+FzHQ==",
+            "license": "MIT",
+            "dependencies": {
+                "graceful-fs": "^4.2.0",
+                "jsonfile": "^6.0.1",
+                "universalify": "^2.0.0"
+            },
+            "engines": {
+                "node": ">=12"
+            }
+        },
+        "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/jsonfile": {
+            "version": "6.2.0",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/jsonfile/-/jsonfile-6.2.0.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-FGuPw30AdOIUTRMC2OMRtQV+jkVj2cfPqSeWXv1NEAJ1qZ5zb1X6z1mFhbfOB/iy3ssJCD+3KuZ8r8C3uVFlAg==",
+            "license": "MIT",
+            "dependencies": {
+                "universalify": "^2.0.0"
+            },
+            "optionalDependencies": {
+                "graceful-fs": "^4.1.6"
+            }
+        },
+        "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/semver": {
+            "version": "7.7.4",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/semver/-/semver-7.7.4.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-vFKC2IEtQnVhpT78h1Yp8wzwrf8CM+MzKMHGJZfBtzhZNycRFnXsHk6E5TxIkkMsgNS7mdX3AGB7x2QM2di4lA==",
+            "license": "ISC",
+            "bin": {
+                "semver": "bin/semver.js"
+            },
+            "engines": {
+                "node": ">=10"
+            }
+        },
+        "node_modules/electron-updater/node_modules/universalify": {
+            "version": "2.0.1",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/universalify/-/universalify-2.0.1.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-gptHNQghINnc/vTGIk0SOFGFNXw7JVrlRUtConJRlvaw6DuX0wO5Jeko9sWrMBhh+PsYAZ7oXAiOnf/UKogyiw==",
+            "license": "MIT",
+            "engines": {
+                "node": ">= 10.0.0"
+            }
+        },
         "node_modules/emoji-regex": {
             "version": "8.0.0",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/emoji-regex/-/emoji-regex-8.0.0.tgz",
@@ -2904,7 +2981,6 @@
             "version": "4.2.11",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/graceful-fs/-/graceful-fs-4.2.11.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-RbJ5/jmFcNNCcDV5o9eTnBLJ/HszWV0P73bc+Ff4nS/rJj+YaS6IGyiOL0VoBYX+l1Wrl3k63h/KrH+nhJ0XvQ==",
-            "dev": true,
             "license": "ISC"
         },
         "node_modules/has-flag": {
@@ -3279,7 +3355,6 @@
             "version": "4.1.1",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/js-yaml/-/js-yaml-4.1.1.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-qQKT4zQxXl8lLwBtHMWwaTcGfFOZviOJet3Oy/xmGk2gZH677CJM9EvtfdSkgWcATZhj/55JZ0rmy3myCT5lsA==",
-            "dev": true,
             "license": "MIT",
             "dependencies": {
                 "argparse": "^2.0.1"
@@ -3347,7 +3422,6 @@
             "version": "1.0.5",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lazy-val/-/lazy-val-1.0.5.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-0/BnGCCfyUMkBpeDgWihanIAF9JmZhHBgUhEqzvf+adhNGLoP6TaiI5oF8oyb3I45P+PcnrqihSf01M0l0G5+Q==",
-            "dev": true,
             "license": "MIT"
         },
         "node_modules/lazystream": {
@@ -3423,6 +3497,12 @@
             "license": "MIT",
             "peer": true
         },
+        "node_modules/lodash.escaperegexp": {
+            "version": "4.1.2",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.escaperegexp/-/lodash.escaperegexp-4.1.2.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-TM9YBvyC84ZxE3rgfefxUWiQKLilstD6k7PTGt6wfbtXF8ixIJLOL3VYyV/z+ZiPLsVxAsKAFVwWlWeb2Y8Yyw==",
+            "license": "MIT"
+        },
         "node_modules/lodash.flatten": {
             "version": "4.4.0",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.flatten/-/lodash.flatten-4.4.0.tgz",
@@ -3431,6 +3511,13 @@
             "license": "MIT",
             "peer": true
         },
+        "node_modules/lodash.isequal": {
+            "version": "4.5.0",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.isequal/-/lodash.isequal-4.5.0.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-pDo3lu8Jhfjqls6GkMgpahsF9kCyayhgykjyLMNFTKWrpVdAQtYyB4muAMWozBB4ig/dtWAmsMxLEI8wuz+DYQ==",
+            "deprecated": "This package is deprecated. Use require('node:util').isDeepStrictEqual instead.",
+            "license": "MIT"
+        },
         "node_modules/lodash.isplainobject": {
             "version": "4.0.6",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/lodash.isplainobject/-/lodash.isplainobject-4.0.6.tgz",
@@ -3787,7 +3874,6 @@
             "version": "2.1.3",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ms/-/ms-2.1.3.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-6FlzubTLZG3J2a/NVCAleEhjzq5oxgHyaCU9yYXvcLsvoVaHJq/s5xXI6/XXP6tz7R9xAOtHnSO/tXtF3WRTlA==",
-            "dev": true,
             "license": "MIT"
         },
         "node_modules/negotiator": {
@@ -4456,7 +4542,6 @@
             "version": "1.4.4",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/sax/-/sax-1.4.4.tgz",
             "integrity": "sha512-1n3r/tGXO6b6VXMdFT54SHzT9ytu9yr7TaELowdYpMqY/Ao7EnlQGmAQ1+RatX7Tkkdm6hONI2owqNx2aZj5Sw==",
-            "dev": true,
             "license": "BlueOak-1.0.0",
             "engines": {
                 "node": ">=11.0.0"
@@ -4872,6 +4957,12 @@
                 "node": ">= 10.0.0"
             }
         },
+        "node_modules/tiny-typed-emitter": {
+            "version": "2.1.0",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tiny-typed-emitter/-/tiny-typed-emitter-2.1.0.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-qVtvMxeXbVej0cQWKqVSSAHmKZEHAvxdF8HEUBFWts8h+xEo5m/lEiPakuyZ3BnCBjOD8i24kzNOiOLLgsSxhA==",
+            "license": "MIT"
+        },
         "node_modules/tmp": {
             "version": "0.2.5",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/tmp/-/tmp-0.2.5.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index bd50d6c..ef4716e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -50,5 +50,8 @@
     "devDependencies": {
         "electron": "^34.5.8",
         "electron-builder": "^25.1.8"
+    },
+    "dependencies": {
+        "electron-updater": "^6.8.3"
     }
 }
diff --git a/static/app.js b/static/app.js
index c07063f..89614a0 100644
--- a/static/app.js
+++ b/static/app.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const state = {
     viewMode: 'chat', // 'chat' or 'video'
     iceServers: [{ urls: "stun:stun.l.google.com:19302" }],
     peerGainNodes: new Map(), // userId -> GainNode
+    visibleVolumeSliders: new Set(), // userIds whose sliders are currently visible
   },
   voicePresencePollId: null,
   chatWs: null,
@@ -371,8 +372,9 @@ function renderChannels() {
           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" data-user-id="${p.user_id}">
+              <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>
@@ -409,10 +411,12 @@ function renderChannels() {
           pRow.addEventListener('contextmenu', (e) => {
             if (p.user_id === state.me.id) return;
             e.preventDefault();
-            const control = pRow.querySelector('.user-volume-control');
-            if (control) {
-              control.classList.toggle('show-volume');
+            if (state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.has(p.user_id)) {
+              state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.delete(p.user_id);
+            } else {
+              state.voice.visibleVolumeSliders.add(p.user_id);
             }
+            renderChannels();
           });
 
