diff --git a/apps/chanora_flutter/lib/widgets/voice_compact.dart b/apps/chanora_flutter/lib/widgets/voice_compact.dart
index 4e04cda..67cd5f0 100644
--- a/apps/chanora_flutter/lib/widgets/voice_compact.dart
+++ b/apps/chanora_flutter/lib/widgets/voice_compact.dart
@@ -768,29 +768,24 @@ class _AudioOutputPickerSheetState extends State<_AudioOutputPickerSheet> {
 
   Future<void> _selectSpeaker() async {
     try {
-      // Apple docs: overrideOutputAudioPort requires the audio
-      // session's category to be .playAndRecord AND the session
-      // active. We set both in AppDelegate.swift on launch +
-      // foreground (commit 0466000 / 4ee2b38 / be160f5). If this
-      // setter throws, log the underlying error so the user can
-      // see what's wrong instead of a silent no-op picker.
+      // Apple-documented quirk: in .voiceChat mode, calling
+      // setPreferredInput(builtInMic) AFTER overrideOutputAudioPort(.speaker)
+      // causes iOS to recalculate the route. Built-in mic naturally
+      // pairs with the receiver (not the speaker), so the system
+      // SILENTLY REVERTS the speaker override and routes audio
+      // back through the earpiece. Net: the await chain returns
+      // successfully ('no exception'), but the user hears no
+      // change.
       //
-      // Also: setPreferredInput(builtInMic) AFTER the override so
-      // the input route matches the output we just forced. Without
-      // pairing input + output, the session can land in an
-      // inconsistent state where speakerphone is on but the mic
-      // is still routed to a previously-selected BT input \u2014 the
-      // user hears themselves through the speaker but the server
-      // hears nothing.
+      // Fix: do NOT call setPreferredInput when forcing speaker.
+      // The speaker override is sufficient on its own \u2014 input
+      // remains on whatever the system was already using (built-in
+      // mic by default, or BT/wired if connected and selected
+      // elsewhere). For consistency, only switch input when the
+      // user explicitly picks a non-speaker input row.
       await AVAudioSession()
           .overrideOutputAudioPort(AVAudioSessionPortOverride.speaker);
-      final builtIn = _availableInputs
-          .where((p) => p.portType == AVAudioSessionPort.builtInMic)
-          .toList();
-      if (builtIn.isNotEmpty) {
-        await AVAudioSession().setPreferredInput(builtIn.first);
-      }
-      debugPrint('chanora: audio output -> speakerphone (built-in mic input)');
+      debugPrint('chanora: audio output -> speakerphone (override applied)');
     } catch (e, st) {
       debugPrint('chanora: _selectSpeaker FAILED: $e\n$st');
     }
@@ -800,17 +795,14 @@ class _AudioOutputPickerSheetState extends State<_AudioOutputPickerSheet> {
 
   Future<void> _selectReceiver() async {
     try {
+      // Same quirk in reverse: removing the speaker override
+      // (.none) is enough to restore the .voiceChat default route,
+      // which is the built-in receiver. Calling setPreferredInput
+      // explicitly here is redundant and risks the same recalc
+      // race that broke _selectSpeaker before.
       await AVAudioSession()
           .overrideOutputAudioPort(AVAudioSessionPortOverride.none);
-      // Also clear any preferred input so it falls back to built-in.
-      // We do that by selecting the built-in mic if available.
-      final builtIn = _availableInputs
-          .where((p) => p.portType == AVAudioSessionPort.builtInMic)
-          .toList();
-      if (builtIn.isNotEmpty) {
-        await AVAudioSession().setPreferredInput(builtIn.first);
-      }
-      debugPrint('chanora: audio output -> receiver/earpiece');
+      debugPrint('chanora: audio output -> receiver (override cleared)');
     } catch (e, st) {
       debugPrint('chanora: _selectReceiver FAILED: $e\n$st');
     }
@@ -821,7 +813,10 @@ class _AudioOutputPickerSheetState extends State<_AudioOutputPickerSheet> {
   Future<void> _selectInput(AVAudioSessionPortDescription port) async {
     try {
       // Drop any speakerphone override so the route follows the
-      // selected input (BT / wired headset move output to themselves).
+      // selected input. BT / wired headset / USB inputs pair their
+      // OWN output (the user hears audio through the same device
+      // they speak into), so .none + setPreferredInput is the
+      // correct combo here.
       await AVAudioSession()
           .overrideOutputAudioPort(AVAudioSessionPortOverride.none);
       await AVAudioSession().setPreferredInput(port);