diff --git a/play.html b/play.html
index ead06e5..15a44d8 100644
--- a/play.html
+++ b/play.html
@@ -294,6 +294,28 @@
         color: var(--gb-lightest);
       }
 
+      /* iOS audio unlock banner */
+      .ios-audio-banner {
+        margin-top: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 2);
+        padding: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 2);
+        border-top: 2px solid var(--gb-light);
+        display: none; /* toggled by JS */
+        text-align: center;
+      }
+      .ios-audio-banner p {
+        font-size: 8px;
+        color: var(--gb-light);
+        margin: 0 0 calc(var(--spacing-unit)) 0;
+        line-height: 2;
+      }
+      .ios-audio-banner button {
+        background: var(--gb-lightest);
+        color: var(--gb-darkest);
+        border: var(--pixel-border) solid var(--gb-light);
+        padding: 12px 20px;
+        font-size: 10px;
+      }
+
       /* Footer */
       .footer {
         margin-top: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 4);
@@ -338,6 +360,12 @@
           </div>
         </div>
 
+        <!-- iOS Audio Unlock -->
+        <div id="iosAudioBanner" class="ios-audio-banner">
+          <p>Tap to enable audio on iOS</p>
+          <button id="enableAudioBtn" type="button">Enable Audio</button>
+        </div>
+
         <!-- CTA -->
         <div class="cta-link-inline">
           <a id="generateOwn" href="/">Generate your own</a>
diff --git a/src/play.ts b/src/play.ts
index 6c3ba87..62c1104 100644
--- a/src/play.ts
+++ b/src/play.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { MIDIService } from './services/MIDIService';
 import { MIDIParser } from './midi/MIDIParser';
 import { MotifEngine } from './core/MotifEngine';
-import { unlockAudio } from './utils/audioUnlock';
+import { unlockAudio, isAudioReady } from './utils/audioUnlock';
 import type { NoteEvent } from './types';
 
 function qs(id: string): HTMLElement {
@@ -140,6 +140,33 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   const currentTimeEl = qs('playCurrentTime') as HTMLElement;
   const durationEl = qs('playDuration') as HTMLElement;
   const timeRow = qs('playTimeRow') as HTMLElement;
+  const iosAudioBanner = qs('iosAudioBanner') as HTMLElement;
+  const enableAudioBtn = qs('enableAudioBtn') as HTMLButtonElement;
+
+  // Detect iOS/Safari for audio unlock banner
+  const isIOS = /iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(navigator.userAgent) ||
+    (navigator.platform === 'MacIntel' && navigator.maxTouchPoints > 1);
+
+  function updateIOSBanner(): void {
+    if (isIOS && !isAudioReady()) {
+      iosAudioBanner.style.display = 'block';
+    } else {
+      iosAudioBanner.style.display = 'none';
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Show banner on iOS if needed
+  updateIOSBanner();
+
+  // Handle enable audio button
+  enableAudioBtn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+    try {
+      await unlockAudio();
+      updateIOSBanner();
+    } catch {
+      // ignore
+    }
+  });
 
   const { midiUrl: u, title } = buildMidiUrlFromParams();
 
@@ -290,6 +317,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     try {
       // Wait for unlock to complete
       await unlockPromise;
+      updateIOSBanner(); // Hide banner once audio is unlocked
 
       // First play generates the artifact (deterministically from MIDI structure).
       if (!isGenerated) {