           pList.appendChild(pRow);
@@ -694,8 +698,9 @@ function initChatWs() {
   };
 
   ws.onclose = () => {
-    console.log("Chat WS closed, reconnecting...");
-    setTimeout(initChatWs, 3000);
+    console.log("Chat WS closed, refreshing page for resilience...");
+    // Automatically refresh on connection loss instead of just background reconnecting
+    location.reload();
   };
 }
 
@@ -1183,6 +1188,7 @@ async function joinVoice() {
 
   state.voice.ws = ws;
   state.voice.joinedChannelId = state.selectedVoiceChannelId;
+  localStorage.setItem("active_voice_channel", state.selectedVoiceChannelId);
 
   // Start mic setup in parallel so channel join is not blocked by device init.
   createLocalVoiceStream()
@@ -1314,6 +1320,7 @@ async function joinVoice() {
 }
 
 async function leaveVoice() {
+  localStorage.removeItem("active_voice_channel");
   if (state.voice.ws) state.voice.ws.close();
 }
 
@@ -1896,6 +1903,18 @@ async function init() {
 
     initChatWs();
     startVoicePresencePolling();
+
+    // Auto-reconnect to voice if previously joined
+    const savedVoiceChannel = localStorage.getItem("active_voice_channel");
+    if (savedVoiceChannel) {
+      console.log("Auto-reconnecting to voice channel:", savedVoiceChannel);
+      state.selectedVoiceChannelId = savedVoiceChannel;
+      // Wait for components to be ready
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        joinVoice().catch(err => console.error("Auto-reconnect failed", err));
+      }, 800);
+    }
+
     lucide.createIcons();
   } catch (err) {
     console.error("init failed", err);