diff --git a/src/play.ts b/src/play.ts
index 224d1d9..6c3ba87 100644
--- a/src/play.ts
+++ b/src/play.ts
@@ -266,6 +266,10 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   playBtn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
     if (!events) return;
 
+    // CRITICAL: On iOS, we must interact with AudioContext synchronously
+    // in the user gesture before any async work. Fire off unlock immediately.
+    const unlockPromise = unlockAudio();
+
     // Pause (implemented as stop + remembered position)
     if (isPlaying) {
       showTimeRow();
@@ -284,8 +288,8 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     }
 
     try {
-      // Unlock audio for iOS - must be called from user gesture
-      await unlockAudio();
+      // Wait for unlock to complete
+      await unlockPromise;
 
       // First play generates the artifact (deterministically from MIDI structure).
       if (!isGenerated) {
diff --git a/src/utils/audioUnlock.ts b/src/utils/audioUnlock.ts
index 8964e6b..30c2b28 100644
--- a/src/utils/audioUnlock.ts
+++ b/src/utils/audioUnlock.ts
@@ -60,17 +60,14 @@ async function doUnlock(): Promise<AudioContext> {
     return ctx;
   }
 
-  // Try to resume
+  // CRITICAL for iOS: Call resume() synchronously in user gesture context.
+  // Don't await - just fire it off immediately to register the user intent.
   if (ctx.state === 'suspended') {
-    try {
-      await ctx.resume();
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.warn('AudioContext.resume() failed:', e);
-    }
+    ctx.resume().catch(() => {});
   }
 
-  // Play a silent buffer to fully unlock on older iOS
-  // This is a no-op on modern browsers but essential for iOS < 14
+  // Play a silent buffer IMMEDIATELY to fully unlock on iOS.
+  // This must happen synchronously in the user gesture.
   try {
     const buffer = ctx.createBuffer(1, 1, ctx.sampleRate);
     const source = ctx.createBufferSource();
@@ -82,6 +79,15 @@ async function doUnlock(): Promise<AudioContext> {
     // Ignore - this is just a fallback unlock
   }
 
+  // Now try resume again and wait for it
+  if (ctx.state === 'suspended') {
+    try {
+      await ctx.resume();
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('AudioContext.resume() failed:', e);
+    }
+  }
+
   // Wait briefly for state to update (cast to string to avoid TS narrowing issues)
   const getState = () => ctx.state as string;