diff --git a/src/app.css b/src/app.css
index 7ed78c07..54c39834 100644
--- a/src/app.css
+++ b/src/app.css
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ progress[value]::-webkit-progress-value {
   transition: width 0.5s;
 }
 
-/* Anchors for fixed overlays (compose, search, reply) — main scroll lives in Page / PageContent flow */
+/* content width for fixed elements */
 
 .left-content {
   @apply md:left-[calc(18.5rem+var(--sail))];
diff --git a/src/app/components/VideoCallContent.svelte b/src/app/components/VideoCallContent.svelte
index b947ce03..35217cb7 100644
--- a/src/app/components/VideoCallContent.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/VideoCallContent.svelte
@@ -11,23 +11,22 @@
   import {
     currentVoiceSession,
     currentVoiceRoom,
+    VideoCallLayout,
     videoCallLayoutRevision,
     videoPrimaryTileKey,
     toggleVideoPrimaryTile,
     pubkeyFromLiveKitIdentity,
   } from "@app/voice"
 
-  type Variant = "mobile" | "desktop-split" | "desktop-full"
-
   type Props = {
-    variant: Variant
+    layout: VideoCallLayout
+    mobile?: boolean
     url: string
     h: string
-    visible?: boolean
     class?: string
   }
 
-  type Tile = {
+  type VideoTile = {
     identity: string
     isLocal: boolean
     trackSid: string
@@ -37,11 +36,18 @@
 
   type TileLayout = "spotlight" | "default" | "strip"
 
-  const {variant, url, h, visible = true, class: className = ""}: Props = $props()
+  const {layout, mobile = false, url, h, class: className = ""}: Props = $props()
 
-  const roomMatches = $derived($currentVoiceRoom?.url === url && $currentVoiceRoom?.h === h)
+  const isViewingCurrentCallRoom = $derived(
+    $currentVoiceRoom?.url === url && $currentVoiceRoom?.h === h,
+  )
 
-  const showPanel = $derived(visible && roomMatches)
+  const showPanel = $derived(
+    isViewingCurrentCallRoom &&
+      (mobile
+        ? layout === VideoCallLayout.Video
+        : layout === VideoCallLayout.Split || layout === VideoCallLayout.Video),
+  )
 
   const tiles = $derived.by(() => {
     // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-expressions -- re-run when remote video subscribes
@@ -52,7 +58,7 @@
     }
 
     const room = session.room
-    const out: Tile[] = []
+    const out: VideoTile[] = []
     const lp = room.localParticipant
 
     if (session.cameraOn) {
@@ -104,7 +110,7 @@
   })
 
   /** Identity + source only — LiveKit can change trackSid after publish, which broke spotlight + stale-key effect. */
-  const tileKey = (t: Tile) => `${t.identity}\x1f${t.source}`
+  const tileKey = (t: VideoTile) => `${t.identity}\x1f${t.source}`
 
   const primaryTile = $derived.by(() => {
     const k = $videoPrimaryTileKey
@@ -137,7 +143,7 @@
     }
   })
 
-  const labelFor = (identity: string, source: Tile["source"]) => {
+  const labelFor = (identity: string, source: VideoTile["source"]) => {
     const pk = pubkeyFromLiveKitIdentity(identity)
     const name = pk ? displayProfileByPubkey(pk) : "Unknown"
     return source === Track.Source.ScreenShare ? `${name} · screen` : name
@@ -151,18 +157,16 @@
 
   const panelChrome = $derived(
     cx(
-      variant === "mobile" &&
+      mobile &&
         "flex min-h-0 w-full flex-1 flex-col gap-2 overflow-y-auto overflow-x-hidden bg-base-200 px-2 pt-4 md:hidden pb-[calc(3.5rem+var(--saib))]",
-      variant === "desktop-split" &&
-        "flex min-h-0 w-full min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-2 overflow-hidden bg-base-200 px-2 pb-2 pt-4",
-      variant === "desktop-full" &&
+      !mobile &&
         "flex min-h-0 w-full min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-2 overflow-hidden bg-base-200 px-2 pb-2 pt-4",
       className,
     ),
   )
 </script>
 
