diff --git a/embed.html b/embed.html
index 1251409..685cfa9 100644
--- a/embed.html
+++ b/embed.html
@@ -221,3 +221,4 @@
   </body>
 </html>
 
+
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 3e4d008..021a5fb 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -429,6 +429,53 @@
             font-size: 0.85em;
             min-width: 55px;
         }
+
+        /* iOS audio unlock (Motif) */
+        .ios-audio-banner {
+            margin-top: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 2);
+            padding: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 2);
+            border-radius: var(--radius);
+            border: 1px solid rgba(255, 170, 68, 0.22);
+            background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
+            box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
+            display: none; /* toggled by JS */
+        }
+        .ios-audio-banner .row {
+            display: flex;
+            gap: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 1.5);
+            align-items: center;
+            flex-wrap: wrap;
+        }
+        .ios-audio-banner .copy {
+            font-size: 12px;
+            color: var(--color-text-dim);
+            line-height: 1.35;
+            flex: 1;
+            min-width: 220px;
+        }
+        .ios-audio-banner .copy strong {
+            color: var(--color-text);
+            font-weight: 600;
+        }
+        .ios-audio-banner .state {
+            margin-top: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 1);
+            font-size: 12px;
+            color: rgba(255, 170, 68, 0.85);
+            display: none;
+        }
+        .ios-audio-banner button {
+            padding: calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 1.25) calc(var(--spacing-unit) * 2);
+            border-radius: var(--radius);
+            border: 1px solid rgba(255, 170, 68, 0.35);
+            background: rgba(255, 170, 68, 0.12);
+            color: var(--color-text);
+            box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm);
+            font-weight: 600;
+        }
+        .ios-audio-banner button:hover:not(:disabled) {
+            border-color: rgba(255, 170, 68, 0.55);
+            box-shadow: var(--glow-secondary), var(--shadow-md);
+        }
         .motif-kicker {
             font-size: 0.85em;
             color: #b6b6b6;
@@ -687,6 +734,16 @@
                             </div>
                         </div>
 
+                        <div id="iosAudioBanner" class="ios-audio-banner" aria-live="polite">
+                            <div class="row">
+                                <div class="copy">
+                                    <strong>iOS Safari:</strong> tap once to enable audio, then press <strong>Generate &amp; Play</strong>.
+                                </div>
+                                <button id="enableAudioBtn" type="button">Enable Audio</button>
+                            </div>
+                            <div id="iosAudioState" class="state">Audio: …</div>
+                        </div>
+
                         <div class="motif-progress-container" id="motifProgressContainer" style="display: none;">
                             <div class="progress-time">
                                 <span id="motifCurrentTime">0:00</span>
diff --git a/src/embed.ts b/src/embed.ts
index 86e5410..19ddc85 100644
--- a/src/embed.ts
+++ b/src/embed.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { MIDIService } from './services/MIDIService';
 import { MIDIParser } from './midi/MIDIParser';
 import { SoundfontMIDIPlayer } from './synthesis/SoundfontMIDIPlayer';
 import { MotifEngine } from './core/MotifEngine';
+import { unlockAudio } from './utils/audioUnlock';
 import type { NoteEvent } from './types';
 
 type SearchResult = {
@@ -42,10 +43,19 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   const motifVol = qs<HTMLInputElement>('motifVol');
 
   const midiService = new MIDIService();
-  const audioContext = new AudioContext();
-  const previewPlayer = new SoundfontMIDIPlayer(audioContext);
   const motifEngine = new MotifEngine();
 
+  // Lazily created for iOS compatibility
+  let previewPlayer: SoundfontMIDIPlayer | null = null;
+
+  async function ensurePlayer(): Promise<SoundfontMIDIPlayer> {
+    if (!previewPlayer) {
+      const audioContext = await unlockAudio();
+      previewPlayer = new SoundfontMIDIPlayer(audioContext);
+    }
+    return previewPlayer;
+  }
+
   let results: SearchResult[] = [];
   let selectedIndex = 0;
   let currentEvents: NoteEvent[] | null = null;
@@ -60,7 +70,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   }
 
   function stopEverything(): void {
-    previewPlayer.stop();
+    previewPlayer?.stop();
     motifEngine.stop();
     previewPlayBtn.disabled = currentEvents === null;
     previewStopBtn.disabled = true;
@@ -83,8 +93,9 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
       const events = MIDIParser.parseMIDI(midiBuffer);
       currentEvents = events;
 
