diff --git a/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/kryz_go_flutter/KryzAutoMediaBrowserService.kt b/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/kryz_go_flutter/KryzAutoMediaBrowserService.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e36858
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/kryz_go_flutter/KryzAutoMediaBrowserService.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,361 @@
+package com.example.kryz_go_flutter
+
+import android.app.Notification
+import android.app.NotificationChannel
+import android.app.NotificationManager
+import android.content.ComponentName
+import android.content.Context
+import android.media.AudioAttributes
+import android.media.AudioFocusRequest
+import android.media.AudioManager
+import android.media.MediaPlayer
+import android.net.Uri
+import android.os.Build
+import android.os.Bundle
+import android.support.v4.media.MediaBrowserCompat.MediaItem
+import android.support.v4.media.MediaDescriptionCompat
+import android.support.v4.media.MediaMetadataCompat
+import android.support.v4.media.session.MediaSessionCompat
+import android.support.v4.media.session.PlaybackStateCompat
+import android.util.Log
+import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat
+import androidx.media.MediaBrowserServiceCompat
+
+/**
+ * MediaBrowserService for Android Auto.
+ *
+ * Android Auto connects to this service to browse content and control playback.
+ *
+ * Two playback modes:
+ *  1. Cold start (Flutter not running): the service plays the stream directly via
+ *     MediaPlayer. This avoids the unreliable startActivity → Flutter bridge.
+ *  2. Warm start (Flutter running): MainActivity registers play/stop callbacks so
+ *     Auto commands are forwarded through the method channel to just_audio.
+ *
+ * When the Flutter app opens while the service is playing, MainActivity stops the
+ * service's MediaPlayer and Flutter takes over seamlessly.
+ *
+ * Brand color (#E36A18) is declared on this service via KryzAutoTheme in styles.xml
+ * so Android Auto accents its media UI with the KRYZ orange.
+ */
+class KryzAutoMediaBrowserService : MediaBrowserServiceCompat() {
+
+    companion object {
+        private const val TAG = "KryzAutoService"
+        private const val MEDIA_ID_ROOT = "kryz_root"
+        private const val MEDIA_ID_LIVE = "kryz_live_stream"
+        private const val STREAM_URL = "https://kryz.out.airtime.pro/kryz_a"
+        private const val NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID = "com.kryzgoflutter.auto.channel"
+        private const val NOTIFICATION_ID = 1001
+
+        private var instance: KryzAutoMediaBrowserService? = null
+
+        // Called by MainActivity to mirror Flutter playback state into the MediaSession.
+        fun updatePlaybackState(isPlaying: Boolean, isBuffering: Boolean) {
+            instance?.applyPlaybackState(isPlaying, isBuffering)
+        }
+
+        // Called by MainActivity when Flutter is alive and taking over from the service player.
+        fun stopServicePlayer() {
+            instance?.stopServicePlayback()
+        }
+
+        fun isServicePlaying(): Boolean {
+            return try {
+                instance?.serviceMediaPlayer?.isPlaying == true
+            } catch (_: IllegalStateException) {
+                false
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Flutter-side play/stop callbacks registered by MainActivity when Flutter is ready.
+        private var directPlayCallback: (() -> Unit)? = null
+        private var directStopCallback: (() -> Unit)? = null
+
+        fun registerDirectCallbacks(play: () -> Unit, stop: () -> Unit) {
+            directPlayCallback = play
+            directStopCallback = stop
+        }
+
+        fun unregisterDirectCallbacks() {
+            directPlayCallback = null
+            directStopCallback = null
+        }
+    }
+
+    private lateinit var mediaSession: MediaSessionCompat
+    private var serviceMediaPlayer: MediaPlayer? = null
+    private var audioFocusRequest: AudioFocusRequest? = null
+
+    private val mediaSessionCallback = object : MediaSessionCompat.Callback() {
+        override fun onPlay() {
+            Log.d(TAG, "onPlay()")
+            triggerPlay()
+        }
+
+        override fun onStop() {
+            Log.d(TAG, "onStop()")
+            val stop = directStopCallback
+            if (stop != null) {
+                stop()
+            } else {
+                stopServicePlayback()
+            }
+        }
+
+        override fun onPlayFromMediaId(mediaId: String?, extras: Bundle?) {
+            Log.d(TAG, "onPlayFromMediaId: $mediaId")
+            if (mediaId == MEDIA_ID_LIVE) triggerPlay()
+        }
+
+        override fun onPlayFromSearch(query: String?, extras: Bundle?) {
+            Log.d(TAG, "onPlayFromSearch: $query")
+            triggerPlay()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun triggerPlay() {
+        val play = directPlayCallback
+        if (play != null) {
+            // Flutter is running — signal buffering then let Flutter handle audio.