-{#snippet videoTile(tile: Tile, layout: TileLayout)}
+{#snippet videoTile(tile: VideoTile, layout: TileLayout)}
   <div
     class={cx(
       "relative isolate overflow-hidden rounded-box shadow-sm",
@@ -241,7 +245,7 @@
 
 {#if showPanel}
   <div class={panelChrome}>
-    {#if variant === "mobile"}
+    {#if mobile}
       <div class="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-2">
         <div class="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden">
           {@render videoPanelBody()}
diff --git a/src/app/components/VideoCallLayoutViewportSync.svelte b/src/app/components/VideoCallLayoutViewportSync.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6fb1fc3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/components/VideoCallLayoutViewportSync.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<script module lang="ts">
+  import {MediaQuery} from "svelte/reactivity"
+
+  export const isDesktopLayout = new MediaQuery("min-width: 768px", false)
+</script>
+
+<script lang="ts">
+  import {get} from "svelte/store"
+  import {VideoCallLayout, videoCallLayout} from "@app/voice"
+
+  let prevLayout = $state<boolean | undefined>(undefined)
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    const currentLayout = isDesktopLayout.current
+    if (prevLayout === undefined) {
+      prevLayout = currentLayout
+      return
+    }
+    if (prevLayout === currentLayout) return
+    const p = get(videoCallLayout)
+    if (prevLayout && !currentLayout) {
+      if (p === VideoCallLayout.Split) videoCallLayout.set(VideoCallLayout.Video)
+    } else if (!prevLayout && currentLayout) {
+      if (p === VideoCallLayout.Chat) videoCallLayout.set(VideoCallLayout.Split)
+    }
+    prevLayout = currentLayout
+  })
+</script>
diff --git a/src/app/components/VoiceWidget.svelte b/src/app/components/VoiceWidget.svelte
index ec9afd81..40a888bb 100644
--- a/src/app/components/VoiceWidget.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/VoiceWidget.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import {readable} from "svelte/store"
   import {fade, fly} from "svelte/transition"
-  import {browser} from "$app/environment"
   import {goto} from "$app/navigation"
   import {page} from "$app/stores"
   import cx from "classnames"
@@ -20,6 +19,7 @@
   import Button from "@lib/components/Button.svelte"
   import VoiceCallAudioSettingsDialog from "@app/components/VoiceCallAudioSettingsDialog.svelte"
   import VoiceRoomJoinDialog from "@app/components/VoiceRoomJoinDialog.svelte"
+  import {isDesktopLayout} from "@app/components/VideoCallLayoutViewportSync.svelte"
   import {
     decodeRelay,
     deriveRoom,
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@
   import {makeRoomPath} from "@app/util/routes"
   import {
     VoiceState,
+    VideoCallLayout,
     currentVoiceSession,
     currentVoiceRoom,
     voiceState,
-    voiceMobileRoomPanel,
-    voiceDesktopRoomPanel,
+    videoCallLayout,
     isLocalSpeaking,
     leaveVoiceRoom,
     toggleMute,
@@ -90,21 +90,6 @@
     pushModal(VoiceCallAudioSettingsDialog)
   }
 
-  let isMd = $state(
-    typeof window !== "undefined" && window.matchMedia("(min-width: 768px)").matches,
-  )
-
-  $effect(() => {
-    if (!browser) return
-    const mq = window.matchMedia("(min-width: 768px)")
-    const sync = () => {
-      isMd = mq.matches
-    }
-    sync()
-    mq.addEventListener("change", sync)
-    return () => mq.removeEventListener("change", sync)
-  })
-
   const showVoiceLayoutToggle = $derived(
     $voiceState === VoiceState.Connected &&
       targetRoom !== undefined &&
@@ -115,17 +100,24 @@
       h === targetRoom.h,
   )
 