-      await previewPlayer.load(events);
-      previewPlayer.setVolume(clamp01(parseFloat(previewVol.value)));
+      const player = await ensurePlayer();
+      await player.load(events);
+      player.setVolume(clamp01(parseFloat(previewVol.value)));
 
       setStatus(`Ready: ${r.title}`);
       previewPlayBtn.disabled = false;
@@ -143,7 +154,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
 
   previewVol.addEventListener('input', (e) => {
     const v = clamp01(parseFloat((e.target as HTMLInputElement).value));
-    previewPlayer.setVolume(v);
+    previewPlayer?.setVolume(v);
   });
 
   motifVol.addEventListener('input', (e) => {
@@ -156,7 +167,8 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     try {
       motifEngine.stop();
       isMotifPlaying = false;
-      await previewPlayer.play();
+      const player = await ensurePlayer();
+      await player.play();
       previewPlayBtn.disabled = true;
       previewStopBtn.disabled = false;
       motifStopBtn.disabled = true;
@@ -167,7 +179,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   });
 
   previewStopBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
-    previewPlayer.stop();
+    previewPlayer?.stop();
     previewPlayBtn.disabled = currentEvents === null;
     previewStopBtn.disabled = true;
     setStatus('Preview stopped.');
@@ -177,7 +189,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     if (!currentEvents) return;
     try {
       // Stop preview and generate variation
-      previewPlayer.stop();
+      previewPlayer?.stop();
       previewPlayBtn.disabled = false;
       previewStopBtn.disabled = true;
 
@@ -212,7 +224,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
 
   if (volume) {
     previewVol.value = String(clamp01(parseFloat(volume)));
-    previewPlayer.setVolume(parseFloat(previewVol.value));
+    // Volume will be applied when player is created in loadIndex
   }
   if (motifVolume) {
     motifVol.value = String(clamp01(parseFloat(motifVolume)));
@@ -240,3 +252,4 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
 
 void main();
 
+
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 3a674fd..9596724 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@ import { MotifEngine } from './core/MotifEngine';
 import { MIDIService } from './services/MIDIService';
 import { MIDIParser } from './midi/MIDIParser';
 import { SoundfontMIDIPlayer } from './synthesis/SoundfontMIDIPlayer';
+import { getAudioContext, isAudioReady, unlockAudio } from './utils/audioUnlock';
 import type { NoteEvent } from './types';
 
 class MotifApp {
   private motifEngine: MotifEngine;
   private midiService: MIDIService;
-  private audioContext: AudioContext;
 
-  // Preview player
-  private soundfontPlayer: SoundfontMIDIPlayer;
+  // Preview player (lazily created for iOS compatibility)
+  private soundfontPlayer: SoundfontMIDIPlayer | null = null;
   
   private searchBtn!: HTMLButtonElement;
   private songInput!: HTMLInputElement;
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ class MotifApp {
   private motifDuration!: HTMLElement;
   private motifProgressInterval: number | null = null;
 
+  // iOS audio unlock UI (Motif only)
+  private iosAudioBanner!: HTMLElement;
+  private enableAudioBtn!: HTMLButtonElement;
+  private iosAudioState!: HTMLElement;
+
   private nextResultBtn!: HTMLButtonElement;
 
   // Embed snippet UI
@@ -52,18 +57,26 @@ class MotifApp {
   private currentMIDI: { events: NoteEvent[], metadata: any } | null = null;
 
   constructor() {
-    // Create AudioContext lazily on first use for iOS compatibility
-    this.audioContext = new AudioContext();
     this.motifEngine = new MotifEngine();
     this.midiService = new MIDIService();
-
-    // Initialize preview player
-    this.soundfontPlayer = new SoundfontMIDIPlayer(this.audioContext);
+    // soundfontPlayer created lazily on first play for iOS compatibility
 
     this.initializeUI();
     this.setupEventListeners();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Ensure audio is unlocked and soundfontPlayer is ready.
+   * Must be called from a user gesture context.
+   */
+  private async ensureAudioReady(): Promise<SoundfontMIDIPlayer> {
+    const audioContext = await unlockAudio();
+    if (!this.soundfontPlayer) {
+      this.soundfontPlayer = new SoundfontMIDIPlayer(audioContext);
+    }
+    return this.soundfontPlayer;
+  }
+
   private initializeUI(): void {
     this.searchBtn = document.getElementById('searchBtn') as HTMLButtonElement;
     this.songInput = document.getElementById('songInput') as HTMLInputElement;
@@ -93,6 +106,11 @@ class MotifApp {
 
     this.nextResultBtn = document.getElementById('nextResultBtn') as HTMLButtonElement;
 
+    // iOS audio unlock UI (Motif)
+    this.iosAudioBanner = document.getElementById('iosAudioBanner')!;
+    this.enableAudioBtn = document.getElementById('enableAudioBtn') as HTMLButtonElement;
+    this.iosAudioState = document.getElementById('iosAudioState')!;
+
     // Optional embed UI (only present on main page)
     this.embedSection = document.getElementById('embedSection');
     this.embedCodeEl = document.getElementById('embedCode');
@@ -114,7 +132,7 @@ class MotifApp {
     this.soundfontStopBtn.addEventListener('click', () => this.handleSoundfontStop());
     this.soundfontVolumeSlider.addEventListener('input', (e) => {
       const volume = parseFloat((e.target as HTMLInputElement).value);
-      this.soundfontPlayer.setVolume(volume);
+      this.soundfontPlayer?.setVolume(volume);
     });
 
