diff --git a/backend/src/routes/messages.ts b/backend/src/routes/messages.ts
index 1b36fb1..e7c5900 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/messages.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/messages.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,55 @@ export default async function messageRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
     }));
   });
 
+  // Send text message via HTTP (fallback when WS unavailable)
+  app.post('/chat/:chatId', async (req, reply) => {
+    const { id: userId } = req.user as { id: string };
+    const { chatId } = req.params as { chatId: string };
+    const { content, type = 'text', replyToId } = req.body as any;
+
+    if (!content?.trim()) return reply.status(400).send({ error: 'Empty message' });
+
+    const { rows: [member] } = await pool.query(
+      'SELECT role, can_send_messages FROM chat_members WHERE chat_id = $1 AND user_id = $2',
+      [chatId, userId]
+    );
+    if (!member) return reply.status(403).send({ error: 'Not a member' });
+    if (!member.can_send_messages && member.role === 'member') return reply.status(403).send({ error: 'No permission' });
+
+    const { rows: [chat] } = await pool.query('SELECT type FROM chats WHERE id = $1', [chatId]);
+    if (chat.type === 'channel' && !['owner', 'admin'].includes(member.role)) return reply.status(403).send({ error: 'No permission' });
+
+    const { rows: [msg] } = await pool.query(
+      `INSERT INTO messages (chat_id, sender_id, content, type, reply_to_id)
+       VALUES ($1,$2,$3,$4,$5) RETURNING *`,
+      [chatId, userId, content.trim(), type, replyToId || null]
+    );
+
+    const { rows: [sender] } = await pool.query(
+      'SELECT id, username, display_name, avatar_color FROM users WHERE id = $1', [userId]
+    );
+
+    const fullMsg = {
+      id: msg.id, chatId: msg.chat_id, content: msg.content, type: msg.type,
+      isDeleted: false, isEdited: false, createdAt: msg.created_at,
+      replyTo: null, attachments: [],
+      sender: { id: sender.id, username: sender.username, displayName: sender.display_name, avatarColor: sender.avatar_color }
+    };
+
+    // Broadcast via WS to all members
+    const { connections } = await import('../ws.js');
+    const { rows: members } = await pool.query('SELECT user_id FROM chat_members WHERE chat_id = $1', [chatId]);
+    const wsMsg = JSON.stringify({ type: 'new_message', payload: fullMsg });
+    for (const m of members) {
+      const sockets = connections.get(m.user_id);
+      if (sockets) sockets.forEach((ws: any) => { try { if (ws.readyState === 1) ws.send(wsMsg); } catch {} });
+    }
+
+    await pool.query('UPDATE chat_members SET last_read_at = NOW() WHERE chat_id = $1 AND user_id = $2', [chatId, userId]);
+
+    return reply.status(201).send(fullMsg);
+  });
+
   // Upload file and send as message
   app.post('/chat/:chatId/upload', async (req, reply) => {
     const { id: userId } = req.user as { id: string };
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/ws.ts b/frontend/src/api/ws.ts
index a6d0cab..e32ce72 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/ws.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/ws.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,14 @@ class WsClient {
     }
   }
 
+  trySend(type: string, payload: any): boolean {
+    if (this.ws?.readyState === WebSocket.OPEN) {
+      this.ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type, payload }));
+      return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   disconnect() {
     this.token = null;
     if (this.reconnectTimer) clearTimeout(this.reconnectTimer);
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx b/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx
index e8a227b..2f0be15 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MessageInput.tsx
@@ -77,20 +77,29 @@ export default function MessageInput({ chatId, replyTo, editMsg, onCancelReply,
     if (textareaRef.current) textareaRef.current.style.height = 'auto';
     wsClient.send('typing', { chatId, typing: false });
 
-    if (editMsg) {
-      wsClient.send('edit_message', { messageId: editMsg.id, content });
-      onEditDone({ ...editMsg, content, isEdited: true });
-    } else {
-      wsClient.send('send_message', {
-        chatId,
-        content,
-        type: 'text',
-        replyToId: replyTo?.id || null,
-      });
-      onCancelReply();
+    try {
+      if (editMsg) {
+        wsClient.send('edit_message', { messageId: editMsg.id, content });
+        onEditDone({ ...editMsg, content, isEdited: true });
+      } else {
+        const sent = wsClient.trySend('send_message', {
+          chatId, content, type: 'text', replyToId: replyTo?.id || null,
+        });
+        if (!sent) {
+          // WS not available — use HTTP fallback
+          const { data } = await api.post(`/api/messages/chat/${chatId}`, {
+            content, type: 'text', replyToId: replyTo?.id || null,
+          });
+          addMessage(data);
+        }
+        onCancelReply();
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // restore text so user doesn't lose it
+      setText(content);
+    } finally {
+      setSending(false);
     }
-
-    setSending(false);
   }
 
   async function handleFile(e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/index.css b/frontend/src/index.css
index 186dd76..9428b18 100644
--- a/frontend/src/index.css
+++ b/frontend/src/index.css
@@ -35,3 +35,10 @@ body {
 /* Safe areas for mobile */
 .pb-safe { padding-bottom: env(safe-area-inset-bottom); }
 .pt-safe { padding-top: env(safe-area-inset-top); }
+
+/* Prevent iOS auto-zoom on input focus (triggered when font-size < 16px) */
+@media screen and (max-width: 768px) {
+  input, textarea, select {
+    font-size: 16px !important;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx
index 6169f3c..157a073 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/MainLayout.tsx
@@ -90,16 +90,19 @@ export default function MainLayout() {
     try {
       const { data: chatData } = await api.post(`/api/chats/private/${userId}`);
       setSearch('');
-      // Load full chat detail directly by ID — don't rely on list lookup
-      const { data: fullChatData } = await api.get(`/api/chats/${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);
+      const { data: allChats } = await api.get('/api/chats');
+      setChats(allChats);
+      const chatFromList = allChats.find((c: any) => c.id === chatData.id);
+      if (chatFromList) {
+        await openChat(chatFromList);
+      } else {
+        // fallback: open by direct API call
+        const { data: fullChatData } = await api.get(`/api/chats/${chatData.id}`);
+        setActiveChat(fullChatData);
+        setFullChat(fullChatData);
+        setMobileChatOpen(true);
+        setShowInfo(false);
+      }
     } catch (e) {
       console.error('openOrCreatePrivate:', e);
     }