diff --git a/src/core/MotifEngine.ts b/src/core/MotifEngine.ts
index 8c87e3f..357f1e2 100644
--- a/src/core/MotifEngine.ts
+++ b/src/core/MotifEngine.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { MIDIParser } from '../midi/MIDIParser';
 import { MIDIService } from '../services/MIDIService';
 import { RoleMapper } from './RoleMapper';
 import { SynthesisEngine } from '../synthesis/SynthesisEngine';
+import { unlockAudio } from '../utils/audioUnlock';
 
 export class MotifEngine {
   private audioContext: AudioContext | null = null;
@@ -27,9 +28,9 @@ export class MotifEngine {
   }
 
   async generateFromMIDI(events: NoteEvent[], transformMode: 'passthrough' | 'procedural' = 'passthrough'): Promise<void> {
-    // Initialize audio context and synthesis engine
+    // Initialize audio context using shared unlock (iOS compatibility)
     if (!this.audioContext) {
-      this.audioContext = new AudioContext();
+      this.audioContext = await unlockAudio();
     }
 
     this.synthesisEngine = new SynthesisEngine(this.audioContext, this.config);
@@ -101,11 +102,11 @@ export class MotifEngine {
     const features = this.midiProcessor.extractFeatures(events);
     const roleAssignments = this.roleMapper.assignRoles(features, events);
 
-    // Initialize audio context and synthesis engine
+    // Initialize audio context using shared unlock (iOS compatibility)
     if (!this.audioContext) {
-      this.audioContext = new AudioContext();
+      this.audioContext = await unlockAudio();
     }
-    
+
     this.synthesisEngine = new SynthesisEngine(this.audioContext, this.config);
     this.synthesisEngine.setupLayers(roleAssignments);
   }
diff --git a/src/utils/audioUnlock.ts b/src/utils/audioUnlock.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac6a849
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/audioUnlock.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+/**
+ * iOS/Safari audio unlock utility.
+ *
+ * Older iOS versions require:
+ * 1. AudioContext created during a user gesture
+ * 2. A silent buffer played to fully "unlock" the audio system
+ * 3. Verification that the context is actually running
+ *
+ * This utility handles all of that in a backward-compatible way.
+ */
+
+let sharedAudioContext: AudioContext | null = null;
+let unlockPromise: Promise<AudioContext> | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * Get or create the shared AudioContext.
+ * Call this during a user gesture (click/touch) for best iOS compatibility.
+ */
+export function getAudioContext(): AudioContext {
+  if (!sharedAudioContext) {
+    sharedAudioContext = new AudioContext();
+  }
+  return sharedAudioContext;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Unlock audio for iOS/Safari. Safe to call multiple times.
+ * Returns the AudioContext once it's confirmed running.
+ *
+ * Must be called from a user gesture (click/touchend).
+ */
+export async function unlockAudio(): Promise<AudioContext> {
+  // Return existing unlock in progress
+  if (unlockPromise) {
+    return unlockPromise;
+  }
+
+  unlockPromise = doUnlock();
+  return unlockPromise;
+}
+
+async function doUnlock(): Promise<AudioContext> {
+  const ctx = getAudioContext();
+
+  // Already running - nothing to do
+  if (ctx.state === 'running') {
+    return ctx;
+  }
+
+  // Try to resume
+  if (ctx.state === 'suspended') {
+    try {
+      await ctx.resume();
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.warn('AudioContext.resume() failed:', e);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Play a silent buffer to fully unlock on older iOS
+  // This is a no-op on modern browsers but essential for iOS < 14
+  try {
+    const buffer = ctx.createBuffer(1, 1, ctx.sampleRate);
+    const source = ctx.createBufferSource();
+    source.buffer = buffer;
+    source.connect(ctx.destination);
+    source.start(0);
+    source.stop(0.001);
+  } catch (e) {
+    // Ignore - this is just a fallback unlock
+  }
+
+  // Wait briefly for state to update (cast to string to avoid TS narrowing issues)
+  const getState = () => ctx.state as string;
+
+  if (getState() !== 'running') {
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      const checkState = () => {
+        if (getState() === 'running') {
+          resolve();
+        } else {
+          // Try one more resume
+          ctx.resume().catch(() => {});
+          setTimeout(checkState, 50);
+        }
+      };
+      // Give up after 500ms to avoid blocking forever
+      setTimeout(resolve, 500);
+      checkState();
+    });
+  }
+
+  if (getState() !== 'running') {
+    console.warn('AudioContext still not running after unlock attempt, state:', ctx.state);
+  }
+
+  return ctx;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Check if audio is currently unlocked and ready.
+ */
+export function isAudioReady(): boolean {
+  return sharedAudioContext?.state === 'running';
+}