diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/chat/Message.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/chat/Message.tsx
index 70ab0811..d34fe8e4 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/chat/Message.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/chat/Message.tsx
@@ -248,14 +248,14 @@ export function Message({ message, isCompact, isFirstInGroup }: MessageProps) {
                   <button
                     key={emoji}
                     onClick={() => toggleReaction(emoji)}
-                    className={`flex items-center gap-1.5 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-[8px] text-[14px] font-medium border transition-colors ${
+                    className={`flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-0.5 rounded-md text-[13px] border transition-all duration-[120ms] ease-out cursor-pointer ${
                       me
-                        ? 'bg-accent-primary/15 border-accent-primary text-accent-primary'
-                        : 'bg-surface-channel border-transparent text-txt-tertiary hover:border-txt-tertiary/30'
+                        ? 'bg-accent-mint/10 border-accent-mint/25 hover:bg-accent-mint/15'
+                        : 'bg-white/[0.04] border-border-soft hover:bg-white/[0.08] hover:border-white/[0.12]'
                     }`}
                   >
                     <span>{emoji}</span>
-                    <span className={me ? 'text-accent-primary' : 'text-txt-message'}>{count}</span>
+                    <span className={`text-xs font-semibold ${me ? 'text-accent-mint' : 'text-txt-secondary'}`}>{count}</span>
                   </button>
                 ))}
               </div>
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/chat/MessageInput.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/chat/MessageInput.tsx
index 77fcf459..a34d5b8d 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/chat/MessageInput.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/chat/MessageInput.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useState, useRef, useCallback, useMemo } from 'react';
+import React, { useState, useRef, useCallback, useMemo, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { useChatStore } from '../../stores/chatStore';
 import { isDmChannel, useServerStore } from '../../stores/serverStore';
 import { wsSend } from '../../hooks/useWebSocket';
@@ -30,6 +30,18 @@ export function MessageInput({ channelId, channelName }: MessageInputProps) {
   const members = useServerStore((s) => s.members);
   const typingTimeoutRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>();
 
+  // Auto-focus textarea on channel navigation
+  useEffect(() => {
+    textareaRef.current?.focus();
+  }, [channelId]);
+
+  // Auto-focus textarea when replying
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (replyTo) {
+      textareaRef.current?.focus();
+    }
+  }, [replyTo]);
+
   // Filter members for the mention popover
   const filteredMembers = useMemo(() => {
     if (!mentionState) return [];
@@ -216,7 +228,7 @@ export function MessageInput({ channelId, channelName }: MessageInputProps) {
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className="px-3 pb-3 flex-shrink-0 md:absolute md:bottom-3 md:left-3 md:right-3 md:z-[110] md:px-0 md:pb-0 md:glass-bubble md:rounded-[14px]">
+    <div data-pip-obstacle="bottom" className="px-3 pb-3 flex-shrink-0 md:absolute md:bottom-3 md:left-3 md:right-3 md:z-[110] md:px-0 md:pb-0 md:glass-bubble md:rounded-[14px]">
       {replyTo && (
         <div className="bg-interactive-hover rounded-t-lg px-4 py-2 flex items-center justify-between border-b border-border-hard/50">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1 text-[14px] text-txt-message truncate">
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/layout/ChannelSidebar.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/layout/ChannelSidebar.tsx
index 029f75c7..bc80adc5 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/layout/ChannelSidebar.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/layout/ChannelSidebar.tsx
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export function ChannelSidebar() {
 
   // Floating bottom panel — shared between DM view and server view
   const floatingPanel = user ? (
-    <div className="fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 z-[105] p-2 md:right-auto md:w-[296px] md:bottom-[10px] md:left-[10px] md:p-0">
+    <div data-pip-obstacle="bottom" className="fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 z-[105] p-2 md:right-auto md:w-[296px] md:bottom-[10px] md:left-[10px] md:p-0">
       <div className="glass-bubble rounded-[14px]">
         {/* Voice controls (expands when connected) */}
         {(currentVoiceChannelId || activeDmCall) && <VoiceControls />}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/layout/ServerSidebar.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/layout/ServerSidebar.tsx
index 36ea4a62..1a8ad02d 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/layout/ServerSidebar.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/layout/ServerSidebar.tsx
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ export function ServerSidebar() {
   };
 