-  const layoutToggleActive = $derived(
+  const isChatPanelActive = $derived(
     showVoiceLayoutToggle &&
-      ((!isMd && $voiceMobileRoomPanel === "chat") || (isMd && $voiceDesktopRoomPanel === "split")),
+      ((!isDesktopLayout.current &&
+        ($videoCallLayout === VideoCallLayout.Chat ||
+          $videoCallLayout === VideoCallLayout.Split)) ||
+        (isDesktopLayout.current && $videoCallLayout === VideoCallLayout.Split)),
   )
 
-  const onLayoutToggle = () => {
+  const onChatToggle = () => {
     if (!showVoiceLayoutToggle) return
-    if (isMd) {
-      voiceDesktopRoomPanel.update(p => (p === "split" ? "video" : "split"))
+    if (isDesktopLayout.current) {
+      videoCallLayout.update(p =>
+        p === VideoCallLayout.Split ? VideoCallLayout.Video : VideoCallLayout.Split,
+      )
     } else {
-      voiceMobileRoomPanel.update(p => (p === "chat" ? "video" : "chat"))
+      videoCallLayout.update(p =>
+        p === VideoCallLayout.Video ? VideoCallLayout.Chat : VideoCallLayout.Video,
+      )
     }
   }
 
@@ -177,9 +169,9 @@
           class={cx(
             mediaToggleClass,
             "relative shrink-0 overflow-visible",
-            layoutToggleActive && "text-primary",
+            isChatPanelActive && "text-primary",
           )}
-          onclick={onLayoutToggle}>
+          onclick={onChatToggle}>
           <span class="relative inline-flex">
             <Icon icon={ChatRound} size={4} />
             {#if chatUnread}
diff --git a/src/app/voice.ts b/src/app/voice.ts
index 2e35ac61..6e86db9a 100644
--- a/src/app/voice.ts
+++ b/src/app/voice.ts
@@ -87,15 +87,17 @@ export const voiceState = writable<VoiceState>(VoiceState.Disconnected)
 
 export const currentVoiceRoom = writable<Room | undefined>(undefined)
 
-/** Mobile room UI: full-screen chat vs video (see VoiceWidget layout toggle). */
-export const voiceMobileRoomPanel = writable<"chat" | "video">("chat")
+/** Chat-only, full-width video, or split (desktop). On narrow viewports, `split` shows as chat until resize remaps it. */
+export enum VideoCallLayout {
+  Chat = "chat",
+  Video = "video",
+  Split = "split",
+}
 
-/** Desktop room UI: messages only, video only, or split (see VoiceWidget layout toggle). */
-export const voiceDesktopRoomPanel = writable<"chat" | "video" | "split">("split")
+export const videoCallLayout = writable<VideoCallLayout>(VideoCallLayout.Split)
 
-const resetVoiceRoomPanels = () => {
-  voiceMobileRoomPanel.set("chat")
-  voiceDesktopRoomPanel.set("chat")
+const resetVideoCallLayout = () => {
+  videoCallLayout.set(VideoCallLayout.Chat)
 }
 
 export const participantPubkeyMap = writable<Map<string, Pubkey>>(new Map())
@@ -240,7 +242,7 @@ const onRoomDisconnected = (reason?: DisconnectReason) => {
   videoCallLayoutRevision.set(0)
   videoPrimaryTileKey.set(undefined)
   currentVoiceSession.set(undefined)
-  resetVoiceRoomPanels()
+  resetVideoCallLayout()
   if (reason !== undefined && reason !== DisconnectReason.CLIENT_INITIATED) {
     voiceState.set(VoiceState.Disconnected)
     const message =
@@ -408,7 +410,7 @@ export const leaveVoiceRoom = async () => {
   videoCallLayoutRevision.set(0)
   videoPrimaryTileKey.set(undefined)
   currentVoiceSession.set(undefined)
-  resetVoiceRoomPanels()
+  resetVideoCallLayout()
   session.room.disconnect()
   speakingParticipants.set([])
   participantPubkeyMap.set(new Map())
diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index 9085728f..c38febcf 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
   import {syncKeyboard} from "@app/util/keyboard"
   import {getPageTitle} from "@app/util/title"
   import NewNotificationSound from "@src/app/components/NewNotificationSound.svelte"
+  import VideoCallLayoutViewportSync from "@app/components/VideoCallLayoutViewportSync.svelte"
 
   const {children} = $props()
 