+            applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = false, isBuffering = true)
+            play()
+        } else {
+            // Flutter is not running — play directly via MediaPlayer.
+            startServicePlayback()
+        }
+    }
+
+    override fun onCreate() {
+        super.onCreate()
+        instance = this
+        Log.d(TAG, "onCreate()")
+        createNotificationChannel()
+
+        try {
+            mediaSession = MediaSessionCompat(
+                this,
+                TAG,
+                ComponentName(this, com.ryanheise.audioservice.MediaButtonReceiver::class.java),
+                null,
+            ).apply {
+                setCallback(mediaSessionCallback)
+                @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+                setFlags(
+                    MediaSessionCompat.FLAG_HANDLES_MEDIA_BUTTONS or
+                        MediaSessionCompat.FLAG_HANDLES_TRANSPORT_CONTROLS
+                )
+                setPlaybackState(
+                    PlaybackStateCompat.Builder()
+                        .setActions(
+                            PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PLAY or
+                                PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_STOP or
+                                PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_MEDIA_ID or
+                                PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_SEARCH
+                        )
+                        .setState(PlaybackStateCompat.STATE_STOPPED, 0, 1f)
+                        .build()
+                )
+                setMetadata(buildLiveStreamMetadata())
+                isActive = true
+            }
+
+            sessionToken = mediaSession.sessionToken
+            Log.d(TAG, "MediaSession created, sessionToken set")
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "Failed to create MediaSession", e)
+        }
+    }
+
+    override fun onGetRoot(
+        clientPackageName: String,
+        clientUid: Int,
+        rootHints: Bundle?
+    ): BrowserRoot {
+        Log.d(TAG, "onGetRoot() from $clientPackageName")
+        return BrowserRoot(MEDIA_ID_ROOT, null)
+    }
+
+    override fun onLoadChildren(
+        parentId: String,
+        result: Result<List<MediaItem>>
+    ) {
+        Log.d(TAG, "onLoadChildren($parentId)")
+        if (parentId == MEDIA_ID_ROOT) {
+            val iconUri = Uri.parse("android.resource://${packageName}/mipmap/ic_launcher")
+            val description = MediaDescriptionCompat.Builder()
+                .setMediaId(MEDIA_ID_LIVE)
+                .setTitle("KRYZ Live Stream")
+                .setSubtitle("KRYZ Radio")
+                .setIconUri(iconUri)
+                .setMediaUri(Uri.parse(STREAM_URL))
+                .build()
+            result.sendResult(listOf(MediaItem(description, MediaItem.FLAG_PLAYABLE)))
+        } else {
+            result.sendResult(emptyList())
+        }
+    }
+
+    override fun onDestroy() {
+        Log.d(TAG, "onDestroy()")
+        stopServicePlayback()
+        instance = null
+        if (::mediaSession.isInitialized) mediaSession.release()
+        super.onDestroy()
+    }
+
+    // Direct MediaPlayer playback used when Flutter is not running (cold Auto start).