   return (
-    <nav className="w-[72px] bg-surface-base flex flex-col items-center py-3 overflow-y-auto flex-shrink-0 no-scrollbar select-none md:fixed md:inset-y-0 md:left-0 md:z-[100] md:glass-strip">
+    <nav data-pip-obstacle="left" className="w-[72px] bg-surface-base flex flex-col items-center py-3 overflow-y-auto flex-shrink-0 no-scrollbar select-none md:fixed md:inset-y-0 md:left-0 md:z-[100] md:glass-strip">
       <SidebarItem
         id="@me"
         name="Direct Messages"
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/voice/PictureInPicture.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/voice/PictureInPicture.tsx
index fd7ff3c7..debe504f 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/voice/PictureInPicture.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/voice/PictureInPicture.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,47 @@ const PIP_HEIGHT = 180;
 const PIP_MARGIN = 16;
 const DRAG_THRESHOLD = 5;
 
+/**
+ * Computes PiP boundary box by measuring actual DOM obstacles.
+ * Obstacle elements declare themselves with data-pip-obstacle="left"|"bottom".
+ * PiP queries them at boundary-check time — no hardcoded layout values.
+ *
+ * On mobile (<768px) there are no fixed side/bottom UI obstacles.
+ */
+function getPipBounds(pipX: number): {
+  minX: number;
+  maxX: number;
+  minY: number;
+  maxY: number;
+} {
+  const vw = window.innerWidth;
+  const vh = window.innerHeight;
+  let minX = PIP_MARGIN;
+  const maxX = vw - PIP_WIDTH - PIP_MARGIN;
+  const minY = PIP_MARGIN;
+  let maxY = vh - PIP_HEIGHT - PIP_MARGIN;
+
+  if (vw < 768) return { minX, maxX, minY, maxY };
+
+  const obstacles = document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-pip-obstacle]');
+  for (const el of obstacles) {
+    const rect = el.getBoundingClientRect();
+    if (rect.width === 0 || rect.height === 0) continue;
+
+    const direction = el.dataset.pipObstacle;
+    if (direction === 'left') {
+      minX = Math.max(minX, rect.right + PIP_MARGIN);
+    } else if (direction === 'bottom') {
+      const pipRight = pipX + PIP_WIDTH;
+      if (pipX < rect.right && pipRight > rect.left) {
+        maxY = Math.min(maxY, rect.top - PIP_HEIGHT - PIP_MARGIN);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { minX, maxX, minY, maxY };
+}
+
 interface SelectedStream {
   participant: ParticipantInfo;
   track: MediaStreamTrack;
@@ -93,10 +134,21 @@ export function PictureInPicture() {
     }
   }, [currentVoiceChannelId, activeDmCall, setPipCollapsed]);
 
-  // Visibility
+  // Visibility — split into wouldShow (ignores collapsed) and shouldShow (full check)
   const isInServerVoice = currentVoiceChannelId !== null && currentChannelId !== currentVoiceChannelId;
   const isInDmCall = activeDmCall !== null && currentChannelId !== activeDmCall.dmChannelId;
-  const shouldShow = (isInServerVoice || isInDmCall) && !voiceFullscreen && !pipCollapsed;
+  const wouldShow = (isInServerVoice || isInDmCall) && !voiceFullscreen;
+  const shouldShow = wouldShow && !pipCollapsed;
+
+  // Reset pipCollapsed when wouldShow transitions false → true
+  // (user navigated away from voice channel view → PiP reappears)
+  const prevWouldShow = useRef(wouldShow);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (wouldShow && !prevWouldShow.current) {
+      setPipCollapsed(false);
+    }
+    prevWouldShow.current = wouldShow;
+  }, [wouldShow, setPipCollapsed]);
 
   // Stream selection
   const selectedStream = useMemo(
@@ -146,34 +198,61 @@ export function PictureInPicture() {
   // Initialize position to bottom-right
   useEffect(() => {
     if (shouldShow && position.x === -1) {
-      setPosition({
-        x: window.innerWidth - PIP_WIDTH - PIP_MARGIN,
-        y: window.innerHeight - PIP_HEIGHT - PIP_MARGIN,
-      });
+      const initX = window.innerWidth - PIP_WIDTH - PIP_MARGIN;
+      const { maxY } = getPipBounds(initX);
+      setPosition({ x: initX, y: maxY });
     }
   }, [shouldShow, position.x]);
 