@@ -229,5 +230,6 @@
     <ModalContainer />
     <div class="tippy-target"></div>
     <NewNotificationSound />
+    <VideoCallLayoutViewportSync />
   </div>
 {/await}
diff --git a/src/routes/spaces/[relay]/[h]/+page.svelte b/src/routes/spaces/[relay]/[h]/+page.svelte
index 3febac72..75fc43df 100644
--- a/src/routes/spaces/[relay]/[h]/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/spaces/[relay]/[h]/+page.svelte
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@
   import VideoCallContent from "@app/components/VideoCallContent.svelte"
   import {
     VoiceState,
+    VideoCallLayout,
     currentVoiceRoom,
     videoTileCount,
-    voiceMobileRoomPanel,
-    voiceDesktopRoomPanel,
+    videoCallLayout,
     voiceState,
   } from "@app/voice"
   import {makeFeed} from "@app/core/requests"
@@ -74,19 +74,20 @@
   )
 
   const showMobileVideoPanel = $derived(
-    isVoiceRoom && $voiceState === VoiceState.Connected && $voiceMobileRoomPanel === "video",
+    isVoiceRoom &&
+      $voiceState === VoiceState.Connected &&
+      $videoCallLayout === VideoCallLayout.Video,
   )
 
   const pageContentHiddenDesktopVideoOnly = $derived(
-    voiceConnectedHere && $voiceDesktopRoomPanel === "video",
+    voiceConnectedHere && $videoCallLayout === VideoCallLayout.Video,
   )
 
   let prevVideoTileCount = $state(0)
 
   $effect(() => {
     if ($voiceState !== VoiceState.Connected) {
-      voiceMobileRoomPanel.set("chat")
-      voiceDesktopRoomPanel.set("chat")
+      videoCallLayout.set(VideoCallLayout.Chat)
       prevVideoTileCount = 0
       return
     }
@@ -100,8 +101,7 @@
     }
 
     if (prevVideoTileCount === 0 && n >= 1) {
-      voiceDesktopRoomPanel.set("video")
-      voiceMobileRoomPanel.set("video")
+      videoCallLayout.set(VideoCallLayout.Video)
     }
     prevVideoTileCount = n
   })
@@ -416,35 +416,23 @@
 <div
   class={cx(
     "flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col",
-    voiceConnectedHere && $voiceDesktopRoomPanel === "split" && "md:flex-row",
+    voiceConnectedHere && $videoCallLayout === VideoCallLayout.Split && "md:flex-row",
   )}>
   {#if voiceConnectedHere}
     <VideoCallContent
-      variant="desktop-split"
+      layout={$videoCallLayout}
       {url}
       {h}
-      visible={$voiceDesktopRoomPanel === "split"}
-      class="hidden min-h-0 w-full min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col md:flex" />
-    <VideoCallContent
-      variant="desktop-full"
-      {url}
-      {h}
-      visible={$voiceDesktopRoomPanel === "video"}
       class="hidden min-h-0 w-full min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col md:flex" />
   {/if}
 
   <div
     class={cx(
       "flex min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col",
-      voiceConnectedHere && $voiceDesktopRoomPanel === "video" && "md:hidden",
+      voiceConnectedHere && $videoCallLayout === VideoCallLayout.Video && "md:hidden",
     )}>
     {#if isVoiceRoom && $voiceState === VoiceState.Connected}
-      <VideoCallContent
-        variant="mobile"
-        {url}
-        {h}
-        visible={$voiceMobileRoomPanel === "video"}
-        class="md:hidden" />
+      <VideoCallContent layout={$videoCallLayout} mobile {url} {h} class="md:hidden" />
     {/if}
 
     <PageContent