+    private fun startServicePlayback() {
+        Log.d(TAG, "startServicePlayback()")
+        stopServicePlayback()
+        applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = false, isBuffering = true)
+        startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, buildNotification(isPlaying = false))
+        requestAudioFocus()
+
+        val player = MediaPlayer()
+        try {
+            player.setAudioAttributes(
+                AudioAttributes.Builder()
+                    .setUsage(AudioAttributes.USAGE_MEDIA)
+                    .setContentType(AudioAttributes.CONTENT_TYPE_MUSIC)
+                    .build()
+            )
+            player.setDataSource(STREAM_URL)
+            player.setOnPreparedListener { mp ->
+                Log.d(TAG, "MediaPlayer prepared → starting")
+                mp.start()
+                applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = true, isBuffering = false)
+                startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, buildNotification(isPlaying = true))
+            }
+            player.setOnInfoListener { _, what, _ ->
+                when (what) {
+                    MediaPlayer.MEDIA_INFO_BUFFERING_START ->
+                        applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = false, isBuffering = true)
+                    MediaPlayer.MEDIA_INFO_BUFFERING_END ->
+                        applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = true, isBuffering = false)
+                }
+                true
+            }
+            player.setOnErrorListener { _, what, extra ->
+                Log.e(TAG, "MediaPlayer error what=$what extra=$extra")
+                applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = false, isBuffering = false)
+                @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+                stopForeground(true)
+                true
+            }
+            player.prepareAsync()
+            serviceMediaPlayer = player
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "Failed to start service playback: ${e.message}")
+            player.release()
+            applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = false, isBuffering = false)
+            @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+            stopForeground(true)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun stopServicePlayback() {
+        val player = serviceMediaPlayer ?: return
+        Log.d(TAG, "stopServicePlayback()")
+        serviceMediaPlayer = null
+        try {
+            if (player.isPlaying) player.stop()
+            player.release()
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            Log.e(TAG, "Error releasing MediaPlayer: ${e.message}")
+        }
+        abandonAudioFocus()
+        applyPlaybackState(isPlaying = false, isBuffering = false)
+        @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+        stopForeground(true)
+    }
+
+    private fun applyPlaybackState(isPlaying: Boolean, isBuffering: Boolean) {
+        if (!::mediaSession.isInitialized) return
+        val state = when {
+            isPlaying -> PlaybackStateCompat.STATE_PLAYING
+            isBuffering -> PlaybackStateCompat.STATE_BUFFERING
+            else -> PlaybackStateCompat.STATE_STOPPED
+        }
+        val actions = if (isPlaying || isBuffering) {
+            PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_STOP
+        } else {
+            PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PLAY or
+                PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_MEDIA_ID or
+                PlaybackStateCompat.ACTION_PLAY_FROM_SEARCH
+        }
+        mediaSession.setPlaybackState(
+            PlaybackStateCompat.Builder()
+                .setActions(actions)
+                .setState(state, PlaybackStateCompat.PLAYBACK_POSITION_UNKNOWN, 1f)
+                .build()
+        )
+        Log.d(TAG, "applyPlaybackState: playing=$isPlaying buffering=$isBuffering")
+    }
+
+    private fun requestAudioFocus() {
+        val audioManager = getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE) as AudioManager
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            val req = AudioFocusRequest.Builder(AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN)
+                .setAudioAttributes(
+                    AudioAttributes.Builder()
+                        .setUsage(AudioAttributes.USAGE_MEDIA)
+                        .setContentType(AudioAttributes.CONTENT_TYPE_MUSIC)
+                        .build()
+                )
+                .build()
+            audioFocusRequest = req
+            audioManager.requestAudioFocus(req)
+        } else {
+            @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+            audioManager.requestAudioFocus(null, AudioManager.STREAM_MUSIC, AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_GAIN)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun abandonAudioFocus() {
+        val audioManager = getSystemService(Context.AUDIO_SERVICE) as AudioManager
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            audioFocusRequest?.let { audioManager.abandonAudioFocusRequest(it) }
+            audioFocusRequest = null
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun createNotificationChannel() {
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            val channel = NotificationChannel(
+                NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID,
+                "KRYZ Auto Playback",
+                NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW,
+            ).apply {
+                description = "KRYZ Radio Android Auto playback"
+                setShowBadge(false)
+            }
+            val mgr = getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE) as NotificationManager
+            mgr.createNotificationChannel(channel)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun buildNotification(isPlaying: Boolean): Notification {
+        return NotificationCompat.Builder(this, NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID)
+            .setContentTitle("KRYZ Radio")
+            .setContentText(if (isPlaying) "Playing via Android Auto" else "Connecting…")
+            .setSmallIcon(R.mipmap.ic_launcher)
+            .setOngoing(isPlaying)
+            .setSilent(true)
+            .build()
+    }
+
+    private fun buildLiveStreamMetadata(): MediaMetadataCompat {
+        val iconUri = Uri.parse("android.resource://${packageName}/mipmap/ic_launcher")
+        return MediaMetadataCompat.Builder()
+            .putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_TITLE, "KRYZ Live Stream")
+            .putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_ARTIST, "KRYZ Radio")
+            .putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_ALBUM, "Live")
+            .putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_MEDIA_ID, MEDIA_ID_LIVE)
+            .putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_MEDIA_URI, STREAM_URL)
+            .putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_ALBUM_ART_URI, iconUri.toString())
+            .putString(MediaMetadataCompat.METADATA_KEY_DISPLAY_ICON_URI, iconUri.toString())
+            .build()
+    }
+}
+