-  // Window resize: keep PiP in bounds
+  // Re-clamp PiP when viewport resizes, obstacles appear/disappear, or obstacles resize
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!shouldShow) return;
-    const handleResize = () => {
-      setPosition(prev => ({
-        x: Math.max(PIP_MARGIN, Math.min(window.innerWidth - PIP_WIDTH - PIP_MARGIN, prev.x)),
-        y: Math.max(PIP_MARGIN, Math.min(window.innerHeight - PIP_HEIGHT - PIP_MARGIN, prev.y)),
-      }));
+
+    const reclamp = () => {
+      setPosition(prev => {
+        if (prev.x === -1) return prev;
+        const { minX, maxX } = getPipBounds(prev.x);
+        const clampedX = Math.max(minX, Math.min(maxX, prev.x));
+        const { minY, maxY } = getPipBounds(clampedX);
+        return { x: clampedX, y: Math.max(minY, Math.min(maxY, prev.y)) };
+      });
+    };
+
+    // Observe obstacle elements for size changes (e.g., voice panel expanding)
+    let knownObstacles = new Set(document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-pip-obstacle]'));
+    const resizeObserver = new ResizeObserver(reclamp);
+    knownObstacles.forEach(el => resizeObserver.observe(el));
+
+    // Detect obstacle elements being added/removed from the DOM
+    const mutationObserver = new MutationObserver(() => {
+      const current = new Set(document.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('[data-pip-obstacle]'));
+      if (current.size !== knownObstacles.size || ![...current].every(el => knownObstacles.has(el))) {
+        resizeObserver.disconnect();
+        current.forEach(el => resizeObserver.observe(el));
+        knownObstacles = current;
+        reclamp();
+      }
+    });
+    mutationObserver.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true });
+
+    window.addEventListener('resize', reclamp);
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener('resize', reclamp);
+      mutationObserver.disconnect();
+      resizeObserver.disconnect();
     };
-    window.addEventListener('resize', handleResize);
-    return () => window.removeEventListener('resize', handleResize);
   }, [shouldShow]);
 
   // Snap to nearest horizontal edge
   const snapToEdge = useCallback((currentX: number, currentY: number) => {
     const centerX = currentX + PIP_WIDTH / 2;
     const screenMidX = window.innerWidth / 2;
+    const { minX } = getPipBounds(currentX);
     const targetX = centerX < screenMidX
-      ? PIP_MARGIN
+      ? minX
       : window.innerWidth - PIP_WIDTH - PIP_MARGIN;
-    const clampedY = Math.max(PIP_MARGIN, Math.min(window.innerHeight - PIP_HEIGHT - PIP_MARGIN, currentY));
+    const { minY, maxY } = getPipBounds(targetX);
+    const clampedY = Math.max(minY, Math.min(maxY, currentY));
     setPosition({ x: targetX, y: clampedY });
   }, []);
 
@@ -194,8 +273,11 @@ export function PictureInPicture() {
     if (dx > DRAG_THRESHOLD || dy > DRAG_THRESHOLD) {
       hasMoved.current = true;
     }
-    const newX = Math.max(PIP_MARGIN, Math.min(window.innerWidth - PIP_WIDTH - PIP_MARGIN, e.clientX - dragOffset.current.x));
-    const newY = Math.max(PIP_MARGIN, Math.min(window.innerHeight - PIP_HEIGHT - PIP_MARGIN, e.clientY - dragOffset.current.y));
+    const rawX = e.clientX - dragOffset.current.x;
+    const bounds = getPipBounds(rawX);
+    const newX = Math.max(bounds.minX, Math.min(bounds.maxX, rawX));
+    const { minY, maxY } = getPipBounds(newX);
+    const newY = Math.max(minY, Math.min(maxY, e.clientY - dragOffset.current.y));
     setPosition({ x: newX, y: newY });
   }, [isDragging]);
 
diff --git a/packages/web/src/stores/serverStore.ts b/packages/web/src/stores/serverStore.ts
index fe3af784..66f05c47 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/stores/serverStore.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/stores/serverStore.ts
@@ -172,9 +172,10 @@ export const useServerStore = create<ServerState>((set, get) => ({
 
   createChannel: async (serverId: string, name: string, type: 'text' | 'voice' | 'video', topic?: string) => {
     const channel = await api.channels.create(serverId, { name, type, topic });
-    set((state) => ({
-      channels: [...state.channels, channel].sort((a, b) => a.position - b.position),
-    }));
+    set((state) => {
+      if (state.channels.some(c => c.id === channel.id)) return state;
+      return { channels: [...state.channels, channel].sort((a, b) => a.position - b.position) };
+    });
     return channel;
   },