     // Motif
@@ -136,6 +154,70 @@ class MotifApp {
 
     // Embed snippet copy (may be disabled / not-live)
     this.copyEmbedBtn?.addEventListener('click', () => void this.copyEmbedSnippet());
+
+    // iOS audio unlock CTA — must be a user gesture
+    const enable = () => void this.handleEnableAudio();
+    this.enableAudioBtn.addEventListener('click', enable);
+    this.enableAudioBtn.addEventListener('touchend', enable, { passive: true });
+  }
+
+  private isIOSLike(): boolean {
+    const ua = navigator.userAgent || '';
+    const iOS = /iPad|iPhone|iPod/.test(ua);
+    const iPadOS13Plus = /Macintosh/.test(ua) && (navigator as any).maxTouchPoints > 1;
+    return iOS || iPadOS13Plus;
+  }
+
+  private updateIOSAudioBanner(): void {
+    // Only show this UX on iOS-like browsers, and only until audio is running.
+    if (!this.isIOSLike()) {
+      this.iosAudioBanner.style.display = 'none';
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const ready = isAudioReady();
+    this.iosAudioBanner.style.display = ready ? 'none' : 'block';
+
+    // Optional tiny state readout (helps support debugging)
+    const ctx = (() => {
+      try { return getAudioContext(); } catch { return null; }
+    })();
+    if (!ready && ctx) {
+      this.iosAudioState.style.display = 'block';
+      this.iosAudioState.textContent = `Audio: ${ctx.state} @ ${ctx.sampleRate}Hz`;
+    } else {
+      this.iosAudioState.style.display = 'none';
+      this.iosAudioState.textContent = '';
+    }
+  }
+
+  private async handleEnableAudio(): Promise<void> {
+    // Must run in a user gesture context.
+    try {
+      this.enableAudioBtn.disabled = true;
+      this.iosAudioState.style.display = 'block';
+      this.iosAudioState.textContent = 'Audio: enabling…';
+
+      await unlockAudio();
+
+      // Update banner state
+      const ctx = getAudioContext();
+      if (ctx.state !== 'running') {
+        this.enableAudioBtn.disabled = false;
+        this.iosAudioState.textContent = 'Audio still locked. Tap Enable Audio again.';
+        return;
+      }
+
+      this.iosAudioState.textContent = `Audio: running @ ${ctx.sampleRate}Hz`;
+      // Hide after a short beat to reduce flicker
+      window.setTimeout(() => this.updateIOSAudioBanner(), 250);
+    } catch {
+      this.enableAudioBtn.disabled = false;
+      this.iosAudioState.style.display = 'block';
+      this.iosAudioState.textContent = 'Audio enable failed. Tap again, or disable Silent Mode.';
+    } finally {
+      this.enableAudioBtn.disabled = false;
+    }
   }
 
   private async handleSearch(): Promise<void> {
@@ -171,6 +253,7 @@ class MotifApp {
 
       this.displayResults();
       this.updateStatus(`Found ${results.length} MIDI files. Select one to play.`);
+      this.updateIOSAudioBanner();
 
     } catch (error) {
       this.updateStatus(`Search error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error'}`);
@@ -245,8 +328,9 @@ class MotifApp {
 
       this.currentMIDI = { events, metadata: { ...metadata, duration: actualDuration } };
 
-      // Load into preview player
-      await this.soundfontPlayer.load(events);
+      // Load into preview player (ensure audio unlocked on iOS)
+      const player = await this.ensureAudioReady();
+      await player.load(events);
 
       // Update UI
       this.selectedTitle.textContent = result.title;
@@ -259,6 +343,7 @@ class MotifApp {
       `;
 
       this.updateEmbedSnippet(result.title);
+      this.updateIOSAudioBanner();
       
       this.playerSection.classList.add('visible');
       this.enablePlayerControls();
@@ -273,17 +358,20 @@ class MotifApp {
   private async handleSoundfontPlay(): Promise<void> {
     if (!this.currentMIDI) return;
     try {
-      await this.soundfontPlayer.play();
+      // Ensure audio is unlocked (user gesture context)
+      const player = await this.ensureAudioReady();
+      await player.play();
       this.soundfontPlayBtn.disabled = true;
       this.soundfontStopBtn.disabled = false;
       this.updateStatus('Previewing MIDI...');
     } catch (error) {
       this.updateStatus(`Preview error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error'}`);
     }
+    this.updateIOSAudioBanner();
   }
 
   private handleSoundfontStop(): void {
-    this.soundfontPlayer.stop();
+    this.soundfontPlayer?.stop();
     this.soundfontPlayBtn.disabled = false;
     this.soundfontStopBtn.disabled = true;
     this.updateStatus('Preview stopped.');
@@ -298,6 +386,10 @@ class MotifApp {
     }
 
     try {
+      // Best-effort: ensure iOS audio is unlocked from this user gesture.
+      await unlockAudio();
+      this.updateIOSAudioBanner();
+
       this.updateStatus('Generating Motif synthesis...');
       this.motifBtn.disabled = true;