diff --git a/backend/src/routes/chats.ts b/backend/src/routes/chats.ts
index 90d876d..ea14420 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/chats.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/chats.ts
@@ -89,17 +89,21 @@ export default async function chatRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
 
     const onlineSet = new Set(connections.keys());
 
+    // For private chats, resolve title/avatar/color from the other member
+    const other = chat.type === 'private' ? members.find((m: any) => m.id !== userId) : null;
+
     return {
       id: chat.id,
       type: chat.type,
-      title: chat.title,
+      title: chat.type === 'private' ? (other?.display_name || '') : chat.title,
       description: chat.description,
-      avatarColor: chat.avatar_color,
-      avatar: chat.avatar || null,
+      avatarColor: chat.type === 'private' ? (other?.avatar_color || chat.avatar_color) : chat.avatar_color,
+      avatar: chat.type === 'private' ? (other?.avatar || null) : (chat.avatar || null),
       isPublic: chat.is_public,
       myRole: member.role,
       canSendMessages: member.can_send_messages,
       canAddMembers: member.can_add_members,
+      privateUserId: chat.type === 'private' ? (other?.id || null) : null,
       createdAt: chat.created_at,
       members: members.map(m => ({
         id: m.id, username: m.username, displayName: m.display_name,
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx
index 4df7bfa..6169f3c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx
@@ -88,13 +88,21 @@ export default function MainLayout() {
 
   async function openOrCreatePrivate(userId: string) {
     try {
-      const { data } = await api.post(`/api/chats/private/${userId}`);
-      const { data: allChats } = await api.get('/api/chats');
-      setChats(allChats);
-      const chat = allChats.find((c: any) => c.id === data.id);
-      if (chat) openChat(chat);
+      const { data: chatData } = await api.post(`/api/chats/private/${userId}`);
       setSearch('');
-    } catch {}
+      // Load full chat detail directly by ID — don't rely on list lookup
+      const { data: fullChatData } = await api.get(`/api/chats/${chatData.id}`);
+      // Also refresh the sidebar chat list
+      api.get('/api/chats').then(r => setChats(r.data)).catch(() => {});
+      // Build chat object to open
+      const chatToOpen = { ...fullChatData, id: chatData.id };
+      setActiveChat(chatToOpen);
+      setFullChat(chatToOpen);
+      setMobileChatOpen(true);
+      setShowInfo(false);
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.error('openOrCreatePrivate:', e);
+    }
   }
 
   const filtered = chats.filter(c =>